What are symtoms of mets to liver, here we go again!!!!

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faithfulheart
faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi ladie's,

ok I feel like such a broken record. So here's the deal, I have had stomach issue's for over a month now.

I stopped my calcium because it had soy in  it, I had been taking it for months. I also ran out of my juice plus at the same time. I don't know what I did, but , I started having heartburn ,cramping after eating,

bowl issue's ect.... So  I have been blaming it on all the supplements I have been taking and switching around, 5000 d-3 a day, tamox, effexsor, calcium, xannax, what a mess. I went back to work 2 months ago, I am an interior designer and I took on a very stressful job. Ok all this being said, so sorry, my acid relex, stomach pain after eating, irregular bowl movements, I AM  starting

to freak out, again!!!!!!!!!! I called my onc to tell him my symtoms, his reply was that 3 months ago my liver blood work was great, but this is also a Dr. who dosen't rely on blood work. He also made a comment  about the fact that I have had my ovaries out. I guess he was doing the process of elimination. However, I've been taking pepcid every day, and then I started a pro-biotic, I do have a question here, does anyone know what liver met symtoms are like, I was going to post to our sister's on the stage IV  site, but I just don't want to sound trivial. I talked to the onc nurse , she said I will probebly need to see a GI Dr., so I guess that will be a bunch of tests. Could this be stress, or could it be liver mets or lung. I just want peace, if anyone knows what the symtoms are of liver mets maybe It would help to know what direction to take.

Thanks for listening, I'm sorry I am going on and on, I want to feel better and I don't want any more tests!!!!! The wierd thing is I have no pain at night when I sleep or  laying down,  it's mostly during the day, after eating or taking meds, I'm so confused, and so sick of myself!!!!

Any advice, could it be left over rad problems tamox, supplements? I think I am loosing it!

I am due to see my onc in 2 weeks, should I wait to see if I improve, or go see a GI, I wish I knew what to do, no one gets it but you guys. I sound so nerotic!! I'm just scared again.

Thanks everyone

lots os love

steph

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  • badboobee
    badboobee Member Posts: 54
    edited May 2011

    Steph, don't freak out. I know this is frustrating and you are worried. I will share my experience with mets but keep in mind that many people who have been diagnosed with liver mets do not have symptoms.



    I can say that everything you described could have been my complaints prior to being diagnosed with liver mets. Excluding the Effexor and Xanax, I'm on Zoloft. I had the heart burn, irregular bowel movements, pain after eating, etc., but I also had pain on my right side just below my rib cage. My liver enzymes were all within normal range. This does not mean you have liver mets. I am sharing this with you so that you can push your doc to look into it further and not just dismiss it because your blood work is normal.



    This disease has us questioning our sanity and second guessing every little ache and pain. It is so not fair. My way of dealing with it is to not freak out until i have a definite diagnosis. Don't worry about sounding trivial.



    What part of CA are you in? sending good thoughts your way!

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited May 2011

    steph

    your doc would have to do either an ultrasound or CT of liver to see if there is anything going on.  your symptoms sound so difficulkt to cope with. i am sorry you are having such a hard time right now.  i don't know what the sumptoms of liver mets are.  i think it is difficult to know until the docs try to diagnose the problem.  try to not let your mind wander into the "what if" zone.  fillow up on your doc appts with GI/onc and go from there.  it could be lots of things; from supplements...to stress...to virus...doesn't always have to be mets.  sending cyber hugs*

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    Hi Steph, I can relate to how u're feeling.  I hope you have more success with your onco than I did with mine.  After the rads, I asked him how will we know if there are mets that survived, his answer was "symptoms".  I asked him which symptoms and he replied "I'm not gonna go there" end of story   !!!   He's really harsh.  So, I have been having this flank pain and insisted about it, he then ordered a PET scan which thank God came back neg.  Let us know what you learn from your onco.  In the meantime, try to relax, I know it ain't easy, but treat yourself gently  :)

