Wow, cool shoes!!
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Wow, cool shoes!!
Agreed. I've never heard of that brand before. I'll have to check them out.
You are doing more than trying hard enough!
Started taking Tamoxifen this week, and so far, so good. I took most of the week off from riding, just commuted to work one day, and that pretty good. After last week, I obviously needed a break. Still a bit of fatigue, but nothing a nap doesn't help with.
My skin is healing way faster than I expected. Not much color or peeling. My breast feels and looks normal. Very happy. :)
One more step. So glad you're doing well.
yay for red hoodie!
good that the tamoxifen is going so easily.
marni
I finally discovered the true meaning of fatigue. It hit hard again after my last bike ride, which was last Sun. It was only 20 miles, and not windy, but it basically took me 3 days to recover. Talk about SLEEP! I feel like a Grimm character. I think I'm over the hump now, only taking one nap after work today.
So far, I haven't had the typical SEs from tamoxifen, although I have lost interest in food. It's weird. I don't even want cake. Haven't had a hot flash yet. Haven't gained weight.
I'm planning on commuting to work on Sat. I have to accept that riding needs to be easy easy. It's really hard not to try to put some effort into it and ride normally, but I know that I don't have the energy to expend. It's challenging to accept limitations.
Edit, actually, my problem isn't accepting limitations, it's identifying them. I just don't know how much I can/should do.
since I have been on tamoxifen, I have decidely become an afternoon napper. It seems to make little difference whether I have ridden, worked out at the gym or just spent the morning weaving. come 1;30 -2:00 PM my head grows weary and my eyes grow dim. I tuck myself for a 2 hour snooze and then walk the dogs which wakes me up enough to cook dinner and pull myself together for the evening.
I suspect its a combination of the continuous 2 am hot flashes and tamoxifen andtraining hard plus a little mental laziness. I tell the SAG guy that it is because I spent 20 years getting up at 5 AM to get three kids ready for the school bus at 7 am, not to mention the continual stress of conscientiously parenting three smart kids to a responsible adulthood.
I swear every time I ride or I go into the gym promising myself to be gentle it backfires and before I know it I have done an extra 20 miles or and extra hour at high cardio rate.
That's my excuse and I am sticking to it.
marni
Time for an update. My tamoxifen side effects seem to be mild depression, decreased appetite, and weight loss. No hot flashes yet. Now here's the funny (not so funny) part, as I'm concerned about the weight loss- yesterday some jerk yells "fat b!tch" at me out a car window. I'm 5'5", 120 so yeah. Fat. :rolleyes:
I think about how devastating that could have been to so many women, and I hope he never does it to anyone else. Lucky for him my chasing mojo isn't back yet. Soon.
My nurse said that most of the side effects usually go away in a few months, so I'm not really worried. Actually things seem a little better already. I'm almost back to regular weekly miles on the bike. Much slower, but not wiped out after, like I was.
Time for us to schedule that ride...
Thanks for the update. Good to hear you're getting your strength back.
Red: Glad things seem to be getting better and better. I know it is hard to have patience, but you seem to be doing okay that way too. Hang in there - I'm always thinking of you.
spoke
I do see improvement, but I'm still so slow. Crankin, I know you'll be okay with riding easy for me, so we can make plans. I will make you see how strong and fast you are!
Last Sat, we had a woman on our group who I didn't know, who is a racer and is starting a women's ride from my lbs. She asked me how I was and I said nervous because I wouldn't be able to keep up. She kind of gave one of those upbeat you'll do great! answers that perky cheerleader types give, and I found it so annoying, as I got dropped in the first few feet. She didn't know me or that I'm fighting cancer, so I shouldn't take it out on her, but it bothered me. Bah. I used to be perky. I think I'm jealous.
But it is getting better. If the only thing I can complain about is not keeping up on the bike, things are great.
I hate those perky types, too. Also, the ones who say, "You'll be fine," but really don't want to help anyone who is struggling for whatever reason. They just want their own work out. I saw that today at the gym. I guess I've always been attuned to teaching beginners, whether it was in a class or on the bike, even when I was at my super fastest/fittest. Personally, I don't care.
I will PM you.
Sorry I haven't been around for a while. My mild depression turned into depression after my last post. It was awful. I felt so bad one day, as bad as the day my mother died, that I called my oncologist for help, since I figured it was the tamoxifen wreaking havoc on my hormones. She claimed it wasn't a common SE of tamoxifen (which is contrary to everything I've read). She suggested I go to my GP for an antidepressant. I mentioned that I read that many antidepressants interfere with tamoxifen. She said "Oh, yeah" in that way that people do when they forget something they used to know, but then she stated that the jury is still out on that. I'm pretty sure she's wrong about that (or the American Cancer Society is). So, I said I didn't trust my NP to prescribe antidepressants, and did she have other suggestions? Yoga was all she could think of.
In hindsight, she should have recommended a support group, or a psychiatrist, someone trained to deal with this, someone really qualified to prescribe drugs if that was really what I needed. I wasn't able to think of these options myself at the time, but shouldn't she have been? And now it's been a couple of weeks, and she hasn't followed up which further makes me think she's a bad doctor. I've lost faith in her. I'll be finding someone new.
