Seeing things that aren't there! Brain mets?

Options
wyattsmom
wyattsmom Member Posts: 33
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I've been having some concerns about recurrence lately. Feeling "off" somehow. Also, lots of pain in my upper left and cramps in my lower left abdomen, lots of constipation. But it doesn't feel like it's just a constipation problem. Now pain in my right upper ab as well

Thickening in my breast area where my lumpectomy was.

Pain in my chest.

Onc doesn't seem concerned about much of it. He wants an MRI of my breast just to be SURE that everything is okay.Waiting for the nurses to call with the appointment for that.

But today this was really weird! I took my 4 year old to see a movie today (The Lorax, not 3D) we left the theatre and when we went out to the car I had a very strange event. I felt very dizzy and suddenly I started "seeing" images with my right eye that weren't there! A brick wall was one of the images I "saw" but I can't recall any of the others. I would blink a few times and shake my head a little. Still dizzy but it seemed I could refocus with my left eye for just a second on reality and then blink again and see another image of something that wasn't in front of me. It was the strangest feeling! My hands were shaking somewhat, the right one seemed worse.I didn't have anyone I could call so I sat there for at least 15 minutes waiting to be able to see again clearly and not be too dizzy to drive. It took all I had to drive home. My legs felt weak when I got out of my car. And I just felt odd for the next couple of hours. I had a sitter come over so I could rest.Although I'm tired I feel fine now. Has anyone had this happen?! Especially those of you with brain mets? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    I would be very concerned with this and would probably get to the emergency dept. It sounds like some sort of seizure to me...



    Jenn

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bcisnofun
    bcisnofun Member Posts: 488
    edited March 2012

    hi wyattsmom - I don't know about brain mets, but I agree with jennt that it's worth going to the ED to have it checked out.  Will you let us know when you know more? Thinking about you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    It does sound more like a seizure to me also. Consider going to your family doctor or neurologist.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tina_uk
    tina_uk Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2012

    Please get this checked out. A scan would be wise + definitive. If t is brain mets then you need to know sooner not later. Once symptoms kick in they can worsen very quickly.

    Of course it could be nothing bc related but you need to know either way. The last thing you want is something serious like this happening whilst you are behind the wheel etc.

    All the best x

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited March 2012

    I think emergency dept is more appropriate than family doctor.  You don't want to wait.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited March 2012

    Yeah, I agree with the other lades. I don't have brain mets and don't know anything about them, but that isn't normal and I would want it checked.  It could be mets, or a seizure or it could be a form of migraine.  Best to be certain.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wyattsmom
    wyattsmom Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2012

    Thank you so very much ladies~ I truly appreciate your input. It sure can be scary out here. I have felt fine since but I'm going to call my onc on Monday just to let him know what happened. Since they are scheduling the breast MRI, I would think he would want to play it safe and do an MRI of my brain as well. I hope they'll still be able to tell what it was even though it's not happening now. It was really the oddest thing I've experienced.

    I'm sure not all feel this way, but I kind of wish they would just offer a full body MRI or PET or something once a year. That way I wouldn't feel so unsure about whether or not to run to the doctor. ugh!

    Thanks again~ It's really is nice to have people who "get it"! My family and most friends just don't understand how I'm feeling.

    Hope all is well with you Cool Breeze. Although I don't know you, I check on you occasionally.  :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited March 2012

    Wyattsmom, you probably know me pretty well. :)

    I wanted to also add that I once had a seizure out of the blue.  I didn't see things but I suddenly went all stiff and needed somebody to carry me to the couch.  I remember feeling stiff like a board - very weird, then I slept.  This was years before I got cancer.  I suffered from migraines which can be linked to seizures and I would sometimes get the kind of migraine that you saw an aura - flashing lights and stuff like that.  I didn't get a headache with them but they were scary.

    My older son had a seizure disorder for a while (it went away).  He had focal seizues which made his mouth move and one arm spasm and he would vomit afterwards, then be really shaky for a while. 

    You can have a benign reason for a seizure but with your history it isn't something you can delay finding out.

    And, I know how scary it is to always wonder, but PETs are not always right!  You almost always have to rely on symptoms.

    Here's hoping it's an anomoly and they find out you are okay. Let us know, okay? 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    Glad to hear back from you and that you will be calling your doc today. Let us know what happens :-)



    Jenn

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Granuaile
    Granuaile Member Posts: 113
    edited March 2012

    I've had 4 classic grand mal seizures.  A weird smell first (burning, something) and then I found myself waking up in an ambulance or ward. The weird vision stuff would have me checking in with docs. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!!

    Oh, i don't have brain mets. So don't automatically go there... 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EnglishMajor
    EnglishMajor Member Posts: 2,495
    edited March 2012

     Hope you are doing bettter.

    As an FYI:  

    Understanding the Risks. An estimated 140,000 to 170,000 patients with common system cancers are diagnosed with brain metastasis each year in the United States, particularly patients with breast, lung and kidney cancers, and melanoma.

