The New Normal

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natly15
natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
in Breast Cancer #1
2 years ago at this time I was in the throws of chemo, had no hair, ached from head to toe, had an aversion to smells and foods and felt quite bloated. I was also dealing with a raging infection at the surgical site and took antibiotics for 8 months. I went thru all the necessary motions and almost 2 years later I'm still trying to find myself as I seek that new normal.

I take femara, and have some joint pain and a lot of insomnia. It seems I've been sick most of 2011 with colds, flue, bronchitis and a touch of bronchial pneumonia. This past Sunday I again started feeling achy, TIRED and sneezy. I know once one has chemo the susceptibility to these things increases due to our compromised immune systems. My energy level is nothing to speak of. I push myself to do things but mostly would prefer to just sit because I have no energy. I take a multi vitamin, D,calcium, C but they just dont seem to help like days of old. My weight is up about 7 pounds since treatement and I beleive it is from being sick and sedentary. I go to the gym when I'm not sick however that has been infrequent.

How are some of you other gals doing post treatment? Are you on any special diets for energy and weight loss. I know we are all different and age does factor in, I'll be 69 in January, but would appreciate any positive input I can use with this new normal. Would love to hear what you are doing and what has helped you to get back on track. Thanks a Mil.

Comments

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #2
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    Natly
    I am exactly 3 years out of Chemo, less than 3 since I finished radiation, on Tamoxifen, took Arimidex, having osteoporosis, and 20 years younger. I do have my good and bad days.
    My diet What I do not eat
    Sugar
    White flour
    Fast food
    Coke and any soda
    Fried foods

    I walk almost every day (thanks to the California weather) for 40 min
    Protein reach foods, fruits and vegetables,, non weat grains.
    Natly,
    I am sure you are going to have a better year. In the coming year you will see improvements, feel more energetic, stronger immune response. Please believe in yourself. Recovery after Chemo is a gradual process which takes time. Please be patient, success is coming your way.
    Hugs'
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #3
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    New Flower said:

    Natly
    I am exactly 3 years out of Chemo, less than 3 since I finished radiation, on Tamoxifen, took Arimidex, having osteoporosis, and 20 years younger. I do have my good and bad days.
    My diet What I do not eat
    Sugar
    White flour
    Fast food
    Coke and any soda
    Fried foods

    I walk almost every day (thanks to the California weather) for 40 min
    Protein reach foods, fruits and vegetables,, non weat grains.
    Natly,
    I am sure you are going to have a better year. In the coming year you will see improvements, feel more energetic, stronger immune response. Please believe in yourself. Recovery after Chemo is a gradual process which takes time. Please be patient, success is coming your way.
    Hugs'

    Sweet Nat....
    I hate that you've gone through all this post treatment....after my first go round it took me about 6 months for my energy level to return to some what normal......won't go into now, with my recurrence...my chemo drug for now, Xeloda, has been kind to me so far...on an upped dosage this week and I do tire more easily...

    Long story short, I was soooo prone to bronchitis and pneumonia, until I took the pneumonia vaccine 4 years ago...it is good for 5 years..then you take the second vaccine...have you had this? If not you might consider it...I also fought adult onset allergies....big time!!!! Until 14 months ago..I chewed Orbit Sweet mint sugarless gum...ALL THE TIME! I started making a connection...every time I put a fresh piece in my mouth I would hack my head off! Come to find out, I was allergic to the " sugarless" ingredient in it...I never eat or drink anything sugarless...I would have allergy attacks that would last as long as 9 weeks,which always turned into bronchitis and pneumonia twice... I have been totally allergy free for 14 months since giving up sugarless gum...coincidence? Don't think so...I took prescription allergy meds for 11 years....I know just take the generic brand of Zyrtec, the CVS brand...I take one, without fail everyday...so, if you eat sugar free anything, try giving it up..it may or may not help, like it did me...

