Too Much Estrogen

@dianne
So sorry you are going through all of this----Sorry you must tend to your mom...on top of all this...

can she get home health care even day or two at home to give you a break?

good luck...

tgf said:

Dianne
Sorry you are feeling so down ... but you have good reasons to. I wish I had some brilliant words of wisdom for you ... but I don't. Instead I want to tell you that we are all here for you... so come here and vent away. I do hope you have some help with your mother ... because you are going to be very tired from the radiation and won't have much energy to spare.

Take care of yourself ...

Big hugs,
Teena

i can relate
i can relate i have struggled my whole life with my weight. i lost 135 pounds about 7 years ago by starving myself i must admit it was the unhealthy way of getting it off. once i started eating again i gained every single pound back. so here i am right back with the weight. i had a double masectomy i went to a plastic surgeon to see about reconstruction she told me very boldly i was to fat! so i have gave up on the idea of reconstruction. i wanted to crawl under the chair and hide the only problem i would not fit. all the women in my family have always struggled with their weight. by the way i am 5'4 and 235ibs. i also dont think my weight is going anywhere! i eat healthy and work out but it does not budge.


hugs to you!

teresa

joannstar said:

I've had a weight
problem all my life.
I lost 66 pounds during 2009, then I got married and through celebrating and diagnosis (4 months later) I gained almost all back. That has been the worst part of this journey for me, because no one (onc or rad) would let me lose weight once treatment started. So now I'm finished with all treatment and I can try to focus on losing weight, but it is so hard!!!
I'm 5'8" and weigh about 243...I walked as a SURVIVOR in our Relay for Life on 4/1/11--my last day of treatment and it was so hard--I did 3 laps and figure walking to the park and back was equal to another lap, so I managed to walk a mile.
I know that I must exercise and eat less carbs -- what a challenge.
And on top of this, I'm losing my job and need to start job hunting so I would really like to feel better about myself. As it is, I have 1" long salt and pepper hair (which I like, but I don't look as young as I did with dyed blond hair) and at 58, I'm not sure whether I'll need to start dying my hair again.
Isn't just surviving breast cancer enough??
I totally understand where you are coming from
I wish you luck.
Hugs,
JoAnn

I know some of how you feel
I had a total hysterocomy.That's supposed to lower your estrogen.I was dx with bc cancer years later.I did the right thing and took no hormones with a bc family history.Then after dx I am told I need to take tamoxifin(a anti estogen pill) to block my estrogen.I've never been told my what my levels are but must be high.And my husband says it's high!!!

I've had high blood pressure since I was in my early 30's.I was Watched for 6 months and then put on meds. I believe mine was stress, a major operation with complications and also was in a car wreck(pressure was high after the wreck).Alot going on then.I am 5'1 and 120 lbs.About right.Alot has to do with family history, your body chemistry and like me had alot going on and surgery.Of course I will never go off bp med.Been taking the it for 30 years.If I did my heart would race(get out of whack).

My problem is trying to gain a few pounds.In fact just being 10 lbs heavier would make me feel better about myself. People ask me if I am sick and it upsets me.NO I'm not sick!!!!!!


Some insight and serious consequences

I Wish you the best.Once you are dx with high bp likely not anything is going to change.NEVER go off the meds and if they say you have high pressure take the meds.A friend and classmate decided after taking her bp meds and having a perfect blood pressure for a while to go off it.A few months later she had a stroke.It was devastating.She was in therapy for over a year.Back home in a wheelchair and care from her husband and her daughter that had a young child. Her husband retired to take care of her full time.He was dx with cancer and passed away.Very very sad thing that I will never forget. She's now moved away to be with her son.It got hard for her daughter.We all miss her. She was the brightest, most brilliant, attractive person and now this since she was in her late 40's.Now 64.

Lynn Smith

ms.sunshine said:

I too have to much estrogen
Dr. said same thing to much estrogen. But, I have never been over weight. I am now 40 lbs. over weight thanks to the steroids I had to take during chemo. I do have my ovaries, I wonder if that could be the reason.

I wish you the best, and don't give up.

OOOOPPPPSSS
I answered the estrogen but thought you mentioned high blood pressure.It was a fatty liver and overweight.I am sorry,Forget the high blood pressure part. But do listen to your doctor about the fatty liver.And a risk of cancer.I truly believe that.I have kidney stones.They want to X ray me all the time to see if I have more.IMO all they are doing is maybe making it likely for me to get kidney cancer.

Lynn Smith

Me toooo...
I am in the same boat with you. Have had a weight problem all my life. Even when it was only 10-20 over I was still very big. I am 5'8 1/2" and quite big boned. When I was in the 5th grade I had a 30 in. waist. Teased all my life from family and just would eat to comfort myself. Now I weigh 280 or a little more some days. When I had my lumpectomy I was 281 and went up to 295 on the arimidex and from side effects. I am off the arimidex because of so many side effects but some will never go away. My joints (every where) are so swollen and have to now take rematiod meds. You don't need to anymore bad stuff but know you are not alone. On top of all this my girls weren't and still not there for me. So my husband and I just do what we can. Without him I would be lost. Cancer has been the worst thing and messed me up so badly. If you believe .. it does help me get through most of this. Still bad days but most are bearable. Wish I could do someting about my weight. I know I should walk but will tomorrow .. if you know what I mean.

Just want to let you know you are not alone. I some times go to the chat room on here. They are nice and you can talk back and forth.

