Losing it at almost year 4 post dx/treatment

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Pbeanum
Pbeanum Member Posts: 2
edited May 2017 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

looking for an outlet....dx in 2013 with a relatively "easy" treatment, lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, herceptin, tamoxifen for 5y...now recently with 30 lb weight loss in short time...freaked out thinking cancer back! All scans negative...whew! But...started anxiety/panic attackes all of sudden in past 2-3 months. Had been on xanax since dx, saw a psychiatrist with new dx of GAD, given new med...can't quite figure this crap out...sooooo frustrated

Took a tamoxifen vacay for 2 months, started back about 2-3 weeks ago, I'm exhausted! Spent a night in ER with palpitations...apparently from GAD...just want to feel normal...and healthy...venting but happy to hear others experiences too...

Busy mom of 2 kids and work FT...did all thru treatment too.

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  • Leidy222588
    Leidy222588 Member Posts: 18
    edited May 2017

    Hi, I am not a medical doctor, but I want to suggest that you have your thyroid levels checked if you have not already done so. Hyperthyroidism can make you really anxious, lose weight, and just feel sort of awful. It's an easy blood test, and if that's the trouble it's quite easy to fix. I had to go to several doctors before one finally suggested we take a look at my thyroid levels--and that was the problem. Totally unrelated to my cancer. I hope you feel better soon!

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Pheb and Leidy this is to both of you.

    \Pheb, >>Leidy is right. There is a strong connection between thyroid dysfunction and even thyroid cancer and Breast cancer. Leidy is totally on mark about getting thyroid checked. I was dx'd with BC in 2009 with a brain tumor same day. Meningioma. Which is also associated/connected to BC. I'm in a study for that.

    Thyroid cancer dx'd in 2014. But based on the pathology type the thyroid cancer was likely present for YEARS.

    The tests you want to ask for are TSH, FreeT3, FreeT4, Thyroglobulin, Thyroglobulin AB(autoantibodies). These all together will give you a complete picture. MO will likely agree without question. PCP won't likely understand the significance of why the 5 are needed. MY own Endocrinologist who should have known --didn't. I had to find out what the needed tests were on the internet.


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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Pbe, Xanax is a terrible drug. Addicting which many docs don't get. Awful to withdraw from. As a nurse of 40 some years, I learned to simply hate the drug, Of course, that adds to your anxiety now. Sorry, but...........awful drug. I think it should be pulled from the market. I am very disrespectful of the drug and the dependency that it creates.

    What was the new drug?

    Guessing since this was your first post and you have only posted once, you haven't come back. But if you do, PM me. sassy

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Hahahaha, Pbe, you posted two days ago, I was thinking it was a lot longer than that, so maybe you will be back.

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  • Pbeanum
    Pbeanum Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2017

    all thyroid tests have been normal. I see an endocrinologist this week. Stopped my tamoxifen again this week. So very frustrated! Was started on clonazepam, high has helped some, haven't needed xanax since

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited May 2017

    Pbeanum, glad you are felling better with the new med. I seriously dislike Xanax. Never had a patient or anyone I new, not have problems with the drug. I frankly, would like to see it pulled from the market. I'm trying to get a new Endocrine doc too. My TSH suppression is wacky now. After Thyroidectomy and thyroid cancer the treatment is to keep the TSH low so it doesn't try to stimulate and stray Thyroid cells from growing. I read all the credentials on the available docs in-network. One is certified in neck ultrasound. I thought he would be great. One stop shopping. Oh well it's always something.

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