    My oncologist says as far as eating, just eat as healthy as possible and avoid sugar free foods...which I do. With my recurrence, what the heck!!! I eat what I want,with the exception of the above...he said no particular diet can prevent cancer...your weight gain is more than likely due to the Femara....a friend of mine has gained 13 pounds since she started Tamoxifen a year ago...and this is one active woman! She's 53 and plays " big league" tennis, a minimum of 3 times a week..I've known her to play 7 days a week...the weight doesn't budge!

    Don't know if any of this rambling will be of any help....be kind to yourself...listen to your body...if you're tired,rest and don't be despondent, or feel guilty. You're special to me and I feel bad that post treatment you're still searching for your new normal...I'm at peace with my recurrence...it is what it is...like all of the pink sisters, we do what we have to do! I just take my chemo drugs, monthly infusion of Zometa, and wait for what's around the corner..but I enjoy everyday...

    Wishing you better days and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! And may the New Year be kind to us all...
    Big hugs, Nancy
  • Sunrae
    Sunrae Member Posts: 808
    #4
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    MAJW said:

    Sweet Nat....
    I hate that you've gone through all this post treatment....after my first go round it took me about 6 months for my energy level to return to some what normal......won't go into now, with my recurrence...my chemo drug for now, Xeloda, has been kind to me so far...on an upped dosage this week and I do tire more easily...

    Long story short, I was soooo prone to bronchitis and pneumonia, until I took the pneumonia vaccine 4 years ago...it is good for 5 years..then you take the second vaccine...have you had this? If not you might consider it...I also fought adult onset allergies....big time!!!! Until 14 months ago..I chewed Orbit Sweet mint sugarless gum...ALL THE TIME! I started making a connection...every time I put a fresh piece in my mouth I would hack my head off! Come to find out, I was allergic to the " sugarless" ingredient in it...I never eat or drink anything sugarless...I would have allergy attacks that would last as long as 9 weeks,which always turned into bronchitis and pneumonia twice... I have been totally allergy free for 14 months since giving up sugarless gum...coincidence? Don't think so...I took prescription allergy meds for 11 years....I know just take the generic brand of Zyrtec, the CVS brand...I take one, without fail everyday...so, if you eat sugar free anything, try giving it up..it may or may not help, like it did me...

    My oncologist says as far as eating, just eat as healthy as possible and avoid sugar free foods...which I do. With my recurrence, what the heck!!! I eat what I want,with the exception of the above...he said no particular diet can prevent cancer...your weight gain is more than likely due to the Femara....a friend of mine has gained 13 pounds since she started Tamoxifen a year ago...and this is one active woman! She's 53 and plays " big league" tennis, a minimum of 3 times a week..I've known her to play 7 days a week...the weight doesn't budge!

    Don't know if any of this rambling will be of any help....be kind to yourself...listen to your body...if you're tired,rest and don't be despondent, or feel guilty. You're special to me and I feel bad that post treatment you're still searching for your new normal...I'm at peace with my recurrence...it is what it is...like all of the pink sisters, we do what we have to do! I just take my chemo drugs, monthly infusion of Zometa, and wait for what's around the corner..but I enjoy everyday...

    Wishing you better days and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! And may the New Year be kind to us all...
    Big hugs, Nancy

    Hi Natly, I've been
    Hi Natly, I've been wondering how you are, sounds like you're not there yet on the new normal. I'm on the same track you are with my treatments being finished for over a year but it's still been a rough year for me too. I've been in ER 4 times over the past year, 2 times this summer with heart blockage and my immune system is not working very well. I've had several infections, the latest a couple of weeks ago, which lasted about a week. I just had my annual mammo and checkup. Mammo went okay but my surgeon checked my scar area from the masectomy, found a small lump, had an ultrasound, which showed something. Next thing I knew, she biopsied the lump last Wed. and now I'm waiting for the results. She thinks it will be benign and so do I. Just wanted to let you know that all this will pass and one day soon you'll wake up and feel good. I feel good now, my energy is returning and I look forward to each day. My onc did switch me from Femara to Arimidex this week. I've been off Femara for 3 months and feel so good but it might not last long if I have bad side effects from Arimidex. Hopefully, this will work for me. She wants me to try to stay on something for at least 3 years but so far its only been about 9 months. Hopefully you can keep the side effects at bay and get some rest. I have gained about 15 pounds due to either the post treatments or insulin I have to take. I have been drinking Gatorade for the electrolytes and that may be giving me energy. Hope you get to feeling better soon, would love to get with you in Jan. or Feb. Love, Sunrae
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #5
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    Sunrae said:

