no pain, but sporadic out of the blue no warning vomiting
I emailed both my MO and PCP (who I have had major fight with, just have not had energy to change dr), MO said contact PCP who said come in for appt. I will be seeing him tomorrow.
I had been having some low level nauseau for awhile (started letrozole Dec 1) and blamed the nauseau on that, no vomiting tho. Then about 5 weeks ago I was sitting at my desk (home office TG), and all of a sudden was like "I'm going to puke NOW". Luckily I had a cardboard box next to me cause I was NOT going to make it to bathroom. Proceeded to vomit every 15 sec's (not jokiing!) for the next hour and a half. It has happened 4 more times since then. One time my daughter called the after hours clinic who wanted to see me. Sorry not getting in a car like this, so she called on call MO who just happened to be my Dr. He prescribed Zofran (bless him!) and said stop taking Letrozole a few days and see if you start feeling better. I did start feeling better and took liberties with the "a few days" part. Thought I had clearly established the Letrozole was the prob and on day 11 it happened again! In Home Depot! And I was a happy camper that day no stress or anything. Was stuck in HD bathroom for 45 min before a kind employee came to my rescue. Turns out hubby was right outside the OPEN restroom door the entire time and could not hear me puking, and never thought to call in to me because 45 min in the john is a bit long???? LOL.
NO warning with any of these. Just doing my thing, all well, and boom! I'm going to puke. No pain anywhere including stomach at least not until I start barfing. I do feel bloated after eating just a little bit, and have almost completely lost my appetite in last 6 weeks or so. Have to make myself eat. Oh and I have had a few episodes of BIG belching. not burping but full on man belching. Roll over, belch, sit up belch, stand up fart. goes on for 24 hours then stops. back to normal burping.
I know my PCP will say its just stress. That is his answer to everything. Its either stress or menopause. Mind you menopause was over 4 years ago, I've felt great since, no symptoms. Last time he said my probs were caused by menopause (back in Jan or FEb) I blew my cork and said don't start with that BS. Then he blew his cork and said I will be treated respectfully, and if you don't trust my skills you need another dr! One it's not disrespectful to disagree with you and 2 yes I need a new dr (I can't tell you how many things he has misdiagnosed, but the best was my daughters infected full of stones gall bladder as constipation!).
Does this sound familiar to anyone? Anything I should ask DR to think about tomorrow? If he says its stress I will say maybe, but only way I will believe there is nothing wrong is if you scan me from throat to privates and nothing shows up. Maybe that would be enough to set my miind at ease?
I didn't think I would be one to be worried about relapse or mets but I guess I was wrong. May I please join the club? To have someone to talk to?
Comments
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arabiansrock, okay, that sounds awful. And it definitely sounds as if something is going on, more than menopause or stress. But mets? It's hard for us not to go there, but honestly it's not what would come to my mind.
Yes, we can develop mets after a diagnosis of breast cancer, but we also can still develop any other condition or disease. I say this as someone who has been going through what seems like an on-going series of imaging scans for the past 5 months for various symptoms, and so far (knock on wood that it continues) nothing I have appears to be in any way related to my breast cancer diagnosis. But I have been found to have some other things, all seemingly not serious (again, knock on wood that it continues) but one that is exceedingly rare. So my advice is to not presume mets, but to focus on the specific problem to get a diagnosis. I think you might get a better reaction from your doctor that way, i.e. not "I'm worried this is mets" but "I'm vomiting uncontrollably, I'm bloated a lot, I've lost my appetite, I'm belching regularly... something is going on.".
From what you describe, it sounds to me as though this is digestive / intestinal. I would think that an ultrasound and/or CT scan is in order. Personally, I would insist on it.
Good luck!
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I agree with Beesie - I'd take it a step further and wonder about gastroparesis....? I'd recommend seeing a GI doc and not just a general GI doc though a GI motility doc. If you Bing or Google Association for Gastro Motility Disorders there is a link listing such docs depending on where you live. If this is a motility issue a typical GI doc is not the one you want to see. there are also specialized tests for motility issues and many of these will often only be found at the larger hospitals. A small hospital should be able to test for something like gastroparesis though you'd want a GI motility doc actually treating you.... Please let us know how your appointment(s) go.....
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Thanks Beesie! I'm sorry to hear you are having health issues and still working on full diagnosis, that sucks! I agree it sounds GI, actually it sounds like delayed gastric emptying to me. BUT... my sister died of pancreatic cancer. And most people have no symptoms with that until its really bad. When she first got sick, the drs spent 3 months doing things like endoscopy (no ulcer) colonoscopy (clear) finally did CT and OOPS there it is nice and big. She survived 4 months after diagnosis. One big diff is that when she started vomiting she was having pain, I am not so am hopeful thats not it.
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arabiansrock, I'm so sorry about your sister.
