DISAPPOINTING DOCS

Hi Michele  You do what you need to do.  I found that sleeping in the avo most times made me worse.  Sometimes I just have to though, and I still sleep at night.  Also sometimes doing a bit of exercise brightens me up, and sometimes not.  I am not worrying about exercise at the moment - but instead am doing long overdue tasks -ie washing car, cleaning pool, housework, gardening - bit boring but still exercise, I suppose.  Just keep going foward hey.

Pam

Don't be silly Pam. All of us feel better after a rant and can look at things with a bit more clarity after the fact. There is always someone worse off but that doesn't negate how you feel and what's happening with you. Xox

Hi Pam

No rashes for me. Amazing because I thought I got every side effect in the book lol. I'm 50 and was amazed that I managed to get a job within a couple of weeks, considering I was still having treatment. Some days I wake exhausted and then others I'm like you and it just seems to hit me like a truck. This morning I slept until 9.02 with the alarm blaring from 7 onwards. I'm supposed to start work at 9. Needless to say, I was late but everyone at work just laughed at me (including the boss).  Hopefully things at your work start to settle down soon. Xox

Dear Pam,

What I do know is the tiredness hits me every day. I find that I must have a lie down in the afternoon, whether I sleep, or just lie down to let my body rest, then I can cope with the rest of the day. I try to do everything that needs to be done in the morning. Memory, I do forget things, I was lucky enough not to have chemo, but I am sure the radiation has made this happen. After two operations this year, I am now working on getting myself well again. Both my Breast Dr and Oncologist, said that to help with the tiredness, I am to try and exercise again. It is hard. I also started with a Physio, to help me get strength back in my arm. She put me on Floradix, liquid iron, you take it twice a day, I am feeling so much better, still have to rest each day, but even my nails no longer peel off, like they have done this year. I know how you feel, I just want to go back to being me again.

Michele

So I'm commenting on my yesterdays  post.  Apologising to all of you.  I got myself in a lather for really no reason.  Today I talked to the powers that be, and no my job is safe - and he was just having a bad day himself.  So we've worked out a few strategies to cope.  I'm apologising as my working is not a financial necessity - mainly setting us up for retirement.  If anything went wrong now we'd just be self funded for less time.  I work cause I enjoy it, I pride myself on doing my job well.  So the rant was for pure vanity.  To face losing your job that you need after a BC or any ill health diagnosis would be truly devastating and so just not fair.

My health is the same as many of us.  It'll either get better, worse and whatever I'll learn to live with it.

And lastly I should listen to my own advice, I tell my kids - never have a rant on the many medias available - let your brain engage first.!!

Pam

Oh hello Karen.  Oh thank you - sorry that you've been having problems, but its nice to know there is someone like me.  I can't remember having any probs immediately after hercepton, but the dizziness, loss of balance is spot on.  The good news is I havent had it for two months.   And the fatigue is unbelievable - at least I don't wake with it anymore, just most avos I'm travelling along nicely then wham - the energy just goes!!  My husband says to me lie down have a sleep - but I'm not tired, just stuffed.  Any chance you are having rashes - specially on palms of hands - I have 3 red dots just below my fingers on the fleshy bit, on the fleshy part of my thumb and fleshy side of hand. The onc, dermatologist or local doc don't know why.  It appeared after first dose of dox/hercepton.  So glad you have found another job, think you are about my age so theres hope.  My employers were great during treatment, but obviously thought i'd recover straight away.  I'm being stubborn, they can hint as much as they like but they will have to sack me!!

Pam

Hi Pam,

I had TCH x 6, 33 radiotherapy and 12 months of herceptin. I finished treatment on 18/06/15. I'm working part time and have to write absolutely everything down. I can't rely on my memory. I still struggle with fatigue dreadfully. Sometimes it hits me so badly I just have to lie down. I still suffer dizziness and loss of balance on a regular basis too. Herceptin made me ill and dizzy when I had it and for a day or two later.

I was sacked with 3 treatments to go. They tried to demote me and when I stood up for myself, they sacked me. Although the cancer council gave me probono legal support, I just didn't have the energy to fight them even though I know I would have won. I needed all of my energy to fight bc.  I believe that my employer no longer saw me as an asset for their business. Between the amount of time I had had off and dealing with the side effects. I had been there for 8 years in a management capacity. I was so upset and disappointed and they had always said to take as much time as I needed but in the end they showed their true colours. I was worried about who would hire me but have found a wonderful company close to home who are happy for me to work part time and fit in around my appointments. 

The fact is that we have had poison pushed into our systems. It has to have an effect and that effect is long lasting. And as far as work goes, just do the best you can do. The rest of it is out of your hands. Hang in there. Karen xox

Thanks Trace, the cuddle is treasured right now.  I just expected some answers, and find the prospect of going to the local doc daunting - they want to treat everything separately - different specialists.    And its been 7 mths since I finished hercepton they seem surprised that the dryness hasn't abated.  Of course the thyroid is all mixed in with this - I so wish I had waited before I had that test  (diog straight after chemo, during radio).  I've had 2 thyroid tests, and when I went to local doc 2 months ago he said its to soon to have another test, give it another few months.  

Pam

Hi Pam, my eyelids peeled on docetaxel, but they recovered. You do get really dry, I used to keep chopped up cantaloupe and melon in the fridge to snack on,and that helped my mouth feel better. Just sending you a big cuddle, I know that it's daunting, just take it 1 appointment at a time and it will pass more easily for you. Make sure you talk with the nurses on their on call number, and also talk to the cancer council, they are awesome. Cheers, Trace ??????