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  • ElaineD
    ElaineD Member Posts: 2,265
    edited May 2011

    Sometimes there are no symtoms whatsoever. Given that all your problems are bowel related, I think you can be confident they are caused by bowel problems. What makes you think they are being caused by the liver?!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011
    Hi Elaine, I guess to rule out anything bowel related, one would have to have a colonoscopy, PET did not clear my flank pain....and flank pain can be so many things Frown
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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited May 2011

    Hi Steph,

    Now my turn to try to reassure you (btw, thanks for the kind words of support for me!:))  

    I had a lot of gastro issues last year and was freaking out too.  I ended up going to a GI doc and had an upper and lower colonoscopy.  It was NOT as bad as people have said in the past, just some pills to take the night before to clean you out---which it does!  And it ended up I had some stomach ulcerations most likely from the non coated daily aspirin I was taking, as well as finding and removing a benign polyp. 

    So I would encourage you to see a gastro doc and see if they can get to the route of it.  It's probably something simple, but WE get it here.  I feel like I just get a grip on things and then something new pops up.  UGHHH.

    (((Hugs)))

    Sharon

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited May 2011

    My symptoms are bloating and left side back pain which apparently has nothing to do with the lesions in my liver according to my onc.  I have some low-level nausea too.  

    My onc sent me for a CT expecting ovarian problems, but instead, they found it on the liver. He said it was an "incidental" finding because my symptoms don't really match.

    I think that you should follow up with your doctor about anything out of the ordinary.  It's not really good to go symptom hunting though, because everything we search for matches something dire! :)

    It does sound to me, who is not a doctor, like it could be stress.  You are taking a lot of supplements and medicine and that and stress could be messing with your stomach.  But, get a CT. 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited May 2011

    faithfulheart several years ago I had acid reflux/heartburn and IBS. The symptoms you're discussing sound exactly like what I had. Oh and I had such stressful job I actually quit.

    Prolosuck (my name for it), Protonix didn't help my reflux at all. It got so bad I lost my voice. After 4 months I finally switched doctors. He put me on carafate suspension and within days my reflux was resolved. Granted I still didn't eat late at night or go to sleep right after I ate.

    The IBS I most handle with diet and probiotic. Exercise helps too. I know what my trigger foods are (mostly red meat, cheese… animal fats). My IBS issue is mostly constipation, stomach bloat and my colon shrinking causing skinny stools. It's under control most of the time. 

    I'm on 1200 calcuim, 1000IU D3, 400IU D, Acidophilus, Anastrozole, Herceptin and other supplements.

    Gastrointestinal issues are hard to diagnose and treat. This might be the issue you're having too especially since you have a stressful job. And I know how stressful it can be having this unresolved reflux.

    Go see a gastroetinologist.

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  • faithfulheart
    faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
    edited May 2011

    Thank you all so much, I just walked in from work to see my sweet sister's responses.

    I am sure  I  will go see a GI, I stopped taking everything, except tamox and effexor. I just feel like I'm afraid to put anything in. Lago I can relate to the skinny stool thing. Coolbreeze, the reason I felt it could be mets to the liver,  mainly is just the late stage I was in. I have never had stomach issue's before , so I guess I go to the bad place. I just want to raise those kids of mine. I have been under a tremendous amount of stress lately. Plus my job is really phisical. People think interior design is soooo glamorous, notttttttttttttt. Thank you all for listening, I do feel so blessed to have my sister's on this board! I will see a GI and solve this problem. I hate going to the Dr.'s!!!!

    God bless all of you!!