That's why I suggested a CT. I just had one and the report included a listing of every organ in there, so at least I know which organs appear to be okay (including my pancreas).
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I had a barf-o-rama like that and it was a kidney stone causing it.
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As pcp for a referral to aa GI doc.
Hoping you get answers and that you feel better.
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Hi all, just got back from Dr appt. He ordered labs to test liver and pancreas function, and an abdominal CT He didn't want to do full; body because "we want to reduce your radiation exposure". Really?! After bombarding my boob now they are worried about rads?! He appears to be thinking ulcer. I will be VERY surprised if it is an ulcer but at least he ordered the scan. He ALWAYS looks at the lowest hanging fruit, never thinks zebras. Whereas I always go straight to zebras because that is what my family seems to always get, lol. Heres hoping he sees something in the results that will give him a clue. One good thing, he gave me some dissolve under the tongue Zofran. That will be much better than swallowing a pill only to watch it come right back up 15 sec later!
take care stay safe, especially if you are in the path of the incoming storms.
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Glad you are getting a CT to try and figure out what is wrong!
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Glad that the appointment went well.
I hope your doctor is right. And while he may think it's an ulcer, at least you are getting the abdominal CT, which will look at everything in there.
Good luck with the CT. Here's hoping for an easy and not-very-serious explanation for what's been going on.
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Thank you everyone for the kind thoughts. While I will be very surprised if he is right, I will not be unhappy. I would much rather deal with an ulcer than just about any other possibility!
Now I just have to wait for the imaging people to call and set up appt. I hope I can get in really soon.
take care everyone!
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Best with all the testing and please let us know! I'm glad you were able to talk with your doc timely....
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Haven't gotten all of my blood work back but so far it looks like my kidneys might be starting to be a little unhappy. Nothing too dramatic but creatinine is 1.08 (High), eGFR is 55 (low), and homocysteine is 13.6 (High). None is this is very much above or below reference range, but they are the only markers flagged yet and they are all kidney related. Is Lestrozole hard on the kidneys? The good news is not wanting to eat for 6 weeks has dropped my A1C from 5.8 to 5.3!!!!
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It could be a mild kidney infection or a tiny stone. Mine was really small but like I said, barf-o-rama with no other symptoms.
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Alice
You had a kidney stone but no pain?!!! You got lucky. Did they try to break up the stone or wait and see if you passed it normally?
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It was so small it passed on its own, with a musical little PLINK while I was peeing. It must have spent a day or two pressing on a nerve to cause all the non-stop vomiting. But I didn't have pain, just if my arm brushed against that side of my body or I leaned against something, I had to run to the restroom. One of my co-workers finally gave me some bags and drove me home, luckily a very short distance.
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SWell starting to get a little frustrated here. Still hadn't heard from imaging so finally caalled them a few min ago. First available appt is Mar 30. So I guess I just continue to feel bad and scared for another week. Got sick again Sat while out shopping with my daughter. Luckily I had put some Zofran in my car for emergencies, so I handed the cart to my daughter and said I will be outside. Took Zofran and managed to somehow hold on and not get sick. just went straight to bed when she got me home and slept for a couple hours. Managed to be ok yesterday tho.
Have new problem tho. Can't poop. It hurts, normally when this has happened in the past (very infrequently) it would just take a couple trips to restroom and I would finally win So far that has not happened this time and my belly is quite uncomfortable and my rump hurts from trying, I wonder if I am just literally not eating enough? I am tryiing to sip water all day to stay hydrated. This is a new one on me. Hopefully things get moving soon. I really want to know what is going on now.. Oh and my pcp pooh poohed my "elevated" blood work, he said it was "very slightly elevated, nothing to worry about", If I felt fine I would agree. But I don't so...
Ah well, I hope all is going well with you ladies, take care, warm hugs
arabiansrock
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Arabian do you have any epsom salts around? Try a goodly amount added to bath water and sit in there for a while, might help the constipation. Your body absorbs the magnesium (along with some water) as you sit in there. Sorry for the new development.
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Do you still have your appendix?
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Zofran is constipating so that is a common side effect. Use some Miralax in any liquid, hot or cold, once a day for several days & your issue will resolve - at least until you can figure out why you are so nauseated. You can also use a stool softener such as docusate (Colace in the US) for several days. Prunes will also help. One of the ways the zofran works is to decrease GI motility - thus the constipation.
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RAh - yes I have epsom salts! That was a wonderful idea! And it feels relaxing too.
Wallycat - yes I still have appendix but WBC is normal and no pain, but if pain starts I will def keep appendix in mind.
jhl - I was wondering if Zofran might be constipating. Most drugs that are don't bother me, eg codeine. But I guess Zofran does. I bought some fiber pills for my hubby, hopefully he didn't throw them away. So nice to have a choice - you can vomit and poop, or not vomit and not poop! Fiber here I come!
