Dealing with BC and RA

Flmgkat

I don't know what fourm that this will be in, but I've search and can't find.

Am going thru stage IIB BC and have rhuematiod arthritis on top this. Right now, I'm having a 'pain free day' from the last few weeks of trying to tell the difference between my RA flare ups and the side effects of the tamoxifen. Being on four difference meds for two diseases ain't my idea of fun. I wonder if anyone else is going thru this or another disease and how you cope with it. I'm close to tears and anger, but not enough to warrant a total breakdown.

Thanks

chrissyb

Hi Flmgkat, I have just found your post, and although I don't have RA I do have OA.  Having to deal with Arthritis of any sort and BC is very difficult and I agree sometimes it does bring you close to tears with frustration.  How long have you been on Tamoxifen? Has your doc prescribed pain meds for you?  If you would like to pm me please feel free.  Sometimes we just need to talk in order to put our frustrations into a bit better perspective. Hang in there. Love n hugs. chrissyb

abearheart

Hi Flmgkat! I too have BC and RA along with diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, and other things.  It is difficult dealing with multiple problems.  I'm pretty lucky, as my RA is under control. I am having more problems with scar tissue and such right now.  I manage to work 4 to 5 days a week which lets me focus on my patients problems and not mine.  I have dealt with depression for several years and both diagnoses really set me back.  If you are dealing with this, it might be helpful to ask your docs for a referral to a psychiatrist to help you deal with these set backs.  It really helped me to open up and ask for the help.  I hope that things will get better for you.  Hugs

Anna

Flmgkat

@chrissyb: heya and thank you. I was on Fermera for only three weeks and the bone pain side effect almost put me down into tears. The onc doc then switched me to tamoxifen, which is a little better, but I still have to figure whether I'm having a flareup or a side effect (mostly in my lower back area). My rhuemy is talking about going back on enbrel, which I was using for four years, but I told him that I wanted to take it one day at a time, and also that I don't know what the side effects along with the tamox might be

@abearheart:  yeh, I'm back at school being out of work for a year and six months now, and this is like countering the sometimes depression I've been facing the last few weeks. The Disability Student Services have been wonderful in supporting me and advocating me to my teachers about my situation. I guess after six months since my mastectomy, I'm not just hitting the wall, so to speak.