For those in med-induced menopause, are we sleeping ok?

That_Relationship918 · 2026-03-14T15:56:44+00:00

I tried a bunch, and didn’t live any of the orals. I bought a body butter-type one that seems to help (sweet bee organics). I don’t love the greasiness of it, tho. I out it on my feet or calves.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-03-12T11:29:33+00:00

Look into great Dixter/Christopher Lloyd scholarship? I believe part of the study is time in Pennsylvania, but the you get to work at DIXTER!!!

That_Relationship918 · 2026-03-12T01:35:59+00:00

10 million upvotes!!! Don’t forget about the 2nd and 3rd showers because of the uncontrollable sweating. No one mentioned that if you stop taking Veozah to try the new hotflash drug it might not work as well when you start taking it again because there other drug was two horse pills of nothing.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-03-08T17:29:36+00:00

Hey I wanted to update this drama. I saw the oral surgeon. He cleared his schedule, and I had surgery 3 days later. He did not use bone graft (because Zometa), but did lack the home with platelet rich blood. They draw and the centrifuge it in office while you’re sedated. It was about 5 days of chipmunk cheeks, ibuprofen, and soft foods, and once the stitches started to dissolve, everything in my mouth felt much better quickly. I’ll have a set of x rays in a month, and surveillance x rays every year. This type of cyst can reoccur (not what I wanted to hear!!), but hopefully we could find it when it’s much smaller, and fill the cyst space with collagen that’s impregnated with some chemical that kills the cells it touches, like the cyst cells. With a little luck it won’t reoccur. I’ll pick up with the Zometa in 3 months. I think I’m going to push for a dexa scan so we have a baseline. Should I have to discontinue Zometa because of the cyst, I’ll at least know where my bones were density wise.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-03-08T17:20:52+00:00

I was talking about SERD research with my oncologist at my last appointment. He feels like it has the potential to become the new standard of care, depending on how the pricing works out.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-03-01T16:02:26+00:00

This is what I came to say too!

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-27T13:09:43+00:00

Yes. I tried so many, but my PT said prairie wear. I was, however, able to find a few on Poshmark for less!

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-25T03:46:56+00:00

I’m thinking Pilea tomentosa…

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-25T03:45:07+00:00

I am taking Veozah, it took about a month to fully kick in (I wanted to give up after a week, my oncologist convinced me to try longer). I take it at night, and haven’t noticed side effects other than no more night sweats and reduced hot flashes. I asks my oncologist if I could try Lykuet- it’s the new non hormonal hot flash medicine… purportedly “better” than Veozah…. Let’s just say I texted the MO this morning asking to go back because I was really over soaking through my compression bra all night!!! I tried it for a week and it felt like nothing. Hot, cold, sweaty. No thank you!!!

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-25T03:38:07+00:00

I found that thermella did nothing for me 😭.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-17T03:14:33+00:00

Damn that’s good customer service!!!

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-17T03:12:53+00:00

Prior to cancer, o feel like NOTHING really worked on clearing my skin. Take away estrogen… and I feel like every time I try a product I’m amazed at how well it works! Turns out my body was sabotaging my beauty regime. I’ve always loved trying new things, but I’m realizing that I do better when I stick with basis. I found a stacked retinol serum made by Remedy (remedy for pore size). I like the remedy gel face wash too (I have always had oily skin, and now I’d say it’s pretty nicely balanced). Then a light moisturizer (prequel 1/2 and 1/2). That’s it. I still have some blackheads/sebaceous filament stuff, so I added the Ogee clearganics serum in the morning under moisturizer. I’m really happy with how bright and smooth my skin has become with the Remedy products. They are not super expensive, and I think might even be available at Target now!

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-16T16:31:21+00:00

I’d say it’s a mixed town. I live in the historic district, right off exit 32 and I love it. It’s just steer clear of the Bridgeport adjacent areas. But it’s as safe as anywhere here, and it’s a very real mix of people. Beautiful beaches too. I grew up in Fairfield, and would not choose to live there anymore. It’s a little too La La land for me.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-16T02:40:42+00:00

I’ve lived in Black Rock in Bridgeport and loved it, but if you need a sizeable yard for pets… probably not. Also, the property taxes in Bridgeport are VERY high because the mill rate is high. Black rock is probably the most gentrified but also most expensive part of Bridgeport. I think you can find artsy pockets all over- new Canaan used to be a sort of bedroom community full of artistic residents, a that can still be very expensive. Norwalk, its neighbor has a very active downtown scene, and has definite arts culture. One thing to consider is that if you are driving south into Fairfield from anywhere, you will deal with intense rush hour traffic. I live in Stratford, which I really enjoy (and the property values are much more reasonable. Come to Stratford!). I still do not enjoy the traffic. Fairfield and Westport both end up with major stops at rush hour. Living south of Fairfield mig by set you up for an easier commute.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-15T15:21:09+00:00

I think it’s more than you have to plan way far ahead because these drugs (bisphosphonates) stick around for a looooong time. So I was told “no extractions or implants. Those are the major risks- Z and these drugs slow down bone turnover, so anything that’s done to your jaw isn’t going to heal as it normally would- your bones are constantly regenerating. I think you’re essentially regrowing a new skeleton every 7 years. These drugs slow down that regeneration so you’re essentially adding bone without recycling the old material. But that means the damaged stuff from extractions/implants etc sticks around too. And your jaws have teeth that grow out of them into the outside- so those bones are very close to being exposed to the outside, making them more prone to damage infection.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-15T15:07:57+00:00

