Here we go again!

Carlatap

Tomorrow I go in for a bone scan. I tell myself that all is well, but at the same time I hurt when ever my body has to move. I've had bone scans before, and they have showed no mets, but show some bone degeneration and arthritis. But now the pain is when I lay down, sit down, stand, go up stairs, go downstairs, walk, bend over-in my lower back, pelvis, hips, thighs, knees, wrists, and shoulders. I take tylenol arthritis, aleve, and put cold packs, hot packs which all help for just a little while and then its back. I'm also sleeping like crazy. I go to the gym and walk, and love to swim laps and then sit in the hot tub. But now I exercise to  stretch my body parts cuz if I don't, I'm in trouble. I need at least 10 hours of sleep at night, and a 1 or 2 hour nap in the afternoon. Good grief-I'm only 53, but I feel like I am 70!  I drive myself crazy trying to look up what the pain is for arthritis vs. the pain for bone mets. I'm hoping for the best, but I am nervous too. I'm triple negative, BRCA2+, have had a bilateral mast. w/ tram flap reconstruction that did not heal well. Is there anybody out there who can relate?  I would love to hear from you! Thank you for letting me vent.

nancyh

Hi Carla,

Hope your bone scan went well, did you get any answers?  WIshing you well,

NancyH 

carcharm

Carlatap

I'm 51 dx in 2009 with stage 1a er/pr- her2++. I am in constant pain. I had a unilateral mastectomy. The further away from the dx date I get the more pain I have. I walk like a 90 year old. So far no mets but it is a constant concern. I haven't lost my chemo weight - in fact have put on more - from nervous eating. I have golfers elbow-I don't golf, fractured my ankle in 5 places just from falling backwards, have neuropathy in toes and fingers, have muscle cramps daily in weird places, and I can't get a doctor to believe that I am in  pain. OK maybe my PCP did believe me but she wanted me to try meditation and yoga. I can't get on the floor because of my plates and screws in the ankle so I just don't do anything but cry. I don't want to be on any meds I just want to not be in pain. My back bones hurt. I had an mri of the neck and found I have osteophytes-part of osteoarthritis there and I know I have a slipped disc in my lumbar spine that has been hurting awful since chemo. If I could lose weight I know it would help but I also know that it is not going to take away all the pain. I hope your scans come out clear. I have to take ambien to sleep. I work full-time and come home exhausted wishing I had the energy to get a workout in.

Carlatap

Hi Nancy and Carcharm, I'm sorry it took so long to get back to the boards. Thank you for writing your encouragement. It really means a lot. First of all, the bone scans came out clear of any malignancy-which I am very thankful for! So, the tests were followed up with an appt with my onc. He suggested an ultra sound every year rather than a mamo b/c of my mastectomy. -and suggested one for right away. I went yesterday, and they found a cyst which they want to asperate and get a biopsy. I had gone back in June for an ultra sound, and this cyst was not on the report and had not shown up on the ultra sound. So, once again, I am going on Wed to get a biopsy. I am not worried. These cysts found in reconstructed breasts almost never show up malignant and I am counting on this. The radiologist is just being careful due to my history. Nancy, thankyou again for responding to my post and I wish you a great and happy 2012. Stay strong and I pray you stay healthy. Carcharm, I am sorry about all your pain. Its so hard to keep up the energy when you have constant pain, isn't it?  I also take ambien, but I try to take no more than 5 mg because I don't want my body to get too used to it and need more. I am going to try to get to an arthritis doctor, and in the mean time try to keep up with my walking, swimming, and stretching exercises. I really hope you have a great and happy New Year as well, and may 2012 be a better year for you!  Try to stay strong and I hope your ankle heals so you can be more comfortable. I will post when my biopsy results come in!

Carlatap

I got great news today! The cyst that was seen on the US was aspirated, and came out all clear-just an oily kind of fluid. I am greatly relieved. If all goes well, I will not have to see my onc until July, and will not need another scan for another year. Yeah!!  Thank you again for your thoughts. I will continue to hold all you strong women going through various phases of this disease in my thoughts and prayers.

avaross09

I hope you get some relief soon.