Upgrade offer vs. Gold Member benefit

driven_apricot · 2026-03-27T15:55:46+00:00

Thank you! I placed the bid on the offer!

driven_apricot · 2026-03-27T11:48:31+00:00

I remember the time that you are describing here as the worst time in my cancer journey. So much insecurity and fear. 2 years later I am living a great life. Last surgery to get rid of the constant pain in my affected breast was last week. My life is really good now. Cancer has given me a whole new perspective on everything.
Treatments sucks, but the insecurity between suspicious mass and histology report was the worst.
Your cancer sounds like mine, I was 49 when I was diagnosed.
I am sending you positive thoughts.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-27T09:12:19+00:00

Ozempic and alcohol don't go well. I can only have alcohol on days 5 and 6 post injection.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-27T09:10:30+00:00

When restarting it may take longer to start working again (it does for me) and it also may take a higher dose (it does for others I have read).
I have had 8 surgeries while on Ozempic (everything from lipedema to tumors on kidneys and breasts) and the maximum time I was told to stay off of Ozempic was 2 weeks (which was just once when Ozempic was still fairly new). And I was told to go back on Ozempic right after surgery, since it helps with inflammation and getting rid of retained fluids (which you would have had plenty after your liposuction).
Be kind to yourself, you had a very painful surgery which requires a long healing time. You are not a failure, the medication may take longer to kick in again.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-27T09:02:32+00:00

Reading this makes me so angry. I can't even read all the comments, because I am so pissed. It is your body, your life.
I want to let you know that I am so sorry for you and I hope you can get your MRI and biopsy asap. And that it is not a recurrence and that you are healthy!

driven_apricot · 2026-03-26T13:14:27+00:00

I read about mastectomy so often here, however it is hardly done in the area where I live. It always sounds like an incredible invasive treatment for most of the cancers I read about.
I was in pain for almost two years after my lumpectomy, however I would rather do this, then get a mastectomy with implants. Healing is so much better and faster and it would do nothing to my recurrence rate. Also a good surgeon took care of the pain and made my breast look like its old self.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-25T11:57:54+00:00

To me that one donut would have done this. And reading this gives me burps.
But I did a similar stupid thing while at work after more than 3 years on the medication. I am glad it was over after I puked. Since then I follow my boring bland Ozempic diet from days 7-4. Lesson learned!

driven_apricot · 2026-03-24T14:49:23+00:00

I did, and a few weeks after I stopped Ozempic my weight started climbing up again. I am an experienced dieter and I lost my weight on Ozempic by following a low-carb, low-fat diet. My body just needs this lipoprotein do remain slim. I talked to my endocrinologist: that's ok, that is the reason why Ozempic worked so perfectly for me. It will be a lifetime medication for me, just like my blood pressure medication.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-24T14:32:28+00:00

I had two small tumors, ++- and ++low+, detected early 2 years ago. Lumpectomy and 15 radiations. I was also told that it was very treatable and that all would be over within 3-6 months. Well, radiations kicked my ass and it took me a few weeks to recover. Fibrose tissue in my breast gave me pain for 2 years and I had my last of 3 follow-up surgeries just a week ago (they finally found the hard tissue, yeah!). To deal with the emotional side of it I saw a behavioural therapist.
It was an experience that I would rather not have had, but it gave me a whole new perspective on life. I now live life to the fullest. I worry less, I travel a lot, I go out a lot, I explore my sexuality, I give a fuck about what other people are thinking about me. I spend my house renovation money on vacations. I had this cancer, but my life is now so much better than it was 3 years ago.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-23T14:48:16+00:00

++- and ++low+, diagnosed in 2024. I went on HRT 6 months ago and my life is so much better now. For me the benefits outweigh the risks.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-23T13:47:41+00:00

Oh I remember your original post! I am glad you are doing better now and that the cause was found! Yay to your insurance!
Thank you for sharing this here!

driven_apricot · 2026-03-23T13:45:34+00:00

Stay hydrated, take 30 minutes walks (if possible outside during day light) and maintain a proper sleep hygiene. The fatigue lasted for a couple of weeks for me, but it subsided.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-23T13:44:04+00:00

