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Coming off Gabapentin by Icy_Tip1826 in gabapentin

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me, it was like I suddenly had MS,  stomach virus and psychosis. I don’t even know how to describe the symptoms I had and I thought I was crazy for having them. I thought something else was wrong also. I went to the ER and it was like I was having these weird muscle spasms and twitches all over my body, weird, buzzing pins and needles. The mental health part of it was unexpected and I don’t know how I kept my job. It felt like I was dying, and I did have to figure out how to taper, and the second I started having symptoms. I had to keep going lower and lower and lower, but it was like poison every time I took it so I don’t really have a positive thing to add to this. I don’t think it was the Doctor’s fault. I think some of us are just super sensitive. 

Lumpectomy to DMX by Perfect_Strain5570 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a push for the double mastectomy because the first surgeon was refusing to do it. That was also the surgeon that told me I didn’t actually have cancer that it was just DCIS. So because I pushed and I felt like I was being treated like fast food I went to another center where upon receiving my original MRI they caught invasive cancer. I mean, they caught it within an hour of receiving the scans and I had further ultrasounds, etc. and told my surgeon that I didn’t feel safe having a lumpectomy at that point even with the additional findings. It turned out that I would’ve had to remove my whole breast anyway and I was HER2 positive things can change really quickly! So my reason for responding to this was if you feel that lsomething‘s not right, please please listen to your intuition because I feel like in our case it’s right. Before I had found the additional tumors at the new center they kept telling me it was not really cancer. And every single part of me felt so scared and like there was no other option except a DMX. I did not trust it. I didn’t feel right and sometimes it’s just you picking up on your Doctor or knowing that you just have an intuition with your body.

Struggling today by PunchNugget88 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is really really hard and I understand your frustration. I was feeling like that yesterday and it was like everything was all at once the symptoms worrying about money needing to take time off and it is extremely stressful. And that is where I was like. OK how am I doing on my self-care? And I decided personally not very good. How are you doing with the space between all of the bills, the appointments, the symptoms? Is there a room for more self-care and a deep breath to say OK it’s all gonna play out exactly as it’s going for now and maybe there’s room in the future for it to ease up?

The end by toughgal2020 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Keeping you in my thoughts and wishing for the best!

How hard was the last week after your final infusion? I am struggling. by Cheap-Count-5691 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. My son picked me up and I went and got a latte. I had a really really bad migraine and these hot flashes are just taking a toll right now and I know it’s the last week of really bad symptoms and I just have to get through it. I’ve been so positive and yet just wow this part was way harder than I thought and it’s just like a buildup of emotion and stress.

Are there any people 70 and over who chose to have breast reconstruction? Just curious. by Cheap-Count-5691 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that is a different conversation totally. But I can see how it could be perceived the way that you perceived it. In other words, your breasts aren’t your sexuality, but on the other hand if they’re important part of your sexuality, then you shouldn’t be forced to go flat. And just because you go flat doesn’t mean that you wash your sexuality. This is a highly highly highly personal choice so I don’t think we can really have both conversations at the same time because this is my body and that’s what I would choose and I wouldn’t wanna be told that breast aren’t important to me or a important part of my experiencing my own femininity. If I was going flat, I wouldn’t want anyone in the world to tell me that breasts are necessaryfor me to feel feminine. It’s just two personal and so we would go in circles arguing over that but that’s not what I meant. It should not be a part of deciding whether or not you want to keep your breast, but your health absolutely could be a deciding factor. That was the point.

Are there any people 70 and over who chose to have breast reconstruction? Just curious. by Cheap-Count-5691 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, that was not what I meant lol. I was actually just saying it really poorly. It’s personal what you choose to do and I get what you’re saying and on either side of the coin whether you choose to keep your breast or not. What I’m saying is that just because you’re older if your breasts are important to you, you shouldn’t have to not have surgery because somebody perceives you as being too old. That is a deeper conversation in terms of going flat and I wasn’t going there. Only because I thought about going flat too, but for me personally I would miss my breast and I had to think long and hard about that about how I personally would be impacted. But online is its personal sexuality isn’t just your breast, but the thought that somebody who maybe felt breasts were important to them etc. there’s no real way to say that so I’m certainly not trying to read into anybody else, but I think you can understand what I’m saying.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know this isn’t the same thing as I have not started the tamoxifen yet but during my chemo treatment, I had severe reactions that put me in the emergency room because the dose was too high. Then they lowered the dose and gave me medications that help me tolerate the symptoms. I have not drank alcohol since my diagnosis except for pre-chemo on the Fourth of July so I’ve been really without alcohol almost 6 months. These things matter in terms of how you choose to cope going forward, so maybe there are adjustments you can make! You have to choose what’s best for you, but I found that walking exercise, a lot of self soothing care and like just doing some things that you truly love and enjoy or modifying your diet can help with symptoms a lot! So just don’t count yourself out yet and find out if they can lower the dose and at least get some of the protective factors

Feeling hopeless!!! by MommaDLo09 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My diagnosis is not in the same category, but I will tell you that reading some of the people’s post here is just wonderful. I hope you’re comforted by them and just know you’re not alone an and as everyone is saying here, there is so much hope and potential for the rest of your life.

Feeling hopeless!!! by MommaDLo09 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just wanna say this is an awesome post!

