Not Sure What This Is

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

Hi Ladies,

Haven't been posting much lately but have been checking in from time to time.  Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the holiday.

So for the last week or so I've had this weird sensation under my right rib area (cancer side), not really a pain but bloated feeling at times, fullness like "something's" there (can't feel anything by pressing), and odd "swirling" feeling in that area when I lay down on my side.  Under the arm where the nodes were removed is sore if I press on it (don't know if that's related, or from all the checking and pressing, blah!).

Anyone got any thoughts?  Today I felt crummy most of the day with all of the above, and almost felt a little "flu" ish, no temp, appetite OK, just BLAH.

To top it off there is a position open at work that I'd love to put in for, but now I'm worried about my health issues getting in the way.  This sucks!

Love you all,

Sharon 

PS I had already posted this on the worried about a recurrance thread as well.  Thanks to those ladies there too.

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Comments

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

    Sharon - I am sorry you're having these issues and aren't feeling good.  I say apply for the position.  What you're feeling could be nothing or something, but don't let it hold you back from what you really want.  The only thing I would take into consideration is the supervisor/manager of the department you're applying to.  Is he/she a good person to work with?  Does he/she have compassion?  Basically is he/she a good manager of people and work as a team? 

    Good luck and I do hope you feel better.

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited November 2010

    Sharon - sounds like lymphedema and possibly cellulitis - you can get (and I have) truncal lymphedema which can flare up and it is also not uncommon to develop an infection (cellulitis) which would have similar symptoms along with fluish feelings....look for a red area, doesnt have to be bright red, mine usually is just a pinking to start. 

    If that is what it is  - some antibiotics will take care of it BUT you should move quickly.

    As far as the job - don't let cancer steal another moment of your life - go for it!

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited November 2010

    Sharon,

    I agree with everyminute, it could be lymphedema(LE) & possibly cellulitus.  I have been diagnosis with LE and just got out of the hospital last week from cellulitus. Cellulitus isn't anything to mess around with. I think I started to have symptoms over the summer and have been on & off antibiotics for months.  I was learning how do the manual lymph drainage for the LE & bam I had a huge flare of cellulitus. 

    Either way, you should definitely check with your doctor.

    Don't let it stop you from putting in for the position at work. 

    Sending love & prayers. NJ

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

    So the RN at the Onc office gave me the once over (I forgot to ask about LE/cellulitis--of course) and didn't find any obvious bulging, etc in that area, but did want to take my blood to compare the liver enzymes from last time.  She was reassuring that she didn't think it was bc related but wanted to pursue it from that point and then maybe run some scans.  Still doesn't make the issue go away, but at least I wasn't freaked out totally when I left the office.

    So frustrating, how come medicine can't be more of an exact science, I hate all this grey area!!!

    Love to you all,

    Sharon

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited December 2010

    Go for the job if it's what you want.  Don't hold back because of "what ifs". 

    Like others, the first thing I thought of when I read your post was truncal lymphedema.  Get your doc to write a script (if you need it for insurance) to go to a physical therapist who specializes in LE.  If nothing else, you'll get some great massages.

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

    Thanks Anacortes and Sherri, good to "see" you,

    I'm still not sure what the heck this is, although the good thing is my blood work came back all in the normal range.  I have been researching truncal lymphedema and I really don't have "classic" symtoms of that or cellulitis.  It's more in the abdomenal area, not the breast, chest or arm area.  The area under my right arm where the ln'd were removed is hard and sore.  There is no visible swelling or redness.  Just this weird "swishing", odd feeling in my abdomen like something is there.  It seems to have moved to the left side now where it had started just under the right rib area before.

    I also had the weirdess bout of right leg pain on my inner thigh into my groin that was so bad I had to go to the ER two nights ago. They xrayed the hip area and sono-ed it and there was no sign of a blood clot.  Doc thinks it's my inner hip, maybe arthritis.  So weird as it cam out nowhere and I had not done anything strenuous.  It is better today thank God, so again, not sure if it's just "normal" stuff for my age or related to my other issue.

    So weird.  I'm going to call the Onc's office today to give them the latest with the leg (just got the blood results from a nurse on duty) and to see what they want me to do.

    I will definitely look into the massage thing though.  

    Thanks again ladies,

    Sharon

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited December 2010

    Any updates?

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