Hello Everyone, I'm New Here....

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  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289

    Thank you

    Thank you for the advice, I'll call Moffitt today and ask them what information they would need me to send them. I think I'm more afraid of the doctors thinking I'm a hypochondriac or something which sounds really stupid but that fear comes from my childhood. (I had chronic bronchitis from second-hand smoke, but I always called a hypochondriac even though I was legitimately sick. I still have issues seeing a doctor until I'm REALLLY obviously sick which is sad) BUT I didn't imagine the 8 enlarged nodes the doctors found when I wasn't even sick & that's concerning, I have RA that's been inactive for years but I've read that having an autoimmune disease like that makes me "at risk", I have two immediate family members with history of cancer (dad-colon, brother-lung plus both paternal grandparents & my dad's sister who have died from various cancers), and while I only had night sweats once the fatigue is gradually becoming worse. I know part of it is probably from stress/worry but my doctor prescribed Ativan for anxiety - I take it before bed so I can sleep - and I'm still exhausted after 8, 9 or 10 hours of sleep. I literally have to drag myself out of bed some days, and I go out to run errands only to return home after one stop because I need a nap. Something's wrong, lymphoma or not, so it's time someone figures it out. Thank you :)

    FATIGUE

    Sherry:

    I just read one post where you speak of Atavin.   I take the generic:  Lorazepam, O.5 mg.   As you say, stress can make you tired.  So can depression.   When my doctor gave me a prescription for Lorazepam, she told me that it can depress you.   Also, I have found that it can make you tired.   

    Bear in mind the amounts  of Atavin, and possibly other pills you might be taking.

    Nancy

  • fullyloved
    fullyloved Member Posts: 39
    sounds all too familiar

    I have personally experienced and have heard so many stories here of doctors dilly dallying around. Doctors didn't treat me for so long I was on nearly on my deathbed, sick as a dog. I knew for months something was wrong, but my PCP wasn't worried. We may have high quality health care in this country, but I'm still disgusted that it took 6 months of gettting sicker and sicker before the doctors finally woke up!!!!! So get second opinions. Pay attention to what your body is telling you. Cancer taught me that I must be in charge of my own health. You had wondered if anyone has worked through chemo. I worked fulltime for at least half of it, and part time for most of the rest. Chemo is not hard on everyone, and it wasn't hard on me. I felt better on chemo than I had felt for months prior!! And if indeed you do have lymphoma and take the chemo route, I sure hope that it's the same way for you. 

  • rescue911chick
    rescue911chick Member Posts: 55

    Sherry,
    Having just been

    Sherry,

    Having just been diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, I can relate to all the tests and waiting. I had my excisional biopsy on 3-13-13 and was diagnosed on 3-27-2013. It haso been a surreal experience for me . All the lymphomas are so different, so it does you no good to stress out thinking you have one and you might have another. I know how the waiting and not knowing will eat you alive. I am not on watch and wait though, so I can't imagine what that is like for you. I am a single mother myself and that is the worst part of all of this. Being alone and pleading to whomever will listen that you need to see your children grow up, is where I have been. I have explored alternative medicines such as herbs, but my cancer won't respond because it is slow growing, so that isn't an option. I truly believe it is your body and you should chose how to fight any illness at any point in your life. As far as symptoms, whether you feel they are big or small;anything out of the ordinary should be reported. Don't let anyone push you off or make you feel like you are a hypochondriac. I battled with my doctors office for 6 months, before making my own appointments.I was clueless about life in general before coming to this website...lol....It is just nice to be surrounded by people that have been or will be going through the same stuff you are. There is nothing wrong with feeling helpless, I think we have all been there. If you ever need an ear, I will always be here...I don't sleep much these daysSmile

    Thank you :)

    Thank you J You’re right, this website is a Godsend! Good luck with your treatment! The plan for me for now is to wait until June & then I’m having bloodwork & another CT scan done to see if it’s progressing or not. He said this was unless “other symptoms develop” & a few have developed since he said that but he still wants to wait for June. So all there is left to do is take it one day at a time....at least I only have 2 months left of waiting.

  • rescue911chick
    rescue911chick Member Posts: 55
    NANCYL1 said:

    FATIGUE

    Sherry:

    I just read one post where you speak of Atavin.   I take the generic:  Lorazepam, O.5 mg.   As you say, stress can make you tired.  So can depression.   When my doctor gave me a prescription for Lorazepam, she told me that it can depress you.   Also, I have found that it can make you tired.   

    Bear in mind the amounts  of Atavin, and possibly other pills you might be taking.