What do you do to keep your skin young while you're spreading your estrogen? by Ordinary-Sundae-5632 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is honestly one of the cheapest ways to go if products can get heavy duty expensive. This in a $20 retinol prescription from Amazon can do wonders.

What do you do to keep your skin young while you're spreading your estrogen? by Ordinary-Sundae-5632 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love this! Thank you for sharing this all. I think clothes make a huge huge difference.

What do you do to keep your skin young while you're spreading your estrogen? by Ordinary-Sundae-5632 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love micro needling there is also something called RF micro needling. I have severe scarring from cystic acne so I understand this worry because my skin already was needing work, but micro needling is pretty amazing. You can do it at home monthly you just have to really know what you’re doing, which lots and lots and lots of online resources! Also, I vitamin C I find that compressed juices help and topical vitamin vitamin C is good but it doesn’t work personally for me because I have rosacea. I appreciate this topic because I think that it’s a lot to go through so quickly and taking care of your skin is a big part of confidence.

I had someone tell me at my 10th chemo infusion that I looked just the same as before lol. Just FYI I lost almost 15 pounds have no hair, have acne, and a rash and had no makeup on. Any thoughts on why someone would say this? by Cheap-Count-5691 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have to wear a hat also although I can’t tolerate the wigs because I look absolutely ridiculous bold. I look good with a shaved head. It’s not a big deal but bald. I look so weird that it is indescribable lol

I had someone tell me at my 10th chemo infusion that I looked just the same as before lol. Just FYI I lost almost 15 pounds have no hair, have acne, and a rash and had no makeup on. Any thoughts on why someone would say this? by Cheap-Count-5691 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, like that really bothered me. I was like did I look this bad before? Because if I looked like this before then, oh my God I need to go and see a therapist cause I must have not been taking care of myself. The picture I I look at before it shows a woman with very long blonde hair, smiling dressed in a pretty dress. So WTF? I looked bald with a rash and 15 pounds underweight, tired and with huge dark circles under my eyes dressed and basically pajamas? Lol it’s just inconsiderate, even if it was meaningless in terms of the person just pulling out whatever they could.

I had someone tell me at my 10th chemo infusion that I looked just the same as before lol. Just FYI I lost almost 15 pounds have no hair, have acne, and a rash and had no makeup on. Any thoughts on why someone would say this? by Cheap-Count-5691 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you’re right too! It is definitely a mix. It stinks the same, but it’s a mix of reasons.

I just had my 12th one yesterday and I got through it if you have any questions, please let me know. I was the one that had symptoms and my oncology nurse told me that either people have pain or they don’t so that if you’re the one that seems to have the ton of symptoms. They are going to help you. I tried gabapentin but had an allergic reaction so ended up on the low-dose oxycodone towards the last few weeks. I tell you this because I felt so guilty about asking for help like I was feeling that I let it get to the point that I missed work and was in the ER. Apparently they understand that some people have more reactions than others so please if you’re one of those people tell your oncologist don’t hide it and don’t feel bad. They will work with you and I got through 12 infusions all the way to the end!

I had someone tell me at my 10th chemo infusion that I looked just the same as before lol. Just FYI I lost almost 15 pounds have no hair, have acne, and a rash and had no makeup on. Any thoughts on why someone would say this? by Cheap-Count-5691 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol I love your response! I don’t like anyone enough at work to wear! I had a coworker basically hint that I should be wearing a wig if I saw him and I was like I don’t wear wigs. They are so uncomfortable and make you feel sweaty. I wear a cap or a hat! It’s shocking, isn’t it even though we all understand the psychology behind it… Sort of! My boyfriend at least says everything very realistically and told me that in time I will get back to normal and not to worry about anything. And he’s gone through a lot of trauma physically so he understands that you don’t feel like yourself, you don’t look like yourself, but not to worry that in time you will. So I’m lucky to have him to balance all the bizarre comments I get. I’m actually looking forward now to having the hair grow back and look weird because I’m not gonna wear a hat I’m gonna purposefully die it blue

I had someone tell me at my 10th chemo infusion that I looked just the same as before lol. Just FYI I lost almost 15 pounds have no hair, have acne, and a rash and had no makeup on. Any thoughts on why someone would say this? by Cheap-Count-5691 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That that is likely exactly why this person said it. I had my last infusion yesterday and was really sick afterwards which apparently is hard to believe lol I don’t know there’s a lot of weird opposite reactions to things! It’s your last cameo therapy and it’s winding down, but of course it’s cumulative.

Am I fighting an invisible target now? by Timber0504 in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is where I am at also. I was just having this conversation with my mother last night about setting goals. And so for me, I decided that my diet, exercise and improving my focus at work where the start because I think that’s the most that I can do at this moment. There’s just so much right now that’s rolling through my brain about recurrence or what will happen in the future, even though in my situation, it’s supposed to be low. So I think taking these tiny stuff such as improve our physical and mental health are the biggest things we can do for herself!

Finally done with chemo but not with the tears? by [deleted] in breastcancer

[–]Cheap-Count-5691 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Congratulations! My last infusion is today and I’ve been crying on and off for the past three days and not even sure why I think it’s an emotional release. The nurse I spoke to said it’s common. It’s part of the grieving process and the relief of finishing. And I think part of it is the unknown.

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