Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

[deb_U_taunt]

I truly understand. I feel like my life is in limbo. I am 51 and not ready to be old. Elevation is too high here for squirrels, but we feed the ferel cats and so does another neighbor. We have trapped and fixed quite a few of them.
Hope you are able to put your feet up and heal. Sounds like you are as blessed as I am with a wonderful, caring partner.

Originally Posted by Andrew, Jr.

Hi Debby,

Good Morning! I am restricted by my mobility, and misaligned hips. It is a struggle being active. I can understand how you feel. One thing I took up is birdwatching, plus I have my 2 squirrels, Hank and Honey, who I feed. You may want to look into these for hobbies. At one time I participated in a ferel cat community behind my home until a nasty neighbor called Animal Control to have the cats removed. Grrrrrrrr

There are some days when my body just hurts so very badly, and most people just don't get it when they are working, have kids, and a busy lifestyle. Plus, in my case my age is a factor being close to 50 yo. I think it makes a huge difference in perspective.

I wish you much peace and love,
Andrew

[Novelafemme]

A question for those who have had steroids in their chemo protocol. Has anyone dealt with the manic high/low side effect and if so, is there anything you can do to counter-balance it? no problem here with the high part but the low part is brutal!

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

A question for those who have had steroids in their chemo protocol. Has anyone dealt with the manic high/low side effect and if so, is there anything you can do to counter-balance it? no problem here with the high part but the low part is brutal!

Hopefully someone experiencing that can respond, in relation the manic side effects due to chemo. I am hypermanic with no chemo, but that's another brutal world.

No experience, but I found this when I Googled. "chemotherapy are given Dexamethasone to counteract certain side-effects of .... irritability, euphoria, mania; "

[deb_U_taunt]

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

A question for those who have had steroids in their chemo protocol. Has anyone dealt with the manic high/low side effect and if so, is there anything you can do to counter-balance it? no problem here with the high part but the low part is brutal!

I didn't put that together at first. I thought it was depression from cancer, etc. The Dr suggested antidepressants, but I am too nervous about coming off of them later.

I am blessed and have a partner that reminds me to breathe and take a break. We have both joined support groups and its made all the difference. There is also a Cancer Wellness Center with FREE massage and yoga!!!!!

BTW, if it gets to me to much, I just scream. Scares the dogs, but sometimes it feels like the thing to do. Seems to motivate me to get out of myself.

[Novelafemme]

Originally Posted by Debby

I didn't put that together at first. I thought it was depression from cancer, etc. The Dr suggested antidepressants, but I am too nervous about coming off of them later.

I am blessed and have a partner that reminds me to breathe and take a break. We have both joined support groups and its made all the difference. There is also a Cancer Wellness Center with FREE massage and yoga!!!!!

BTW, if it gets to me to much, I just scream. Scares the dogs, but sometimes it feels like the thing to do. Seems to motivate me to get out of myself.

Screaming works GREAT YAY for the ability to use our voices as a release, huh!!

A few things about anti-depressants and meds. When I first started having panic attacks before my divorce, I had NEVER taken anything other than the occasional aspirin when a headache got too bad. I was all about alternative medicine and holistic therapy. So, the long and short of it was that I suffered tremendously for nearly two months. I lost 20lbs, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, had two small children and a full time job to attend to. Finally, after seeing a wonderful doctor, I eased into taking a med that helped me wake up without that overwhelming sense of dread and soul crushing anxiety. And let me tell you, it made all the difference in the world! I also began talk therapy and sort of over-hauled my life and started dusting out the creepy-crawlies that were lurking in dark corners, but that med is what enabled me to do so...it helped me cope during one of the darkest periods of my life. The most important thing for me to keep in mind was that no matter what, I did not want to be like my mother, who would take to her bed for months at a time when us kiddos were little. I wanted to be there for my girls and be there for me!! I keep taking my little pill...every morning with my coffee...I call it my happy pill. I feel so blessed that we have drugs that can help us along through the difficult times and as long as I need it, I will continue to live better through chemistry, one day at a time.

[deb_U_taunt]

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

Screaming works GREAT YAY for the ability to use our voices as a release, huh!!

A few things about anti-depressants and meds. When I first started having panic attacks before my divorce, I had NEVER taken anything other than the occasional aspirin when a headache got too bad. I was all about alternative medicine and holistic therapy. So, the long and short of it was that I suffered tremendously for nearly two months. I lost 20lbs, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, had two small children and a full time job to attend to. Finally, after seeing a wonderful doctor, I eased into taking a med that helped me wake up without that overwhelming sense of dread and soul crushing anxiety. And let me tell you, it made all the difference in the world! I also began talk therapy and sort of over-hauled my life and started dusting out the creepy-crawlies that were lurking in dark corners, but that med is what enabled me to do so...it helped me cope during one of the darkest periods of my life. The most important thing for me to keep in mind was that no matter what, I did not want to be like my mother, who would take to her bed for months at a time when us kiddos were little. I wanted to be there for my girls and be there for me!! I keep taking my little pill...every morning with my coffee...I call it my happy pill. I feel so blessed that we have drugs that can help us along through the difficult times and as long as I need it, I will continue to live better through chemistry, one day at a time.

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