worsening pain

melbas2
melbas2 Member Posts: 108
in Anal Cancer #1
As most of you that know me, you know that I have had a boatoad of side effects and have not improved. In fact, it's getting worse. I can't cook anymore unless it;s boxed or canned and the I can still only do that a couple times per week because I can't stand for the time it takes to cook a meal. I'm going for lab and an appt with my ocncologist tomorrow am, and I think I'm gonna ask for a bone density test. Has anyone had one, and what should I expect? I have tried walking every day, but I am lucky to make it down the drive way and back...but I do it. I'm just tired of the aching bones and feeling like I'm 90. Thanks, Melodie

Comments

  • duckyann
    duckyann Member Posts: 159
    #2
    Hi Melodie
    I am so sorry
    Hi Melodie

    I am so sorry that you are still having such pain. I had a bone density test back in September there is nothing to it. It only takes a few minutes and there is no pain at all. There isn't anything special that you have to do to prepare for it either. I think it is a good idea that you get one done. Radiation can cause ostopenia and ostoporosis (sp?). The sooner you find out the sooner you can start on medicine to rebuild your bones. I am on "Boniva", I take it once a month. I have slight ostopenia but my doctor wanted to catch it before it gets any worse. He also told me that radiation causes this along with menopause.

    Take care
    Nancy
  • melbas2
    melbas2 Member Posts: 108
    #3
    duckyann said:

    Hi Melodie
    I am so sorry
    Hi Melodie

    I am so sorry that you are still having such pain. I had a bone density test back in September there is nothing to it. It only takes a few minutes and there is no pain at all. There isn't anything special that you have to do to prepare for it either. I think it is a good idea that you get one done. Radiation can cause ostopenia and ostoporosis (sp?). The sooner you find out the sooner you can start on medicine to rebuild your bones. I am on "Boniva", I take it once a month. I have slight ostopenia but my doctor wanted to catch it before it gets any worse. He also told me that radiation causes this along with menopause.

    Take care
    Nancy

    pain
    Hi Nancy. Thanks. went to my oncol today, and my counts are way up. My whites are in the normal range, and my platelets are to 32!!Ever since I've been going thru this, that's the hightest those 2 counts have never been this high. Now if the muscle, joint, and bone pains will go away...one can wish. Will keep u upated on counts and pain progress. Thanks again, Melodie
  • duckyann
    duckyann Member Posts: 159
    #4
    melbas2 said:

    pain
    Hi Nancy. Thanks. went to my oncol today, and my counts are way up. My whites are in the normal range, and my platelets are to 32!!Ever since I've been going thru this, that's the hightest those 2 counts have never been this high. Now if the muscle, joint, and bone pains will go away...one can wish. Will keep u upated on counts and pain progress. Thanks again, Melodie

    That is fantastic Melodie!
    That is fantastic Melodie! I am almost 2 years out and believe me I still get hip and back pain mainly on my left side which is opposite of where the tumor was. I can tolerate it but if I over do it I pay for 3-4 days. But I am so happy to be alive!

    Take care
    Nancy
  • sissy310
    sissy310 Member Posts: 300
    #5
    Hey Melodie - was happy to
    Hey Melodie - was happy to hear about your counts going up! Good news. Sorry though to hear about your pain. I too have some hip/leg pain and sometimes in the morning am so stiff I feel like my Aunt Jo who is 89. Yours sounds worse than mine though as I can walk around and stretch when I can to loosen things up. After moving around some and doing this I start to feel a little better but like you cannot do a whole lot standing up. Was starting to get back on my feet sort of and had to have gall bladder removed. That put me back a few steps but now am recuperating from that. It seems like it is always something. I mentioned to my surgeon after my week postop that I felt tired and had pain and he said a) you just had major surgery - pain will be there and will go away eventually and b) you are also recovering from cancer treatment. He told me to give myself a break and be patient. (Not one of my fortes unfortunately). So that my dear I am going to say to you: You've been through a lot (as we all have) and then you had other side effects and issues that some of us did not have. We are only what, 9 months out of treatment (we started around the same time I believe) and need to realize our bodies are probably still healing. Keep us posted on your tests/blood work and what they say. Hugs, Marilyne
  • melbas2
    melbas2 Member Posts: 108
    #6
    sissy310 said:

    Hey Melodie - was happy to
    Hey Melodie - was happy to hear about your counts going up! Good news. Sorry though to hear about your pain. I too have some hip/leg pain and sometimes in the morning am so stiff I feel like my Aunt Jo who is 89. Yours sounds worse than mine though as I can walk around and stretch when I can to loosen things up. After moving around some and doing this I start to feel a little better but like you cannot do a whole lot standing up. Was starting to get back on my feet sort of and had to have gall bladder removed. That put me back a few steps but now am recuperating from that. It seems like it is always something. I mentioned to my surgeon after my week postop that I felt tired and had pain and he said a) you just had major surgery - pain will be there and will go away eventually and b) you are also recovering from cancer treatment. He told me to give myself a break and be patient. (Not one of my fortes unfortunately). So that my dear I am going to say to you: You've been through a lot (as we all have) and then you had other side effects and issues that some of us did not have. We are only what, 9 months out of treatment (we started around the same time I believe) and need to realize our bodies are probably still healing. Keep us posted on your tests/blood work and what they say. Hugs, Marilyne

    pain
    Hey Marilyn, This is so funny...well not funny...I am looking at gall bladder surgery too. The found gall stones when I was in the hospital for the
    atgam treatments, but the were waiting for my counts to go up, since I'm a bleeder. Not looking forward to it, but we do what we gotta do. Then hopefully I can start PT and loosen up my hips and pelvis area. Tell me how the recovery from the gall bladder surgery is going. Hugs, Melodie
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #7
    melbas2 said:

    pain
    Hi Nancy. Thanks. went to my oncol today, and my counts are way up. My whites are in the normal range, and my platelets are to 32!!Ever since I've been going thru this, that's the hightest those 2 counts have never been this high. Now if the muscle, joint, and bone pains will go away...one can wish. Will keep u upated on counts and pain progress. Thanks again, Melodie

    Happy for you, Melodie!
    Congrats on the improved blood counts! Hang in there and take it one day at a time. I hope your pain diminishes soon!
  • sissy310
    sissy310 Member Posts: 300
    #8
    melbas2 said:

    pain
    Hey Marilyn, This is so funny...well not funny...I am looking at gall bladder surgery too. The found gall stones when I was in the hospital for the
    atgam treatments, but the were waiting for my counts to go up, since I'm a bleeder. Not looking forward to it, but we do what we gotta do. Then hopefully I can start PT and loosen up my hips and pelvis area. Tell me how the recovery from the gall bladder surgery is going. Hugs, Melodie

    Hi Melodie - yah, is that
    Hi Melodie - yah, is that not a kick. Right now, two weeks and a few days out I feel pretty good but still cannot lift anything (and in my house that is bad because no one else does it! lol). The nausea and some of the cramping and other issues that I had before that I blamed on the radiation and chemo are gone so it was my GB that was at fault. It was only working at 18% and I showed no gall stones when they did the ultrasound. They had to do a special scan to see the function of it while digestion was occurring. I was scared to death it was my liver and the doctor must have thought I was nuts when he said it was the GB and I said oh thank God, get it out. Next week go for my 9 month scan, am a little nervous but just want it over with now. We'll get through all this, it's just taking a little longer and having a few set backs. Keep me posted. Hugs, Marilyne
  • melbas2
    melbas2 Member Posts: 108
    #9
    sissy310 said:

    Hi Melodie - yah, is that
    Hi Melodie - yah, is that not a kick. Right now, two weeks and a few days out I feel pretty good but still cannot lift anything (and in my house that is bad because no one else does it! lol). The nausea and some of the cramping and other issues that I had before that I blamed on the radiation and chemo are gone so it was my GB that was at fault. It was only working at 18% and I showed no gall stones when they did the ultrasound. They had to do a special scan to see the function of it while digestion was occurring. I was scared to death it was my liver and the doctor must have thought I was nuts when he said it was the GB and I said oh thank God, get it out. Next week go for my 9 month scan, am a little nervous but just want it over with now. We'll get through all this, it's just taking a little longer and having a few set backs. Keep me posted. Hugs, Marilyne

    pain
    Well, my counts were only up for that week. Whites went down to 2, platelets went down to 21. I had platelets on Thursday, and now I go in for a BMT blood work up tomorrow, what ever that is.Then I see my primary doc on Weds., for things like low sodium and potassium, the I sse my onc on Fri., to show what the results from tomorrow are. I'm am truly sick of docs offices. Melodie
  • sissy310
    sissy310 Member Posts: 300
    #10
    melbas2 said:

    pain
    Well, my counts were only up for that week. Whites went down to 2, platelets went down to 21. I had platelets on Thursday, and now I go in for a BMT blood work up tomorrow, what ever that is.Then I see my primary doc on Weds., for things like low sodium and potassium, the I sse my onc on Fri., to show what the results from tomorrow are. I'm am truly sick of docs offices. Melodie

    Melodie - sorry to hear
    Melodie - sorry to hear about the blood work. Do they think that the blood work might go up and down like this? I hear you about doctors. After awhile, you feel like your whole life is spent in doctors' offices. Hang in there. Let us know what the results are. Hugs, marilyne
  • patacz
    patacz Member Posts: 64
    #11
    sissy310 said:

    Hi Melodie - yah, is that
    Hi Melodie - yah, is that not a kick. Right now, two weeks and a few days out I feel pretty good but still cannot lift anything (and in my house that is bad because no one else does it! lol). The nausea and some of the cramping and other issues that I had before that I blamed on the radiation and chemo are gone so it was my GB that was at fault. It was only working at 18% and I showed no gall stones when they did the ultrasound. They had to do a special scan to see the function of it while digestion was occurring. I was scared to death it was my liver and the doctor must have thought I was nuts when he said it was the GB and I said oh thank God, get it out. Next week go for my 9 month scan, am a little nervous but just want it over with now. We'll get through all this, it's just taking a little longer and having a few set backs. Keep me posted. Hugs, Marilyne

    Marlyne, they told me that
    Marlyne, they told me that my GB was working 6% two years ago, and I am still putting off having this surgery. I must have it done soon, but with all other treatments, it was not priority and I think I got used to the nagging pain on my side. Like many of us, I am so tired of doctors appts, thus, and after going through the treatments, a little pain is not too bad. Wishing you a speedy recovery and great results in your scan. Pam
  • sissy310
    sissy310 Member Posts: 300
    #12
    patacz said:

    Marlyne, they told me that
    Marlyne, they told me that my GB was working 6% two years ago, and I am still putting off having this surgery. I must have it done soon, but with all other treatments, it was not priority and I think I got used to the nagging pain on my side. Like many of us, I am so tired of doctors appts, thus, and after going through the treatments, a little pain is not too bad. Wishing you a speedy recovery and great results in your scan. Pam

    Hi Pam. I'm sure I probably
    Hi Pam. I'm sure I probably could have gone for longer with the achy pain and discomfort but it appeared to get much worse and I was tired of sleeping with a heating pad on my tummy at night which gave me some comfort. Figured whats the worst that could happen? I'm almost a month out. Can eat anything I want but still have some residual aching and a muscle pain in the area that can hurt like a son of a gun if I try to overdue it, bend too fast or sit for too long. Did not realize how much I used my tummy muscles since the radiation has made my right hip and leg less strong and painful too. I guess it takes longer to jump back from this surgery than I thought it would. I'm not sorry I did it but I am with you...so sick of doctors and doctor appts. Keep me posted and thank you for your thoughts and wishes. Hugs, Marilyne

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