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what are you doing to improve yourself after, or even during, ADT?

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Posted 9/12/2019 1:11 PM (GMT -5)

Pratoman said...
In this thread, WeDavis talked about his struggle with the SE’s of ADT.https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=4149085.

It brings up the question, that might be of interest to many, now and in the future, “what are you doing to improve yourself after, or even during, ADT?

For me, I’d start with a warning... just know, that if you are not proactive when you start, you will pay a price. I didn’t change diet , get more active, or do anything else special, and I’ve lost muscle mass and gained weight, developed a beer belly, without drinking beer. I’ve also got side handles to accompany the beer belly.
And as was mentioned by many in the thread linked above, I’ve got trigger finger in3 fingers on my left hand, and 2 fingers on my right, one finger on each hand was resolved with cortisone shots. The other fingers are really bothering me a lot, especially in the morning.

So what am I doing about it? I finally came to my senses, and am getting proactive.

On Friday, I’m having surgery to correct the trigger finger in my left hand, then 3vweeks later, surgery on the right hand
I started yoga, which is helping with my flexibility
I’m walking again, 2 miles a day
I started lifting weights again. Light weight due to a torn rotator cuff, but lots of reps, so I really feel it.
Unfortunately the surgery will force me to stop lifting and stop yoga classes for 6 weeks. But I can still do lots of the stretches I learned in yoga class.
I also am seeing a Nutitionist, that I’ve seen in the past, and am following her instructions almost to the letter, modifying my eating habits

I’m hoping I can at least control what I can and get back to myself.
What is everyone else doing to improve their post ADT self?

I want to thank you.

It was your posts on this subject that gave me the awareness so I could "defend" myself against this.

Since I started ADT I have lost 10 pounds. (4 months ago)
I walked 3 miles a day until last week when I "had" to reduce it to 2 miles. (the last two days have been very difficult, I think it's more from the radiation, I am 3 weeks into the daily radiation)

I cant answer your question as I am not post ADT but I am doing well so far.

Again, Thanks!
I could well have been blind sided and not started walking and pushed myself to continue if not for your posts.
Posted 9/12/2019 2:46 PM (GMT -5)
Mentor, thank you as well, its comments like yours that make me feel happy that i am here and doing something constructive.
Posted 9/12/2019 5:20 PM (GMT -5)

Pratoman said...
Mentor, thank you as well, its comments like yours that make me feel happy that i am here and doing something constructive.

BTW, I forgot to mention although I think it was implied. In addition to exercise I drastically improved my diet after reading your posts here.

Peace
Posted 9/19/2019 11:59 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Guys,
Newbie here. Trying to learn.
I have been diagnosed in spring with PC and due to HDR BT plus RT approach, the docs (URO. MO, RO, etc.)
were unanimous in HT/ADT from the get go (maybe 12 months maybe 18...TBD).
I am basically on my 5th month for HT/ADT (there was 12 days prior on Casodex, overlapped with Lupron until that 30-day supply was finished).

Stuff I have observed so far (any inputs or suggestions welcome):
1. Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
The hot flashes and night sweats are just bad. I have to choose between having a nightside rehydration of 8-16 oz. (minimum nightly) versus trying not to wake up due to the bladder issues.

2. Preservation or Eventual Restoration of Sexual Function
Trying to find out what to do with SE about ED and all that. I hear some talking about long term on ADT will totally crush that aspect of life unless something proactive is done. Is adjuvant ED medication like Cialis advisable ? etc.?
Any experience or info you guys wanna share?

3. Pseudo or Real Gynecomastia
Trying to mitigate the moobs that started to appear. I am trying some weights (specific exercise with dumb bells for mitigating this as advised by someone) but I am not sure yet how good it is. Any tips? Is it necessary to look into medication if it is not fat anymore but a real gynecomastia?

4. Other SE
The first shot wreaked havoc on my GI including bad bloating (my support nurse calmed me down by giving me a copy of the FDA trial results where indeed 13-16% of patients may have had such reaction). GasX or Pepto Bismol in double dosage kinda fixed the first one. By the time I got the second shot (I am on my 5th month now going 6th)
I still get those periodically but more manageable.

5. Fatigue and Weight
I am having that fatigue (started passing out while watching TV...even when watching football seeing how bad the NY teams are). But I am not gaining weight - in fact, losing some - probably because I was just serendipitously on a carb reduction diet and starting run exercises. Around the time I got the first 3-month ADT shot, I was up to about 10 miles a week.

