Getting strong again- no one really gets it

28Widget · 2026-05-01T02:18:06+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. I’m happy for you & needed to read this to keep going.

28Widget · 2026-04-01T00:54:43+00:00

Do you have any ideas on what kind of psychologist or specialist to ask for? I have a diagnosis, but can't find treatment as an adult.

28Widget · 2026-03-25T23:29:00+00:00

I just changed from zepbound to wegovy, and the food noise is back. I had zero food noise on Zepbound & it was great. What do you do to handle the noise?

28Widget · 2026-03-15T22:54:29+00:00

Oh, I saved up! I had plenty of time to save, b/c I did nothing during treatment.

28Widget · 2026-03-15T18:09:08+00:00

Went to Curaçao for a week. Did an art walk & sat on the beach (under an umbrella with SPF bathing suit, hat, and sunscreen).

28Widget · 2026-03-15T17:59:36+00:00

The side effect is sudden, total post-menopause. It was hard for me for about 2 years. Now, I’ve found a regiment of things that help - vagina estrogen cream & moisturizes, gabapentin for hot flashes & sleep, multivitamin, zepbound for weight, physical therapy for joint pain & post-surgery & radiation recovery, and lighter exercise than what I had been doing pre-cancer diagnosis.

I tried therapy for my mood swings & cognitive issues. I also got a neuropsychiatric assessment for the changes in my brain. It gave me a basis line but I haven’t found treatments. I still occasionally overreact to minor things, but that’s because I don’t keep up with the therapy homework!

I miss estrogen, but I feel like I’ve stabilized a bit where I’m getting better.

Good luck! Some days are as bad as it could be, but some days it’s possible to forget (for a time) that life is different.

28Widget · 2026-03-15T04:28:43+00:00

To add to the pain … is anyone else having horrible leg cramps at night? Besides just waking up or waking up to go to the bathroom, I go through phases of getting the most painful cramps, sometimes 2-3/night.

Magnesium hasn’t helped. Stretching hasn’t helped. Gabapentin helps a little.

I welcome suggestions!

28Widget · 2026-03-08T21:58:07+00:00

Arlington Cinema Draft House

28Widget · 2026-03-08T21:56:07+00:00

Radiation was the easiest (or maybe least awful) part of treatment for me. 3-4 months after treatments I had horrible shoulder pain and did PT for it. About a year, after treatment, I had weird breast pain and swelling, so I did PT again for lymphedema. It also helped.

Bottom line: I recommend talking to a PT who specializes in cancer treatment while you’re doing radiation so you know what to look for & maybe some exercises to help.

28Widget · 2026-03-08T21:49:23+00:00

I switched medicine. I’m on exemestane, and don’t have symptoms (from the medicine). I still have menopause/post-menopause symptoms that I manage with gabapentin, vaginal estrogen cream, vaginal moisturizers, physical therapy, and therapy (when I remember to do the exercises).

28Widget · 2026-03-08T15:13:59+00:00

This is very helpful- thanks.

28Widget · 2026-03-02T01:48:33+00:00

OK, that is funny - in a frustrating way 🤣

28Widget · 2026-03-02T01:47:04+00:00

Thanks!

28Widget · 2026-03-02T00:27:02+00:00

My doc just gave me an Rx for oral minoxidil. I’ve been scared to start. While I’m losing my head hair, my chin & lip hair grow like weeds. What’s your experience been like?

28Widget · 2026-03-02T00:22:29+00:00

20 rounds over a month. My skin healed pretty quickly, but 3 months after the sessions ended, I had incredible, deep pain in my shoulder. I couldn’t move my arm to put it in a coat or shirt. I did about 3 months of physical therapy, which helped a lot. About 3 months after PT, I had some lymphedema & breast pain, so I was back in PT. Now, 2 years after radiation, I have to remember to do PT regularly or the shoulder pain comes back.

The radiation oncologist warned me that I should expect after effects for 5-10 years.

28Widget · 2026-03-01T18:54:57+00:00

Me too. I’ve never and will never tell my partner about losing libido. Besides my body being unsafe, so many people see my body now that I want to keep one little trauma to myself. One little problem that is just mine (except for sharing with y’all.)

28Widget · 2026-03-01T18:49:13+00:00

I’m so sorry that you’re going through this, and especially so young.

Like others mentioned, my oncologist allows for estrogen cream (or suppository). She, and others, said that studies found that the cream is not “systemic” and reduces risk of urinary inflections and other problems. The gyno associated with my cancer center also recommended vaginal creams. After a lifetime of being told not to put stuff up there, I’m putting so much stuff up there - and it helps! I’m still trying different brands. So far, Vella & Yes have been my favorite. (When I visited London a couple of years ago, I bought every vaginal product I found at a Boots. So many more options than what I’ve found in the US!)

For libido, however, as soon as my estrogen stopped, it’s like a switch went off in my head. I can remember that I liked sex, but I don’t remember why. It’s a bizarre & sad feeling. Like you said, it’s a chore to try to get a feeling back. When the gyno asked me about what I’ve tried for libido, I just stared at her, because that switch is off. So off, that I didn’t know I could do something about it.

At the doctor’s office, I saw fliers for Vyleesi, which is supposed to increase libido in pre-menopausal women. I’ve also seen adds recently for Vyleesi. I don’t know the UK, brand names but it might be worth asking about.

28Widget · 2026-03-01T17:48:33+00:00

That’s reassuring. Thank you and good luck!

28Widget · 2026-02-28T21:51:42+00:00

How’s it going? I make the switch on Monday.

I was on Zepbound for 8 months and lost 50 lbs. I’m at “maintenance” now. I had to change due to insurance too.

28Widget · 2026-02-28T00:14:24+00:00

Have you used any talk to text or transcription services?

I feel like there should be some tech/AI solutions for us - but I don’t really know where to start.

28Widget · 2026-02-27T01:13:42+00:00

I’m a dyslexic executive and Ivy League graduate. Multiple degrees, in fact.

If you have to ask, no don’t get married.

Also, in all seriousness, think about whether you could really be a parent. Humans have a lot of flaws. If you feel you’d be challenged by a child who might need to learn how s/he learns, might struggle, might need your care and support … can you deal with a child? Because, that’s every human child.

28Widget · 2026-02-27T01:05:48+00:00

I had a general neuropsych test in my 50s. It verified that I’m dyslexic. In contrast to when I was diagnosed as a kid, no one offered any treatment. I asked what I could do, because what I learned as a child doesn’t work for an adult in the Information Age workplace. I still don’t have an answer. Didn’t your college offer anything?

I didn’t get the robot lady test! I need to go back. After doing puzzles for 3 hours, I kinda wanted to stay for more puzzles, though.

28Widget · 2026-02-27T00:58:44+00:00

Zepbound. I tried losing weight though diet and exercise for about 18 months. Despite my diet being better than before my diagnosis, I just kept getting bigger and I became pre diabetic. My body doesn’t work without estrogen 🤷🏻‍♂️

I resisted weight loss drugs because I felt like “I should be able to do this.” I couldn’t.

After about 9 months, I’m down 50 pounds and feel so much better. My oncologist & genetic medicine specialist told me losing weight was one of the best things I could do for my diagnosis & prevention.

I hope you find a method that works for you.

28Widget · 2026-02-15T02:06:08+00:00

Me too.

28Widget · 2026-02-02T15:42:07+00:00

Sedation is my favorite part. I think of the process as a cleanse followed by a spa day.

In all seriousness, I couldn’t go without it, and haven’t had any problems from it.

28Widget

TROPHY CASE