    Nancy

    Hi Nancy

    Hi Nancy!

    I’ve had the Ativan off & on since last summer along with an antidepressant. When my younger brother died in July I didn’t handle it well and saw my PCP for medication to help me through it. I’ve always been against taking medicine to help myself through my normal daily life but seeing him die the way he did was traumatic for me. (I held his hand the last day of his life, until he took his last breath, and his body did some scary things throughout the day! It took his body 6 hours to shut down after they took him off of the ventilator & while I was able to be strong for my family that day in SC I went back to Florida and shut down mentally & emotionally.) So I’ve been on Wellbutrin, and the Ativan off & on was to help on days my anxiety levels were still a little high. I recently asked for a refill of the Ativan to help me get to sleep when my mind won‘t shut off because I work 12 hour shifts & need to get good sleep before them. It does make me tired so I only take it before bed and ONLY if I have more than 8 hours to sleep, but it doesn‘t have any lasting effects on me. It’s definitely not the cause of my new & increasing fatigue, this draining fatigue is a lot like what I used to feel when my RA was active but my RA is not active right now. (Hasn‘t been for years) And it's not depression, because I'm already on an antidepressant.

    But you are right, any medicine we take can mess us up & it’s always good to keep that in mind when new symptoms pop up!

  • rescue911chick
    rescue911chick Member Posts: 55

    Thank you

    Thank you for the advice, I'll call Moffitt today and ask them what information they would need me to send them. I think I'm more afraid of the doctors thinking I'm a hypochondriac or something which sounds really stupid but that fear comes from my childhood. (I had chronic bronchitis from second-hand smoke, but I always called a hypochondriac even though I was legitimately sick. I still have issues seeing a doctor until I'm REALLLY obviously sick which is sad) BUT I didn't imagine the 8 enlarged nodes the doctors found when I wasn't even sick & that's concerning, I have RA that's been inactive for years but I've read that having an autoimmune disease like that makes me "at risk", I have two immediate family members with history of cancer (dad-colon, brother-lung plus both paternal grandparents & my dad's sister who have died from various cancers), and while I only had night sweats once the fatigue is gradually becoming worse. I know part of it is probably from stress/worry but my doctor prescribed Ativan for anxiety - I take it before bed so I can sleep - and I'm still exhausted after 8, 9 or 10 hours of sleep. I literally have to drag myself out of bed some days, and I go out to run errands only to return home after one stop because I need a nap. Something's wrong, lymphoma or not, so it's time someone figures it out. Thank you :)

    Moffitt/2nd Opinion

    So I called Moffitt & told them I wanted to schedule an appointment for a second opinion. When I told them I'm a patient of Florida Cancer Specialists, they told me that they're affiliated with them and that any treatment plan they'd come up with is a plan they would also recommend. So there was really no point in going all the way to Tampa for nothing. I'm just going to have to be content with waiting until June, and pray that if the lymph nodes are still enlarged they investigate further to arrive at a firm diagnosis then. Thank you for all of the advice!

  • rescue911chick
    rescue911chick Member Posts: 55

    Thank you

    Thank you for the advice, I'll call Moffitt today and ask them what information they would need me to send them. I think I'm more afraid of the doctors thinking I'm a hypochondriac or something which sounds really stupid but that fear comes from my childhood. (I had chronic bronchitis from second-hand smoke, but I always called a hypochondriac even though I was legitimately sick. I still have issues seeing a doctor until I'm REALLLY obviously sick which is sad) BUT I didn't imagine the 8 enlarged nodes the doctors found when I wasn't even sick & that's concerning, I have RA that's been inactive for years but I've read that having an autoimmune disease like that makes me "at risk", I have two immediate family members with history of cancer (dad-colon, brother-lung plus both paternal grandparents & my dad's sister who have died from various cancers), and while I only had night sweats once the fatigue is gradually becoming worse. I know part of it is probably from stress/worry but my doctor prescribed Ativan for anxiety - I take it before bed so I can sleep - and I'm still exhausted after 8, 9 or 10 hours of sleep. I literally have to drag myself out of bed some days, and I go out to run errands only to return home after one stop because I need a nap. Something's wrong, lymphoma or not, so it's time someone figures it out. Thank you :)

     

     