Hugs and Prayers to you, Diana (almost same name)

It sounds like you are
It sounds like you are really busy and may not have much time on your hands, but have you thought about joining a gym and working out. Seriously, that was the one thing that helped DH and I both start losing weight. It boosts your metabolism and helps you burn calories even when you're not being active, as long as you do it regularly (about 5 days a week). It was the best thing we ever did for our health! Then after you start that, just cut your portions by 1/3. The exercise combined with consuming a bit less calories will help you lose, slowly, but hey, that's the best way to do it. I understand the struggle! (((HUGS)))

Nancy

Hippiechick58 said:

Thank you Pink Ladies
I want to thank everyone who posted re: my struggle. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are the best! You are all in my thoughts and prayers!

Be Well,
Dianne

I lost 90 lbs Dianne...start slow
Dianne,
Saw your post and had to respond. About 4 years ago I weighed 270 lbs. I gained it gradually over a period of 12 years, from the time my daughter was born. My doc put me on BP meds and I didn't want to have to take them so I vowed I would lose weight. The doc said, "Good Luck but most people don't succeed." That was all I needed...a challenge!

I started very, very slowly...just like you said...I only hit the treadmill each day for 20 mins. I found that getting into the habit of exercising was actually the biggest hurdle. After a few weeks, I had established the habit and started to increase the time I spent on the treadmill. After about 2 years I was on the elliptical at a gym for 50-60 minutes doing very intense workouts AND doing a strength training rotation on the weight machines 3 times a week.

I used the weight watchers plan to diet...and I never felt hungry. The plan gives you a lot of food and you can eat whatever you want. If you want to binge on low fat ice cream all day, go ahead. I do eat a balanced diet though but I am never without my favorite low fat ice cream in the frig!

I lost 93 lbs over a period of 3 years. It was a very slow process. I was down to 177 lbs last summer. Now the downer part. Since last summer I gained 30 lbs. I'm up to 207. But then I was presented a challenge again. BC, chemo, radiation and tamoxifen. "No one can lost weight on tamoxifen." Hmmmmmm...

Last week, I started walking on the treadmill, 30 mins each day. And yesterday, my husband and I went to the gym for the first time since last fall and I managed 30 minutes on the elliptical. I felt very self concious in my wig and 30 lbs heavier amongst all those trim body building kids. But you know what...screw 'em. I'm gonna do it. AND YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!! Try it Dianne. The more you do it, the better you will feel. It will make everyting easier, even taking care of your mom.

Just a last note, on this very lengthy post. Over this past weekend, I told my husband, I want to start going to the gym Monday. When I came home from work yesterday, I had second thoughts and went through a whole meltdown. "I'm not going. I'm too ugly. I'm too fat. Everyone is going to look at me in the wig. I can't do it." My husband was mad. We almost didn't go. But finally I said, "OK, screw it, just 20 minutes. Let's go." And you know what, it felt great! The kids are too busy looking at their own muscle bodies, they didn't even notice me. I can't wait to go back again. As the Nike ad says...just do it. Just that one time. Good Luck. Hope this helps. Sorry so long!!

NJMom10 said:

I lost 90 lbs Dianne...start slow
Dianne,
Saw your post and had to respond. About 4 years ago I weighed 270 lbs. I gained it gradually over a period of 12 years, from the time my daughter was born. My doc put me on BP meds and I didn't want to have to take them so I vowed I would lose weight. The doc said, "Good Luck but most people don't succeed." That was all I needed...a challenge!

I started very, very slowly...just like you said...I only hit the treadmill each day for 20 mins. I found that getting into the habit of exercising was actually the biggest hurdle. After a few weeks, I had established the habit and started to increase the time I spent on the treadmill. After about 2 years I was on the elliptical at a gym for 50-60 minutes doing very intense workouts AND doing a strength training rotation on the weight machines 3 times a week.

I used the weight watchers plan to diet...and I never felt hungry. The plan gives you a lot of food and you can eat whatever you want. If you want to binge on low fat ice cream all day, go ahead. I do eat a balanced diet though but I am never without my favorite low fat ice cream in the frig!

I lost 93 lbs over a period of 3 years. It was a very slow process. I was down to 177 lbs last summer. Now the downer part. Since last summer I gained 30 lbs. I'm up to 207. But then I was presented a challenge again. BC, chemo, radiation and tamoxifen. "No one can lost weight on tamoxifen." Hmmmmmm...

Last week, I started walking on the treadmill, 30 mins each day. And yesterday, my husband and I went to the gym for the first time since last fall and I managed 30 minutes on the elliptical. I felt very self concious in my wig and 30 lbs heavier amongst all those trim body building kids. But you know what...screw 'em. I'm gonna do it. AND YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!! Try it Dianne. The more you do it, the better you will feel. It will make everyting easier, even taking care of your mom.

Just a last note, on this very lengthy post. Over this past weekend, I told my husband, I want to start going to the gym Monday. When I came home from work yesterday, I had second thoughts and went through a whole meltdown. "I'm not going. I'm too ugly. I'm too fat. Everyone is going to look at me in the wig. I can't do it." My husband was mad. We almost didn't go. But finally I said, "OK, screw it, just 20 minutes. Let's go." And you know what, it felt great! The kids are too busy looking at their own muscle bodies, they didn't even notice me. I can't wait to go back again. As the Nike ad says...just do it. Just that one time. Good Luck. Hope this helps. Sorry so long!!

NJ MOM10
That is amazing losing all that weight. I dont have a weight problem but I want Oh so much to gain 10 lbs.It's hard to do.I see what you did and WOW awesome.

Keep up the good work. You will soon be losing the other 30 lbs after your treaments.For the wig I see more and more people just putting on a scarf.I see it all the time when I go shopping.My friend used a scarf but she still had some hair.She didn't lose all her hair.She was a receptionist in a dentist office.She saw alot of people all day.

Neat both you and your husband are working out together.Good luck to both of you.

Lynn Smith