Help Please

Some anti estrogen medications may cause depression. She needs to talk to her oncologist. Lost that comes with breats cancer is huge. It is so understanble she is depressed.

She needs to seek treatment. a therpaist is the best place to start

tkaysmiles said:

help

Have talked to her Dr. Their response was to try another and then another. I loved MD Anderson and the care they gave her until it came to those drugs. They pushed them on her relentlessly when I wasn't around. Made her feel like if she didn't take them she would get her cancer back. Then finally said they have never seen such a reaction to this medication. She was NOT like this prior to taking it. She had depression issues years ago but it was always managageble. I fully believe that this medication messed with her hormones in such a way and now her body won't go back to normal. We live in a small area so there are no support groups. And she just feels like it is her and she is crazy. Was hoping people on the Tamoxofen (sorry for spelling) might have experienced the same thing. 

You say her Dr. just keeps trying different meds - is this Dr a psychiatrist or her oncologist?  If it is just her oncologist then I'd try to get her in to see a psyciatrist who is very knowledgeable in dealing with PTSD (Post Tramatic Stress Disorder).  PTSD is very real and the sooner one is in treatment - the better the results.  PTSD is very real and does on only 'happen' to those who have been in war/terrorist situtations - any tramatic experience can trigger it.  (Hubby still deals with it from his childhood that was not DX'd until an adult.)

Has her Vitamin D level been checked?  Low D can definately mess with your emotions/energy.  (I deal with SAD [Seasonal Affective Disorder] so I have to take mega doses to keep level up - not as much in summer as I spend quite a bit of time outside but definately during the winter along with using my light box.)

How about her thyroid?  Hypothyroidism can mess you also.  Chemo will sometimes 'play' with the thyroid.  Depending where rads were done, they can also mess with thyroid.

Has diabetes been ruled out?

There are many issues that can cause the problems she is dealing with.  Could also be a combination of 2 or more.

Winyan - The Power Within

Susan

tkaysmiles said:

doctors

Her ocologist tried all of the estrogen sucking drugs until finally she agreed that my mom had the worst reaction she has ever seen to the drugs and agreed not to push them any longer. She has been seeing a psychiatrist through out the entire process as well who has tried different combinations of anti depressants, anxiety meds with no sucess at all. The shaking and uneasiness never goes away. She has hed thyroid issues but all tests indicate it is in the normal range so they won't touch it. This did not happen until they messed with her estrogen. Since then she has not been the same. That is why I am convinced it is those drugs and the after effects of them causing this. 

 

I have tried to discuss accupuncture with her too and it might be an option but it isnt' coverered by insurance and she is afraid she doesn't have the money. 

 

Has anyone ever gone on bio-identical estrogen after having estrogen positive cancer??? wondering if that is an option for her? 

I have no idea of what to try next for your Mother except maybe seek another opinion?  Have her looked at by another doctor?  If she can't afford it, could you help her or her other children, if she has some?

I feel so bad for her and for you. 

Hugs, June

tkaysmiles said:

thank you

That is what I am researching now. Anyone that might be able to help her. I can't imagine living the way she has for this long. It's really not that she can't afford it per se but that she is afraid about money because she isn't working. Thank you all for your responses. I am really all the support my mom has. I'm going to suggest she get on here too and talk to someone. I tried to find a local support group but apparently they disbanded last year. I just don't know if she will. I got her a few books to start reading to see if anything was similar but she hasn't done that either. I think she is resigned to this being her life and she will just waste away to nothing. I do make her get out daily and walk with me for 20-30 minutes. And I make sure she gets a good meal most days. I'll just keep trying. I know my mom is there somewhere. I just miss the person she was before all of this! 

I've been on Tamoxifen 9 mos but haven't seen side effects at all.  Everyone is different.  I always worry about what could be happening inside my body, courtesy of the drug!  I know you're worried, and I hope you can find help for your mom.  Linda

I have battled mental illness since I was a child. I was far worse than your mother is right  now with the severe anxiety, severe, depression, agoraphobia, and bipolar disorder. Most psychiactric medicines need to time to start working. I found that pills alone don't always work. A good therapist who can work on ways to change the thoughts, a good psychaitrist to handle the meds, and a willingness to change all the negative thoughts. It is A LOT of work. Constantly switching meds can't be a good thing for the system. Like I said, they need time. I found that medicines can help, but the thought process is still there. That is where a good counselor would come in handy.

I realize she is on Medicare and only allowed a certain number of therapist visits, but there are some county run mental health hospitals and clinics that will pro rate the bills.

It is a long hard road that requires so much work to come out of where she is. 

There is something that says insanity is doing the same things but expecting different results. I know how hard it is. For over a year, I bathed about once a month, only left the apt. about once a month to go to the local food pantry, I got fired from my job because I couldn't call them or my doctor for help. I lost a lot of weight. Leaving the house wsa so overwhelming I couldn't take it. All the colors and sounds once I left the apt. only increased my anxiety. I fianlly came out of it, but I needed a lot of work physically through medications, emotionally and pyschologically needed tremendous work to change how I was thinking...substituting positive thoughs for the negative. My mother enabled me. She should have had me committed some how but then I really wasn't a danger to myself.

I live with terrible pain everyday. Some times I think I will go crazy from it. Sometimes it is better, sometimes worse. I also have a lot of other health issues besides the mental. I constantly have to work on not going back to the crazy I lived in before. It is damn hard work.

I have been struggling with depression and anxiety since being on AI's.  I had to try a lot of different anti-depressants until I found a combination that is working (mostly) for me.  Don't let your mom give up.  A good therapist and psychiatric care can make a big difference in her life.  It is really hard and painful.  Thank you for being such a loving daughter.  It can't be easy for you. xoxoxoxo Lynn

tkaysmiles said:

Thanks

Thank You all for your responses. They actually made me cry. My mom is seeing a counselor on Thursday. She is very negative about it and doesn't think it will help. I am pushing her to go with an open mind and at least use the experience to make a plan and be proactive with her situation. Tried getting her to walk with me last night. she lasted 15 very slow minutes. Even getting in our garden and picking tomatoes freaked her out. It's just heartbreaking to me. Going to suggest the Post Traumatic Stress disorder area with her too. I know that has to be part of it. but just the screwing with all her hormones did not help her at all either. 

This is very sad and I am so very sorry that you and your mom are going through this.  I will be praying for her.