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Kim in CA · 03-10-2008, 10:04 AM

Hi Pink,

Just thought I'd throw in my .02 cents worth on energy levels. I still struggle sometimes, but one thing I have found( and hope I don't offend the vegans among us) is that when I'm feeling really weak, I crave red meat. Hubby will take me out for a steak dinner and I do seem to feel more energetic the next day. Maybe it's just that I didn't have to cook!

Anyway I have also found that eating what I crave and eating small amounts throughout the day, seem to help. That includes chocolate, at least once a day and a little Brie and Shiraz in the evening!

Also the weather seems to have alot to do with my outlook on being active. When it's gloomy out, I know it affects me mentally which in turn makes me not want to do anything. When I wake up to a sunny day, it really does make me want to get out there and ride. I just start out slow, and little by little my energy seems to increase.

Don't want to sound pessimistic, but I think chemo really does change us, and we have to work harder to stay active later on. It really does payoff though, because the more you do the better you will feel.

Don't be too hard on yourself, just remember Baby Steps!

Kim

03-10-2008, 10:04 AM	#3
Kim in CA Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: California's Gold Country Posts: 404	Hi Pink, Just thought I'd throw in my .02 cents worth on energy levels. I still struggle sometimes, but one thing I have found( and hope I don't offend the vegans among us) is that when I'm feeling really weak, I crave red meat. Hubby will take me out for a steak dinner and I do seem to feel more energetic the next day. Maybe it's just that I didn't have to cook! Anyway I have also found that eating what I crave and eating small amounts throughout the day, seem to help. That includes chocolate, at least once a day and a little Brie and Shiraz in the evening! Also the weather seems to have alot to do with my outlook on being active. When it's gloomy out, I know it affects me mentally which in turn makes me not want to do anything. When I wake up to a sunny day, it really does make me want to get out there and ride. I just start out slow, and little by little my energy seems to increase. Don't want to sound pessimistic, but I think chemo really does change us, and we have to work harder to stay active later on. It really does payoff though, because the more you do the better you will feel. Don't be too hard on yourself, just remember Baby Steps! Kim __________________ Diag. Feb 1997 4.5cm IDC <10%ER+, PR-. 5 out of 36 nodes +. Mastectomy followed by 3 rounds Adriamycin/Cytoxin. 5/1997 Hi Dose Chemo w/ Stem cell rescue. Spent 4 weeks in isolation ward. Then 6 weeks radiation. 9/2001 widespread mets to liver. 8 mos Taxotere/Herceptin brought me almost to NED. Stop Taxotere & add Femara . 11/2002 liver resection to remove spot that turned out to be necrosis. Officially NED! 7/2003 Tumor markers rising add Xeloda Disastrous reaction, 8 days hospital, but tumor markers came back to normal! June -Dec 2004 UW Vaccine Trial. 7/2005 MRI single 11mm brain met 8/2005 Gamma Knife. Brain MRI @3 months NED! 2006-2011 brain/body still NED 8/04/11 Taking Herceptin break, will monitor with tumor markers. 6/20/12 Tumor markers begin to rise. CA15-3 is 31.3 and Her2 Serum is at 17.1 Decide to repeat in one month. 7/23/12 CA15-3 now 49.3 Her2 Serum 26.8 8/6/12 Back on Herceptin CA15-3 now 76 Her2 Serum now 49 11/7/12 Add weekly Taxotere for 4 cycles 2/2013 Stopped Taxotere added Perjeta. MRI shows approx. 50% reduction liver mets. CA15-3 still elevated @ 55. Will continue on just Herceptin & Perjeta. November 2014 Continuing on Herceptin, Perjeta, and Femara indefinitely. Guess I'm NED again, but watching those tumor markers carefully! Dec. 2015 PET scan reveals mass in perirectal area of abdomen.biopsy confirms. Still Her2+, but no longer ER+. Bye bye Femara Jan 2016 Begin Kadcyla March 2016 PET scan shows tumor now barely visible, still NED everywhere else. 2016/2017 continue Kadcyla November 2017 brain MRI reveals small focus of T2 hyperintensity with possible 4mm enhancing nodule. Short term follow up MRI suggested. Stay tuned...