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  • GatorGal
    GatorGal Member Posts: 750
    edited August 2014

    thanks, all!  I'm finally feeling better and have had a couple of good night's sleep.  Yes, the decadron is a steroid.  Usually I just decide to get some things done rather than trying to sleep.  I'll remember that next time!!

  • GatorGal
    GatorGal Member Posts: 750
    edited August 2014

    Blondie, sorry about the broken ribs.  That has to be extremely painful.  I've never had a cough from the cancer which totally amazes me ... Just the shortness of breath which I can def deal with!  

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited August 2014

    Gatorgal, I asked my doctor to lower my decadron dose.  It helped me a little.  I only had 1 sleepless night instead of 2.  He cut the dose in half.

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited August 2014

    Carolben:  One more cycle.  You can do it!

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited August 2014

    Blondie:  Broken ribs?  That sounds very, very painful!!!  Glad to hear you have quite the arsenal of medicines to fight pain.

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2014


    thanks, and what dosage of steroids were you on, I am on 20mg....I can cut them in half....whatever, took myself off and will start again, either can breath OR  sleep, lol

    Have a good day!!!

    ME

  • Carolben
    Carolben Member Posts: 265
    edited August 2014

    right Brenda, 1 more cycle then scan again. Thanks for the encouragement, I CAN do it!  Feeling so much better - am on my 2nd week off. Go back on Friday for chemo, mmmm

    I'm so beat after chemo & that's with IV steroids, can't imagine doing it without them - a night or 2 not sleeping is the price, hello sleeping pills!  But an exhausted body & a busy head is a horrible combo. I make lists of all the things I'm going to do - & then the steroids wear off & I crash and do nothing on the lists lol.

    OMG Blondie, coughing with broken ribs - yikes!  Good you have good pain meds too. Hang in there, hope you can find the steroid dose that won't keep you awake at night, but will help you breathe.

    One more free day for me - go for blood test in the morning. Then I volunteer at a second hand shop from 10am till 2pm.  All the proceeds go to our Animal Welfare, & they always have interesting stuff, I love 2nd hand shops, so it doesn't feel like work.

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2014

    Carol does thatt mean you are almost done...

    The predasone is 20mg and I have to take it forever which is what the pulmonary dr. said...it does work tho, will start again soon.....
    Good luck!!

  • tryn2staycalm
    tryn2staycalm Member Posts: 470
    edited August 2014


    Hi Ladies.. I just had a couple of really bad days.  Landed me in hospital.  It hit me WHAM.. severe pain and cramps in lower abdomen.  Not able to eat... so had another sugar low...drank lots of juice.  Pain in stomach and felt at times like I was going to vomit but didn't happen.  Thought I had a bad flu but then the ugly part.. first of all I noticed a touch of blood.  After bowel movements it would relieve cramps some.  So when cramps got bad I tried to go again but all that came out was blood.  Of course then I knew I had to do something.  Called my GP and she sent me to the hospital where I had a multitude of tests.  One being a cat scan which showed an enflamed colon.  The test didn't show infection but in case I was put on 2 antibiotics and it will help take out inflammation and then oh Joy I get to see a surgeon for another colonoscopy even tho I had one in Oct which was clear.  Seeing surgeon ASAP to have it booked.  Tried to eat supper last night and it brought on more pain and suffering.  May be soup and toast for a bit.  Hoping it is just infection that hasn't shown in tests.  Never heard of breast cancer spreading to the colon but

  • tryn2staycalm
    tryn2staycalm Member Posts: 470
    edited August 2014


    Hi Ladies.. been a bad couple of days for me which landed me in hospital.  It hit me WHAM .. started with extreme pain and cramps in abdomen.  Unable to force food down.. so had a sugar low.. drank lots of juice to get it back up.  Felt terrible.. thought I had a bad flu... but then the ugly showed.  After having a loose bowel movement there was some blood but it helped relieve the pain.  So next time the pain got bad I tried to go again but all that came out was blood and not just spotting.  So I knew I had to do something.  Called my GP and she sent me to the hospital where they did a multitude of tests one being a cat scan which showed an enflamed colon.  It did not show infection but just in case it was just starting they put me on 2 antibiotics and said it would help me with the inflammation too.  Tried to eat supper last night but that proved to be painful and cramps in stomach were bad too so it may be soup and toast for a bit.  Sending me to see a surgeon ASAP to book another colonoscopy even tho I had one in Oct. that was clear.  Never heard of breast cancer spreading to the colon but not sure.  Could even be a new primary (family history) but hoping not.  Hoping for just infection. 

