Mood Swings

Flyfisherman
Flyfisherman Member Posts: 23
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Surgery in April, finished 6 chemos and 30 radiation treatments roughly 7 months ago.  Surgeon last week said that he feels confident that my SCC will not return.  So why do I have the mood swings that I have?  I can go from happy to melancholy very quickly.  Never had a problem with this before.

Is it unusual?

Comments

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #2
    You've just been through

    a very traumatic experience! I don't think it is uncommon. My husband is 6 months post tx and has them also to some degree. He meets with a psychologist every 2-3 weeks to go over issues that are worrisome and we talk a lot also. You might consider it, and I would mention it to the doc who is following you. Also..are you weaning off any pain meds? Decreasing and coming off meds can greatly affect your mood. Remember that someone is always here for the tough times, so feel free to vent, complain, question and yes, celebrate too. All emotions accepted here. Good luck Fly!

    Barbara

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 617 Member
    #3
    Mood Swings

    Mood swings are also a symptom of a failing thyroid which is a common side effect of radiation. Mine started to fail at about one year after treatment ended. You might want to get checked. 

  • tomb247
    tomb247 Member Posts: 54
    #4
    Mood Swings

    I think MrsBD may have a valid point here. I am experiencing some of the same things. I am a very upbeat person usually but have noticed a general lack of enthusiasm in the last few months. I know I still battle fatigue almost daily. My work is somewhat physically demanding and some days I am just wiped out, but the Thyroid may also be playing a part.  I saw my ENT a couple of weeks ago and he did mention that he wanted to get my Thyroid levels checked out about a year out from treatment which is a month and a day away. 

    Once they are checked, I am hoping to be able to get back to my old self or at least closer.

     

    (MrsBD - What treatment if any did the point you towards)?

     

    Good luck to you and prayers your way.

    Tom

  • lifeisDHA
    lifeisDHA Member Posts: 64
    #5
    I also wonder if anyone has good suggestions.

    my boyfriend has this very often. He feel he is chronicly depressed... I don't know how to cheer him up.

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 617 Member
    #6
    tomb247 said:

    Mood Swings

    I think MrsBD may have a valid point here. I am experiencing some of the same things. I am a very upbeat person usually but have noticed a general lack of enthusiasm in the last few months. I know I still battle fatigue almost daily. My work is somewhat physically demanding and some days I am just wiped out, but the Thyroid may also be playing a part.  I saw my ENT a couple of weeks ago and he did mention that he wanted to get my Thyroid levels checked out about a year out from treatment which is a month and a day away. 

    Once they are checked, I am hoping to be able to get back to my old self or at least closer.

     

    (MrsBD - What treatment if any did the point you towards)?

     

    Good luck to you and prayers your way.

    Tom

    Thyroid

    Treatment for a sluggish thyroid is a piece of cake compared to everything else we've been through. It's just a tiny pill to take every morning. They start you out with a particular dose and tweak it until your numbers are in the normal range. I started feeling the brain fog lifting after only 4 days. Other symptoms improved over the next couple of weeks. I hope that is your problem since it's easily remedied. See if you can get it checked sooner since the symptoms will only get worse with time. Thank you for the good wishes. I'm sitting in a quiet, dark room, wrapped in warm blankets right now. Yep, getting another PET scan in a few minutes.

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #7
    Sorry to hear this.....

    It can be common to get some mood swings as this is tramatic and not easy to go through. I would suggest you get a full blood work up, checking Thyroid which can be the cause and also have Vitamin "D" checked. Both can cause lots of problems and are not checked in a routine blood work up.

    Bill

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #8
    lifeisDHA said:

    I also wonder if anyone has good suggestions.

    my boyfriend has this very often. He feel he is chronicly depressed... I don't know how to cheer him up.

    That is a good start

    If he feels he is that is a good start as he see's it. Many get PTSD and or Anxiety. Anxiety can set off a panic attact and then adrenaline kicks in and you're in for the ride untill you can controll it. Heart rate goes way up and breathing rappid. 

    He needs to talk with his PCP about this and even concider counselling if he think he is depressed, or if he can just talk to someone what is on his mind can help. The thought of having a recurrence is on everyone's mind I think, so in a way that is normal for this as long as you control it and it doesn't control you.