Just counting days until scan. Not sure how I will feel if it comes back clean. I am doing better now that I am being very careful what and how much goes in my mouth at any one time. Just a few bites and be done for awhile. But that sure makes me think something is not well in the stomach or upper intestine area.
Good news is I am having my kitchen counters ripped out today to prepare for new quartz counters Apr 12. Happy Dance, I am so lookinjg forward to the new counters!!!
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arabiansrock - I had to comment - you are playing what my BFF and I call the "Glad Game" in that you are vomiting, constipated, worried about your scan, but yay for new countertops! I love your attitude in light of a generally sucky current situation, and wish the best for you on your scan, hopefully this is something that is easily explained and banished from your life. I saw ulcer mentioned above - has anyone suggested an H. Pylori breath test?
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Hi Special K. I am trying very hard to see the bright side of things. Oddly enough, I was quite down before I started vomiting, the whole life isn't fair, I wasted 32 years with hubby who can't act like he loves me to save his life, I wish I had done everything differently, etc. Just a whole long list of woe is me's. Then I started vomiting and when it happened enough to not be just a fluke, for some reason I started feeling happier. I kind of suspect the back of my mind is thinking, ok if the cancer has spread then you better enjoy every moment you have left, dont waste any time being angry mad or sad. At least thats the only thing I can figure. It also helps that my hubby has decided to really try hard right now. Maybe this is scaring him too.
As for H. Pylori, not a breath test but a sample (the kind that was hard for me to produce, lol) in the freezer to take to lab today when the counter crew is done. given how fast he is working, that wont be long.
Thank you everyone for the great suggestions and warm wishes. What a great community here!
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Hope you get some answers soon. Zofran is def. constipating. When I was undergoing chemo and took Zofran a few times a day I would take a stool softener at the same time I took the Zofran to try and balance things out. It def. helped
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arabianstock,
No life is not always fair and I am sorry for people who believe it is. They are bound to be disappointed. For now,forget the “woe is me” thing as the past can’t be undone. Perhaps after you have a better picture of your health, you can then make plans for a life that makes you happy.
Sometime in my early 40’s I decided to change professional credentials. It took two years worth of school but I did it! I also divorced my husband of 23 years. Too many reasons to go into but let’s just say that not having a husband is infinitely preferable to having a bad husband. My children are grown now and I have 3 grandchildren. I still teach full time (retiring in June) so between work and family I am busy and my home is my peaceful sanctuary. It is never too late to live a happy life but if you make a plan, it can be done Take care.
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Well I had my CT this am. Now for the hard part, waiting for results. My pcp just ordered abdominal ct no contrast. I get to imaging center and they hand me form to sign for contrast. I was like, dr didn't order contrast. She looks in my chart and the radiologist had reviewed my case and called my pcp and said this needs to be done with contrast. Ok then. then when I'm on the table the tech asked me what symptoms I was having to prompt the CT and I told her random vomiting with no warning. She said "I'll be right back, I'm changing your orders to include scanning the pelvis". So it ended up being done right courtesy of the imaging center who was actually listening and being thorough. I really hope it comes back negative because I dont want a spread of cancer, but then whats up with this random vomiting? Stress? I can't take many more anxiety meds or I will be orbiting mars!
Anyway, fingers crossed that it comes back clean, and quickly.
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I'm so glad that your imaging facility and the tech were both on the ball and ensured that you had a complete CT scan. Seriously, what was your doctor thinking by ordering the CT without contrast, and abdominal only but not pelvic? You have an unexplained issue - so logically you need to have the broadest imaging possible, because the issue could be anywhere.
I know you want a clean CT, but maybe it's better if the CT solves this mystery, and whatever it finds is not serious and easy to address! Good luck!
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Beesie, thank you you expressed my feelings perfectly! I asked for essentially nose to toes scan and pcp said you dont need it you aren't having symptoms in any other area. Besides we don't want to expose you to more radiation. What!!! Dude, you guys just bbq'd my boob with radiation and you are worried about a little scan? WTH?
Honestly I kind of do hope they find something minor that can be fixed so One: I will not have to worry about random vomiting and can go out safely, and 2: so pcp might get the message that I am not a hypochondriac, when I say this is not normal for me somethings wrong, he will believe me.
I am very grateful to the imaging center for being so on top of things.
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Geez Louise we could have done a better job ordering the test. Pfft - glad the imaging center got it squared away - hope you get good results thar show it’s an easy no cancer issue
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Arabian best of luck on that scan - i hope you get answers and they find something easily fixed. Sounds like you hit the jackpot with the imaging center. It is amazing what can occur when your medical team truly hears what you are saying.
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Arabians, I think some doctors “diagnose” people — ok, women— with stress and anxiety when they do not know what the actual physical problem is and can’t be bothered to pursue an answer. Don’t let them do this to you.
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