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rentrac · 09-03-2007, 04:33 PM

Did ya'll try Effexor? I was accustomed to using it as an antidepressant, but my Gyn clued me on its off label use. He tried it on me and I was astounded at how well a mere 37.5 mg worked in less than 5 days. Before, I was having volcanic meltdowns starting everyday starting at 4 pm and ending at 4 am when I was in chemopause. Facing the real thing (as I elected to remove the ovaries as one way of reducing estrogen) was terrifying 'til my Gyn's suggestion. Never had anything like them since. Unfortuantely, it probably doesn't work for everyone, but it's worth asking if you haven't tried it. Meanwhile, if you get a chance, you need to find a copy of The White Trash Cookbook II - hilariously and true to life funny to this old southern girl, and it has the very best description of how hot flashes can control your life that I have ever had the privelage to read. The book is still in print and is a favorite of everybody I've ever met who's had a chance to see it.
Warmly, but not TOO warmly,
Rentrac

09-03-2007, 04:33 PM	#3
rentrac Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 65	Did ya'll try Effexor? I was accustomed to using it as an antidepressant, but my Gyn clued me on its off label use. He tried it on me and I was astounded at how well a mere 37.5 mg worked in less than 5 days. Before, I was having volcanic meltdowns starting everyday starting at 4 pm and ending at 4 am when I was in chemopause. Facing the real thing (as I elected to remove the ovaries as one way of reducing estrogen) was terrifying 'til my Gyn's suggestion. Never had anything like them since. Unfortuantely, it probably doesn't work for everyone, but it's worth asking if you haven't tried it. Meanwhile, if you get a chance, you need to find a copy of The White Trash Cookbook II - hilariously and true to life funny to this old southern girl, and it has the very best description of how hot flashes can control your life that I have ever had the privelage to read. The book is still in print and is a favorite of everybody I've ever met who's had a chance to see it. Warmly, but not TOO warmly, Rentrac __________________ Oct. 2003: Dx age 48, Stage IIIA Ductal Ca. dense dose neoadjuvent AC. BrCa 1&2 -, ER+, PR-, Her2+. 2004: R mastectomy, 3+ nodes, dense doseTaxotere ( allergic), total hysterectomy, radiationx36 . Tamoxifen x6 mo., Arimidex x9 mo. Jan. '06: Multi left metastatic nodes left neck. Stage IV. Taxol, Carboplatin (allergic to both), Herceptin, radiationx27. Herceptin cont'd. 1 mediastinal met in old rad field. April: 2 brain mets - Rcerebellar, Ltemporal lobe. Gammaknife. Stop Herceptin, Start Tykerb. May: CyberKnife-mediastinal node, Zometa restart. July: New RLung mets. Xeloda add. Jan. 2008: CT: Lung mets shrinking. Fatty liver w/increased liver function panel. Feb '08: MRI: brain mets back, 2nd GammaKnife. June: Migraine headaches from cerebellar tumor. Team for WBR - Choose Craniotomy on Cerebellum only. Aug: Crainiotomy successful. Sept: PET -right lung apex clean; left internal mammary artery appears malignant. Herceptin in future. Left mastectomy?