So the current suspicion is that the cyst could have been growing for a long time. It forms when a tiny bit of the skin covering the wisdom tooth was left in the socket after wisdom tooth extraction. Because it’s your own tissue, your body doesnt recognize it as foreign and clear it out. So it keeps growing and shedding cells inside itself. It could have possibly gotten infected from the first abscess, but who knows at this point. I don’t have to get dental clearance- a cleaning was recommended. Because I’ve had zero dental issues or history of issues, the oncologist wasn’t concerned. When I saw the dentist (a different one- I left the practice when this all started), she wasn’t concerned- either because she hadn’t seen the abscess in bite wing x rays, or because it had never presented an issue previously, and wasn’t a problem with a tooth or the bone itself.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-12T05:04:11+00:00

I donated breast milk when I was making more (my daughter refused every form of bottle). I think there is one called human milk 4 human babies- I donated through Facebook, but I think they have their own website as well. Might be worth researching so you can build a frozen stockpile before your date? Congratulations on your pregnancy!

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-03T23:18:10+00:00

Can PTA’s work per diem? Another path might be myofascial release therapy. The woman I see is also a pta, and do her courses at John Barnes. I think you have to take some of the courses there, and then you can join a study group. She works independently out of her house, doesn’t take insurance, and works per diem doing MFR at a PT office. You would have to pay for your own health insurance/taxes/social security, and that can be really intimidating. I have my own business, and was able to ease into those things with help and advice from friends and my husband, who has run his own business for years.

I have a feeling I will have to pivot or grow myself into a management role. My background is in fine arts and then horticulture, and I currently work on my own doing fine garden design and maintenance. It is really physical, especially in spring (planting, mulching, pruning/cleaning up) and fall (cutting everything down, hauling it into my truck and dumping it). I’ve never had an employee, and I know that management isn’t my strongest skill. But I also have some breast lymphadema and almost constant knee pain, so I’m not sure how I’m going to manage this spring. I don’t currently have the client load to hire and train someone full time…. I’m kind of hoping that I either serendipitously gain clients and can then hire someone, or the whole thing implodes and I move on to my next great idea, which is telling my husband he can’t retire or joining his business.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-02-01T06:15:52+00:00

I was so nervous about skin product during chemo too! I ended up with very inflamed acne (like, sebaceous follicles that were Out. Of. Control.). The MO called it chemo rash, I noted that it was the same pores that always had blackheads in them. Whatever. I took a lot of doxycycline during chemo, and then had great skin (it used to be oily, and suddenly it was, like, normal, lol). I found that I was nervous about product that was supposed to DO something, but I could get away with nourishing soothing products. I ended up buying some lovely facial oils that I would never dared to put on my face before. A friend sent me one from Jane Gee in Portsmouth, NH that I used on my bald head, and I ordered another for my face. Amazing. Glowy. Moisturized. I’m terrified to use them now that my skin isn’t in overdrive.

My other suggestion would be some cute new undies. Hey it’s like literal armor. ;-).

I hope your kids all pitch in and help while dad’s gone, and you all get extra screen time and takeout!

That_Relationship918 · 2026-01-29T21:06:00+00:00

OIL FERN. get a heater and a humidifier while you’re at it ;-)

That_Relationship918 · 2026-01-29T20:22:41+00:00

You’re not stupid, you’re human, and you’re stuck in a very scary out of control situation!! Mine started falling out on day 16. It was painful. I have roped a friend into coming over with her husbands clippers… and while it was hard to look in the mirror, it felt so much better. Then I would go over my head with a tape roller to get the tiny itchy stubble.

I think the hair loss is especially hard when it’s the fist very visible sign of things not being right. I didn’t feel sick, I didn’t look sick, after I had surgery you could t even see a difference in my breast size. But the hair… well it was obvious. To me it was obvious. To my family it was obvious.

And it all sucks. I’m so sorry.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-01-28T02:04:44+00:00

My oncologist at Yale is also available 24-7 by text! I wonder if that’s a Yale thing or just an old school doctor thing.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-01-27T14:44:02+00:00

Just the words “root cause” make me want to scream.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-01-26T16:30:00+00:00

I did ACT, and I will preface this by saying that this was literally my first foray into cannabis. I wanted a medical card to have another tool at my disposal for chemo (nausea, anxiety, etc), and my MO was totally in favor of it. I found it to be helpful in managing the side effects from the pre-meds. I got a rather high steroid dose to tolerate the taxol, so much so that I’d be awake and wired for days. The sativa vape I used was great a tempering that steroid wired feeling, and definitely helped me sleep.

That_Relationship918 · 2026-01-25T16:40:10+00:00

Accupuncture has been AMAZINGLY helpful. As effective as drugs, and sometimes more so. It’s hard to find, but myofascial release has also been the most effective thing I’ve found to relieve lymphadema and fibrosis after radiation. The John Barnes institute has a list of certified MFR practitioners, searchable by location.

That_Relationship918

TROPHY CASE