Worried About Abdominal Pain

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pupfoster1
pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

So here I am again trying not to freak out.  I've been having abdominal pain just below and between my ribs for the last couple weeks and of course my mind is going to that dark place that it's mets of some sort, liver, stomach, whatever.  It did seem a little better a day or so last week, but now it's persisting, nagging, aching.  I'm out of active treatment now (waiting on appt to get on the Tamoxifen) so I can't blame it on tx.  I'll be calling my onc as soon as they open this am, but don't know how quickly they'll be able to see me.  Should I INSIST on being seen today?  I have such a hard time being assertive for myself, and just don't know how to trust my body anymore---don't know what's "normal" pain anymore for me............

Thanks,

Sharon

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  • chrishat
    chrishat Member Posts: 89
    edited June 2010

    i can totally relate to worrying about aches and pains these days! i get so nervous whenever i feel anything unusual. i would insist on being seen asap, because your peace of mind is worth it! have you had a scan of your abdomen ( i think that's the CT?) and if so, when was it? i have been having weird aches in the general vicinity of my ovaries but i calm myself down with the fact that my scan was clear in december. i'm currently freaking out about a shortness of breath and the need to kindof cough, which started about a week ago. cancer.....so fricking exhausting.

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited June 2010

    I go by the old rule of thumb...give it a couple of weeks and then make an appointment. When I do that, it almost always disappears just before the appointment (figuring it will usually be another week before they can fit me in for a non-emergency check). And if it doesn't, then I figure I'm doing the right thing. I also hold a lot over until my onc appointments which are still every three months.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited June 2010

    Thanks girls.  Got an appt at 3 today but w/the nurse.  They said she would pull the doc in if she felt it was necessary though.  I hate this!!!!  Chrishat my last scan was just after surgery back in November with an all clear, so we'll see if they will order one to be safe.  Kind of hoping, but not if you know what I mean..........

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2010

    Yeah, I would give it a few weeks too....unless it is too painful.

    Our minds are very clever, they can invent all sorts of symptoms. Do OTC pain killers help? Sometimes when I am worried by an odd pain, I take Tylenol for a day or two, my mind stops fixating on it, and it magically disappears.

    That being said, if it is acute pain, you might want to go sooner. 

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited June 2010

    Glad to hear you're going to the dr, hopefully he/she will be able to ease your mind and help you with the discomfort.

    Let us know what happens.

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited June 2010

    my onc goes on the 2 week rule...pain that lasts 2 weeks he wants to know about

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited June 2010

    Let us know how it goes. 

    Hopefully they can find the source of the pain and treat it quickly. 

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited June 2010

    It could also be reflux.  I had that for months after treatment was over.  Let us know..and I hope you are feeling better soon.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited June 2010

    So my onc really isn't sure what it is, so she did blood work today and sending me for a CT scan tomorrow.  She did mention it could possibly be an ulcer brought on my stress, but she wasn't certain.  The good news is that she didn't feel a palpable mass, but I know that doesn't mean it couldn't still be mets.  I am trying very hard NOT to go there in my mind and I do feel better that I saw her, but as I'm typing this it is still hurting quite a bit, even w/5mg of oxycodone on board.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.

    Thanks to you all, I'll keep you posted.

    Sharon

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2010

    Well, I hope they figure out what it is, and of course hope it is something benign. Sorry you are in so much pain though.

    Good luck with the CT today. 

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited June 2010

    I think it's a good sign that your onc doesn't know what it is.  Have you thought about calling your primary physician?

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  • Beverly11
    Beverly11 Member Posts: 443
    edited June 2010

    I has some freak out sessions after I was out of active treatment.  Oncologist told me that a recurrance is NOT common so soon after you are out of treatment.  I try to do something healthy to give myself some power back.  ie exercise, pop an anti cancer supplment or eat some cruciferous vegetables.

     Bev

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited June 2010

    might be painkillers tearing up your stomach.. if you take them.    good luck.. we're so sensitive

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited June 2010

    Hi ladies,

    So, got good news today---CT came back normal!! Laughing She did see some cysts on the liver, but said they were benign things, not to worry about them, and THERE WAS NO SIGN OF BC!  HURRAY!  She still isn't ruling out an ulcer and wants me to take Pepcid AC for the next week and then see a gastro doc if it's not better.  And Apple I have been taking oxycodone, so I've thought the same thing.  It's a catch 22, I need the pain relief, but what if that's what's causing the pain??? Oh well, at least it's not where my mind was taking me.

    Thank you all ladies,

    Sharon

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2010

    Big whew! Wonderful news.

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited June 2010

    maybe taking them with food, or after food.

    i take hydrocodone.. and i have to be careful

    edit.. warmest congrats!

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited June 2010

    yeah...very good news.... I am happy to hear that. I needed to hear some good news today. Could it be like a gull stone or your apendix?

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited June 2010

    Great news Sharon!

    Leah

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  • Beverly11
    Beverly11 Member Posts: 443
    edited June 2010

    Awesome Sharon.  Thanks for letting us know.

     Pure - Sending a hug your way!!

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited June 2010

    That's wonderful!  

    Clarice

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited June 2010

    Pups....Fantastic news....Did you do chemo?...chemo did a number of my stomach.....started on Nexium during chemo and by the time I was done, doubled my dose...saw a GI doc and there was nothing wrong....PCP thought it was just the chemo and she was right....I still take the Nexium (gave up the double dose long time ago) as I'm afraid to go off....I can't take any of the pain meds....ibuprofen is the only thing that doesn't make me sick.....if you google ucler, the Tx is the same as for GERD, heartburn etc....I thought I was getting an ulcer a couple years ago due to unbearable stress at work....so hoping for you that things resolve soon and the pepcid helps.

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  • Frankie_
    Frankie_ Member Posts: 422
    edited June 2010

    TERRIFIC NEWS!!! GOOD TO HEAR THE CT SCAN WAS CLEAN!!!

    Frankie

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited June 2010

    Hi Karen,I did 4 rounds of dd A/C then 4 of Taxol but that ended back in March so it would seem odd that it popped up now (although I had my share of se, just not this).  I'm trying the Pepcid but it doesn't seem to be doing much yet, we'll see.  Might have to look into Nexium and seeing a gasto specialist next.  Sheesh, enough doctors already!  And thanks to you too Frankie for your note, you ladies are the best!

    Sharon

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