Cough, chest pain, hard time breathing.....

vampeyes · April 2018

Should I be worried? I have had shortness of breath walking upstairs. I am also cold 90% of the time, only a hot bath will warm me up. Now I have a cough, chest pain and having a hard time getting a full breath of air. Anyone else have this issue? Not a cold, not allergies.

Cheryl

mustlovepoodles · April 2018

Not sure what's going on (asthma, allergies, or upper respiratory infection are high on the list), but shortness of breath should be examined by a doctor.

vampeyes · April 2018

Got an appointment Thursday with my GP, just worried if I should be waiting so long. Don't want the kids waking up to a dead mommy while daddy is away.

Lula73 · April 2018

Vampeyes- some of those symptoms are consistent with pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs). They are a side effect that can happen with tamoxifen.

Please, please, please go to the ER and get evaluated NOW.

Make sure you tell them when you get there that you’re on tamoxifen for breast cancer and at risk for blood clots when you give them your symptoms so they’ll get you in quick.

Leydi · April 2018

I just now saw this. I hope you haven't replied because you have already sought medical evaluation. If not, GO TO ER NOW. I had similar symptoms last year and ended up diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and pericardial effusion. I was in the hospital for a week.

A few months ago the same symptoms started up again and I headed straight to the ER. This time, it turned out to be nothing definite. They gave me the "garbage can diagnosis" of chest wall pain.

I hope your case turns out to be nothing but you absolutely need to get the dangerous possibilities ruled out.

vampeyes · April 2018

I haven't gone up yet. My plan is to go in the am once I have dropped the twins off with their grandpa.

I hope I am not over reacting. The not getting a full breadth is scary, but it's not a constant symptom. Neither is the cough, it's sparatic throughout the day. Chest feels like I have been coughing alot to a burying burning pain.

Could I have a blood clot that quickly? Started Tamox March 1st.

Sara536 · April 2018

Vampeyes, Leydi is right, GO TO THE ER NOW. These are not symptoms to ditz around wiih. Take it seriously please!

Lula73 · April 2018

vampeyes - Yes, blood clots can happen that quickly. Mine developed 2 months into treatment. You are 2 months in to treatment. If you have developed clots and it’s not treated promptly, a big enough clot can form that blocks the main artery going into the lungs and you could DIE right then and there. Or one can form and get lodged in a blood vessel to your brain causing a STROKE.

See if you can get your kids to their grandpa’s now or have grandpa meet you at the ER, or take the kids with you. Better to get checked out and treated vs. your twins finding you unresponsive potentially in the morning.

Please go to the ER now. This is serious. When it comes to your health you are not overreacting or putting anyone out. You have to take care of you first so you can keep taking care of your twins. This is one of those times.

bluepearl · April 2018

ER right away. Don't muck around with this. Something is right off if this is not a cold/allergy.

vampeyes · April 2018

I went up to emerge, they did blood work and an x-ray. No clots, she was pretty excited about that. haha. Downside is I still don't know what the issue is. She gave me a script for acid reflux. I will call my Radiation Nurse tomorrow and see what they say. I see my GP Thursday. Acid reflux? Really? Could it be that simple?

Leydi · April 2018

No. This does not sound right. A blood test can help determine if you have a blood clot with the D-dimer test but a negative result shouldn't be considered conclusive for someone at high risk of blood clots, which you are with a history of cancer and on tamoxifen. More details at: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/d-dimer

X-ray is not the right imaging test to look for pulmonary embolism. See this website for more info: https://www.stoptheclot.org/how_is_pe_diagnosed.htm

Both times I had these symptoms, they performed a CT scan with and without contrast. I also had ultrasound studies of my extremities as well as heart tests like EKG and echocardiogram. Did you have anything similar? It sounds to me like you got a stripped down in-and-out evaluation without a definitive diagnosis. That makes me so frustrated on your behalf. Was this an actual hospital ER or did you visit an urgent care clinic? Maybe they did an x-ray because that is all they had on site.

HersheyKiss · April 2018

Symptoms and causes of GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease ) - from Mayo Clinic

vampeyes · April 2018

Went to the hospital. No other tests just the blood and Chest x-ray. Small town hospital maybe the reason?

Lula73 · April 2018

perhaps but still...I went to our small town hospital and got full workup CT, X-ray (in case something else/more going on), blood work, ultrasound. I'd go back and demand the CT at the very least as that is how you diagnose/rule out blood clots in the lungs.If you need to, call your MO's on call line and see what your MO has to say and if he can call ER to get it done.

Acid reflux can cause pain/burning and cough but not shortness of breath, not being able to take deep breath and pain with deep breath.

Sounds like the ER chose to test and diagnose for horses (ordinary causes for symptoms) and didn't even consider zebras (rarer causes for symptoms) when you came in with the sound of hoof beats (symptoms).

Egads007 · April 2018

Very glad to see it’s not blood clots! When I had reflux (had it big time, was diagnosed) I had a few attacks that sent me to the ER convinced I was having a heart attack. Reflux can mimic heart problems. Pressure around my rib cage that felt like a vise, painful gripping spasms that felt like I’d been shot in the chest. I had the constant cough and wheezing. Not once was I unable to take a breath, shortness of breath or chills. I’d keep on checking into it if I were you. Maybe get to a bigger hospital to err on the side of caution.

bluepearl · April 2018

breathlessness, chest pain, cough can also be a sign of heart problems....especially in women....and a cold sweat.

