I'm exhausted. Just hoping to chat?

@cathrine I am very happy to have you join my club. I NEVER ask for help. I was raised to be very independent "do it yourself, girl".Like you I was so envious of other women in my town who had friends and family rally around them with help and meals. My prickly, standoffish, "nose in the air" manner probably put many people off. I have no family in town, that's just the way it is. And I live remotely with little or no support services.Oh people always asked how I was and I realised that there was care and concern. What I did not realise was, is that others saw me as a strong, coping, independent woman who got on with the job. That's the persona I presented outwardly while I was falling apart on the inside.This forum became my "help". The care, love, support and understanding got me through this very difficult time.Having got through the last two years have I learnt to ask for help? No, it is just not in my nature. What I have learnt is that there is no right way or wrong way in coping. My very Warm (oh so very warm!!) Kimberley wishes to you.Annie

@cathrine Hi! For some people their body settles into the drug with minimal issues and for others...all hell breaks loose! I count myself in the latter half. My joint issues ramped up to the point that i had a 2 month break, that was in the middle of this year. I have been on letrozole for 2 years but an now seriously considering tamoxifen, more seriously than before, due to a drop in my bone density. But that is a discussion i will have with my onco come April next year. And yes, i didn't want help, just understanding and a willingness to keep things on a 'normal' level. I was lucky, i dodged radiation due to a trial I'm on and didn't need chemo. But feeling like an 80yo in my 50s?!! My motto is 'use it or lose it'. Inactivity is my enemy so you'll see me at the gym 3 times a week, in the garden, moving furniture, ripping up carpet, hammering down all the creaks, packing stuff away, unpacking stuff...yep we've been renovating and now my hands hate me but that's what icepacks and rocktape are for. Best of luck with finding ways of coping with the side effects.From another Cath!

Awesome messages. Thank you so much to those all of you. I am sooo much more comfortable chatting on line than in person. Comments of other sole travellers make me laugh, we humans are so complex aren’t we! One of my girlfriends told me last night, Cathrine, you didn’t even have to ask for help, you just had to say yes! That changed the way I have started to think about my journey. I can be less angry with everyone (why I am doing this I do not know). I do think I will try to be more accepting in the future of “sharing” my journey.yes this is my first year on anastrazol , I’ve done a bit of swapping between that and tamoxifen. Absolutely no libido on either, the pain has fallen on me like an avalanche in the past two months. Previously I’ve had little to no pain at all. Im quite an anxious person so I’ve also been on an antidepressant for that for many years. I’m wearing myself down on my dosage of that so that’s all contributing to my discombobulation 😂.im 57, but I’m struggling to find meaning at times. I’m optimistic but am feeling a bit like I’ve come unmoored from the dock!!i was interested in the comment about magnesium, I didn’t know about that so I might try rubbing some of that on.So happy to have found you all, thank You!

Hi @cathrine, Just to say like the others have, a big welcome to this forum and what a great group of women and men we have on here! When we feel a bit low, others lift us, and we can also reach out to others, offering support or just to say hello. We each have our own story, but everyone here understands and 'gets it'. I have been on AI's (Arimidex) for @ 5 months and definitely noticing muscle and joint discomfort/pain. My oncologist suggested magnesium tablets which I have bought but not taken yet. I also am very independent, no hot meals delivered to my door! :( Which is a shame as I am such a bad cook!Sending you my very best wishes,

I was 3 years post treatment and on hormone therapy and not only was everything aching, my heart started skipping beats and then racing. I went off the tablets to get my lame foot to get better so I could actually walk on the stress test treadmill to test the heart and by accident found that it was the pill that was aggravating the heart. Oh well, the oncologist said, 3 years is better than nothing and I could cease the hormone treatment. Most all aches have gone but now my energy levels are a come or go affair if the heart starts skipping. At least it doesn't race at 170bpm any more.

Just want to talk and get some advice

Annie_C
Member
6 years ago
@cathrine

I am very happy to have you join my club. I NEVER ask for help. I was raised to be very independent "do it yourself, girl".

Like you I was so envious of other women in my town who had friends and family rally around them with help and meals. My prickly, standoffish, "nose in the air" manner probably put many people off.

I have no family in town, that's just the way it is. And I live remotely with little or no support services.

Oh people always asked how I was and I realised that there was care and concern. What I did not realise was, is that others saw me as a strong, coping, independent woman who got on with the job. That's the persona I presented outwardly while I was falling apart on the inside.

This forum became my "help". The care, love, support and understanding got me through this very difficult time.

Having got through the last two years have I learnt to ask for help? No, it is just not in my nature. What I have learnt is that there is no right way or wrong way in coping.

My very Warm (oh so very warm!!) Kimberley wishes to you.

Annie
cathrine
Member
6 years ago
I am appalling at asking for help, in fact I warned everyone off during my treatment and did it by myself. Its too hard to let anyone in. I really envied the women I know who had miles of friends with them at chemo, delivered meals and flowers etc. I know I need to open up a bit and ask for help but it is very difficult for me.
cathrine
Member
6 years ago
I just watched a thing on netflix called Heal. It was excellent. I know I need to change my diet, I eat wayyyyyyy to much sugar.
cathrine
Member
6 years ago
I am one year post mastectomy and nearly one year post chemo. Hormone positive cancer, so I am on hormone treatment. I have really sailed through all my treatment. I am a very physically fit and active 57 year old. For the past month I have begun to experience pain in my joints, after waking up, after sitting down even for a short time. I feel like I am 105! I am usually a highly functioning person but today, its getting to me
Kash
Member
6 years ago
We are here for you. Chat about anything you like🤗
arpie
Member
6 years ago
Welcome to BCNA .... Lots of ears & eyes here to help you get thru this tough bit ....

What part of your treatment are you up to? What City/town do you live in? Members may be able to point you to local support services there. xx
Giovanna_BCNA
Member
6 years ago
Hello @cathrine whats been happening?

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