Okay, now I am not giggling.

[kcherub]

I have been trying to post to others more lately, as I realized I was always coming on and whining and b*$ching about my varied symptom concerns. So, do I have credit for this one? Cause' it's kind of gross.

I posted a while back, about having an intermittent cough (really worse the last part of 2007). Let's say in February, I stopped coughing up phlegm. About three weeks ago, it started up again. When I get up in the morning, I might cough once or twice and produce something that varies from a clear blob (perfect circle), to tan, to tan with brown little flecks. I attributed the latter to smoking and a lot of it to allergies (I have had a post-nasal drip the entire time I have been on Herceptin). The cough is not choking, and I do have to actually work to produce anything.

However, this morning, I coughed and there was a small blood clot within the phlegm. I think it was dark blood, not very much. Nothing throughout the day (as usual), but then this afternoon, one more cough with a tinier amount of blood. I. freaked. out. Well, internally. I have to hold it together for my son and husband. I did tell my husband, but he didn't seem too worried. Like I have said before, he is in the medical profession, and doesn't panic about much. I saw him cry once during this whole thing, and that was the day he realized they had told him the wrong diagnosis from my biopsy (I don't even think I have told that one, maybe later).

Anyhoo, I have Herceptin in the morning (8:45 a.m.), and I am thinking of asking for a chest x-ray instead. I could do my Herceptin later in the day, or next week. The thing is, and this is totally not me, but I don't think I want to know. The "symptoms" I have had in the past have had about 30% BC and 70% other things. Too much is adding up, and because I still smoke, I feel like I deserve it. Okay, I don't really mean "deserve", but more like "I should have known better."

I haven't had one bit of an appetite for three weeks, my chest on both sides just above the collarbone has been throbbing for about 6 months, I am coughing up phlegm and now blood, and I have been out of breath. They thought that might have been Herceptin, but my ECHO was 60, which is what it has been the whole time.

Damned if all these things don't show up on the main four symptoms list. I have worked my way through all the hot spots for BC mets, I guess. I haven't had any imaging on my chest since 4/06 (my initial CT), so maybe if I get the chest x-ray and it shows up clear, I can strike lung off my list. Other than the really rare ones, I think the others are all I can worry about. For now.

So, really I don't have a point. I don't even think I am asking for advice. I just love being able to write it all out here, and not think anyone is tired of hearing about it!

Now, what can I do for you? LOL

Take care,