  • rescue911chick
    rescue911chick Member Posts: 55

    sounds all too familiar

    I have personally experienced and have heard so many stories here of doctors dilly dallying around. Doctors didn't treat me for so long I was on nearly on my deathbed, sick as a dog. I knew for months something was wrong, but my PCP wasn't worried. We may have high quality health care in this country, but I'm still disgusted that it took 6 months of gettting sicker and sicker before the doctors finally woke up!!!!! So get second opinions. Pay attention to what your body is telling you. Cancer taught me that I must be in charge of my own health. You had wondered if anyone has worked through chemo. I worked fulltime for at least half of it, and part time for most of the rest. Chemo is not hard on everyone, and it wasn't hard on me. I felt better on chemo than I had felt for months prior!! And if indeed you do have lymphoma and take the chemo route, I sure hope that it's the same way for you. 

    fullyloved

    I read your “bio” and had to tell you that your story is amazing; your faith inspiring! I have to say that through this whole thing so far I have reminded myself over & over that "if God brings me to it, He will bring me through it". I find so much peace in those words. While my heart dropped that first day when the ER doctor said "we found some spots on your right lung & some enlarged lymph nodes, which are concerning..." I haven't really been scared, and I’ve only cried about it once out of frustration when they still couldn’t give me answers after the biopsy. I pray all the time & tell God I’m ready to handle whatever it is He needs me to go through, I’d just like to know what it is I’m facing. And for Him to give my kids & my parents the strength they’ll need to get through this because I already know I’m strong enough with God on my side J

    Thank you for sharing the info about work too. I’m not sure that I’d be able to handle working through it, & I won’t know that unless I get to that point, but it’s definitely good to know it could be a possibility. Prayers to you!!

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289

    Hi Nancy

    Hi Nancy!

    I’ve had the Ativan off & on since last summer along with an antidepressant. When my younger brother died in July I didn’t handle it well and saw my PCP for medication to help me through it. I’ve always been against taking medicine to help myself through my normal daily life but seeing him die the way he did was traumatic for me. (I held his hand the last day of his life, until he took his last breath, and his body did some scary things throughout the day! It took his body 6 hours to shut down after they took him off of the ventilator & while I was able to be strong for my family that day in SC I went back to Florida and shut down mentally & emotionally.) So I’ve been on Wellbutrin, and the Ativan off & on was to help on days my anxiety levels were still a little high. I recently asked for a refill of the Ativan to help me get to sleep when my mind won‘t shut off because I work 12 hour shifts & need to get good sleep before them. It does make me tired so I only take it before bed and ONLY if I have more than 8 hours to sleep, but it doesn‘t have any lasting effects on me. It’s definitely not the cause of my new & increasing fatigue, this draining fatigue is a lot like what I used to feel when my RA was active but my RA is not active right now. (Hasn‘t been for years) And it's not depression, because I'm already on an antidepressant.

    But you are right, any medicine we take can mess us up & it’s always good to keep that in mind when new symptoms pop up!

    HELLO AGAIN SHERRY

    Hello again Sherry:

    Just thought I would mention pills because I have a few.  Some since heart surgery a few years ago. 

    You mentioned a bone marrow biopsy.  Had a number of tests:  CT Scan, PT scan, Endoscopy and a bone marrow biopsy.  Then the diagnosis of Lymphoma, B Cell.  Have now Rituxan infusions.

    Had pain pills for bone marrow biopsy.   It was bearable, but better to have light anesthesia, in my opinion.   But whatever you do, don't worry about it.

    Too bad we are not discussing politics or the weather.

    Nancy

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • NANCYL1
    NANCYL1 Member Posts: 289

    Hi Rosie

    Thanks for the reply Rosie! Maybe you can explain to me why the doctors choose to watch & wait for symptoms vs trying to get rid of it head on? Isn't it easier to get rid of it early, or does the treatment cause issues that the doctor wants to avoid until it's absoultely necessary? My family lost my younger brother to stage 4 lung cancer 8 months ago, I know lymphoma's completely different & very treatable, but  despite that I don't think my parents would understand the watch & wait. Thank you so much for your help, everyone in this group is so supportive & uplifting!

    "WAIT AND SEE"

    Sherry:

    In January, 2012, I saw my Internist for a regular checkup and the usual blood test.  She found that my white cells were high.  She sent me immediately to an Oncologist at a nearby Cancer Center.  After a number of tests:  CT-Scan, PT-Scan, Endoscopy, Blood Tests, and finally a Bone Marrow Biopsy, the Oncologist diagnosed me as having mild B Cell Lymphoma.  I am receiving Rituxan infusions.   Thus far, my Red Cells, White Cells, and Platelets are once again normal.

    I know the fear of having had cancer in the family.

    Let us know how your are doing.

    Nancy