    Understanding the Symptoms. In addition to the risks, cancer patients also should recognize the common symptoms that may indicate brain metastasis. Many of the symptoms are similar to those of an acute stroke. However, the symptoms for brain metastasis typically manifest gradually as opposed to suddenly as in a stroke. Common symptoms include problems with vision, balance, speech, strength, or memory, numbness, progressive headache or seizures. Patients need to be aware that when they experience the onset of any of these symptoms, particularly when the symptoms begin to become more frequent, prolonged or become worse, they should contact their oncologist immediately. Aggressive therapies may improve outcomes when brain metastasis is diagnosed in its early stages.

     http://www.mdnews.com/news/2011_03/05737_marapr2011_b-aware-program

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wyattsmom
    wyattsmom Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2012

    Thanks so much for the feedback! I sincerely appreciate it. I called my onc today and told him what happened. He told me that we were just going to "watch and wait". And that I was to call him immediately if I had anything even close to similar again. I am thankful for your responses and i will keep a watchful eye on myself. Breast MRI is this Thursday.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SandyAust
    SandyAust Member Posts: 393
    edited March 2012

    Dear Wyattsmom,

    I don't want to frighten you but I really think you should insist on a scan.  I am not an oncologist but my Mum had brain mets and they presented in a similar way to what you are describing.  Mum originally had breast cancer, but 12 years later they found secondaries from melanoma.  I understand the cancers are different but the symptoms Mum had were the same and in her case it did come on extremely quickly. 

    I really am sorry to be so blunt but you have a four year old child and I don't think the watch and wait and is in your interests.  I know diagnosing mets early does  not change treatment or outcomes but it does give you and your family time to react and adjust. 

    You may not have mets, but these symptoms are worrying and I really hope you get checked.  I really hesitated about posting this because I don't know if you have mets or not, you more than likely don't, however I really strongly believe you need to get this checked.

    I wish you the very best.

    Sandy 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    I'm going to agree with Sandy on this. I am a clinical trial coordinator. I run two cancer clinical trials (national and international). I am sure that the oncologists I work with would be ordering a CT scan to check out a patient who reported what you experienced...



    I would personally want to be checked over completely because I would be paranoid about it happening again while I was driving - concern for my own and my family's safety would be how I would "sell" this to my doctors...



    Hope the MRI goes well :-)



    Jenn

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wyattsmom
    wyattsmom Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2012

    Thank you all so much for the input.

    I feel like I'm a realist. I WANT to know what's happening. There are some people that don't want to know... I was one of them until I ended up with stage III cancer. Now, I want to know! So thank you all for being candid. 

    Well... I got lost Wednesday. I was in a town where I've traveled a bunch for work over the last 7 years. I pulled off the highway I always travel and sat in a parking lot and cried because I had no idea where I was (even with my navigation running on my phone). I knew what city I was in but almost nothing looked familiar. I talked/cried to my Mother on the phone. She said "what? you feel lost?" ... "No, I AM lost!". Sounds kind of funny now. After about a half hour I set my navigation for home and I carefully drove out and things seemed a little clearer and after a few hours I felt fine again.    ? I don't know if what happened Saturday was related to what happened Wed. or if I was just stressed out the other day and somehow got disoriented. 

    My boss (my Brother, who is a true blessing from God) called me while I was driving and when I told him what had happened Saturday and Wednesday he grounded me and told me to work from home til I feel better or they figure out what's going on.

    I had my breast MRI yesterday and my onc called to tell me that it went "pretty well". My left breast is fine (original site). My right breast has a 2mm spot. Very small but because of the way the blood is flowing (to it or around it?) they want to do another MRI in 6 months. Of course, I forgot to tell him that I forgot! where I was the day before. But I see him in a couple of weeks and I'll have a list of stuff to talk to him about then. In the meantime, if ANYTHING else feels even slightly weird, I'll be on the phone with him immediately.

    And now after being constipated for a couple of months, today I have the opposite problem and zero appetite. 

    Maybe I've got some kind of bug, or I'm just crazy, or.... WHAT?!!! 

    Does everyone else feel weird stuff like this and the fear comes sneaking up again? I thought I was doing so much better. UGH!

    God bless all of you! ~Sarah

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    Sarah, I would insist to be referred to a neurologist.  I was and am having brain MRI end of March.  I have similar problems with vision, getting lost, not recognizing places.  It would be very helpful if you made a list of things that happen and try to pay attention to little things also, not just real weird stuff. Can you read well, do you recognize words, can you spell as easily as before ?  Do you have memory problems, do you leave the stove on, forget to lock doors ? Can you make out words you hear ? How is your focus ?  Can you finish a task or do you jump from task to task and forget where you started ?  That type of thing.

    I have to agree with the other sisters, your onco appears to be a bit laid back.... 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wyattsmom
    wyattsmom Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Maud. I'll keep track of what's happening.

    I hope your MRI goes well. Let us know how it turns out. 

    Love the flower on your post. What kind is it?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Wyattsmom, I will

    Took me a moment to recall the word....it's one of the orchids, many many varieties, check these out, they are so beautiful !

    http://www.google.ca/search?q=orchids+pics&hl=en&gbv=2&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=wf1kT4_lGMjq0gHv9fSPCA&ved=0CDsQsAQ&biw=1092&bih=514 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wyattsmom
    wyattsmom Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Maud, you're right they are sooo beautiful! I'm a flower-fanatic!

    Love it!  And your quote. :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited March 2012

    Oh my gosh, if getting lost and not recognizing your surroundings is a symptom of brain cancer than I should have been dead years ago!  I can get lost even 1/4 mile from home, travelling to a place I've been to 1000 times before.  I rely on my trusty GPS even to get back and forth from work and I work just blocks away from home!

    All that said, you should report everything to your doctor.  I'm sure you are fine but you never know. My oncologist will scan for everything; so much so that I'm afraid to tell him things or I know I'll end up in some machine! 

    You do want to find brain mets as it's easier to zap one or two critters out rather than if they get diffuse.  I've not heard of the symptoms you describe as being normal for mets but it's best to be safe.  Maybe a PET is in order.  Just ask him flat out for one. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories