Catch up

all the best

and YAY to no drugs.. we definitely have had our fill of those...

Jel

Thankyou Jel & Beppie.  Copied down what it is (or could be) and down to GP.  Especially like the no drugs - think we've had enough for a while???

Pam

It's called Benign Paroxsymal Positional Vertigo or BPPV. I've had it 3 times so far with the latest one,  the last 3 weeks. Had the Epley manoeuvre and hoping it'll go. Still a bit of vertigo there and I have the exercises to do too. All done by a physio . Does work and I'd rather have an operation any day then this vertigo - it is absolutely dreadful ! I went to the GP who diagnosed me straight away . Hope yours go really soon. Try it, it works. xxx 

Pam, exoerience you described with getting dizzy when you close your eyes is so similar to what suddenly started happening to me 2 years ago (not BC related)...

I had nontrauma or reason for it but would get crazy dizzy and or nauseaous and dizzyness would get so bad that at time while driving to work in crazy Sydney traffic I would have to slow down to a crawl to avoid swerving into other lanes...

It was crazy unpredictable...

Went to ear nose throat specialist and nothing wrong... tests run on me and all good... Then I made an appintment at a ENT clinic with a Physio specialising in an Epley manouver and even though the tests she run did not prove I needed it (inconclusive) she talked me through it as my symptoms did imply inmer ear problem even though test would not support it.

She would not perform it on me (due to trst result) but she agreed to observe me doing it myself in front of her as I told her I would do it at gomemunsuoervised so may as well be in front of her so she could interveene should I do something wrong... All I can say is IT WORKED.

It fixed me - a 3 or 3.5min exercise fixed me... I had lived throigh 9 months of agony and horror and suddenly was fixed... Again, upon taking my history both ENT specialist and my GP and subsequently this physio toight there was no indicatioj my inner ear was affected as I had not suffered a trauma that normally is what causes such a problem BUT not everything fits into standard moulds so moght be worth discussing the empley manouver with your GP and seeing if the can refer you to a spcialist Physio. If done wrong it can make things a lot worse so I would not rely on just googling it and trying it out (doing a wrong side / ear will make it heaps worse) but I would definitely suggest at least discussing the option woth your GP...

hugs

Jel

Thanks Bep  Have to go back to docs I think,  for the dizziness they just say they don't know why.  Had couple of brain scans, but all they did was say that chemo prob damaged my ears (no prob with hearing though).  Thank goodness I don't get car sick, haven't been in a bus/train for quite a while.  Had a nanna nap in my swing chair recently (accidentally, sun was warm) and woke up quite nauseous ... and I am finding showering not fun.  When I've got my eyes closed (or its dark) I have to touch something (walls usually) or just don't feel safe - thought it was because of my feet!!  But you have given me hope.  I am better when exercising and eating really healthily. As I said lots of vege juices, weird, I eat what I consider well, veges at lunch and tea, but need more, vitamin tabs just don't work the same.   Pam

Thanks Brenda  Have to start trying to stay in bed, but got ants in pants and wake hubby all the time.  I read till dozing then try to get to bed.  Thanks for the Vit D tip, mine was low last time and keep forgetting tablets - I will have to take them!!  Pam

Thanks Kath, ya never know.  Pam

Hi Pam, 

go ahead and whinge, your entitled to . My chemo finished 3 years ago too and I'm just starting to get some energy. Took ages to feel kind of normal and walk somewhere without needing to sit down. I can now garden for 5 hours a day . The dizziness I have is a type of vertigo and I'm being treated for it again by a physiotherapist . The worst thing to have it is. I get motion sickness now too and pills don't work that well but it gets better as the day goes on and that includes cars, boats, buses, trains and aeroplanes. Never had it before . There is life as you know it before breast cancer and what you live after. I found the Udder milk in the Moo goo brand is very good for my skin especially in winter but I use it all year round. There's thing I can't eat anymore like pork and just plain pepper tastes like its hot chilli to me now. Still don't sleep well either but  I wake up alive so that's fine. Feel like a nana nap and sometimes I do but then night comes and I'm wide awake. Hope you improve and remember it's a slow journey . Wish you well and sending you a zillion hugs ?????? Bep xx

Hi Pam,

Its really nice to see you back x

Thanks for the seasick warning as I was thinking of accepting a boat ride out to fishing. I wouldn't want to end up like a drama queen and spoil everyone's day out.

I have been taking vitamin D lately as my blood test last time said it was a bit low. My son has adult eczema and he has started the vitamin D as well and his skin actually seems to be improving a bit so there might be something in that idea?

Yes winter sucks and add to that peeling coats off every hour or so for a hot flush, it does get tedious to live with. Perhaps that's what sucks my energy away before I even get to exercising? I guess we just have to lower our expectations and do what we can when we can.

I have crappy nights sometimes sleeping and also resort to a nap in the day sometimes as its just unrealistic for me to try and soldier on with no energy. I get far more done after a bit of a kip. I don't dwell too much on the not sleeping well at night although I do just bear it and stay in the bed. No pacing around the house or I get in that habit and it makes sleeping worse.

In the morning I wake up and am just thankful that hey I have another day to live that I might not have had without cancer treatment.