Ever feel like a hypochondriac?

aggiemegs

I know many of us must feel like hypochondriacs after our cancer diagnosis and treatment. I often wonder how this affects the care I receive from my doctor. Because I am on Xeloda, I am still seeing my MO monthly. I am hyper-aware of everything that is going on with my body these days, and because of that, when I fill out the form asking about any current symptoms I may be having, I never know if I should put anything! I feel like I'm going to look like a crazy paranoid freakazoid if I complain about something every time, but then I also worry a LOT about not putting something that could be a big deal.

Last month, I'd had a cough forever (but so did everyone in my house) and I was convinced that I had mets to the lung, so I told her about it. And now this month, I've been having some pains in my right side that come and go for a couple of weeks now, along with feeling full and not much appetite for the last 2-3 days. So of course, now I worry about my liver. These doctors have one heck of a job to do, in determining when we are just being nervous Nancy's and when it's something they need to be concerned about.

Do any of you ever feel this way? Do you ever just not bother mentioning things to your doc? Or am I alone on this one?

Luvmydobies

Nope you're not alone! I'm hyper of everything too. I worry over aches and pains too. I have IBS which causes me to have frequent diarrhea. The weird thing is I always worry it's my liver for some reason causing diarrhea. I've also had pains on the right along my ribs and below them since October 2015. I mentioned it to my Onc that and he said it sounded like post mastectomy pain. I didn't mention again he last two times I saw him. He asked if there were any changes with anything and there wasn't. My six month follow up is next month and I don't know if I should bring it up again or not. It's been over a year since it started so I would think if it was liver mets that I'd be be sick by now. I also have truncal lymphedema which I've heard can cause some pain.

TrixieBoo

Yep, right there with you! At my last appointment, my MO mentioned that I was entering the time period when TNBC typically recurs so OF COURSE at every ache my first thought is that the cancer is back. I finally started keeping a little notebook for things I notice - location of the ache/pain/feeling, time of day, what I was doing, etc. I think it helps keep me in check a little.

aggiemegs

So glad I'm not alone!!!!

Lola - Oh geez! And my dx date is shortly after yours. I've never heard this. When is the time period that TNBC typically recurs??

TrixieBoo

My MO told me in years 2 & 3 after surgery. I'm not too sure I believe that though, this stupid cancer seems to do whatever it wants. Like a spoilt child.

4everStrong

we all are in the same boat then!! I feel the same way and think that our doctors must have learnt to deal with worries like that..

I believe they know what to ask for and by the way (may be) we are describing our pains .. and the answers we give to their questions, they should know whether we are describing met or just a regular pain!! at least i hope they do!!

Personally I felt many type of pain right after (and during) treatment.. i really thought they were mets. I had headache and vision change, started fearing brain met .. did an MRI it was negative.. felt all bloated with pain on the right side feared it was liver mets.. did an MRI it was negative .. I am having hip pain was afraid it would be bone met so convinced my doc to do a spinal MRI.. now i have armpit pain in the opposite side of where I had cancer, so I am scared of having CBC.. i am convincing my doc for breast MRI

its awful to be like that.. I know I am making my doc job harder.. but i can't help it .. i really did feel all those pains!!

Luvmydobies

4everStrong, what is CBC?

4everStrong

Contralateral Breast Cancer.. i know this sounds like very hypochondriac.. which is the case frankly.. but I try not think about all this too much until I meet with my Onc - then I share all my worries with him, with no limits, tell him all the crazy thoughts and feelings..

I am not an expert in cancer or anything.. but the fear of recurrence is so heavy its unreal!! and not very helpful!! I fear it a lot.. I do my best to manage this fear and try to put things into perspective.. which I find it helpful, I exercise and listen to music as much as I can.. I don't panic about it all day long.. but keep it in the back of my mind until my next appointment!!

Hugs to all ..and wish you strength and positive vibes! Let us all be cured!!

Luvmydobies

4ever, you got a PCR so that's a great sign! I'm having armpit pain on my cancer side as we speak. It feels like the pain is more on the surface. Felt around on it this morning and feel a bump or something. Hoping it's not a lymph node! Emailed my nurse navigator and she told me to use warm compresses for a few days and get back with her on Thursday. My PCP is out this week but the other doc in her practice can see me Friday. Ugh. My Onc appt is scheduled for Feb. 6th but I may have to get in sooner if the compresses don't work and/or this is a lymph node. I'm in a panic for sure!!

Happymamaw

I'm nearing 2 years of survivorship. I, too, struggle with this. And I have an oncologist who doesn't test at all. I don't even have blood work each visit...Is THIS normal?

yodez75

my onc does lab work, but no scans unless I mention something is wrong.

cliff

i am becoming one, 4 years ago, after a misdiagnosis of congestive heart failure as "walking pneumonia", then last year with breast cancer, i keep looking over my shoulder for whats next.

Redporchlady

I am glad I am not the only one that worries!  I never used to get sick or worry about anything until this happened to me.  I am like all of you.  I tell my ONC I am having headaches, - they do a brain MRI - clear.  Then I have a cough that won't go away -  they do a CT of the chest - all clear, then I have pain in my left hip- bam - they do x-ray's of the my bones and I find out I have arthritis.  So my big question is how we know if it is recurrence or just getting old (which I think the chemo probably aged us all 10+ years).  I don't want to worry and I don't want to bother the doctor with everything.  I have pain where they did the lumptecomy and my complete axilla dissection and sometimes it is just stiff and aches.  I found a lump and they did a MRI, mammogram and ultrasound but it was just a fat lobular.  This is so confusing!!!  I don't have any regular scans or blood draws either as my ONC states they just want to know if we have any symptoms so I think we are doing what we should be doing.  He did tell me that any of my symptoms that last over 2 weeks and are not related to any activity or changes in my lifestyle to report them.  So gals, I think we are all doing the right thing!  Hugs and prayers to all of you.  Roxanne

jcolford

Glad to see that this is actually a "thing" and not just my insanity. Having a doctor that at least addresses your concerns with tests and scans is fortunate. I went to my oncologist for my semi annual check up and told her about having headaches on the left side of my face pretty much constantly for over two months and a twitching eye for over a month non stop - she told me that if it was mets to my brain I would be dead already. Now I have a swollen supraclavicular lymph node on my bc side and she is rushing me for a ct scan of my neck, chest and abdomen. I never know which things she wants to know about and what isn't relative.

aggiemegs

jcolford - That is awful that she would say something like "you'd be dead already!" So sorry you have to deal with that, and I hope everything turns out ok.

I'm now dealing with pretty severe pain just below my right rib and in my right shoulder. So of course I've convinced myself it's liver mets, and have spent the last 4-5 days searching the forums for others with the same symptoms. At least I have an appt with my MO on Thursday, and can discuss with her then..

Redporchlady

So sorry Jcolford! You are right that I am fortunate he follows up on my symptoms to be sure. What did you find out aggiemegs about your pain in your right rib

aggiemegs

Redporch - I saw my MO today and she ordered a chest/abdomen/pelvis CT that I had this afternoon, so hopefully I'll have some answers tomorrow