    Bill

  • Flyfisherman
    Flyfisherman Member Posts: 23
    #9
    Barbaraek said:

    You've just been through

    a very traumatic experience! I don't think it is uncommon. My husband is 6 months post tx and has them also to some degree. He meets with a psychologist every 2-3 weeks to go over issues that are worrisome and we talk a lot also. You might consider it, and I would mention it to the doc who is following you. Also..are you weaning off any pain meds? Decreasing and coming off meds can greatly affect your mood. Remember that someone is always here for the tough times, so feel free to vent, complain, question and yes, celebrate too. All emotions accepted here. Good luck Fly!

    Barbara

    Barbara,  thank you for your

    Barbara,  thank you for your reply.  I have been off of pain meds completely since about September.  Frankly, they scare me and if I don't need them, I don't want them.  I haven't seen a psycologist.  It's something to consider.  I appreciate the support that everyone shares on this board.  Sometimes, just reading what other people are going through is therapy and helps one appreciate where they are in this process!

  • Flyfisherman
    Flyfisherman Member Posts: 23
    #10
    MrsBD said:

    Mood Swings

    Mood swings are also a symptom of a failing thyroid which is a common side effect of radiation. Mine started to fail at about one year after treatment ended. You might want to get checked. 

    Thank you, MrsBD!  They are

    Thank you, MrsBD!  They are keeping an eye on mine.  My next big round of tests, scans etc is in July.  One year out from finishing the chemo and radiation.  So far, all my tests have come back in line.  Hopefully, they'll continue to be that way!  Hope you are doing well in your recovery!

  • Flyfisherman
    Flyfisherman Member Posts: 23
    #11
    tomb247 said:

    Mood Swings

    I think MrsBD may have a valid point here. I am experiencing some of the same things. I am a very upbeat person usually but have noticed a general lack of enthusiasm in the last few months. I know I still battle fatigue almost daily. My work is somewhat physically demanding and some days I am just wiped out, but the Thyroid may also be playing a part.  I saw my ENT a couple of weeks ago and he did mention that he wanted to get my Thyroid levels checked out about a year out from treatment which is a month and a day away. 

    Once they are checked, I am hoping to be able to get back to my old self or at least closer.

     

    (MrsBD - What treatment if any did the point you towards)?

     

    Good luck to you and prayers your way.

    Tom

    Thanks, Tom!  I will be a

    Thanks, Tom!  I will be a year out from surgery in April and a year out of chemo and radiaton in July.  That's when the next major round of tests and scans is scheduled for.  Hopefully, they will all come back good!

     

    I hope that your recovery continues to go well and you find your strength and stamina!  I have just joined the YMCA because I have got to get some muscle tone back.  I'm probably going to go through with the Livestrong program for cancer survivors as well as just a light weight lifting program.  Also, I love to fish so I plan to carry out some of my recooperation on the creek soon.  May be a lot of sitting, but at least I'll be outdoors.

    Thanks for your support!

  • Flyfisherman
    Flyfisherman Member Posts: 23
    #12
    wmc said:

    Sorry to hear this.....

    It can be common to get some mood swings as this is tramatic and not easy to go through. I would suggest you get a full blood work up, checking Thyroid which can be the cause and also have Vitamin "D" checked. Both can cause lots of problems and are not checked in a routine blood work up.

    Bill

    Thanks, Bill!  My next major

    Thanks, Bill!  My next major round of scans and tests will be in July.  This will put me one year out of chemo and radiation.  My partial neck disection surgery was done in April, so I am getting close to a year on that!  I know that thyroid level is something that they have been keeping up with and so far, it has been good.  I do understand that sometimes it can go haywire many months past the completion of radiation...Hopefully, it will still be good. 

    I may need to check into vitimin D.  I am still having eating and swallowing problems both from the surgery and radiation.  I basically have no salivation glands and continually have dry mouth which makes eating and swallowing difficult.   I have had to learn how and what to eat again.  I am also up several times a night as well due to this.  I haven't slept a full night since before chemo and radiation...

    All that being said, I know that I am fortunate and many others would love to have the life I do.  It's a small price to pay to see my kids grow up!

     

    Bill, I appreciate your support and and the support and understanding of everyone on this page.  It means a lot to me.

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