Am I overly concerned about this?

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greenacres
greenacres Member Posts: 144
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi there!  Tell me what to do.....or not do LOL Laughing

My symptoms as of late: (2 years out from diagnosis and all mammos have been clean). 

Both of my ribs ache off and on.  When I touch them, they really hurt. 

My lower back and the middle of my back (all where I do have arthritis) have been hurting more and more lately. Actually, it's my ENTIRE fricken spine that hurts including my neck.

I do have spinal stenosis in my neck diagnosed just last October (slightly pressing on my spinal cord). I would think with MRI they would see lesions if I had any?  My neck is in A LOT of pain 24-7. I am taking Oxycodone when it's at its worst (on average probably 1x/day).  I'm due to go in for Facet Injections soon, I just need to make the call. 

Over the last month or so I have been nauseated at times and when I look down for a short period, and then look back up I get kind of dizzy - or my head just feels weird, I don't know how to explain it.  I get headaches every day of the week.  Sometimes it's so bad I do get nauseated.  But headache/nauseated are different than the other times being nauseated. 

I am SO SO SO SO SO tired every day.  I could sleep at work, literally!

I've noticed my hands are clumsier lately.  Like when I'm shuffling or going through papers I can't grab the edges like I used to.  Sometimes they even shake a bit. 

I've noticed pretty bad urinary incontinence lately.  I was outside and slipped on some ice and when I went to balance myself, I totally wet - totally!  If I'm caught off guard like that, it's pretty bad.  Otherwise, wearing  a maxi I'm ok through the day.  I'm 42 and already had bladder repair surgery back in 2006 so has it failed?  Or what?

I have a bad burning in my throat but down further.  It feels like it's on fire.  Tums does help!

I have a lot going on right now in my life.  My husband of 18 yrs and I are separated. I thought I would tell you that because I was wondering is all of this stress related?

All of this has been going on for several months even before I left him, but I was miserable then too.  I am on anti-depressents and they do seem to help.

Basically my entire body hurts on some days and I just want to go home and crawl up with a heating pad and go back to bed.  The only medication I am on is Buproprian XL.

Do you think I should call my oncologist or just chalk this all up to stress?  I don't want to feel stupid and get a CT scan and find nothing wrong, but on the other hand, I am worried about my cancer spreading whenever I have an ache or pain.

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited March 2012

    It sounds like you are having a substantial amount of regular pain.  It does not sound like stress - there must be some cause, although it is not necessarily cancer.  (It may be aggravated by stress, though.)  I would go see my onc first to rule out mets and then go to another doctor to find out what is going on.  Keep us posted!

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited March 2012

    Once we've had bc, I don't think any doctor will chalk things up to stress, although it sounds like that's a big factor for you right now.  I think sweetbean gave you excellent advice -- rule out any type of recurrence, which must also be factoring into your stress level right now.  Then when you know that's all clear, tackle the other issues.  Have you looked up SEs for the 2 or 3 meds you're taking?  Without looking, I would guess that either or both of them could be causing what sounds like acid reflux and also maybe the dizziness, and I'm also guessing that antidepressants may have some muscle-relaxing component, which could be contributing to the urinary issue.  I'm not a doctor, but I'd certainly look at what the meds might be causing (including possible interactions) before adding another med to treat a med SE.  JMO, and please let us know what you find out.     (((Hugs))  Deanna

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited March 2012

    2 yrs post IBC DX my back started hurting a lot worse. I've had arthritis in my upper back for quite a few years and basically it never bothered me unless I over did then tylenol or Vicodin took care of it. Last summer it to where I was having to take a lot more. And tylenol did nothing for it. My PA order a new bone scan to be sure if it was just arthritis getting worse or something worse. It was just the arthritis (Thankfully). She put me on Etodolac (anti-inflammatory) twice a day. It works great for me. I do, VERY occasionally when I do too much, have to take a Vicodin (tylenol doesn't help).



    Urinary incontinance - yeah since all the TX that is a problem for me too. It started with waking up at night and not beintg able to get to the bathroom without it just 'running ' out. PA put me on 1/2 an Oxybutynin Chloride 5 mg. Works good for me. If/When I feel I need it can go to days also.

    For me , Bupropion is NASTY. It's supposed to be a 'kinder/gentler' med for ADD so I agreed to try it. HORRIBLE. One pill knocked me into lala land for 3 days.



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  • wyattsmom
    wyattsmom Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2012

    All the best to you Green Acres... Even though it looks like you're a Packers fan.... With love from a a Bear fan. :)

    Anyway, I found your post because I was searching all over the web for someone who had symptoms similar to mine. Wa-la! Here we are! Your pain sounds as close to mine as I've found. Although I don't have the neck pain. That sounds like a pinched nerve to me... but I'm no doctor. Have you tried any chiropractic treatment?

    My ribs have hurt since the end of radiation. But the pain I have now is more severe than ever. It feels like I've been kicked in the ribs. Not only in the front but also on the back. So tender, I wince if I touch that area. I nearly vomit in my sleep most nights. I have to get up and take an antacid (once or twice a night). If I cough hard, I pee. 

    I'm on Effexor for depression and it has been a miracle worker for hotflashes due to chemopause. Otherwise I take some generic ritalin for the severe fatigue. I don't know if it helps that much. I'm still SOOOO tired, That's all the meds I'm on.

    The mind thing...... take a look at my posts... I too am concerend about mets. 

    I think it would ease my mind so much if they would do an annual full body scan on us once a year. For me, I think I would be able to say "ok, that hurts but I have that scan coming up in_____ so I'll find out then" and let it go. Not knowing whether it's back or not is worse for me. We have a Pap every year to be sure we don't have cervical cancer when we've never had it! Why can't we have a body scan when we've already had a cancer that is capable of spreading to anywhere it gets the chance to go?!

    I wish I had answers for you my dear but my prayers are with you and I just wanted to let you know you are not alone!  I truly hope you find some relief and answers. ~ Sarah

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