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StephN · 08-25-2012, 10:48 AM

Mornin' Denise -

What a great post - you are almost back to normal.

But I LIKE coffee and sweets too - just not in combination with decadron! I recall the feeling of needing a pick me up - especially when the decadron LOW hits and it is not time for bed and dinner needs to get on the table.

The sweaty scalp thing is not something I encountered, but the dreaded decadron did cause me some clammy moments. Mostly upon sudden exertion. Hope that SE will dissapate along with the moon face.

Just mentioned the dietary things that helped me to deal with the wackiness of the decadron. Since the drug is fighting inflammation, it seemed like a good idea to me to think "anti-inflammatory" with my food and drink intake, hoping that might help things along.

Don't know if that actually happened, but I did feel a little more in control.

Coming off the decadron is when the fatigue hits, because of the readjusting of sleep pattern and the anxiety of recent weeks calming down. (I think the decadron contributes to the anxiety and that may in turn increase that clammy reaction!)

08-25-2012, 10:48 AM	#37
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Gammaknife, Tykerb...reality check Mornin' Denise - What a great post - you are almost back to normal. But I LIKE coffee and sweets too - just not in combination with decadron! I recall the feeling of needing a pick me up - especially when the decadron LOW hits and it is not time for bed and dinner needs to get on the table. The sweaty scalp thing is not something I encountered, but the dreaded decadron did cause me some clammy moments. Mostly upon sudden exertion. Hope that SE will dissapate along with the moon face. Just mentioned the dietary things that helped me to deal with the wackiness of the decadron. Since the drug is fighting inflammation, it seemed like a good idea to me to think "anti-inflammatory" with my food and drink intake, hoping that might help things along. Don't know if that actually happened, but I did feel a little more in control. Coming off the decadron is when the fatigue hits, because of the readjusting of sleep pattern and the anxiety of recent weeks calming down. (I think the decadron contributes to the anxiety and that may in turn increase that clammy reaction!) __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.