All Down Hill

FJH

All Down Hill

FJH

Anyone else seem to be facing other health issues since bc?

Before my diagnosis, my health was good. Since I have completed my treatment it seems as if it's one thing after another where my health is concerned. My latest checkup is now showing corotid artery disease when only two years ago I had a clean bill concerning my vascular system.....is this now my future?

Anonymous

I'm not in the same boat, FJH, but I can appreciate how upset and pissed off it could make you after not only dealing with bc, but then getting socked with yet another health problem. It doesn't seem fair, does it? I've had one diagnosis after another since I was 17 years old, so the bc was yet another thing that tried to knock me down (and didn't!). Try to assume that this will be it and it will just be uphill from now on. It's just as likely as the negative scenario, right?

 ~Marin

juanita63

Have you ever had some of these things checked before?  Or is it that now you're more attuned to your other health?  I didn't really go to my pcp unless I was sick before cancer.  Then afterwards they decided I needed my cholesterol, sugar, bone density, etc... checked.  Well I have high cholesterol, borderline diabetic- almost over the high, and a multitude of other things.  Hang in there!

tawyna1

hi

my mom had heart diease before bc but after got diabetes and low b12. 

FJH

I'm not really blaming my treatment for the new problems but this artery thing sure makes me wonder. I had good readings for cholesteral prior to Aromasin, and now it seems it's progressing quite rapidly.....aw, just feel like my health left the day I heard "you have cancer" and can't help feeling it is now going to be the pattern.

I'll do what I have to do to fix this also but sure am sick of, if it's not one thing, it's another.

Thanks

yellowrose

Until my BC diagnosis, I have been relatively healthy. Just a cold here or there.  Just had a complete physical less than two years ago and everything was all good.  Since the BC, my system must be somewhat compromised because I keep getting viruses, etc.  Am now struggling with Endometrial Hyperplasia with the onc encouraging a hysterectomy/oophrectomy.  I don't know, is it just age-related crap? 

Years ago, for my mom's 50th bd I gave her a magnet that said "After 50, it's just patch, patch, patch."  During my 50th year I got the BC and EH so I told her I think that I need that magnet back!  I wouldn't be at all surprised if it shows up in my mail at any time.

iodine

Yep, first it was occult blood in stool=colonoscopy, then "heart" problems=stress test and cardiac cath, both negative.

Then the heart stuff was related to GI problems, so had a gallbladder removed=huge stone.

Then severe sinusitis/cough=more GI problems and treated well with double doses of singular and prevacid.  All better now, tho.

Oh, and because of cont'd joint pain=bilat knee scopes, need a replacement on the left.  Nah, not any time soon.

Oh, and then back pain=MRI showed incidental bleeding between spine and dura sac around the the cord.  More surgery=Nah, maybe later since I don't have back pain any more.

SO---yes, I've had a lot of rounds and I beleive if I hadn't had bc, I wouldn't have had so many problems and the recommendations would not have been so invasive. 

Of course being 59-64(now) doesn't help one little bit.

Maire67

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newter

I have been on cholesterol  medicine since before BC, first Lipitor, now Zocor.

Since BC I have developed and underactive thyroid, at least I do not think I had thyroid problems before.  I had never had a reason to be tested.

Since BC is the gift that likes to keep giving, I am just awaiting my next affliction.

ravdeb

Yep..I have hypothyroidism which I did NOT have before chemo.

Chemo also brought out pains in my back. I did have herniated disks with no symptoms in my lower back and neck. Since chemo, I have had to have bone scans to check out the new pains I keep getting that all end up related to these disks. It could be coincidence but still..only after chemo did I begin to suffer. NEVER had a pain in my life before this!

iodine

After stopping tamox my cholesterol dropped like a stone! 

I forgot to add that I started thyroid meds, too, for hypo.

carolsd

Yes, I know what you mean. I have psoriatic arthritis, which was diagnosed just a few months before my BC, but now seems barely controlled. One medication I was on has quit working, so I was switched to a new medication, an injection of Humira that comes Fed Ex and has to be refrigerated. Thank goodness my b/f knows how to give shots so I don't have to give them to myself. It really can be discouraging. But my symptoms are mostly under control now, though I still suffer from joint swelling. My fitness routine has gone to the dogs, so to speak. I was thinking tonight, as I went for a short walk and got tired, that I was in better shape when I was in chemo treatments! That's pretty sad. And, I also have osteopenia, close to osteoporosis, so I have to take meds for that (and be careful not to slip and fall and break my hip). I'm only 44 for god's sake.

Add to that the breakout of exzema on my fingers which has caused painful splits and cuts that hurt so much. My fingers are covered with bandages now to make life bearable.

Ahhh, BC, the gift that keeps on giving.

FJH

Wow, that is how my artery problem was discovered, I was seeing a new Dr. for psoratic arthritis!!! She wanted me to do injections of Embril but do to the cost and no rx coverage I didn't go back. The vascular disease took presidence over my back pain. It makes no sense to me to continue Aromasin if it is at very least helping the cholesterol to elevate. The Dr. says, keep taking it, just make sure to take the Lipitor. This all makes me crazy! I do suspect chemo did more than just fight my cancer.

Thanks again, it really helps to share my fears.