Now what???

AZANNIE
AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
in Anal Cancer #1
I just found out my lab results - vitamin D, thyroid and cholesterol are abnormal. I knew I had low vitamin D before treatment which is unusual since I live in the Southwest. Thyroid test was normal two years ago. Also had a bone density test and will find out that result next week along with what's next for abnormal tests. Always something... I know I need to eat healthier...

Ann

Comments

  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #2
    Just thought of something
    My previous post sounds minor compared to what I've (all of us) have been through, but I was a little upset about the results. I know that chemo and radiation has side effects and I do feel blessed to still be on the planet.

    Ann
  • Dog Girl
    Dog Girl Member Posts: 100
    #3
    What now
    Ann, Yes, take a couple of deep breaths. I guess one upside of surviving anal cancer (or probably any cancer) is that we learn to take things in stride and know we should be able to overcome them. Even though I live in the south I too have low Vitamin D and periodically have to take RX and then switch over to OTC Vit D. Between being in offices and using suncreen, we just don't absorb it like we did probably when we were kids. (How things change! I'm old enough that when I was a teenager not only did we not have suncreen, we used baby oil and iodine to help tan!) I've also been on thyroid medicine for years; way before ac dx. The upside of that is it is one little realitively cheap (generic) pill a day. Actually thyroid disease is the most underdiagnosed disease among women. I don't know if they think you are hypo or hyper thyroid, but if you are hypo, there is a good chance that once you get regulated and get sufficient Vitamin D in your system you may see a pick up in your energy level. I had my bone density level checked last year and I did not have appreciable decline from my baseline test which was about
    2-3 years before tx. Hopefully you will be fine as well. Just remember we all get different side effects, but it shounds like lifestyle changes and rx should be able to
    address alot of these issue. Fortunately (because we are still here to experience it :) ,a lot of this stuff is just what happens to us as we age. Now about that cholesterol.... We all know what we need to do; it's just doing it and I'm as guilty as anyone as far as needing to eat healthlier and exercise more. Good luck; you'll get through this.
  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #4
    Dog Girl said:

    What now
    Ann, Yes, take a couple of deep breaths. I guess one upside of surviving anal cancer (or probably any cancer) is that we learn to take things in stride and know we should be able to overcome them. Even though I live in the south I too have low Vitamin D and periodically have to take RX and then switch over to OTC Vit D. Between being in offices and using suncreen, we just don't absorb it like we did probably when we were kids. (How things change! I'm old enough that when I was a teenager not only did we not have suncreen, we used baby oil and iodine to help tan!) I've also been on thyroid medicine for years; way before ac dx. The upside of that is it is one little realitively cheap (generic) pill a day. Actually thyroid disease is the most underdiagnosed disease among women. I don't know if they think you are hypo or hyper thyroid, but if you are hypo, there is a good chance that once you get regulated and get sufficient Vitamin D in your system you may see a pick up in your energy level. I had my bone density level checked last year and I did not have appreciable decline from my baseline test which was about
    2-3 years before tx. Hopefully you will be fine as well. Just remember we all get different side effects, but it shounds like lifestyle changes and rx should be able to
    address alot of these issue. Fortunately (because we are still here to experience it :) ,a lot of this stuff is just what happens to us as we age. Now about that cholesterol.... We all know what we need to do; it's just doing it and I'm as guilty as anyone as far as needing to eat healthlier and exercise more. Good luck; you'll get through this.

    Dog Girl
    Thanks for the pep talk! lol! I don't know which side of abnormal I'm on, but will find out tomorrow. Just thought I was free from dr. appts. for awhile - at least every six months - lol! I'm doing so much better than this time a year ago (knock on wood). If we can survive cancer treatment, we can survive almost anything!!! Thanks again!!!

    Ann
  • lumbod
    lumbod Member Posts: 1
    #5
    Dog Girl said:

    What now
    Ann, Yes, take a couple of deep breaths. I guess one upside of surviving anal cancer (or probably any cancer) is that we learn to take things in stride and know we should be able to overcome them. Even though I live in the south I too have low Vitamin D and periodically have to take RX and then switch over to OTC Vit D. Between being in offices and using suncreen, we just don't absorb it like we did probably when we were kids. (How things change! I'm old enough that when I was a teenager not only did we not have suncreen, we used baby oil and iodine to help tan!) I've also been on thyroid medicine for years; way before ac dx. The upside of that is it is one little realitively cheap (generic) pill a day. Actually thyroid disease is the most underdiagnosed disease among women. I don't know if they think you are hypo or hyper thyroid, but if you are hypo, there is a good chance that once you get regulated and get sufficient Vitamin D in your system you may see a pick up in your energy level. I had my bone density level checked last year and I did not have appreciable decline from my baseline test which was about
    2-3 years before tx. Hopefully you will be fine as well. Just remember we all get different side effects, but it shounds like lifestyle changes and rx should be able to
    address alot of these issue. Fortunately (because we are still here to experience it :) ,a lot of this stuff is just what happens to us as we age. Now about that cholesterol.... We all know what we need to do; it's just doing it and I'm as guilty as anyone as far as needing to eat healthlier and exercise more. Good luck; you'll get through this.

    thank you
    thanks a lot for this encouraging information i hope so it will give some courge to the people who are worried due to it...
    regards
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    #6
    Dog Girl said:

