Is anyone else taking Lynparza (olaparib)? How are you doing?

@lisadiane Wow, you teach Zumba!! That class takes a lot of energy and I would be the student, not the teacher. No wonder you feel tired after teaching.

I no longer have the endurance I once did for cross-country skiing. It's a huge disappointment for me. I have realized that I'm reaching for a goal that is neither obtainable or realistic for me. So, I'm working on adjusting my expectations. Going forward I will rely on technique and no more pushing to see if I can go as long or as hard as I did in the past. This is just me. I'm not teaching anyone so I'm not the mentor in front of the class as you are in Zumba. I rest when I feel my body is tired.

How often are you teaching Zumba or other aerobic classes?

@ginmav
Teaching Zumba and fitness classes makes me very happy, I think I’d feel worse if I stopped. After I recovered from chemo, my goal was to get back to where I was. Although I pay the price with heavy fatigue, I want to keep going. I get light headed too, but just off and on. Maybe you can try a few short walks around the yard, in small increments. Take it slow. As a fitness instructor, I know movement is vital! Not only is it important physically, but for our mental health as well!
Wishing the best for you.

@naturegirl5
I think I forget I’m 64. lol
My husband keeps reminding me of that. I wanted to get back to my “normal” as soon as possible I think. I run bootcamp classes 4x a week. At a different gym I teach one Zumba class, one HIIT class and one total body weight class. It’s a lot! Luckily, I don’t have to do the bootcamp classes, just guide them. Oh, and I also play Pickleball twice a week.
I understand your frustration with having to slow down on the cross country skiing. Do you think you can find another exercise that you would enjoy?

@missbiscuit Welcome to our Gynecological Cancers support group. You've been through a lot in less than one year. It sounds like the reduction ind osage of Lynparza allows you to feel better. The balance problem and lightheadness sounds awful. I'm relieved to know you are working with other specialists to try and figure out what's going on with that.

How are you feeling overall? Can you the things that you enjoy doing despite the balance and lightheadedness?

I’ve been on Lynparza for 17 months now. I’ve been feeling a lot of fatigue. Even after we cut the dosage down. A little cough at night as well. My oncologist prescribed Ritalin to give me more energy and help with brain fog. I am a fitness instructor, so I’m always physically active. Ritalin is a great help but I only use it on the days I teach. Other days I notice the fatigue more.
Lynparza has kept me clear but there’s always the fear of my cancer returning. I believe that’s normal. I’m grateful I can continue to teach, my body is strong but I definitely struggle with fatigue. I am excited to get off this medication in July but worried about what happens next…

@naturegirl5
Hi, Helen, and thank you yes, I can still do things that I enjoy. I am still experiencing the balance problems and “lightheadedness” - The lightheadedness is a feeling that I’m constantly going to faint (but I never faint) and I found out that it is called pre-syncope. I do not think it is the Lynparza, because it started when I was on a break from the drug. I think it must have something to do with damage from my original chemotherapy. I am seeing a different specialist at Yale next week… a neuro-oncologist - so I’m hoping he can get to the bottom of my problem!

I would like to repeat (for those having any trouble with Lynparza) that they should check out having their dosage lowered, because lowering mine from 300 twice a day to 250 twice a day has made me feel so much better… And my oncologist insists it doesn’t interfere with the efficacy of the treatment.
All the best to you all and God bless you. To make you smile here is my dog Thumper, coming in from enjoying the snow 🤗 (click on it to enlarge).