Cpeachymom · April 2018

Very glad to hear it’s not blood clots. I’m going to put my two cents in for possible radiation pneumonitis. You finished rads in January, right? Your bio says 2019, but I’m guessing you meant 2018? It sucks, breathless, coughing, chest pain. I knew mine was from rads and it still took two weeks for them to diagnose me. Just something to consider. I hope you find an answer and soon!

vampeyes · April 2018

I did mean 2018, will have to fix that. My last one was February 28th. I searched Google - not a reliable source, but it said Radiation pneumonitis would show up on the chest x-ray. How did they diagnose you Cpeachymom?

Thank you everyone for your input. I sure hope this gets figured out soon.

Cpeachymom · April 2018

chest X-ray only showed cloudiness which could be pneumonitis or pneumonia, I believe the wording was “ground glass opacity”. They tried treating for pneumonia first with antibiotics, but I only got worse. After another X-ray, I finally got someone to order a chest ct scan, which made the diagnosis easy. Then it was five months of steroids to treat it! Not fun!

vampeyes · May 2018

Just left my doctors office, he is sending me for an EKG. He feels that I have a heart pump problem. Didn't think anything was wrong with my lungs, but if eEKG is normal then he will check them out.

Lula73 · May 2018

better safe than sorry! So glad he’s checking it out. Keep us posted

Egads007 · May 2018

Vamp, I’ll 2nd Lula, glad you’re getting to the nitty gritty of the matter. Hoping for the best here

Leydi · May 2018

Came to the forum today just to check for an update from you, Vampeyes. I'm glad that your doctor is planning to continue investigating.

vampeyes · May 2018

Thank you to all for your reply's and caring thoughts! I have to say after doing heart failure research, I am really hoping it's just GERD! Although the pills are doing nothing for my symptoms.

vampeyes · May 2018

Went up to emerge, they did a CT. I have a clot and they strongly feel I have bone Mets. I don't want to die. 😭

Micmel · May 2018

vampeyes~I am sorry that they suspect mets. I will tell you that I have had bone mets for what is going on two years and four monthsnow and i am not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. It's a challenge yes , I won't lie. But I know many ladies who have bone mets and they are pretty amazing. Traveling. Taking care of Grandkids and living everyday to the fullest. Take a deep breath. They can thin out the clot. But good job going right away. That's a very big deal. Sending hugs to you ~M~

Lula73 · May 2018

I'm so glad you went back to the ER vampeyes. Is your DH back home? They're going to put you on some blood thinners at the hospital - likely lovenox and you may start to feel better within just a couple hours. Xarelto and Eliquis are the 2 newer blood thinners that have easier dosing, fewer blood tests and targets specific clotting factors vs targeting all of them. Xarelto is once a day and eliquis is twice a day. They will likely stop the tamoxifen. sure hope it turns out that you don't have mets. As posted just a bit ago, though, mets do not mean your life is over. They're not a good thing to have and no one wants them but you can live with them. Keep us posted on your progress. Sending you warm wishes and healing thoughts.

NotVeryBrave · May 2018

That is so scary! Good for you that you took the reins and finally got a test to show what the problem is, though.

Where is the clot? How are they treating it? Where do they suspect mets? Will they do a PET scan now?

I'm sure this is so overwhelming - to hear two concerns at once. I'm so very sorry for the pain and worry you've already had.

vampeyes · May 2018

Hi Notverybrave, the clot is in my lungs. I am getting a shot to the belly daily, not sure which blood thinner they put me on though. His writing although neat it looks like it says Tmzaparm. Hopefully when I see my oncologist on Wednesday he will be able to give mber answers as to how long the shots will be for and if there will be another CT to see if it's gone.

As for mets - bone. The spots were spotted (lol) on my spine. The ER and Rad doctor can't think of any other reason than cancer for it. I am awaiting a bone scan appointment.

Thank you, I am so happy to have this wonderful forum that is full of lovely, wonderful, caring people. 💝

vampeyes · May 2018

Seen my oncologist today. He doesn't think I have a clot. Apparently it wasn't the hospitals radiologist that looked at the CT scan because it was after hours, it was someone they contract out. He also said because the first D Dimer was negative and my heart rate wasn't elevated it's likely not a clot. So why can I breath now that I have been doing the shots and off Tamoxifen if it's not a clot? The oncologist sent me for another D Dimer test and is booking me for another CT.

He makes me so mad when he states, "your cancer wasn't aggressive so it's highly unlikely it's bone mets, we don't see this very often, especially so soon after surgery." "The radiation likely caused your lung problems." IS HE FOR REAL!!!!! It's cancer, pretty sure cancer doesn't follow any rules! I am so frustrated and angry. He also had no clue as to anything that happened last week. He said that the last time he saw me I was complaining of fatigue and maybe even a little depressed and new nothing else. YOU THINK?!! Of course I am depressed, I just had two surgery, an infection, radiation and now this awful pill to take. Not to mention the weight gain, the uproar of life and everyone except my breastcancer.org family keeps minimizing my ordeal!

He also wants me back on the Tamoxifen.

Crying, literally crying right now.

Cpeachymom · May 2018

wow! Your MO sounds like a real winner! “It can’t possibly be exactly what it looks, sounds and feels like...” I hope you get some answers, I’m sorry you have to deal with this bs. Is it possible to get a Third opinion? Or maybe you just need a new onc altogether? Some one else should be able to look at your films without having to get Another ct scan. Keeping you in my thoughts.

Cough, chest pain, hard time breathing.....

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