New to blogging

Is it Jess? Welcome to this fantastic network. I was like you with no experience with Facebook or anything and it took me a few months to get up the nerve to use this blog. But when I did I found it invaluable. I have kept my sanity by reading all the blogs from women who were inspirational and so so supportive of each other and now of me. Who understood exactly what I was going through having walked in my shoes. I'm so glad I did find BCNA and started posting. Yes I am in about the same position as you having been diagnosed just before last Christmas with two lumps, one triple negative and one triple positive so I had a lumpectomy followed by chemo followed by mastectomy and immediate reconstruction and I'm still having a few health issues, but they are under control. I'm still having three weekly Herceptin intravenously and I've been on Femara for a few months now which I'll continue for 5 to 10 years. Femara is the post menopausal equivalent of Tamoxifen if you didn't know already. I had forced menopause from chemo but I was peri menopausal just before my diagnosis. I have been experiencing increasing side effects of insomnia, headaches, dryness, bone aches and continuing neuropathy in my hands and feet (left over from chemo), hot flushes, irritability etc. and like you I have an understanding husband because when it comes to it, what sex life! I have talked with my Oncologist and she wants me to persevere for the next 12 to 18 months. Then she says the symptoms should settle down. I'm willing to give it this time as long as the symptoms don't worsen too much. I'm not looking forward to the summer though at all! I'm trying to walk every day and do weight bearing exercises at least once every week. I'm drinking plenty of water, a new habit from the chemo (I never drank enough water before) and eating a healthy diet, mostly. I guess that's all I can do for the time being. I'll have to wait and see but we are all used to the waiting game on this journey aren't we. I think you're right that we don't go back to 'normal' after BC but I'm accepting a new normal now and hoping that every day I will improve in strength and gradually get my energy back. I've learnt to take things one day at a time. At least I can say that the cancer is gone. I guess it will take time for me to fully recover from all the crap that my body has gone through this year. I'm giving myself another year to find my new 'old self' as there will still be adjusting to do with returning to work, losing some weight, getting fit again but I have no doubt that I will get there. I hope your symptoms stay mild Jess. You sound like a very strong woman especially losing your mother at such a young age. It must have been such an awful thing to hear that you also had your mother's diagnosis. Give yourself some more time Jess. I'm sure you will find your new normal will be better and better. Love Janey xxx