Wolfee - it's the same for me on my thyroxine - I have to take it at least half hour before breakfast and any drink containing caffeine! That's every day....!!! x
WolfEE not the best news ever and I'm so sorry to hear it. How was this diagnosed?
I've still got the on-going high blood pressure 150/90 and I'm on Ramipril - got to double the dose!
The underactive thyroid is due to my immune system attacking the thyroid glad - quite possibly as a result of the Herceptin/Radiotherapy treatments. I will know more when I see the endrocologist in January!! In the meantime, taking my 50mg of throxine a day is making me feel amazing!
I've got the on-going pains of planta fascilitis which again was aggravated by the chemo and has regular flare-ups now where it's so painful I simply can't stand let alone walk! Can't take ibrophren which would help because of the heart meds but can use the gel. However, Dr gave me an exercise sheet yesterday - four quite basic exercises to do twice a day - I'm not the best at getting in a routine but must say after doing them this morning my foot feels a little more comfortable so I must persevere.
In the meantime, I have just one thing to say - active "treatment" for cancer might be out of the way but my goodness I'm rattling just as much with all the subsequent meds.... not counting the healthy supplement pills!!! Oh shake, rattle and roll..... and good wishes to all. lol xx
Sorry Treehouse - I wasn't here after 11 to share in your pains! I do hope you managed to get some sleep and are feeling better this morning. I get where you're coming from - when you're feeling under the weather it's easy to recall all of last year in the spate of an hour - it can be quite depressing! Then suddenly you'll bounce back and think to yourself - my god I survived that.... I can survive this.....! Onwards and upwards - we are survivors - we can face any battle (especially you my lovely!). xx
Hi Georgie, you just focus on getting to that wedding. Planning for it will give your spirits a much needed lift, and hopefully take your mind off the current stuff a bit. Apparently I had a rough time with chemo. My Onco thinks the F bit is old fashioned so I was put on EC-T. Unfortunately I had three infusions, followed a week later by a hospital admission. The last one was a corker as I went into rigor and was in hospital a week. Turned out my body didn't like my Hickman line! My fourth infusion was ok as the Hickman wasn't used. So we are all very different, but with the help of my team I'm through it all. As you will be. Onward and upward. X
Jay, I agree, I feel more energetic than before diagnosis and I think it's because I've taken on a healthier lifestyle and have a better attitude to life. Like everyone else, my hair is now a bit wavy and unpredictable but I've embraced it and am quite happy with what I have. Hair is good! We have all been so good for each other: love, understanding and humour. A problem shared is a problem halved. We sure as hell paddled the lifeboat back to the shore! Xx
Shi, don't worry about the hair, it has to go through all of the phases like the moon before its full! π ππ xx
Treehouse, bigs congrats on finishing treatment. Look how far you've come. I remember at one of your lowest points when you was waiting for a blood transfusion and I was virtual singing "When tomorrow comes" for you! Xx
Daffodil, I had my BCN appt today and will be getting a referral to speak to a consultant next. I'm not in a big hurry as I'm enjoying time away from being an inpatient! It's a lot to think about again isn't it? Xx
Hi everyone,
Good to read the latest posts. Most of us have much to celebrate with slowly returning to normality. I have enjoyed getting back to part time work as well as Pilates and yoga. My next dilemma is my reconstruction. I have my appointment with the surgeon next week. I am still unsure which method to choose and when to go for it as recovery times vary and I am not sure when to put my life back into recuperation mode.
It is hard to believe how far we have all come. Thanks for all the support! x
Hi AnnieJ and others, and thank you for your feedback about polybalm and nail remedies. I will report back to other threads about what worked for you.
It strikes me as amazing how all of our lives must have changed so much since diagnosis, but a year on, and you all seem to have come out of the other side and still the 'right way up'. It's great that you all still keep in touch, and I admire you for how you have all coped.
I have had had my second infection on FEC now, and the antibiotics are playing me as well now with their own S E's. I start T and herceptin on 4th October, and am a bit scared. Anyone been through the same as me ?
I would be interested to know how FEC T plus herceptin for a year and bone protection 6 monthly, (for 3 years so no one will know yet.... ) plus radiotherapy has affected you a year on? I had no hormone involvement so don't need hormone treatment.
My daughter gets married on 1st June next year, and when I knew the date, I was so excited to lose weight, and gave myself a year to do it. Then 4th June this year I had the news I had BC. Now I have forgotten a bit about the weight loss, and just hope I will have hair! How things change.
All the the best everyone
Georgie G xx
Hi Georgie G, I used Defiant nail oil all through my treatment (EC-T) plus 25 rads. I also had manicures when I was ok and used dark nail varnish. I kept all my nails, and I think they are much stronger than before. I went online for the oil, to a well known cancer site . I ordered the shampoo system from there as well - Plantur, which has definitely helped with hair. My BC nurse recommended coconut oil for my scalp when my fuzz came through and I used to go to bed in a haze of coconut bliss! I think the treatment has made my hair coarser , and as I am stage4 and on continuing treatment my hair does suffer. Anything is preferable to bald though! X
Shi / Mishy - hair?! - please don't mention it! haha!!
