Another Week, Another Worry

[kcherub]

I am so stressed out and worried, and for once--scared enough to NOT call my ONC. Since about November, I have had episodes of coughing up phlegm (mostly clear with some brown--not red--specks). I mentioned this to my RAD ONC. when it started, and due to the season, she said not to worry, that she had it, and it was most likely due to using the heating system, and allergies. I had a pretty bad cold in December, and of course it got worse, and the cough felt like raw meat in my throat. It isn't that bad now, but I do still cough, and it varies from wet to dry.

About three weeks ago, maybe around the time I started taking Effexor, I began having NO appetite at all. I have been eating dinner, but can't seem to eat more than 1/2 of my food. I have no pains, no "bathroom" issues, etc. I have also been so tired that I can't make myself do anything when I am not working in my store. I also have been getting out of breath easily in the last week. However, it could also be small panic attacks--I have a lot on my plate right now. It does seem to come and go.

I wanted to be able to attribute this to Effexor, but I really can't remember if all of this started before or after I began taking it. The out of breath feeling became really apparent on Tuesday morning. Just walking up the stairs made me feel "winded". Herceptin might be part of it, but I didn't have A, and my ECHO was at 60 in December. I have had three treatments since that ECHO. So, in a nutshell:

Lack of appetite (I have always been a good eater)
Feeling out of breath (not gasping, just a general feeling)
Coughing up gunk (maybe once a day now)
Dry cough (maybe once or twice a day)
Under a LOT of stress (financial, health, dealing with the general public)

I had a chest CT in April 2007, but haven't had any other scans in that area, other than when they set up my radiation (but I am not even sure what they looked at). The CT I had in December was abdomen and pelvis. They did see the bottom of my lungs, which showed a thickening. However (and I confess this with reservations), I am a smoker, and my RAD ONC. attributed it to that. BTW, I do plan on quitting, but my ONC. said my best bet will be when I am done with treatment.

I am not really sure what I need from you guys. I just know that I can post and vent here, and get it out. :)

Take care and thanks,

[Bill]

Hi Krista, for what it's worth, one of the side effects of Effexor is "tiredness". I know about the smoking thing, it's tough to quit, but you can do it. Sweetie, you have to try to find some way to manage/deal with the tremendous stress in your life. If you do the same thing(s) day in and day out, and nothing seems to change, and nothing helps, it's time to change something. We all have the same feelings and "issues". If you start with small changes, and build on that, it can help. Honey, you are still young. It's easier to quit while you're young, you have more stregth in some ways. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lean on you about smoking, I just realized I was focused on that. Sorry if I was no help, Bill

[TSund]

If it makes you feel any better, I had the crud this winter and it lasted weeks. Some bad viral stuff going around!

Re: tiredness. Recommend having your thyroid checked!

[goops]

I also had a terrible virus with lots of coughing - there is something terrible going around this year. I also spit up big globs of dried blood. I wish you well.

[harrie]

Krista,
About the phlem, I just had it also for the past 2 wks. I had this nasty cold and it went right to my chest. It is a whole lot better now. It was so bad I could take a deep exhale and hear it gurggling.
Maryanne

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hi Krista!
Lots of yucky things at once can sure make us fearful and crazy, can't they! I recently had a conversation with that goofy person in me. "She" was driving me nuts!!! But put together, the symtoms are to be dealt with. Take a deep breath and know that we love ya lots and lots and then let the knowledge of what to do come to you! You're smart, adorable and will know what action to take. Lots of love and prayers, ma

[PinkGirl]

Hi Cherub

The only one of your symptoms I understand
is the effexor/loss of appetite. When I was
on that drug I had zero appetite....wish I was
still taking it :)

For your own peace of mind, get everything
checked out. We've got enough "real" worrying
to do, we don't need extra.

Good luck with this.

[Believe51]

You can feel free to always vent here anytime my Sweetness. This may not pretain to this situation but Ed was coughing up phelm of this sort right after each A/C treatment (6 so far). This lasted for a few days to a week and a half, again it was clear with specks of red sometimes brown. We were concerned with this being lung-related, mets, etc. When asking our oncologist about this his reply was that possibly Ed has something underlying like an allergy or cold he can not get over. No other symptoms to indicate a cold or flu. No side effects from all his drugs either.

