I’m curious if anyone here has experience using Femina drops? I’ve recently started taking them because my body feels like it’s in total chaos lately. In just one month, I’ve already dealt with three different bleeding episodes—which isn't ideal, given that I’m already prone to anemia. Of course, I went to see my OB-GYN, and now I’m waiting on hormone test results after having some bloodwork done. During the ultrasound, she flagged something that looked like it might be a cyst. Her warning? If this bleeding doesn't stabilize soon, I might be forced onto hormonal therapy. Honestly, I’m starting to panic at the thought. About fifteen years ago, I was prescribed Diane-3 for acne, and it absolutely wrecked me—I felt so weak that I just stopped taking it entirely. Then, about ten years back, I had a cyst and had to take Yasmin just to get the bleeding to stop; the only issue was that I couldn't even keep the first three pills down without vomiting, though everything else was somewhat tolerable. But now, reading through all the potential side effects listed for these medications... it’s overwhelming. So, here I am again, facing the possibility of needing hormones, and I've turned to these Femina drops instead. Has anyone actually tried them? What has your experience been like?
After five long years of battling ovarian cancer—a relentless, exhausting struggle—my dear mother passed away yesterday at the age of 64... and I feel completely shattered. For the longest time, it truly seemed like things were finally turning a corner; we thought she would actually tolerate the chemo. But then, the vomiting started again, and on the very day she was admitted for treatment, the news came crashing down: her condition was dire. Her blood pressure was plummeting, her blood counts were a disaster... they told us it was a matter of hours. It’s strange, isn't it? She spoke with us so beautifully that final day. She seemed so calm, seemingly free from the pain. We tried our hardest to stay strong for her sake, mostly because she kept insisting that tomorrow would be better—that she just needed a little more time to recover. Honestly, I suspect the doctors might not have even told her the full truth, or perhaps we simply didn't have the courage to say goodbye... so we just said "see you tomorrow." Even in those final moments, her thoughts were focused entirely on others—asking if we should buy some juices for the nurses, telling me to clean her room before she returned, and planning how to celebrate my birthday in a few days. Those few hours vanished so quickly that I couldn't even find the right words to say to her one last time; it feels as though I missed my chance. Now, the guilt is suffocating. I’m left with this crushing sensation that I didn't do enough for her... that I shouldn't have gone out with my friends over the weekend when I should have been by her side all day... that I should have hugged her every single day as if it were the last. There is so much more to it, but now, it's all too late.
I was wondering if anyone might know of a specialist who offers mobile manual lymphatic drainage services? I’m looking for someone who can come directly to my home in the Chicago area—thanks in advance.
My mother is currently undergoing chemotherapy for aggressive ovarian cancer—specifically using liposomal doxorubicin. Apparently, this is supposed to be the "cutting edge" approach designed to target the tumor more precisely, but she is handling it terribly. It’s been two weeks since her first dose, and she hasn't stopped feeling nauseous; even Zofran injections don't seem to touch the pain. She's vomiting two or three times a day... if she can keep anything down at all. Usually, it's just some milk or tea, provided her stomach decides to cooperate. She’s become incredibly frail—honestly, the only time she actually gets out of bed is to make it to the bathroom. I should mention that things were already looking grim before the chemo started; fluid buildup in her abdomen was pressing against everything, including her stomach, which caused its own set of vomiting issues. While the chemo seems to be doing its job in terms of reducing that abdominal fluid, she is just so weak—so profoundly exhausted and constantly unwell. We're wondering if anyone else here has gone through this specific treatment and dealt with similar side effects? Thanks. 😁
I was wondering if anyone here has dealt with ovarian cancer and specifically looked into Mayo Clinic? Looking at their website, they seem primarily focused on organs like the lungs, liver, or pancreas... but what we are really looking at is that laser surgery for abdominal tumors resulting from complications with ovarian cancer. Just seeking some insight—mostly because the consultations themselves aren't exactly cheap, so if anyone has navigated a similar situation, I’d appreciate it. Thanks.
Does anyone happen to have any insight—perhaps even some firsthand experience—regarding the possibility of accessing Avastin as a therapeutic option? I’m looking for anything at all... experiences, availability, whatever you might know. Thanks.
It seems to me that absolutely nothing has changed over the last five years—not a single thing. It makes me wonder if there is actually any way to influence this situation, or if we're just spinning our wheels? Does anyone here have any actual experience or insights that might be useful? Perhaps there is an Association out there worth reaching out to for support? Any help would be appreciated.
Hello everyone... it’s been a while since I’ve checked in here. We’re just pushing through one day at a time and holding onto hope. My mom finished her sixth round of chemo over a month ago, but she’s struggling with this intense numbness in her legs—it goes almost all the way up to her knees. She can still walk, don't get me wrong, but she says the sensation is incredibly uncomfortable... it first cropped up after her fourth session and cleared up within a few days, then it returned during the fifth, and again during the sixth, but this time it hasn't let up. Has anyone else dealt with something similar, or does anyone have any solid advice? Thanks.
