HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - anti-depressants & breast cancer

Andrea Barnett Budin · 11-13-2007, 10:56 PM

No anti d's before bc.

I took Zoloft after bc. Then nothing. Then mets. Then Zoloft, Ativan, Ambien, Xanax -- all the help I could get. Then I tapered off.

Went on Effexor Sept '06 -- to relieve hot flashes mostly. Did not work. Did cure my IBS though! Okay.

Last June I began to crash. New onc. Lost my lifeline onc nurse, she left. New onc wanted brain MRI, colonoscopy, genetic testing (I am a 12 yr bc patient remember) -- if I cared at all about my dghtrs and granddaughters, were his words barked at me. He was gruff and blunt, brilliant and odious to me. I felt untethered, having had the very best of the best who also happened to be the most wonderful, humane beings I'd ever encountered. I was spoiled, I suppose. This onc traveled a lot and was unavailable a lot though I am basically a maintence patient. My old onc, now in Tenn, urged me to stay w/new onc (his old partner) via email. I trust this onc more than words can say, respect his opinion enormously. I stuck it out.

*I* figured out Effexor was the culprit in making me feel shaky, depressed, dizzy, mentally confused and scattered, unable to focus. I asked to be weaned off about a mnth ago. I have done this, w/great difficulty, returned to old IBS meds to stabilize that and have restarted Zoloft, my old standby. No meds or supplements before bc. Now big supplement lady. Please see my thread GAINING CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=30419

Andi

11-13-2007, 10:56 PM	#23
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	For The Record... No anti d's before bc. I took Zoloft after bc. Then nothing. Then mets. Then Zoloft, Ativan, Ambien, Xanax -- all the help I could get. Then I tapered off. Went on Effexor Sept '06 -- to relieve hot flashes mostly. Did not work. Did cure my IBS though! Okay. Last June I began to crash. New onc. Lost my lifeline onc nurse, she left. New onc wanted brain MRI, colonoscopy, genetic testing (I am a 12 yr bc patient remember) -- if I cared at all about my dghtrs and granddaughters, were his words barked at me. He was gruff and blunt, brilliant and odious to me. I felt untethered, having had the very best of the best who also happened to be the most wonderful, humane beings I'd ever encountered. I was spoiled, I suppose. This onc traveled a lot and was unavailable a lot though I am basically a maintence patient. My old onc, now in Tenn, urged me to stay w/new onc (his old partner) via email. I trust this onc more than words can say, respect his opinion enormously. I stuck it out. I figured out Effexor was the culprit in making me feel shaky, depressed, dizzy, mentally confused and scattered, unable to focus. I asked to be weaned off about a mnth ago. I have done this, w/great difficulty, returned to old IBS meds to stabilize that and have restarted Zoloft, my old standby. No meds or supplements before bc. Now big supplement lady. Please see my thread GAINING CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=30419 Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...