Probably not the best day to post this as is my birthday. Am on Letrozole - most physical side effects minimal now but find struggling with the blues - keep trying to snap out of it by walking and will talk to my surgeon next appointment .Just hoping this too will pass .Been a busy year since diagnosis and managed ok - teenage issues and death of a friend over Christmas hijacked holidays which made the break not restorative but guess life happens. Is the all important year 12 for my sons so need to get back on top to help them thru. My eating habits regressed past few weeks - too much sugar which doesn’t help either thinking/emotions except the brief blip when the sugar hit clicks in.I prefer not to go the pharmaceutical route at this point so any other suggestions most welcome.Read a bit online about why - apparently Letrozole lowers brain serotonin and another feel good chemical in the brain. I seem to have developed a lethargic attitude to life.Only good thing about all of the above is I can see it but worried one day I may not.

Best thing I did during chemo treatment was see a counsellor for a few sessions. She was terrific and helped me identify what was confusing me (I wan't depressed but very unclear about direction). If not one but two diagnoses of cancer don't take the wind out of your sails a bit, who knows what does. Make sure you are comfortable with the person you choose, otherwise you are doing for your mind and spirit what you would do in a flash for your body. Best wishes.

Hi @Romla,I have been on Letrozole for over 2 years (after first being on Tamoxifen for 2 years). The chemical/hormone changes have definitely impacted on my moods and ability to cope with everyday stresses. Exercise has helped me as has making sure that I make some time to do things I enjoy. It can be hard to lift yourself after the shock and impact of a cancer diagnosis. As as far as diet is concerned I think that I have succeeded in making the permanent changes that I really wanted to after I finished my other treatment. I have always struggled with my diet and was a real yo-yo dieter before bc. My weakness was definitely ‘comforting’ myself with sweet treats. I also often ran out of energy to shop, plan and make healthy meals.Things that I did differently after bc was to make small changes rather than eat completely differently all at once. I kept a diary of what I ate. Rather than denying myself a treat, I found treats that were healthier and permanently swapped to these. I don’t eat anything that I don’t like and I also don’t eat anything that has no nutritional benefit. I saw a dietician at one stage to make sure that I was getting a nutrionally balanced everyday diet.I think it has helped my mood, it has definitely helped me to feel better about myself. Eating things that taste good and that I know are actually good for me too is like double feel good points. I hope that you can work out a way to get to where you want to be. One less thing to stress about then. Take care. Deanne xxx

Hi Romla, I've been on Letrozole for 18 months. I think I have two ongoing side effects, hot flushes & anxiety attacks. As I also wanted to avoid more drugs I've had a few sessions with a psychologist. It has helped, I still occasionally get the attacks but I now have strategies to deal with them. I think you can get some free sessions if you go through your GP and ask for a mental health plan. As for the hot flushes I just don't go anywhere that doesn't have strong airconditioning :)

You are sounding very determined @Romla. Every little change you make for the better, you should really feel good about. I felt like I needed to cheer myself along to keep the momentum up! ;) So well done on identifying your problem! I think you are well on your way to improving things just with that. I can feel your energy building to get on top of this. :)

Sounds like you're on the way to a plan, @Romla. Where is your onc? The place I'm going to (at Kimberley House, Calvary) have a dietitian - not sure how you access the service (or if you can do it if you're not using the centre) as I haven't got that far yet.

Any help gratefully accepted - Letrozole and the blues

15 Replies

Romla
Member
8 years ago
@kmakm stumble at times but still can see light in the tunnel so am lucky. Also have made a point , sometimes deliberately , to get out and about as solitude doesn’t help but working on slowing my pace.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@Romla Noted. I'm similar I think. Sometimes it's easier to do it all yourself than argue with children... I'm glad you have a strategy in place.
Romla
Member
8 years ago
Hi @kmakm- am doing ok and learnt a couple of things.A daily one hour walk and eating properly is very important. This will sound odd but eating a small tin of tuna 2/3 times a week on busy days seems to help with thinking - it’s something I realised years ago whilst on WW program. Sugar only gives a fleeting boost then down I go again so trying to cut that out. Also had a lot of hot flushes interrupting my sleep which didn’t help - the walking is helping the sleep part and maybe touch wood not as many hot flushes . The second thing I learnt is I have a tendency to be the energiser bunny and I can’t do that without an impact on my health - I have a family and need to ask for help rather than do it all myself as I have usually done - btw not their fault mine as tended to be super woman by my choice. All that said I still fall off the rails on all fronts occasionally due to circumstance but at least my head knows it but it is a battle .The walking also helps greatly with joint pain - on days I have missed a walk I really notice the difference as things seize up quickly.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
How are you doing on this front @Romla? Have you made some changes that work? *asking for a friend*
Afraser
Member
8 years ago
Best thing I did during chemo treatment was see a counsellor for a few sessions. She was terrific and helped me identify what was confusing me (I wan't depressed but very unclear about direction). If not one but two diagnoses of cancer don't take the wind out of your sails a bit, who knows what does. Make sure you are comfortable with the person you choose, otherwise you are doing for your mind and spirit what you would do in a flash for your body. Best wishes.
Artferret
Member
8 years ago
After much thought and a few down periods i have decided to see a psychologist more for peace of mind and to hopefully find help for some sort of direction since both mine and my husbands cancer diagnosis last year. I don't expect it to be a one visit quick fix but when i have my husband saying to me that he feels so helpless when I'm in those moods made me realise that i should see someone. And no I'm not looking forward to it, rather nervous, as I've never had the need to go down that track. Good luck with the calculus...better you than me as that level math was never my strong point!
Romla
Member
8 years ago
Thankyou @primek . I agree my sense of safety has gone as am too easily skittish with any changes in my body . Sleep not so easy with hot flushes but my load is not as heavy as am retired and can sleep during the day - though tutoring twin boys thru year 12 is a challenge and need to bone up my calculus when they are at school.@Sister my onc is Dr Kollias who I see in his rooms in town - I will let him know what’s going on so he can monitor and he may have some suggestions. Had a long talk with MDH explaining same above and the importance of exercise and diet for me to keep the blues away - they must now both be a priority although I did have a rather nice slice of ice cream cake for my birthday today. Am hoping I will be ok as can understand what’s happening but hopefully others will step forward if I lose this perspective.
primek
Member
8 years ago
I was exhausted trying to launch back into normal life, trying to exercise run a home and work full time. Then behind the scenes is still dealing with the whole grieving process of what we have lost to bc. Our body change. Our sense of safety. Our sexuality. Fear is sitting in the background . I found myself on coffee and fingerbuns to get me through the day. I crave carbs when tired. I recently changed my diet, reduced carbs, upped protein and veg and just felt less tired and less depressed.

So do speak with your Dr. Do look at your diet, relaxation and exercise and sleep. And do recognise its been a horrid time for you and it's normal to feel flat and a bit sad.

You can do mych yourself but if doesn't improve some counselling sessions can really help.

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm

X
Sister
Member
8 years ago
Sounds like you're on the way to a plan, @Romla. Where is your onc? The place I'm going to (at Kimberley House, Calvary) have a dietitian - not sure how you access the service (or if you can do it if you're not using the centre) as I haven't got that far yet.
Deanne
Member
8 years ago
You are sounding very determined @Romla. Every little change you make for the better, you should really feel good about. I felt like I needed to cheer myself along to keep the momentum up! ;)

So well done on identifying your problem! I think you are well on your way to improving things just with that. I can feel your energy building to get on top of this. :)