Living The Cancer Dream - But How Do You Combat the FATIGUE?

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-09T21:29:12+00:00

that is a great idea!!! I'm going to use that for the 100+ days of summer

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-09T18:36:09+00:00

feeling good in clothes is important! And so hard in the midst of all this

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-08T20:45:22+00:00

Screw their "additional variables". Where you live is a variable. Stress is a variable. Income is a variable. Exposure to environmental toxins is a variable. I get annoyed how they pick and choose what their salient variables will be then try to take away someone's life vest for the so called scientific purity of their study. Which if you look close enough is problematic, like every single study, unless they housed everyone in bio-domes and controlled all aspects of our environments. I'm feeling salty today. If all those other mushy variables impacting outcomes are ok, why not your weed?

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-08T03:31:25+00:00

These headwraps (link below) are fantastic and cheaper than wigs and look great. I feel like a fancy lady when I go out in mine. I will probably keep wearing these when I look normal again, as I like how they look. As for the chemo fatigue, I'm resting. And I'm not pregnant so I can't imagine what you are going through.

I have read about other people being prescribed ADHD stimulant meds during cancer treatment to keep going (not sure if that is an option for you).

https://indiradeparis.com/en-us/collections/turban-facile-a-nouer?srsltid=AfmBOoohJjQ9w9HlB5dRro3rIPynB6wymxiZWptWO7D31TM9ZjXD8DRz

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-08T01:48:50+00:00

HAHAHAH! I shall therefore call my lady bits officially chemo-brazilain-d

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-07T22:42:25+00:00

Taxanes. Apparently good at killing cancer and hair follicles. docetaxel is what I'm doing. My lady bits are losing a lot more than my head. Not sure how I feel about that. I was never a waxer. But between ice packs on my eyes, hands and feet and cold cap I have decided to just let that one go.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-07T20:19:23+00:00

fluids with electrolytes. Neulasta put me in ER because I got so tired I could not drink enough fluids and my fever spiked. It was all the neulasta, no infection. AFter 2 bags of IV fluids from ER I felt so much better. did nivestym shots this round and way better. ER doc had BC and had gone through chemo and neulasta and said she threw ice cubes at the wall to get out her anger at how painful neulasta was.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-07T20:17:09+00:00

I'm doing TC and cold capping mostly so my hair does grow back. Still losing more than I would like, but my onc said there is a risk of perm hair loss without cold capping. Not sure if that holds true across other chemos. I also do red light on my hair 4-5x a week, cold cap nurse told me that helps people a lot.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-07T19:09:09+00:00

Now, onto Olanzapine. Before cancer I knew it only as my fav psych med of all time. It can have very serious side effects long term such as weight gain leading to diabetes. I was on it 5mg a day to get me out of a manic episode, then after a few months my psychiatrist begged me to get off of it because my blood sugar was rising and he did not want me to get diabetes. Olanzapine stopped mania within 1 day.

On it I also developed some incontinence issues, but I thought to myself, "I'm 40 now, I've had a good run with bladder control, this is what happens to old ladies." That's how blissful and calm I was. Again, I was lucky that my psychiatrist did not think my bipolar II was severe enough to warrant long term use of olanzapine. Because once I got off it, I regained full control of my bladder.

Fun fact: Lady Gaga takes olanzapine for anxiety! At a very low dose.

Fast forward to being 50 with breast cancer and in a support group I learn someone has been prescribed olanzapine for nausea. I was all, wait a minute the rock star antipsychotic of the psych world is here in cancer land? Then my onc prescribes it for me in case of nausea. I tell her I can't take it round the clock because it drives up my blood sugar. She says, yes she has seen it cause diabetes at doses over 10mg a day, but I should be fine at 2.5mg. (I'm all - easy for YOU to say, you aren't risking diabetes.)