velvetmoose9 said:Rhinocort is a local inhaled corticosteroid, so as long as you're using it the right way, there's really a negligible amount being absorbed into your system. Fastum Gel is a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, which has even less systemic absorption to worry about. The chances of any weird side effects from combining those two are incredibly slim, even if you throw Ketorolac into the mix at the recommended daily dose—assuming, of course, you don't have any other underlying issues that would make them unsafe for you. So, honestly, you probably have nothing to worry about. 😉
This might sound like a bit of a silly question, but I just want to be absolutely certain before I proceed—I’ve been using Rhinocort spray for my allergies lately, but as luck would have it, I’ve managed to injure my neck and back. My doctor suggested applying some topical pain relief to the sore spots and taking a Ketorolac if the pain becomes truly unbearable. Now, I haven't been able to find any specific contraindications listed in the instructions, but since the nasal spray is a corticosteroid, I can't help but wonder: is it actually safe to use both at the same time? I generally try to avoid mixing different medications whenever possible—I'm quite cautious about that—but between this sudden sinus flare-up and my aching back, I feel a bit cornered by circumstance. Thanks 🙂
wiredotter75, I am so incredibly sorry to be reading this... but please, don't let hope slip away just yet. If it were me, I would try absolutely EVERYTHING. You hear those stories about people who were essentially written off by doctors, only to pull through against all odds—they do exist, don't they? I know my own father would probably lose his mind if he heard me saying this, but still... miracles happen. You have to try. My mom is going through a really rough patch right now too; things have stabilized slightly, but we're dealing with pancreatic cancer and metastases that just keep spreading. We're waiting on the marker results and the CT scan now... and even so, I’m clinging to the hope that there's still something left to be done. That makes me wonder, Angela Wright—that facility in Munich, is it specialized for all types of cancer, or...?
Dear Angela Wright, I realized I never actually congratulated you on the baby! 🙂 Wishing you both nothing but health and happiness. 🙂
Thank you all so much for all the suggestions so far. 🙂
First off, a huge congratulations to everyone in America on joining the European Union!!! I’m actually quite envious!
There is an option where—due to some pretty severe side effects—they might swap out my Cisplatin for Carboplatin. Does anyone have any insight here? Is it just as hard to stomach, or perhaps a bit easier?
Alternatively, they might add Aloxi alongside the Cisplatin. Has anyone here dealt with that specific medication?
They’ve never performed a gastroscopy on me before, so now there's this hesitation about doing one to check the stomach, bile ducts, and pancreas all at once. Any experiences with that kind of procedure?
Give my best to Vedran and Angela Wright! You guys are absolute heroes!
From what I understand, Aloxi is the gold standard when it comes to managing side effects—which explains why it's the most expensive option if you can get it... if it's available, I would definitely say go for it.🙂
Sarah Lee3 said:Every single June for about ten years now, my allergies flare up. It used to just be watery eyes and sneezing, but lately, even with Aerius, I’m having to use two puffs of Ventolin twice a day. I’ve been stuck like this for two weeks already. How long am I actually allowed to use Ventolin if I'm relying on it every single day? On top of that, I can't stop coughing; I'm constantly dealing with phlegm. Should I go see a Pulmonologist or what??
If I were in your shoes, I would definitely schedule an appointment. My own doctor only prescribed Ventolin on an "as-needed" basis, and they were quite clear: if I end up needing it for more than just a few days, I need to head back in for another evaluation. The thing is, Ventolin is merely a short-term fix for the symptoms—it doesn't address the underlying issue. You might need something else entirely, or perhaps a complete adjustment to your current treatment plan. Just go see 🙂
I find myself grappling with a few uncertainties—specifically regarding beta-glucan. Mom was told she should avoid taking it while undergoing chemotherapy, yet I’ve encountered others who insist it is absolutely essential to take during treatment. It leaves me wondering: what is the actual medical consensus on this? And for those of you currently navigating your own chemo cycles, what is your experience? Are you incorporating it, or staying away?
On another note, I am concerned about the pain management aspect. Mom has finished her second round of chemotherapy, but the discomfort persists, and she is relying heavily on pain medication... how are the rest of you managing? Additionally, she is still dealing with some water retention—though, thankfully, it seems to be receding slightly. Thank you.
Mom had to take 80 tablets of dexamethasone before chemo—presumably to preempt any allergic reactions—and apparently, that’s going to be the routine every single time...
She was taking beta glucan prior to starting, but they told her to hold off during the actual chemo because they aren't quite sure about potential contraindications. So now, at my suggestion, she’s switched to Imunobran since we’ve heard from several people how great it is for immunity and protein levels; we might even pick up some enzymes to go along with it, and she’s also taking native propolis.
For two months now, she’s been drinking aronia juice every day, along with a beet-carrot-apple blend—everyone in the house is drinking it with her, really; it’s become our "rule" for maintaining her blood work. Her counts have actually been excellent, especially her erythrocytes. The only outlier is her leukocyte count, which remains high—but that’s just due to the constant low-grade fever she’s running as a result of the illness, which is why they cleared her for chemo in the first place.
She hasn't dealt with massive side effects yet, though she didn't eat anything for three days straight. Strawberries and yogurt seem to be the only things her stomach can handle right now. Her appetite has started returning after ten days, but she’s still dealing with those tingles and this profound weakness... she is exhausted, just utterly exhausted...
The situation is difficult because fluid is constantly building up, and she’s already had to undergo three paracentesis procedures...
I’m pushing her to try that Aloxi, but if it only helps with nausea, we’ll have to see; honestly, she said it was manageable so far. She only vomited three times over a four-day period, and even then, it happened when she took certain pills—strangely enough, not from food. She’s had nausea, but everything has been relatively tolerable thus far...
Hang in there. They say willpower works miracles, and it’s not just a cliché, right? We are standing right here with you. 🙂