On the bright side, the depression went away without drugs, cycling and massage helped, but I think my body just needed to adapt to the drug. I'm still losing weight, have joint pain, my hair is brittle, but no other SE's. I am back to feeling very lucky for my life. And, I rode fast and fearlessly on the last group ride. I didn't get dropped or anything. Yay me. ;)
I am sure the depression was related to the tamoxifen, and adjusting to the drug has been the hardest part of my treatment. I still feel lucky it's an option for me. But this part was hard.
Hang in there Red. Thanks for the update. Hope you find a doctor you trust.
And yay you for riding ... living ... so strong!
Keep riding, Red.
(((Red))). I'm so sorry you've been feeling blue. I sure hope you find another doctor who can help you sort this out, although it sounds like you're already feeling better. Keep on keepin' on. You remain one of heroes!
((((((red)))))))
You are still an inspiration. Thank you for sharing - the good, and the bad. Let us be here for you, and know that your words will likely help someone who is going through something similar in the future.
Continue to be gentle to yourself - and ride like the wind when you feel like it!
Thanks guys. Ride I will! Especially since I'm getting stronger, it's really helped my mood. But, feeling weak and tired was also part of the problem, so depressing.
The other thing that really helped was being around people, which was the best advice I received. My friends gave me lots of hugs through this. I think that was most important, actually. Hug therapy. Is there such a thing? It really made me feel better.
I have to agree with you. Tamoxifen did a whole depression number on me in spite of having been on anti depressants for many years. A year later I am still coping with the hot flashes and an occasional two or three day cycle of depression. At least I know now what the symptoms are and how to deal with them. My doctor was a bit more helpful than yours and was very patient with listening to me whine and complain, to reassure me that it was side effects of tamoxifen, to support exercise with a purpose, and keep a good eye on my diet including limiting but not totally, consumption of dairy, sugar and processed flour and anything not full grain.Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
It has helped, especially training for a purpose rather than just for exercise. I put getting myself back to full strength and endurance a priority
Glad your downer went away and hope you are soon back to your normal self. Tamoxifen is not fun but not undoable considering the alternatives.
hang in there.
marni
Thank you for that, marni. It helps knowing this was something you experienced, too.
I think I may keep my next appt. with that doctor so I can give her some feedback. She's young, and if I just leave, she won't know why. I may call the breast center nurse and discuss it with her as well.
It's good to hear from you ((red)).
Hug therapy sounds brilliant! I think you should write a book about it and then go on a book tour that visits all the places where TE people are and you could ride with each of us. And then you could write your next book about that!
Glad you are feeling better, red! :)
Depression sucks -- whatever the cause. Sad when the doc can't be helpful. I agree, fire her and find someone who gives a sh*t! :mad:
Nice to have you back. Sending a virtual {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}}}}}}} your way!
Wow, red. Hang in there, girl. Keep riding ..no matter how slow. You're still on the bike. Just imagine you most likely are going faster than a jogger.
{{{{{Big hugs}}}}}}
My deepest respect for marni and red, who have been through these drug effects, etc.
I think it is so great that you are willing to do this. It is hard for professionals to get this kind of feedback. Instead, patients/clients/customers just leave.Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
I am glad you are doing better.
Count me among those who experienced the blues after all the active aspects of treatment (surgeries / followups) was complete. I didn't connect it to the Tamoxifen -- but that makes sense. I was in a support group at the time and the facilitator assured me that it was common to feel down after all the treatment ends and it starts to sink in that this is my life now going forward after breast cancer. I also had a reasonable amount of pain every day from the surgeries and hot flashes as well. Others in the group suggested effexor, which can be taken with Tamoxifen and has the added benefit of eliminating hot flashes. I don't love that I am taking it, but it helped immensely and I am back to my happy self. I'll go off the effexor eventually; for now I am just enjoying the even keel.
(As for diet, I was vegan before I was diagnosed [still am] I eat well and I exercise strenuously 4 to 5 x /week.)
My six month mammogram is tomorrow. I'm pretty calm right now, but expect to be a bundle of nerves in the morning. I'm going to try to stay relaxed and stay present.
Otherwise, things have gotten much better. I started meditation a while back, and it's really helping me stay balanced. I am going really easy on myself, saying no to stressful situations whenever I can. I haven't done any hard riding in a long time, and my mileage is maybe 25% less than other years, slower, and less hilly. It's been perfect. I love riding.
I have very few SE's from the tamoxifen anymore. I feel good.
Give me some good vibes tomorrow!
Sending you lots of good vibes, Red. I'm glad you've employed such constructive methods to help you heal, emotionally and physically. You're a wise lady. Let us know how it goes.
Sending good thoughts your way!
Stay mellow, relaxed and as you noted, in the moment. No needless energy wasted.
Glad you're finding your way post-treatment. Hugs for tomorrow
Hang in there red. Sending lots of positive vibes for calm and a good result.
Good luck, Red. Thinking of you.
Best wishes Red!
Thanks everyone! It went well! All clear! I wasn't nervous until I was waiting for the results. Luckily they read them right then, so only about 15 minutes of sweating. Now I'm going to relax.
That's great news! I'm doing a happy dance in your honor, Red.
Woohoo! So happy for you. :)
That's great news, red. What a relief it must be. Celebrate! :p
Go for a ride!
Hooray!