Aches, have had 3 surgeries and radiation within one year

taraleec

I am experiencing painful aches throughout my entire body.  I'm 39 and pre-menopausal.  Actually since 2007, I've had 5 total surgeries, 2 for severe cervical dysplasia and 3 breast surgeries along with radiation. My aches and pain include headaches, dizziness, arms, legs, shoulders, hand numbness, stomach problems, pelvic pain and at times severe lower back pain.  It comes and goes, but there's hardly a day that I don't have some ache/pain. Sometimes are stronger than others.  Sometimes it just hurts just to type or write, to walk stairs, or even to do laundry.  Has anyone had any similar experiences?  Any input or suggestions would be appreciated.

 4/2/2008, LCIS, 5cm, Stage 0, 0/0 nodes, ER+

Kimber

Are you on tamoxifen?  You had radiation for LCIS???

billiegirl

You definitely have my sympathy, you and your body have been through a lot physically & emotionally! I completely understand what you are describing. I've had a lot of medical issues in the past several years...and my complaints are the same as yours. However,I am almost twice your age (57). I literally hurt all-over all the time. I do take lyrica and a fancy pain reliever 1X daily (called ULTRAM). I'm not sure how much they help, they are both supposed to be super drugs. I still ache a lot but I don't want to stop taking them for fear I will become totally incapacitated! I had a Heart Attack in 2003, followed 3 months later by gall bladder removal. I was fairly healthy until 2003. DR says the heart attack was caused by an inflammed gallbladder. I knew I had a problem, but had the heart attack before I could get the gall bladder taken out. Then mastectomy in 10/04 for Stage III IDC/?IBC followed by chemo & rads. Had several Cracked ribs from radiation. Then Back Fusion surgery 2007 (twice). Next, surgical wide local excision of skin cancer on my back. 2008 3 lumpectomies(all during 1 surgery) then umbilical hernia surgery just a few weeks ago. Had complete respiratory failure and was on a vent in ICU for a week following the hernia surgery.I think you and I have just had "the sap" sucked out of us. You might ask your DR about the 2 meds I mentioned. It may take a LOOOONG.......time to fully recover from all the stress that you & your body have been through. Be kind to yourself. I am assuming that you have addressed this with your DR. to rule out things like mets, arthritis, lupus and what ever else,right? If not, please do. Hang in there.

taraleec

billiegirl:   You've been thru far more/worse than I.  I feel for you.  And I hope you are well.  Thank you for responding.  I have not talked to my Doctor about this yet. I keep thinking maybe it's all in my mind or I'm just getting older and out of shape. So I figured a doctor would say 'you need to do more exercise' or something similar.  But actually my 3 year old keeps me pretty active. I'm also in a custody battle and it's horrible.  I'll pray for you.  Take Care. 

billiegirl

Thanks for your kind words, but I am worried about you. Please do make an appointment and discuss with your DR.You are right, DRs do ALWAYS bring up diet, exercise, weight loss if needed as if that was not one of our stressors already! and counseling. Thats part of there job. But while trying to do those things on top of feeling like CRAP all the time and having BIG other life stressors, there is nothing wrong with getting medically supervised medications to relieve some of the discomfort. And it is very possible that you do have a serious under-lying condition that can be fixed or treated. I used to feel guilty that I wasn't able to work through chemo, like some gals do...or brag about what a breeze Cancer treatment was.But, it is what it is. I wonder if (ask the MD)all of your stressors and medical problems could have caused fibromialgia? Keep me posted.

leaf

Its awful to have aches and pains and not know what they are.  It puts even more stress on an already stressful situation.  It sounds like this is affecting your quality of life.

As billiegirl said, you might have something like fibromyalgia? 

Maybe a visit to a rheumatologist would be in order?  I'm more than 10 years older than you are, but arthritis can strike at any age, and there are many, many types of arthritis.

As one collegue said, getting older is not for the faint of heart.

taraleec

I've heard of fibromyalgia, but don't know much about it.  I really do feel as if I'm 60 years old. And I feel horrible, since I have a 3 year old who wants me to play and I do, but it's as if I can hardly keep any energy. And afterwards I feel 10 times worse.

leaf

Here's what the Mayo clinic says about fibromyalgia. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079

It sounds like this is really affecting your quality of life.

melmedic06

i can totally relate to all of your misery :-(    my first dx was in 2004- second was 2005- had radiation for both- started with gall bladder pain 16 months ago and just had it removed a week ago wednesday so 3 surgeries in 6 years tossed in there with 2 sessions of radiation makes for one miserable girl- right? (sidebar to billiegirl- OMG- how have you managed to handle all of that?)-  i so have joint pain from my shoulders all the way down to my feet- weight gain (but lost alot on the low fat diet for the gall bladder)- numbness and tingling in both hands and feet- dizziness- vertigo- anxiety- painc- depression- almost like PTSD- a complete and total lack of interest in anything though i do manage to drag my sorry butt to work every week- and the insomnia- the worst!!!  memory loss and an anger that just creeps up on me without warning- i attribute most of it to arimidex and can hardly wait for january of 2010 when i get to stop taking it but meanwhile life just pretty much sucks so no- you are not alone in fact i bet you have millions of women including myself that can relate totally- good luck in your journey and keep the faith ladies-