    Hi Natly, I've been
    Hi Natly, I've been wondering how you are, sounds like you're not there yet on the new normal. I'm on the same track you are with my treatments being finished for over a year but it's still been a rough year for me too. I've been in ER 4 times over the past year, 2 times this summer with heart blockage and my immune system is not working very well. I've had several infections, the latest a couple of weeks ago, which lasted about a week. I just had my annual mammo and checkup. Mammo went okay but my surgeon checked my scar area from the masectomy, found a small lump, had an ultrasound, which showed something. Next thing I knew, she biopsied the lump last Wed. and now I'm waiting for the results. She thinks it will be benign and so do I. Just wanted to let you know that all this will pass and one day soon you'll wake up and feel good. I feel good now, my energy is returning and I look forward to each day. My onc did switch me from Femara to Arimidex this week. I've been off Femara for 3 months and feel so good but it might not last long if I have bad side effects from Arimidex. Hopefully, this will work for me. She wants me to try to stay on something for at least 3 years but so far its only been about 9 months. Hopefully you can keep the side effects at bay and get some rest. I have gained about 15 pounds due to either the post treatments or insulin I have to take. I have been drinking Gatorade for the electrolytes and that may be giving me energy. Hope you get to feeling better soon, would love to get with you in Jan. or Feb. Love, Sunrae

    Life will never be normal
    Life will never be normal now.I've changed alot of things.I am glad about one thing reading what MAJW said.No special diet can prevent cancer.I feel that way but I read different.I eat some soy but not like others I know who are vegetarians.I know a few with breast cancer and they still eat tofu even after dx.The one thing that has soy is ENSURE and I won't drink that even though it would help me gain the 10-15 lbs I need.I stay away from Propanie heaters that we used for the spay clinics I organize.I purchased 4 electric heaters to heat the building.I try my best to stay away from my husband who smokes but he thinks if I'm in the computer room he can light up.Upsets me.Of course I never thought about cigarette smoke before but do now.Stay away fireplaces and other burning but used to love a bonfire.Now it is burning our paper towards the cornfield behind our house.I stay inside. I read also about exhausts from cars being bad.Now how can we stay away from the fumes when we go to a drive thru or even get out of our car to go inside a restaurant. Cleaning produts have really changed for me.I now use enviromentally safe products. Not the strong fresh clean smell the other products have.

    For eating I love brocolli so try to eat that a few times a week.Drink FUSION for my antioxidents. You can get your fruits and vegetables by drinking that.I drink alot of that and my caffeine free coke.Haven't changed alot of my eating habits but stay away from produts high in soy but there are things I eat with some soy.

    We used to make soy candles.Everyone loves them and we are cheap.Now I stay away from that.When we get a order my husband has moved to the shed.Not in the basement now.It is so inconvient but I can't stand to smell the strong odor from making them.This year was my frist year in over 6 years I just couldn't bring myself to do craft shows. I know I was missed by my customers.It's changed my life so much.

    So many changes that it is definetly a new way of life.I don't think those who haven't been dx understand how our lives change. My husband came in as I was typing this. As he walked away it brought tears to my eyes thinkng of how cancer can change you, your lifestyyle, eating habits etc. Not counting our lives are uncertain/unpredictable.

    Lynn Smith

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