Oncologist appt. tomorrow - Pain, Nausea, Dizziness, etc.

greenacres

Good morning ladies.   As you may or may not remember I have been experiencing body wide aches and pains since July of 2010 when my chemo ended and I continued Herceptin then until 12/2010.  I complained of all over body pain through all of 2011 and still into 2012 and now some things are changing for me so I do FINALLY have an appt. with my oncologist because of the new things I am feeling.  Do you guys have any idea what this may be?  I am scared that my cancer has spread into my bones or my liver.  What are the chances of this happening being Stage 1, Hormone Negative and Her2+++ ?

In November of 2011 my neck pain was so bad my neurosurgeon suggested diagnostic injection left side of neck at C5/C6  due to foraminal stenosis and left side protrusion onto the spinal cord/canal.  The injection did me good, pain diminished to tolerable throughout December.    By January the pain had gotten worse, so I called NS to have my Oxycodone refilled (I was taking about 2-3/week) not too bad, but it is the only thing that will relieve the pain enough to get through the day.  They would not refill until I made an appt. to see her.  I told her my pain was back but it wasn't nothing I couldn't live with "for now".  She then said we would move forward with facet injections next and to let me know when I would like to do that. I told her I would call her if my pain got to the point I couldn't live with and right now I didn't want to do anything - just give me some pain medication.

Beginning middle of February I was feeling off balance at times - like my head was fuzzy.   Sometimes when I would look up or down or sideways I would feel a bit off balance.  Then I noticed that I was feeling full A LOT and some of my appetite is lost and I have lost about 10 lbs or so in the past two months.  I also noticed nausea.  Once in the middle of the night after some horrible heartburn, I vomited - thought I had the flu so stayed home.  Was nauseated throughout the day, but never vomited again.  The next time and several others  I have felt nauseated at various times throughout the day.  I would eat, I would have dull aches on my right side  at times too - could it be the Fatty Liver that was mentioned I might have last year?  I don't know - I never had an ultrasound to see if that's what it was and my liver enzymes came down after I completed Chemo so there was no concern and I never requested the ultrasound they said I could have if I wanted to see if it was indeed a "fatty liver". 

And being tired - I feel more tired now than I did when I was going through chemo I think......I actually leave work sick to go home and sleep - and I sleep hard.  I would like my iron checked.  Over the past two weeks I also went back to see my Chiropractor (hadn't seen him since last October) because my lower  and middle back has also been in horrible pain - even so for him to touch it sent me through the roof.  I also have a disk protrusion in the MIDDLE of my back and that is most likely why I have the pain going around from my back to my front so he is working on that too. 

So, this past Wednesday I did call NS and asked "I would like to move forward with the facet injections because I can't stand the pain and feeling like this".  I also asked her if the nausea, daily headaches, fatigue and feeling off balance at times were also symptoms I would be feeling due to the facet problems in my neck and if not, should I follow-up with my Dr. for those symptoms first?   She agreed and was going to suggest that I should follow-up with my ONC before we move forward with the injections that due to my cancer history because of the other things I am feeling.   She wants me to get back w/her office once I know if I can move forward with the injections. 

The other thing I feel a lot of fullness in my belly.  Like I could eat a meal and I feel full.  Or I am hardly hungry at all.  Do you guys think I have anything to worry about.  What scans if any do you think they should suggest?  I have my appt tomorrow afternoon.  I am 42.  Original diagnosis was December 2009 - began treatment in January 2010. 

Thanks.

leggo

Sorry you're not feeling well. I think they might suggest a liver ultrasound just to rule that out. So many things could cause those symptoms, particularly gall bladder issues. We're right in that age group where our gallbladders sometimes go squirrly. Good luck to you tomorrow and I hope that's all it is.

ETA: JMO, but if your blood work is o.k., I would still ask for the liver ultrasound just to make sure. My bloodwork never indicated squat until the liver mets were out of control.

Lauriesh

Hi sandra,

I would ask for a ct scan of the abdomen and a brain mri.

Unfortunately, stage 1 can become stage 4, especially when you are Her2+.

Hopefully, it turns out to be fatty liver or gallbladder or something else not cancer related.

Laurie  

greenacres

Thanks ladies.  Laurie, were you also at Stage 1 to begin with?  Can I ask what kind of mets you have and if you had any symptoms?  I'm sorry you progressed and I hope you are doing well. 

Lauriesh

Hi Sandra,

I was stage 2, with 2 positive nodes when I was diagnosed in 2005, then diagnosed with liver mets in 2010. I had two liver mets, one huge (11 cm) and I had no symptoms until one day I had what felt like a gall bladder attack. I went to the er and they did a ct and the mets were found.

I am doing well. I have NED for 13 months.

Laurie