    What now
    Ann, Yes, take a couple of deep breaths. I guess one upside of surviving anal cancer (or probably any cancer) is that we learn to take things in stride and know we should be able to overcome them. Even though I live in the south I too have low Vitamin D and periodically have to take RX and then switch over to OTC Vit D. Between being in offices and using suncreen, we just don't absorb it like we did probably when we were kids. (How things change! I'm old enough that when I was a teenager not only did we not have suncreen, we used baby oil and iodine to help tan!) I've also been on thyroid medicine for years; way before ac dx. The upside of that is it is one little realitively cheap (generic) pill a day. Actually thyroid disease is the most underdiagnosed disease among women. I don't know if they think you are hypo or hyper thyroid, but if you are hypo, there is a good chance that once you get regulated and get sufficient Vitamin D in your system you may see a pick up in your energy level. I had my bone density level checked last year and I did not have appreciable decline from my baseline test which was about
    2-3 years before tx. Hopefully you will be fine as well. Just remember we all get different side effects, but it shounds like lifestyle changes and rx should be able to
    address alot of these issue. Fortunately (because we are still here to experience it :) ,a lot of this stuff is just what happens to us as we age. Now about that cholesterol.... We all know what we need to do; it's just doing it and I'm as guilty as anyone as far as needing to eat healthlier and exercise more. Good luck; you'll get through this.

    Sun
    Sitting out in the sun for about 10- 15 minutes during non-peak hours (Anytime between 8:30 and 10am for example) can give you most all of the natural vitamin D your body needs, according to Andrew Weil, MD.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/new-recommendation-why-yo_b_446580.html
  • jane marie
    jane marie Member Posts: 5
    #7
    Thyroid and vitamin D
    Ann,
    I too have been having the thyroid problems and various blood issues since chemo and radiation. My thyroid couldn't get regulated, until finally my GP recommended not taking the generic thyroid medicine. It seems the actual name brand synthroid makes the difference! I'm still having the issues with being anemic, B-12, vitamin D and major weight loss, but the thyroid is finally under control! Just a thought.
    Jane
  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #8
    Angela_K said:

    Sun
    Sitting out in the sun for about 10- 15 minutes during non-peak hours (Anytime between 8:30 and 10am for example) can give you most all of the natural vitamin D your body needs, according to Andrew Weil, MD.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/new-recommendation-why-yo_b_446580.html

    Sunshine
    Despite living in the Southwest all my life I still had low vitamin D levels. Apparently being on recess duty numerous times throughout my teaching career didn't help. That's why I was surprised when level was low. Now I will be taking prescription strength vitamin D, plus thyroid medication. I also found out today that I have severe osteoporosis per recent bone density scan that was compared to scan two years ago. The nurse practioner is trying to figure out what medication I should take. He doesn't think calcium and vitamin D supplements will do it. I wasn't given a "heads up" about these side effects from oncologist or radiation oncologist, but I did figure the bones would take a hit due to the radiation. But, yeah, the cancer is gone! I'm going to do some research and visit Dr. Weil's website. Thanks for info.

    Ann
  • Dog Girl
    Dog Girl Member Posts: 100
    #9
    jane marie said:

    Thyroid and vitamin D
    Ann,
    I too have been having the thyroid problems and various blood issues since chemo and radiation. My thyroid couldn't get regulated, until finally my GP recommended not taking the generic thyroid medicine. It seems the actual name brand synthroid makes the difference! I'm still having the issues with being anemic, B-12, vitamin D and major weight loss, but the thyroid is finally under control! Just a thought.
    Jane

    generic vs brand name RX
    I've also heard that the name brand rx can make a difference, not only in thyroid medicine, but other medicine as well. I don't know if that is something commonly known by us non medical folks. Fortunately for me, I get along fine with the cheap (generic) synthroid.

    I know just enough to be dangerous, but I think most folks with thyroid disease get medicine with T3, but some people also need T4 as well. You would have to research it to get a better feel for what that means since as I said, I am no doctor (but I did play one on TV - HA! just kidding!)
  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #10
    Dog Girl said:

    generic vs brand name RX
    I've also heard that the name brand rx can make a difference, not only in thyroid medicine, but other medicine as well. I don't know if that is something commonly known by us non medical folks. Fortunately for me, I get along fine with the cheap (generic) synthroid.

    I know just enough to be dangerous, but I think most folks with thyroid disease get medicine with T3, but some people also need T4 as well. You would have to research it to get a better feel for what that means since as I said, I am no doctor (but I did play one on TV - HA! just kidding!)

    Dog Girl
    I have the generic thyroid med. Will take the first pill tomorrow morning. I've heard that too about name brand rx. Well, I'll find out if I'm reenergized in the next few days - don't know how long it takes to kick in. I have a 30 day supply and then will have lab work done again next month.
    Guess I need to get an exercise bike or start going to the gym and use my Silver Sneakers benefit - lol!
    Thanks for your input!

    Ann
  • jane marie
    jane marie Member Posts: 5
    #11
    AZANNIE said:

    Dog Girl
    I have the generic thyroid med. Will take the first pill tomorrow morning. I've heard that too about name brand rx. Well, I'll find out if I'm reenergized in the next few days - don't know how long it takes to kick in. I have a 30 day supply and then will have lab work done again next month.
    Guess I need to get an exercise bike or start going to the gym and use my Silver Sneakers benefit - lol!
    Thanks for your input!

    Ann

    Thyroid
    Ann,
    I've had a thyroid "problem" for years. I wound up having part of it taken out because of so much scar tissue. Through the years I've learned what works for me.The instructions say to take the meds in the morning, but I take it at night. I don't know why, but when I take it in the morning I'm good for 8 hours and then crash. Also, make sure you don't take it with any calcium or it won't get absorbed correctly. It will take a couple weeks, but you'll be amazed how well you feel when it's in check. When the thyroid is out of wack it affects your stomach, your hair, your nails, everything. Hopefully, they'll get it right soon. Good Luck, it really is an easy fix, once they get a handle on it.
    Jane

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