pain in sternum and ribs

mamadog53

I'm 4 years out from treatment for Stage 1. Did lumpectomy & rads and had an Oncotype of 5. Everything's been good until a few months ago. I started having dizzy spells, lots of heartburn and generally not feeling well. I've been to the cardiologist and did a nuclear stress test with no problems. He still wants to do an echo. Went to a neurologist about the dizzy spells and he sent me to vestibular therapy where the therapist said I did not have vertigo. Got an appointment with a gastro at the end of the month. Finally decided that I might need to involve my onc in all this so I have an appt. with her next week. I think I've been trying to push the idea of recurrence out of my head but it suddenly became real when I made the appt. Somebody needs to talk me down from the ledge right now. I can't even get an appt. with my primary care doc until Oct. I just don't know what to do at this point. I can barely eat because everything gives me heartburn. Just really scared right now. I

sbelizabeth

Mamadog, it's so easy to let every physical malady become a sign of recurrence and let thoughts wander into the dark zone. It sounds like you're doing everything right, and next weeks onc visit will help ease your mind. Based on your description of your symptoms, though, I would be very surprised if any of your doctors think they mean the cancer's back. The first thing that sprang to mind for me was a possible low thyroid function. Has that been checked?

While you wait to see your onc and GP, you might try an over-the-county heartburn medication like omeprazole. You can buy it at Costco or wherever--it might make your more comfortable. Good luck!

mamadog53

Thanks sbelizabeth. I though I had been pretty good about not thinking every little thing was a recurrence up until now. I had a full blood workup done prior to see the cardiologist and everything looked good. I had asked my PCP doctor about the more extensive thyroid test but she said I didn't need it. Because of that and the fact I can never get an appointment when I need one I think she's history as far as I'm concerned. This whole thing is turning me into a hypochondriac. I think I've been to more doctors since last spring that I have the whole time I was in breast cancer treatment. My husband suggested that I take a Xanax and hang out on the couch with my dog for the rest of the day. I think I may just do that

Moderators

Definitely some fur-baby time and couch therapy will help relax you! We're sorry you're going through this, Lynn... please keep us posted as you know more! We're thinking of you!

--The Mods

plumster1

Mamma dog- I had vertigo about 10 years back. The cause for me ended up being out of control seasonal allergies. Once I started on allergy meds, immunotherapy shots and nasal sprays. It never popped up again. Keep us posted. Thinking good thoughts!

songbird68

Hi Lynn, I know you're scared, and I would be too. I hate that you are going through this new pain after four years. Could it be a new hormonals se? As I understand it, symptoms can come and go without any particular reason. I had palpitations, heart burn and digestive problems suddenly occur at night. I drank some acidex liquid aniseed (gaviscon) and it eased. Palpitations have mostly gone thankfully, after seeing my gp - he said it sounded like anxiety, where it was waking me up at night(I am a wimp when I haven't had a good nights sleep!) he said try homeopathic remedy Aconite 30c(that's wolfsbane - a poison! how cool is my gp!). I took his advice and so far so good.

Any test will bring worry, particularly as you are seeing your onc. I get stressed in any waiting room, so I can only imagine what you are going through. I really hope you are ok and managing to relax on the couch with xanax and dog. Hang in there and please keep us posted:)

Big hugs

x x

Donna-Dew

Lynn I totally understand what you are feeling too. I had some of the same type of symptoms a few years before my dx. It was a horrible year, my 27 year old brother had passed that July and my father passed in November. I was the take-charge person in the family and had alot of responsibility and stress as you can imagine at that time. I felt unwell, dizzy spells, and some chest pain from time to time. I was convinced I had developed a heart problem, but a stress test and a cardiac echo/ultrasound both came back fine. Later another doctor did a palpation of my sternum and my ribs, it hurt, felt very sore, and he said he was sure it was Costochondritis (an inflammation of the cartilage that connects ribs to the sternum). It is a condition that is often brought on by stress and anxiety. Anxiety can cause ALL kinds of physiological reactions. It's scary I know because you don't know which ones are caused by anxiety and which ones are indicative of a disease process. Gastric upset can also be caused by stress. It's possible you could also have a gastric ulcer. Glad you are going to your gastro doc next. All that to say, your symptoms could be caused by stress which considering what all us BC ladies have been through is totally understandable. My costochondritis is still with me and flares whenever I am under great duress. Right now I am 5 months post-op and have 2 small lumps that are in the process of being diagnosed, so I know the fear of recurrance! I'm hoping these lumps are just the result of the trauma of surgery and the healing process. But we have to be sure so it's always best to be aware of body changes and follow up with the docs. No fun though. Hope you are resting up and enjoying the fur therapy!

Donna

mamadog53

Thanks for everyone's concern. It really helped. So did the xanax and my furry therapy. I'm a little more coherant today and am trying to sort out my symptoms. As for the dizziness, I do have allergies but I'm already taking Allegra and using Flonase spray. Back in the spring when the dizziness started my allergies were off the chart. I live in Houston so that's pretty normal for a lot of people here. They really haven't been all that bad lately but I'm willing to chalk up the dizziness to that at this point. The abdominal pain and heartburn is a something I've never dealt with. Pretty much had a cast iron stomach until early 2014 when I had a gall bladder attack. I got to the doctor the very next day and was in surgery by the end of the week. Never wanted to go through that again. I recovered well from the surgery and despite what I had read online resumed my normal eating habits. The only thing I found that I could not tolerate was bacon so I just don't eat it. Guess I'll just let the gastro doc figure it out. The stress thing started a couple of years prior to diagnosis. Our beach house was severly damaged in Hurricane Ike and we've spent the last 7 years rebuilding it ourselves. My best friend died of triple negative breast cancer in 2010. My husband lost his sister and mother that same year. My husband retired and is around the house all the time. No one every prepares you for that. LOL. He's not the easiest man to live with but he's a good man and we've been married for 43 years. So yeah, I've got stress. Sorry to run on so long. Again, thanks for concern. Will post again when I find out what's what.

Lynn