Which doctor treats which complaint?

gramwe
gramwe Member Posts: 251
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

This may be a stupid question, but I'm rather baffled.

I told the BS that there is pain radiating down my right arm into my finger. His response, "probably nothing I did, so I don't know what to tell you." ????

Next day I saw the MO. Mentioned the pain to him. No response. I also told him that sleep is something I'm not doing very well. No response.

I also asked both about lymphdema, what to watch for, any exercises, any restrictions and basically got the "that's not my department response"

So back to the family doctor?

This gets so confusing.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2013

    It is possible that you are experiencing cording and/or axillary web syndrome in your arm - you are not very far our from surgery.  I would request a referral for physical therapy from a certified lymphedema specialist, who can more adequately assess what is happening with your arm.  Unfortunately, surgeons don't like to be "blamed" for lymphedema, so many of them take the ostrich approach.  Either your surgeon or your oncologist, or possibly even your family doctor,  can make this referral.  Here is a link to the "Step Up, Speak Out" site for some additional info.  There is a link to listings of certified therapists (I see you are in SC and there are some listed in diferent areas of the state), and also general info about symptoms, exercises, restrictions, etc. - your BS or MO should also have resources for this type of referral - be firm in your request for help from them, one of them needs to acknowledge your situation and send you to someone that can help you.  If you can go to them and say "please refer me to this specific therapist" you might make more progress because you have already done the research.  It is also advisable to call the therapist and ask what they need for the referral - mine needed a prescription from the doctor, the rest I handled on my own.  Also linked is the diagram for axillary web syndrome/cording from the same site.

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillary_Web_Syndrome.htm

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited April 2013

    No such thing as a stupid question. Insomnia can become a vicious cycle. Some clinics will have a psych-onc specialist, perhaps a nurse practitioner and/or social worker who can screen for anxiety & depression in order to determine the most helpful therapy. Your family doctor may also be able to help. Don't let it go too long without being addressed.

    Love the muffin top comment in your signature (I sacrificed mine for reconstruction)!

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  • gramwe
    gramwe Member Posts: 251
    edited April 2013

    Thank you for the links SpecialK. There was a lot of helpful information. Even tho I asked before surgery if there were any instructions after lymphnodes were removed, they told me nothing! My niece has her doctorate in PT, so hopefully she can point me to the right PT in my area, too.

    Vlnrph, I've called my family doctor for an appointment too. Insomnia is something I've never dealt with before.

    Wow if I had gone for reconstruction I could have lost the muffin top.. should have done more research!

    Thanks for the help.

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited April 2013

    Do you have options to select different doctors?

    My breast surgeon BEGGED me to go to a physical therapist he works with that specializes in post cancer surgery.  I kept saying no, no, no no! and finally, I had a shoulder pain that didn't make sense. It was so bad I WISHED I would die...it lasted 24 hours; I made the appointment and BAM...less than 5 minutes and the pain was gone.  She suggested I come for the massaging of the cording/piano strings and I used up all my insurance allowance.  It REALLY helped.  The shoulder must have had a pinched nerve and a simple rope pulley with a specific lift, relieved it so quickly I swore it was magic.

    My oncologist listened to me on any tests I found out about and helped me get them done.  I think he felt that even if it wasn't "necessary," if it made me feel better, it was worthy.

    My breast surgeon also rx valium right after dx. I ended up only using 1 pill (pre surgery) but he indicated it is common and he was happy to help. 

    I use melatonin (I know it doesn't work for everyone, but it helps 90% of the time for me) but sleep is important and should be addressed.  This aspect may be your primary care doc's area.

    My new onco in my relocation has been a GOD SEND.  She lets me email her; I had a skin allergy and needed ointment I ran out of and since it was a benign RX, she was happy to do it instead of sending me to a derm.  She offered me anxiety meds and deals with my white-coat-hypertension by taking the pressures herself instead of being whisked around in the offices.

    I think many doctors overlap in ability for the basic stuff it just depends who wants to do the "extra" work and be there for you.  Find someone who cares.

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  • mtks
    mtks Member Posts: 190
    edited April 2013

    I wasnt sure where to ask this so I chose here cuz my bc was ILC stage 1 at 11 o'clock.

    I am 2yrs 8 mo out and started with neurlogical issues. I am not sure this is due to the Arimidex or something new. Does ANYONE experience any sharp prickly pain? My scalp, but now gone, rt forearm and weakness, left foot and occasionally will go up inside of my leg and NOW in my left back left shoulder blade. My oncologist has sent info to a neurologist (who I did see but left with NO answers???) My MRI (brain) did show a cyste in the pineal gland-oncologist is keeping an eye on symptoms. Meanwhile- what the heck is going on here?!! Just thought I'd reach out here and maybe find some direction. Thank you-Mariann

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  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 5,972
    edited April 2013

    mtks.... not sure if my recent experience helps, but I had a spat of vertigo a few months back (or what I called vertigo as the room was spinning~~I was sent for a ton of tests with all sorts of scary docs who were looking for stroke, brain tumor and who knows what!  After tons of tests, nothing showed up and I do believe the docs were just scratching their heads and going DUH?

    so I found a dif doc, took all the scans and said tell me what is going on?  funny, he said you are fine, go home and stop spending you money.  And I am fine, I am doing PT with a trainer and by funky balance is big improved

    Maybe getting a dif opinion but these docs, they turn super cautious with folks like us and you need to decide what works for you

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