I know this worries you but it is better to get an opinion about what is going with you so you can tend to things that are of a concern. Pick and chose your fights. You did not chose to have cancer but you can chose where to put your energy.

Keep us posted with this since you are not alone as you can see from our other friends here. I am wishing this is something non-deserving of you worries!! Lots of love and healing energy>>Believe51

[kcherub]

Gosh, ya'll. Thanks so much. I just want to cry you are all so sweet. I left a message with my ONC this morning, and am waiting to hear back from them. I did try an "experiment" this morning--I took a full .25 (huge dose, I know LOL) Xanax, and haven't been feeling as breathless. I guess everything is just getting to me (all at once). It would be nice if there was some sort of "stress prize" for people (and their families) with cancer. We should get a "pass" on everything else that stresses us out.

I seem to be living in 30-day cycles...I have some "issue", then find out it's nothing and have a few weeks of not really worrying. Then, something comes up that could be something related to cancer. Why can't I have some symptom that in NO WAY could be related to cancer? :) It is true--you totally forget what normal aches, pains and symptoms are. It sucks a big butt. Giggle, giggle.

Bill--no worries on the smoking "lecture". :) I have tried the patch (which worked wonderfully, but made me break out so bad I had to stop), the gum (which made me throw up), and the lozenge, which didn't work and gave me heartburn. I told my husband it would be nice if they could put me in a drug-induced coma for about three weeks, and when I woke up, wouldn't want a cigarette! I was planning on quitting last March 26, the day we were supposed to see our RE to plan on another baby. Instead, I was having a biopsy that day. Yuck. I do have my eyes on the prize, and know that I will kick it eventually.

Have a great day everyone!

[MJo]

I wonder if you had/have radiation pneumonia. It's not uncommon.

[Cathya]

Krista;

As a "reformed" smoker I can imagine how much more difficult being a smoker is making all of this. I suspect that as a smoker every symptom is creating tremendous amounts of stress for you. Remember that it takes a very long time for your blood to get back to normal levels after chemo. If you, like I did, just caught a normal cold it would last forever and have all these symptoms. I had a terrible cold during chemo and ended up in the hospital having a chest x-ray after the doctor heard me coughing. It was just a cold...not even pneumonia. Also, coughing after radiation is pretty normal too.

I suspect that stopping smoking will be the best way to relieve your anxieties. I found the absolutely easiest way to stop smoking ever. It worked for me and I had no withdrawal even....and I was a heavy smoker...heavier still once I decided to stop and was in the waiting phase....lol. I went to a natural hygeine spa and fasted for 7 days on water. It sounds bizarre but it really worked and I haven't smoked since...it's been around 9 or 10 years. I suspect that if you went to any vegetarian type spa (it's important to get out of your environment and away from husband, kids, etc.) and asked them for fruit juices and water for 5 to 7 days that this would work as well. After you do this they ease you into eating healthy foods for about 3 days and then its a new, smoke free you going home. Just an idea.

Cathy

[tricia keegan]

Krista I'm a smoker too (still) and since rads get breathless a lot,I also get one chest infection after another. I have two friends who were very heavy smokers and have quit with "Chantix" (or champix not sure) anyway they swear by it and neither of them have smoked for months. I'm told some people can have bad dreams or depression from it but I just had my script filled and will be starting it in the next few weeks. Maybe this could help you too? My Onc was happy to write the script for it as she's been trying to help me stop since I finished treatments.
Good luck!

[Sheila]

Krista
Like Tricia said, Chantix shows great promise for most people and they are more successful than will Wellbutrin etc. (WOW, YOU HAVE GOTTEN US CLOSET SMOKERS PAST AND PRESENT TO COME OUT!!!) Alot of people get a benefit from the new laser therapy to quit....I know I quit more times than I could ever count...but always went back...it is a hard addition to break. Last summer when I lost my best friend to lung cancer, and up until the end she was begging for cigarettes, I knew the grip they can have on us. I quit almost a year ago now, cold turkey, it was just watching her die, me starting more chemo again....even though I was only smoking 4-6 cigarettes a day then, I knew I HAD to quit.....now I can smell cigarettes on other people and think....did I smell like that....I used to get brochitis, and bad colds every winter that lasted forever, this winter I had one that was over in less than a week.....I never thought I could do it, but I do feel so much better. Think positive, and take each day as it comes.