Don't get me wrong, I'm so thankful it returned and lovely and thick too, however, I don't like the texture, colour nor it's own style!
I've coloured it - but still it seems to have it's own mind on that - I've had it trimmed and thinned a few times - as for trying to style it - I've given up - I let it do it's own thing - sometimes I'm happier with it than others... nothing I try to do makes an awful lot of difference!
My biggest concern at the moment with it is the fact I have my Niece's wedding to attend this Saturday - I've chosen my outfit - shoes and bag and I can paint my nails and perfect my make-up - but I have no control over what my hair will do - I just have to see how it goes on the day.....! I could become known as the crazy Auntie with the "hair"!!!
Hey ladies,
What's this water they are ranting about on my local BBC radio station this morning?
CBD water available from Holland & Barret, Sainsburys, Waitrose and other outlets.
Has anyone tried it?
x
Hi Sarah19.
How lovely to see you return and I'm glad everything is moving along smoothly for you and that the medics seem to be looking after you extremely well.
I was reading through your post and although I'm not on the same meds as you, I can relate to the list of side effects you are suffering ie aches around the shoulders, lower back, uncomfortable feeling in the rib cage - I also suffer aches in my hips (especially after exercise) - and foot pain in my left foot/heel. In general ladies, I do believe a lot of these side effects have been caused by our treatments and not our current meds - chemotherapy is after all poison and with that in mind, our bodies (I feel and fear!) will never be the same again - added to that radiotherapy (for those of us who had it) - again brilliant that it's available but again it destroys both good and bad cells - both of these treatments (although amazing) remain active in our systems for far longer than we are informed at the outset. I'm seeing reports of ladies 3/5 years out of treatment and still suffering these side effects.
Adding to these two treatments our own personal meds (ie Herceptin/Tamoxifen/Anastrazole/Ibandronic Acids... etc etc.... these too have side effects but I really do think the majority of our aches and pains have been caused by the original "harsh" treatments - I for one will certainly not complain about that as I know those together with the two targetted therapies I was on alongside chemo, destroyed completely the cancer that was in my breast and lymph nodes - but the price to pay is the aches and pains I now suffer with on a daily basis - of course I'm not complaining because I'm still here - I still wake up each day - embrace the world and thank my lucky stars....
I may have turned 50 this year but indeed I really do feel as though my body turned 70!! I do exercise but I'm limited and I eat healthy and have cut out alcohol completely together with soya - but I'm alive and I'm a new "normal" - not one I'd dreamed about but I'm happy with the one I've become!!
Each and every one of us has been through a massive trauma. It was in fact a year ago yesterday that I had my single MX and all lymphs removed! Just be kind to yourself and never forget this motto; look back but don't regret, look forward - we all want to dream about our tomorrow's but live for today - enjoy, smile and be happy!
It's lovely to see our forum coming back to life - to see how we're moving on - this time last year I simply couldn't have been as brave and positive without all you amazing ladies xx
Hi May ladies,
I hope you don't mind me asking a question or 2 about a nail cream I have been advised about by my new consultant for using through T part of chemo. It is called Polybalm and had been trialled in my area.
Link here:
http://polybalm.com/nails-chemotherapy
I have explained more about it on the August thread, but wondered whether or not anyone could say whether or not this may have worked for them. I could then report back to the August ladies.
Many thanks
Georgie
GP confirmed the initial result, a very underactive thyroid. Would ordinarily prescribe a very low dose of medication but given my previous heart problem (caused by Herceptin) and on-going high blood pressure she's going to liaise with the Endocrinologists and see what they advise. Will now hear on 4th October when I return to GP for blood pressure monitoring....
On the plus side - I went last night for my first ever taste of Yoga and loved it! Will definately be returning in 2 weeks time... x
So at my final onc appointment she suggested I should be tested for Diabetes and Thyroid following the treatment I've had (chemo, herceptin, rads (to upper clavicle area). A simple blood test (well fasting for the diabetes one).
Visited the GP last week for results - I'm delighted the diabetes is clear, however the thyroid one came back that I've got an underactive thyroid. Further blood tests to re-check and also the TPO part of the test. I'll get the results on Wednesday - depending on the results will depend on the medication required to treat....
I've subsequently researched and it would appear quite common for thyroid problems following treatment for breast cancer.
I've also been increased to 2.5mg of Ramipril as my blood pressure is still a bit high!
Other than this - I'm doing OK - put it this way, there's people far worse off than me.
Hope everyone else is doing well x
Good luck for today WolfEE - you know we'll all be thinking of you lovely. Let us know when you up and running again.... xxx
WolfEE, tough decisions for you. Have they mentioned Zoladex injections to deactivate your ovaries? I guess this would bring with it more side effects but it would give you more time to think about ovary removal. I wish we didnt have to think about all of this, its so burdensome isnt it? Sending hugs. xxxx
Jay, my head is still firmly in the sand on the recon front. Whilst I dont want more surgery, I do want to try and move forward with my life feeling a bit more balanced. I dont have an appointment with the surgeon yet but it will be looming on the horizon! You dont have to rush into a decision, if you need a bit more time to think then you could delay it a bit more. xxxx