    Glad to hear of some with good news.. congrats to you's!

    Cathy

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited August 2014

    Oh Cathy!!  That must been awful!!!  When I'm constipated and I have a bowel movement I end up with a little bit of blood.  One time there was more blood than usual so I went to see the GP.  He said I had a fizzure from all the exertion I was doing and all the pressure the hard stool was putting on my bowels.  So hopefully once the bleeding stops your doctors will manage it with antibiotics or something.  Mine was not serious.  It was close to the opening (anus).

    Take care and lots of hugs.

    Brenda

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited August 2014

    Carol!  I am finding out that the abraxane is so much better, side effect wise.  My low blood levels are gone.  Thery are normal!!!  So the nurse and doctor are thinking that my episodes of low blood counts were still due to the carbo/gem combo.  BTW, blood transfusions really make you feel so much better.  You need a hemoglobin count of less than 8.0 to qualify for a blood transfusion.  7.9 will make you eligible for one.  Demand one if you have to.

    Love, Brenda

  • tryn2staycalm
    tryn2staycalm Member Posts: 470
    edited August 2014

    Adnerb - Yes I have had hemorrhoids and one time a fissure ( pronounced fisher) also.  Mild to medium  spotting with those but this time it was different.  When I tried to have a bowel movement to see if the cramps would subside all that I had was chunks of blood followed by dripping blood.  Much different than before and yes it was awful.  Still some pain but not as bad today but still tired and weak and just no energy.  Hopefully gets better soon. 

    Cathy

  • DeliriumPie
    DeliriumPie Member Posts: 1,186
    edited August 2014

    yikes Cathy. Sorry to hear you suffering like that. 

    I've had a real bad news week. Went to er last weekend for a headache that turned out to be multiple brain lesions. Got my chest ct results back the next day and have new lung nodules and bad lymph nodes in chest. Now I'm having awful pain in my upper back near my shoulder. Has anyone experienced this? Thinking it could be from my lung?  I have to complete three weeks of brain rads before I can start chemo again for the lung issue.  The waiting induces panic. Feel so helpless not doing anything. 

  • susaninsf
    susaninsf Member Posts: 1,099
    edited August 2014

    DeliriumPie,

    So sorry to hear about your brain mets.  I had lung, brain and eye mets from first diagnosis and have been doing well after radiation.  Come join us on the brain mets thread where you will be able to find out more information about brain mets treatments.

    Hugs, Susan

  • Catesmom
    Catesmom Member Posts: 45
    edited August 2014

    Hi to everyone.  Guess I'm the new girl on this thread.  I found out this week that my bone mets have progressed to the lungs.  I had been feeling short of breath when climbing stairs so they sent me for a CT scan.  I had fluid on both lungs-and had thoracentesis done last week. That helped my breathing but I wonder if I'm building up fluid again because my chest is feeling tight again, and my oxygen sats are lower.  They are talking about possibly putting drains in that will stay in my lungs for a while and be drained about every third day.  Has anyone had those placed?  Would it stop me from going to work?  I've managed to stay working full time, and I'm pretty much the main bread winner for the family and our insurance is through my work.  I really don't want to burn through my short term disability yet  since I still feel pretty good.

            My onc is going to start me on Carboplatin and Gemzar next Thursday.  I'm sure others have been on that combo before and am curious to see if anyone has any suggestions for me.

            DeliriumPie- I am so sorry to hear about your progression .   I hope the brain rads go well for you.    I also do think your pain in the shoulder could be from the lungs-possibly referred pain?
            Cathy-  I hope you feel better soon.  Sounds pretty miserable.:(             Kelly

  • tryn2staycalm
    tryn2staycalm Member Posts: 470
    edited August 2014


    Pie - sorry to hear of your progression.  Hopefully the treatments will put it to sleep for a long long time.

    Welcome to this thread Kelly but sorry for your progression also.  Not sure about the fluid drains.. have not heard of that but hoping it won't stop you from working and you keep your insurance!

    Cathy

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited August 2014

    Delirium Pie,

    I hope the rads work on the pesky brain mets!  Please let us know how you do.  I will keep you in my thoughts.

    Brenda

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited August 2014

    Cathy, I hope the bleeding has totally stopped and that the pain has gone away!  I just hate how we have to have pain in spite of everything!!!

    Hugs,

    Brenda

  • Momonana6
    Momonana6 Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2014

    Hi  Catesmom,  Sorry that we meet this way but the ladies here are wonderful in providing that great support that is so needed and also chiming in with helpful information re your individual treatments.  I also have MBC with mets to the lung and now to the bone.  