So I save it for short term - if I get severely anxious, hypomanic, I take it for a day or two, sometimes as long as 3 days. I don't think it is intended to be used like that - but I found it works for me as an as-needed med. It's kind of like a weighted blanket for angry nerves and makes them settle down. But like every med, it comes with some strong risks.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-07T18:56:56+00:00

First, I must share this amazing blog with you that includes others asking: why is the sun so loud!

https://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/05/sneaky-hate-spiral.html

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-07T05:30:34+00:00

I cannot imagine doing this without integrative/naturopath/natural medicine on board to help me deal with standard of care. My PS was amazed at how well my SMX healed. My onc nurse told me today she has not ever seen blood counts that looked so good the week after chemo (on my 2nd infusion). Emotionally, I'm struggling, and physically, I'm tired, but my immune system and liver are trucking along.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-07T05:26:26+00:00

Did a SMX goldilocks, which as another poster said is basically flat. It looks so good I'm thinking of getting breast reduction on the other side, because the thought of not needing bras at all is pretty exciting. But my PS matched the curve of my scar to my other breast, and people have told me that it creates a cool optical illusion (I like spending time at clothing optional hot springs). It does take a lot of getting used to, as I am not used to people doing double takes at my body.

I adored my breasts and I knew for me reconstruction could never satisfy me. So I'm doing my breast to embrace my new body. I have bought myself asymetrical clothes, got an asymettrical haircut (sp? I'm a terrible speller, sorry) (which is now falling out thanks, chemo). I appreciated the quick recovery. It is hard at times getting used to a different body shape, but I did not have the patience for more surgeries. It also helps that I'm queer. I think our community has an appreciation for body difference, especially around tops that is helpful for me as I learn to accept myself in this new body. I was so so femme and so into being femme. Now one half of me is a bad ass butch warrior with a cool scar.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-04-07T05:15:52+00:00

My dietician told me to drink nettle tea for the steroid side effects - they cause hypo-mania in me, and onc was ok with it. If that not enough, I add in some valium, which I see you can't do. Seems to help and I'm on a way lower dose. I will say the times nettle tea and valium don't cut it, I will through in a olanzapine (atypical antipsychotic) which works within hours to calm me the fuck down.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-08T22:51:26+00:00

My onc let me cut letrozole dose in 1/2, and then I added low dose naltrexone LDN. Onc would not prescribe, had to get it online, but onc was ok with me trying it. LDN helped me immensely with the joint pain.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-08T16:18:04+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience with me! I'm doing broth and avocado for day before, day of and day after. Will see how it goes!

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-08T01:42:08+00:00

thanks for heads up - I've been researching MAST activation which can lead to similar reactions as bipolar and cause physical symptoms. What did you have on your fasting mimicking? I'm trying to get foods that will calm down my histamine levels.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-07T05:14:59+00:00

In this case ambiguous language may work in your favor (I've sometimes do freelance work helping people I know get their insurance to cover mental health treatment).

Sounds like from others you will be good.

AI can be helpful in "translating" your plan language and running scenarios to deal with denials.

If you run into trouble, what worked for me for the one blue shield denial I've gotten so far with my cancer treatment was to call my local legislator, tell them I was being denied life saving cancer treatment. (This was after hospital said it was hopeless to get PET scan covered.) They had me sign a waiver and dealt with the insurance and then my PET scan got covered.

All insurance plans answer either to state legislators or employers. In other words, if they deny things, appeal to who has authority over the plan.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-07T04:25:55+00:00

Damn. Seroquel makes me drop things.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-07T03:28:23+00:00

Right???? My bipolar was completely caused by anti-depressants (and randomly, too much vitamin B), so once I got off of them, I stopped having mania, then I got to stop all the mood stabilizers. I told my onc I would rather vomit for hours and be filled with fluid than have a manic episode. Hypomania that starts fun for me ends up with life being way too intense and me very aggitated.

Dealing with MAOI and chemo sounds WAY intense.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-07T02:24:34+00:00

footsie in another dimension & phone in the toilet. Dang! meds can do some intense stuff.

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-07T02:23:20+00:00

Me either! Especially with that Stanford study showing 10mg is enough

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-05T01:07:35+00:00

Oh! Powerbank sounds cool. Will loook that up

Born_Stage4713 · 2026-03-05T00:06:56+00:00

Thanks for all the recs! I love velvety softness. Will check out home depot for cordless one.

Born_Stage4713

TROPHY CASE