After Radiation

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Owens69
Owens69 Member Posts: 66

I have been finished with radiation for nearly six weeks. About half way into my radiation, I began to experience shortness of breath. Even though I had not gained any weight during my treatment time, I felt like I weighed 300 lbs. Even the smallest of activities would cause my breathing to be labored. I assumed that when radiation was complete, my breathing would go back to normal, but no such luck. Is this a normal side effect or should I be concerned? I did ask my radiation oncologist and he had xrays taken of my lungs, which did not show anything abnormal. He said it was not due to the radiation. But he also said that about the nausea I had all the way through treatment.

Any thoughts?

Comments

  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited August 2016

    Is it possible that it's anxiety? I had the same thing happen during treatment - chest xray was normal. They told me to step up the ativan.

  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited August 2016

    I don't think that's normal.
    I would go to your primary care doctor to see if he/she can determine what's going on. Since your oncologist did a lung xray and didn't find anything, (which is great!), your primary care doctor may be able to run some different tests to find out what is going on.
    Is it possible that you have asthma?

  • Owens69
    Owens69 Member Posts: 66
    edited September 2016

    I'm pretty certain it's not asthma. I have been under a bit more stress than normal so maybe that's it. I meet with my Dr tomorrow morning.

  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited September 2016

    Could be acid reflux. The arms-over-head-while-flat-on-your-back position encourages reflux, as does stress. A few years ago, I could have sworn I had developed asthma, but inhalers did nothing. Turns out it was a common side effect ofreflux and easily fixed with medication.

  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2016

    Owens - let us know how you make out! I hope you are feeling better.

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