[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Hi Jilly,

Bet we all can relate to much of what you're feeling. I know I sure can! And that is sucky. So sorry. Just trying to help you figure it all out, for what it's worth.

Where to begin? I'll start w/what we have in common. High blood pressure. From before bc, in my late '30s. Took a while to get a doc to take my bp seriously. They'd take bp in office and find 165 over 90 and say, You're probably nervous. NO. They'd take it again after we were done -- still high. Still in denial. Long story but I finally got put on Coreg (Carvedilol). I became 120 over 80 right off.

After a # of yrs at my chemo appts the nurse would always take my bp and noted I was creeping up a bit. 140 over 90. I consulted w/cardiologist. He added Vasotec at night. And that brought me to normal once again for many yrs...

I looked up the possible side effects of Carvedilol and for Ramipril. SAME. Woozy, foggy, spacey, fatigued, out of it. This is pretty much how I lived my life for a seriously longgg time. But I haven't had a heart attack or a stroke, so that's the good news. (I also take 2 -- 88 mg aspirin ev night...)

I love Coreg and Vasotec. My heart is strong.

I have been taking Argenine since '98 to keep my EF at 50 so I could continue on Herceptin. Recently the company stopped making Perfusia (aka argenine) so the apothecary (hooked up to my NY nut onc) told me to take this new one approved by the doc. They keep a list of his patients and are on the ball.

My EF has risen from 50% to 65%. I feel strong!!!! (The dosage is a bit higher and seems to be working amazingly.)

EYEBALLS THAT FEEL LIKE GROUND GLASS IS IN THEM. During and after Taxotere this is what I experienced. Saw 5 ophtho guys. Plugs, surgery (to be avoided), steroid drops (big mistake)... Bottom line -- use saline eye drops (Bausch & Lomb Soothe are the best). You can use as much as you want cause it's saline. Feels soooo soothing!!!!!!!! In the beginning the last ophthalmologist told me my eyes were not just dry -- they were/are very very very dry. So he started me off with using the drops every hour!! I would do it, check the clock and keep on. After a few wks of that, I went to ev 4 hrs around the clock, esp after sleeping (w/eyes closed obviously). Now I am just first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and if and when I have to go to the bathroom in the night. These drops come in individual vials (4 to a bunch) 28 to a box. Fabulous! Cannot live without them. They are by my bed, by the toilet, by my desk, in my bag...

FOR THE WOBBLY, POOPY -- I cannot live without B-12. 3,000 sublingual ev morning. I tried going off recently and I felt exactly like you are describing. Life was a blur. I couldn't think straight. And, I had zero energy. After 3 days, I'm back on and back to good.

Also -- do you take LUTEIN? 6 mg. w/Zeaxanthin 300 mcg. It is supposedly for macular degeneration -- which I don't have! -- but when I started taking it I found it improves my eyesight and it stopped a 4 mnth tearing from my right eye (cause that tear duct was clogged). The ophtho guy (who I love) said he couldn't clear it and wanted me to see a specialist for special surgery to open it up.

The tearing stopped coincidentally w/his trying and w/my started Lutein. I canceled the surgery. Just important to share I think.

Humungous apologies for the length of this, and all my posts. Guess I have a lot to say. HOPEFULLY HELPING!!

Also -- FOR THE RECORD -- going off of Vit H after 10 yrs, just made me feel less tired, but still in need of B-12.

The bathroom drama continues, but I have made major improvements in that area -- for those who are interested. It's funny, Jilly, when I read possible side effects -- they ALL say -- could cause diarrhea! Welcome to my world. That's "my" issue.

I hope you start feeling better dear Jilly. We're all here for you. Doing what we can to get you back to being you...

Love and hugs,

Andi