Please talk me off of the ledge

Hi, Jojo, I'm sure we are all thrilled that you got down from that ledge! We gave you everything we could think of that might be relevant to your situation but it was you who decided which things "clicked " and fit your experience. We have all been there and have been helped by the sharing that goes on here. Together We Rock! I did not have to have Chemo or a bone scan so maybe someone else will be able to help you with those questions. Just remember that, unless otherwise stated, we are not doctors. What we do have that most of them don't is the ability to validate your experience from our own first hand experience. We are also not trying to maintain the appearance of absolute authority. We are not threatened by too many questions and we love to think "outside the box". Sara

thank you Sarah

Hello All,

I am also feeling like I am on the edge!! I am in my 5th year of treatment for stage 1 IDC without any issues.

In March 2017, all my labs were good. At that time, my Oncologist switched from Tamoxifen to Letrozole with no issues. My regular doctor, (who is a young Nurse Practitioner) DX me with the start of Diabetes and I started weight management. He started me on Metformin, Buprophen (for appetite control), and through the year has added a blood pressure med (to protect my kidneys) and Crestor to the mix, along with other meds I already take. My A1C was 6.5 and is now 5.6, and lost 8 lbs. I was always very healthy prior to my BC DX, but after treatment and total hysterectomy, I have become diabetic, gained 30 lbs, high cholesterol/triglycerides, feel like I take a pill for everything now.

During my last 6 mo check up in September with my Oncologist, my liver enzymes were up a bit, so she ordered a ultrasound to check my liver. It came back with a fatty liver and gallstones DX and I was to follow up with my regular physician. He rechecked my liver enzymes and they were still elevated, but lower than before. We did another recheck in one month and they had gone up again, but he ruled out Autoammunie disease, Hepatitis, Lupus, etc. He also checked my GGT and Ferritin levels and they were also elevated. He said he would do another recheck in 2 months to see where they are at and if they were still elevated or going up, he would refer me to a Gastroenterologist. He said something was irritating my liver, could be the gallstones, a blockage, tumor, or nothing, even though I don't have symptoms of gallbladder issues (I think). I mentioned to him that 10 prior to this last liver lab, I had been sick with a cold virus (I believe) and had been taking a lot of OTC Vicks cough syrup, gel tabs through the day and night and Advil, which understand can irritate the liver. I also mentioned the change to Letrozole in March, the new meds, and being sick taking Tylenol and if that could cause the larger rise this last time and he didn't seem to think so. My baseline bone scan this past summer was good. What is bone turnover? Another name for bone loss?

I had my results sent over to my Oncologist yesterday for her to review and let me know what she thought. Not that I don't trust my NP, but I find it coincidental that this seemed to all start with my change and addition to new meds, or just possibly something else is going on. I am trying my best to not freak out over the next 2 months, but I am already and feel sick to my stomach and can't concentrate. Though my Oncologist feels I have a very good prognosis, I do have a very high incidence of cancer in my families for being at risk.

I am trying to not worry over mets, or a new cancer in my liver or pancreas and trying to not jump off the ledge as well. I am getting to the point of feeling defeated, like no matter what I do, there is always some new health issue to worry about, as if coping with a cancer DX isn't enough, the constant anxiety. And one thing brings on another. They rip out all your reproductive organs, but were not supposed to gain weight, give you meds that cause weight gain, etc., and then we have to take something else to combat that. I am mad because I have always taken care of my body and health.

You ladies are wonderful to have to share with. Not that I don't appreciate my friends and family, but nobody can really relate to the anxiety one goes through after this diagnosis. Thank you for being here!!

:-)

Thank you, KBeee,

I hope that is all it turns out to be, anything other than cancer. My husband also feels it is due to my meds. They were up and down and then shot up high 10 days after I had been sick.

I also read Lasix and yes, statins can raise levels as well. I take Crestor long, only 2 weeks before he took me off and I also cut back on the Lasix.

Thank you again for your input! Hopefully next time I write, it will be more optomistic :-)

Hi everyone. I can be frustrating when members do not update their status after an initial freaking out post like mine. ALP was 113 today:). Calcium 9.4. So apparently, it can go up for non sinister reasons. Hope everyone is doing well. Thank God for anxiety Ned's and this forum

I have been NED since September 2012 and I just went in Friday for a 6 month follow up with my Oncology Nurse. I had the routine labs and chest wall exam.

I just received the B-12 portion of my lab work and it was high at 991 and should be between (247-911) and was flagged High. I do take vitamin B-12 supplements, but have read the body will flush excess B-12 out of our bodies. From what I've read on the internet about high B-12, it is all pretty scary, liver mets, organ tumors, blood cancer, etc.

Has anyone else ever had their B-12 come back elevated above normal?

Thank you for any insight :-)

Thank you KBeee for your post. I know its been a while since I originally posted, but we had a family emergency with my mother-in-law and I didn't think about coming back to post again. I spoke with my Oncologist NP and she told me they were not worried about the number. She said they only worry when the number is too low. (Interestingly, right before I was DX with my BC, I was very low on B12, like way below the low end of the chart). Had B12 injections for 3 months and I have been fine since.

I stopped taking the B12 supplements and learned an important lesson (for myself). I won't have labs done on a Friday again - when I don't have the ability to contact my physician the next day. :-)

Thank you again :-)