Now that I am done with HDR/BT, 2 weeks after I have upped the ante to 4+4+8 = 15-16 total miles a week
(it is a grind ..... especially during the first few attempts and the SE from HDR on #1 and #2 were still bad). So I limit my outside runs and do more on treadmill where I can manage "accidents" best.

I need to defeat the fatigue. But I had to stop coffee (or any caffeinated drinks even decaf!!!) as I observed it appears to cause irritation on my urethra and I lose control that way. I even limited my juice as my RN said the acidic drinks including the acid on decaf coffee beans can be an issue too.

The best I can do now is water, green team or Citron+Honey drinks. Any ideas what drinks that can restore energy (without caffeine) works?

Thanks in advance to everyone here.
Posted 9/19/2019 12:35 PM (GMT -5)
Late 5k, Welcome to the forum. I too am being treated (salvage radiation and ADT) at MSKCC (Actually, was treated, now being monitored). And i too am a long suffering NY (Jets) football fan (maniacal actually).

Hot flashes - there is a medication called venaflexine, i think, thats been mentioned here, that can help with the flashes. Others will chime in about that, with more knowledge, i hope.
MOOBs - depending on how bad, i have read (here) that a solution could be radiation treatments and possibly drugs (estrogen? not sure). As far as weights, be proactive. I am curious what type of weight training tip was recommended to you to combat this issue, it might help me, i think i am developing a mild case.
ED - It was recommended to me by my RO at MSKCC (Zelefsky) that i take 5 mg daily Cialis which is what i have done. I would think doing this, once the effects of ADT wear off, you would be back to your normal, gregarious self.
Fatigue and Weight - obvious, be proactive about diet and exercise. Low carb no added sugar, to combat belly fat which is a sign of metabolic syndrome, a known side effect of ADT. Exercise daily (which you seem to have under control) to combat fatigue. I didnt have much fatigue, we are all different.
Other SE's - gas, bloating , is not something i experienced so i cant help.

Others will be along soon with more suggestions i am sure. Good luck. Hope you stick around, this is a great group, and helpful beyond belief .
Posted 9/19/2019 1:04 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the reply Pratoman!
You are not "fireman Ed" in real life no? Or one of those that call into WFAN just to hear Joe say "oh the pain" smile

(I guess something can be said positively about ADT when I cannot even think negatively when my mom asked me if we can change cannels in the LR and watch some drama series rather than football. That plus a) the "parasympathetic silent crying" on heavy drama makes me an acceptable TV buddy for female friends and b) my GF said my complexion looks awesome since the HT).

Moobs
Anyway, the exercise I am starting to do aside from my usual routine are these:
https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19528564/banish-your-man-boobs/

I think the weights themselves just need to be modest as the correctness of form and execution is key.
No clue how good it will be.

Anyway, I noticed as I hit the 6 to 8-mile on my long runs of the week I am getting mild pain (some runners call it splinter shins?). So I figured I must rest day (or two) in between long runs and do some other exercise so I will use these anti-moobs as part of my cross training. I will report back good or bad in maybe 3-4 months when such exercises may show real effect.

Sweats
BTW, I did notice when I got more cardio (and thus sweats) in my evening exercise runs, that same night I do not sweat as much even I rehydrated properly (still sweating but not drenching my bed covers - just my shirt now...). So maybe I will keep on exercising week nights at least - the thing is originally I would be perspiring heavy at 1/2 mile. Nowadays, I do not even get that same feeling until 2 miles into the run. After a while, I may need to be creative with exercise time.

Adjuvant Cialis
I will ask my RO at MSKCC regarding Dr. Zelefsky's method. I just saw based on your comment he had that paper out published in 2014 - even just to keep blood flowing so to speak (and possibly not atrophy stuff that are dormant during treatment).
Posted 9/19/2019 3:18 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the link late5k.

ADT is known to cause bone loss, perhaps that is the cause of the shin splints, although i think you would have had to be on ADT for a while for bone loss to happen.. I've had those when i was younger and ran 25-30 miles a week, they are very tough.
Posted 9/20/2019 12:38 PM (GMT -5)
I am just on my 5th month of ADT/HT.
Thanks for the reminder about yet another SE.
Better think about eating more calcium rich foods...HT is like the gift of the devil that keeps on giving.
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