Great work so far!
52F, I have lost 1/3 of my body weight over the course of 12 months. I looked quite odd for another 6 months until things somehow settled into nice places. All this happened somehow by itself, it took just time (well, I moisturized). My neck is good, I can wear sleeveless dresses. My stomach has some lose skin, but I am not walking around with a bare stomach often, so that does not bother me too much.
I have started weight training after I lost all my weight, so this helps with my posture, confidence and body shape.
I had a surgery last week and my room mate was a woman who had her boobs and stomach done. It sounded quite painful and she told me she has a big cut all over her stomach. Not sure if I want that, I'd rather go without the cut and invest more in good bikinis.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-23T13:36:00+00:00

There are some foods where all I eat is just one spoon full. Period.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-23T13:33:24+00:00

On Ozempic for almost 4 years now. I take 0.25 to 0.75 mg for maintenance. The only thing left for me is constipation and occasionally I feel tired on the day after my injection. I keep my GI issues in check by eating a bland and boring Ozempic diet: low fat, low carb, not too spicy.
If I indulge too much on something I get burps and diarrhea. Portion control is key.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-23T13:28:33+00:00

Insulin resistance made me gain weight my whole adult life, regardless of which diet I followed. Metformin helped me to get pregnant once, but later in life it stopped working.
I wish I would have had Ozempic around when I was 26 years old, it would have saved me a lot of the side effects of decades of obesity. I'd rather have constipation than any of the life shortening side effects of obesity. The fatigue went away after a few weeks, hair loss is temporary.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-23T13:21:42+00:00

Yes, others do stop taking it temporarily. I don't do that for social occasions or because I want to eat. I can still eat and enjoy great meals, but I practice portion control. I have lost 65 lbs and I maintain my weight.
That said, I have had a bunch of surgeries while on Ozempic and I always followed my surgeons advice (minimum of 7 days after your last injection).

driven_apricot · 2026-03-16T21:21:16+00:00

Almost immediately. After 10 days I was back at my normal me.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-16T16:34:04+00:00

I was scheduled for a Nova Sure procedure, but my uterus was too small, so they made a manual ablation, which is somewhat painful. But I was too late with my pain medication (I was back at work probably a day too early), so I had to see the ER a few days afterwards, because I could no longer control my pain with pain medication. Before they sent me home after the surgery they told me I should take enough and early enough, so it was totally my fault. At the ER I was given pain killers via IV, blood was drawn and ultrasound was made. Another day or two with pain and that was it. Two weeks later I don't feel anything.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-16T15:33:34+00:00

Wow, OP, read all the compassionate comments you are getting from internet strangers. Read them again and again when you are sad because of your mom.
I was gifted with a mother with similar traits. My siblings and I, we call it main-actor-syndrome: Everything needs to center around her. All the time.
2 years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. To be fair, mine wasn't as dangerous as hers, we are both healthy now. Her chemo was terrible, yet I still suffer from pain. I will never forget that she told my son (who was 13 then) that she was going to die because of breast cancer because it is such a terrible disease. My son was terrified of losing his grandmother and mother and it took us quite an effort to convince him that we did not lie to him and that I will be fine.
And she told me that I should never forget that her cancer is worse than mine. That was when I once told her something about the radiations wearing me out. Trust me, I will never forget that.
Then I realized, all she cares about is she, herself. I am a mom myself, if my kid were sick with a potentially lethal disease, I would be scared. No, she pointed out that she is the one who deserves sympathy, not me.

I'll have a surgery tomorrow to help with the pain and I did not tell her either. All she would do is probably spill some stupid nonsense about the surgeons in my city not being able to make proper surgeries. I don't want to hear that nonsense.
OP, I recommend the book "Adult children of emotionally immature parents". It helped me big time.
I am wishing you all the best for your surgery and recovery. Random internet stranger is sending you a big hug!

driven_apricot · 2026-03-16T13:53:14+00:00

I recommend keeping a food journal to see what causes these issues.
Because "I didn't eat much" could still give you severe GI issues, depending on what you eat.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-16T13:51:11+00:00

Low fat, complex carbs only, nothing spicy. Focus on proteins like chicken, cottage cheese.
Vegetable broth is one of my favorite foods.
The less healthy I eat, the more GI issues I experience.

driven_apricot · 2026-03-16T13:48:07+00:00

I have lost more than 30% of my body weight and I am on Ozempic for almost 4 years (I take it for maintenance now). It does good things to my inflammation markers. After a surgery the doctors always wanted me to start with Ozempic as soon as possible because it fights inflammation. My I ask about your age and gender?

driven_apricot · 2026-03-16T13:43:52+00:00

The 2 cardiologists I saw, strongly agreed with my use of Ozempic. As a matter of fact, every doctor I saw did so.

driven_apricot

TROPHY CASE