    Last December when I was diagnosed with the lung mets I had a VATS procedure whereby the pulmonary surgeon inserts a visually assisted device into the pleural space (not actually in the lung but in the space outside the lung in the lining area.  Extra fluid was drained and a tiny drainage Pleurex catheter was left in position with a few small sutures as it exited the skin..  It was drained every few days at first then as the drainage diminished less often till finally in a few weeks no drainage.  The catheter is clamped and coiled into a very small area (a few inches) and covered with a small sterile dressing.  It was not noticeable when I was dressed and was not painful.  I hope that this is helpful to you.  If all else is equal..then it should allow you to continue at work if your doctor agrees.

        

    Kelly,  I felt that I was in overload at first but as soon as my treatments were in place and all of the onc related stuff in order....life returned to more normal ...yay.   In fact my daughter and I snuck in a trip to AZ to be with family :)  You are in my prayers for a  successful treatment plan.     Peg

  • Catesmom
    Catesmom Member Posts: 45
    edited August 2014

    Peg, thanks for letting me know about your procedure. That sounds exactly like what they are thinking of doing.  You helped answer the more important things to me regarding pain, and the ability to function.  I had a PET scan Friday and haven't yet received the results.  When I get those results they will start making some more decisions of what to do.....Thanks!!  Kelly

  • tryn2staycalm
    tryn2staycalm Member Posts: 470
    edited September 2014


    Thanks Brenda, feeling closer to myself today.. thank goodness!

    Cathy

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited September 2014

    Sorry to hear all that u r going though..

    Brain met...hru with that, I was scared n requesed a mri to see if I had any, I didn't, but the waiting game is the worst

    Pie..hugs

    I have had the thorencentis done a couple of times it is annoying at best

    Now I am on oxygen 24/7 cause I can't breathe

    Everybody try to have a nice holiday n do something nice 4 yourself

  • tryn2staycalm
    tryn2staycalm Member Posts: 470
    edited September 2014

    blondie -  What I'm going through is nothing compared to you.  Hugs.  Hope you enjoy the rest of the summer and the long weekend. 

    Cathy

  • Carolben
    Carolben Member Posts: 265
    edited September 2014

    oy, so much bad news - that sounds very painful Cathy, pleased they'll check it out & hopefully can help ease the pain & discomfort, it sounds serious. Strength to you.

    Welcome Catesmom, sorry you need to be here, but it's a good place to come and share your fears, hopes, uncertainties. There's always someone who has been through the same thing. Brenda, you had Carbo/Gemzar didn't you? I'm doing Cisplatin/Gemzar, it's rough, but I believe Cisplatin is more toxic than Carboplatin.

    Hey Delirium, that's a lot of bad news at once, hugs!  Hope the rads will sort out the brain mets.  It is hard to know this disease us growing & not be able to hit it with chemo. But one step at a time, I guess.

     Blondie, we planned on 6 cycles of Cis/Gemzar - should have the last of cycle 3 this Friday, then we'll scan, & I guess my decision to continue chemo or not depends on the scan. 

    I slept on & off Sat & Sun, after chemo on Fri. If blood counts are ok I'll have chemo this Fri. Started feeling better today, but am so weak, it's crazy!  Showering is huge exercise for me right now! 

    Brenda, so happy to hear you're tolerating Abraxane well, horray for stable blood counts!  Do you have any other se's?

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited September 2014


    good luck Carol, hang in there.

  • Adnerb
    Adnerb Member Posts: 727
    edited September 2014

    Carolben, I have inflamed follicles on my bald head.  But that should go away soon.  I remember getting it while on taxotere.  It lasted 2 weeks.  Also, I sleep all day Sunday.  I attribute that to coming down from steroids.  We get chemo on the same day, Friday!  Mine's 3 weeks on, one week off.  I hope you have a good scan!  May NED and/or the Stable Boy show up and stay!!!

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited September 2014


    never heard of inflamed follicles....and agree good scan!!

  • Momonana6
    Momonana6 Member Posts: 154
    edited September 2014

    Blondie...here's a big, gentle hug for you.  Just wondering if your docs have considered inserting a small Pleurex catheter into the pleural space to provide drainage access?  Might be more comfortable for you.   I admire your "warrior journey" and send warm wishes for days of sunshine and tall lemonades.  Hugs, Peg

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited September 2014

    Thanks no, there isn't alit of fluid in  there, in dec had an open lung biopsy,  n they glued the lining to the wall to try to prevent the buildup of fluid

    Thanks could  use all the hugs available

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