    Steph

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited May 2011

    I hope knowing I'm having the same issues helps you...I could have wrote this myself.  Since chemo I've had GERD, I have no heartburn just indigestion, chronic burping and when it acts up bad I feel like I have a lump in my throat.  I've done Prilosuck (good name), Nexium and now on Prontonix, nothing works.  The last 3 weeks I've had flank pain that goes from right shoulder blade (non-cancer side) down to end of ribs.  For a few days my ribs were sore to touch (which freaked me out) but that has gone away now It goes from sharp pain, burning pain and a tightness feeling but it comes and goes.  I'm able to sleep fine, it does seem to be worse with certain foods.  I had a dr appt last week and he did bloodwork so I'm riding the waiting train right now.  I thought the same thing...liver or pancreas mets.  I've wondered if it was my gallbladder but dr said most have nausea & vomiting with gallbladder, still think it could be.  I asked to go to GI but they say give it time, you just finished chemo in Dec., it will get better.  I don't take any supplements but do the pro-biotic yogurt and I can tell that stress aggrevates mine.  Let us know what you find out and I'm hoping you get some answers to ease your mind.

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  • faithfulheart
    faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
    edited May 2011

    Hey badboobee, I love that name, I'm in south orange county., PM  me, love to meet one of

    my sistah's!!!!!! Thank you all for your incouraging words. I made an appt with a GI on monday and see my onc  next friday. Good times!!!  I will keep you all posted!

    Hugs

    steph

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  • elmcity69
    elmcity69 Member Posts: 998
    edited May 2011

    steph, thinking of you, sending prayers, good vibes, the whole kit and kaboodle.

    xo

     janyce

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited May 2011
    steph, keep us all posted. we all care**Cool
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  • Joviangeldeb
    Joviangeldeb Member Posts: 213
    edited June 2011

    Hi, Steph. I'm glad you are going to see your Oncologist and a GI specialist. the symptoms you describe can be a number of different GI disorders such as a hiatal hernia, gerd, gastritis.  I've got those and my symptoms are pretty much the same as yours.  Its always best to get checked out when ever you have a problem. keep us posted and I hope all goes well.

    Deb

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited June 2011

    I'm glad you got an appt, hopefully you'll get some answers soon...let us know how it goes.

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  • faithfulheart
    faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
    edited June 2011

    hey girls,

    Thank you for all your support!  Saw a GI  He is not going to make me go through lots of tests, Yeah!!  He put me on dexilant, its an anti-acid, but like the strongest out there, I do feel better.

    Saw onc, still waiting for blood work, but he won't call me if all is well, haven't heard from him yet.

    However,  only just saw him friday. He checked to see if my liver was swollen, it was not!

    Soooooo, life goes on, one damn test at a time LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Luv to all!!!!!!!!!!

    Steph

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  • littletower
    littletower Member Posts: 333
    edited June 2011

    Yea Steph! One test at a time is right , but it sounds like it's all headed in the right direction. Hugs! Adele

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited June 2011

    One damn test at a time...love it and just about sums it up!  Glad you had a good appt. and your liver wasn't swollen & I hope the meds help.

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  • farfaith
    farfaith Member Posts: 46
    edited July 2011

    Faithfulhart

    i have had tummy problems too pencil stools gas mucus looking stuff and red blood from my rectum they are sending me to a gi dr i too have been worried i go the 1st August my toomer count has gone from 23 29 to35 they say 0-40 is norm ok im 6 away from forty and it has been just going up dock says not to worry it in Norm range .1 have 3 kids 11 9 5 they need me im only 8 months out and they gave me 50/50 gave me the highest dose chemo they could complete hysterectomy tamoxifen everyone around me has got it back and thats all i can think about,

    i just thank God for every day and talk to him every min he keeps me going .

    go see your gi and i will too and we will pray and it will all be good i think mine might be scar tissue pushing on my instance.

    praying for us all 

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited July 2011

    So happy it isnt mets. :)  

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  • farfaith
    farfaith Member Posts: 46
    edited July 2011

    faithfullheart just read that your app was good thombs up !!!!!!!!!!

    prayers out to all

    Innocent

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  • SharonMH
    SharonMH Member Posts: 353
    edited July 2011

    Hi faithfulheart. Glad to hear all is good.  SharonH

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