really short of breath and update

crazylady
crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,
I hope you're all doing well.

I am having a problem with being really short of breath, even after walking only a few steps. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

I have been off chemo, camptosar, xeloda and avastin, for about 3 weeks due to nasty side effects that landed me in the hospital for a few days. I had no problem with shortness of breath until about 2 days ago. My onc doesn't know what to think. My lungs are clear. I've recently had heart scans that were fine. I am not anemic. The only thing he could come up with is that my blood pressure was high so he increased my medication and that we had a lot of smoke from fires a couple of weeks ago. I would think if the fires were the problem I would have reacted when it was really smokey.


My latest scans showed that the 2 spots in my left lung had shrunk, but I am now apparently out of chemo options due to the side effects that I was experiencing so I will be going for a second opinion on Nov. 6. My onc insisted on this before any decisions are made. I had gone back to graduate school this semester and have had to go out on medical leave due to missing too much and being behind. I have decided that school just isn't going to happen for me and I have to come up with a new plan. I am really sad about not being able to finish
school and really down about my apparent lack of options for treatment.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Take care,
Jamie

Comments

  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    Hi Jamie
    DAMN Jamie,

    This just stinks but it doesn't sound like your breathing issues are due to your lungs. I'm wondering if maybe your red blood cells are so whipped out that the oxygen is having a tough time getting to your cells. Maybe it's time to build those bad boys up. I'll have to check up on how to do that for you. You may want to talk to your doc too.

    FYI, I'll follow your message about email too since I have no clue either!!!

    Feel free to send me a personal email too, my old laptop crashed back in the spring and I lost so many email addresses.

    Love,
    your good friend Lisa P.
  • chynabear
    chynabear Member Posts: 481 Member
    Allergies?
    I'm not sure if this will even help you, but it's at least another suggestion in the pot...

    I have occasional asthma... I don't even know what the actual medical term is... What it comes down to is that things I am severly allergic to, such as cats, will trigger an asthma attack where I am very short on breath and my chest feels like it is shrunk and I can't get enough breath. I have an inhaler that I use maybe once a year for times when I have difficulty breathing and this usually does the trick. Years when I seem to have more pollens that I have trouble with may cause me to be on one or several medications in addition to.

    I'm hoping this is diagnosed for you soon.

    Could it also be an illness?

    I'm sorry you have had to give up school at the moment. I'm praying you find more options in your second opinion.

    *HUGS*

    Tricia
  • tlsart
    tlsart Member Posts: 33
    short of breath
    Sorry to hear school has had to be postponed I was hoping that would all work out for you. Don't give up on it just consider it another bump in the road. As for the breathing issue make sure you don't have a blood clot in your lungs I was vary short of breath and thats what it turned out to be in my case. Resolved now by constant Coumadin therapy.
    I would like to know what your problems were with the regimine you were on with the Camptosar.
    I just finsihed my 2nd treatment with it and don't really want anymore call me a wimp if you want to. I spent 2 days before treatment in prayer asking for the courage and strength. My side effects were the same hot flashes that last the whole 1 1/2 hours during infusion and feeling like you have a weight on your chest and wanting to vomit the whole time.
    I had a lot of side effects to Oxiplattin in my fist 16 treatments but nothing like this. Thanks for any help. You have my prayers!!! Theresa
  • ldot123
    ldot123 Member Posts: 272
    tlsart said:

    short of breath
    Sorry to hear school has had to be postponed I was hoping that would all work out for you. Don't give up on it just consider it another bump in the road. As for the breathing issue make sure you don't have a blood clot in your lungs I was vary short of breath and thats what it turned out to be in my case. Resolved now by constant Coumadin therapy.
    I would like to know what your problems were with the regimine you were on with the Camptosar.
    I just finsihed my 2nd treatment with it and don't really want anymore call me a wimp if you want to. I spent 2 days before treatment in prayer asking for the courage and strength. My side effects were the same hot flashes that last the whole 1 1/2 hours during infusion and feeling like you have a weight on your chest and wanting to vomit the whole time.
    I had a lot of side effects to Oxiplattin in my fist 16 treatments but nothing like this. Thanks for any help. You have my prayers!!! Theresa

    5Fu
    Hi there,

    Very sorry to hear about your problems. I had shortness of breath during chemo. I also have allergies which compounded things. I ended up using a puffer and that seemed to help. Ask your doc about that.

    My thoughts are with you.

    Lance
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    ldot123 said:

    5Fu
    Hi there,

    Very sorry to hear about your problems. I had shortness of breath during chemo. I also have allergies which compounded things. I ended up using a puffer and that seemed to help. Ask your doc about that.

    My thoughts are with you.

    Lance

    Epi Pen
    Had a lady get real short of breath during a treatment. Benedryl and an Epi Pen stick took care of it. She had an allergic reaction to the treatment and her windpipe was closing down. It was scary but the Epi Pen did the trick and fast also....Just another thought.....Good Luck and God Bless
  • changing2
    changing2 Member Posts: 118
    CTA?
    Just a thought! I was taking Avastin and complained of shortness of breath at times and MD didn't know what to think as PET/CT didn't show anything (think I had a chest x-ray too). Finally a new doctor ordered a CTA of the chest and it showed blood clots to the lung. I went on Heparin in the hospital and now I take coumadin for at least 6 months. MD said it was strange that all of the clots were only in the right lung (none in left). They thought it was related to the Avastin so it was stopped. I wonder if it was related to my port on the right side as it's been a problem for 2 years....you can't get a blood return from it! I know you're no longer on Avastin but maybe, just maybe they should do a CTA of the chest if it hasn't been done. You're in my thoughts ad prayers!
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    It may be allergies...
    Fall is allergen season...(obviously, bad spelling season, too..lol). I've also had troubles with breathing, although minor compared to yours. One of the perks of living in So California.

    If all else checks out (I like the suggestion of the CT to the chest), try what I do to relieve it....sit in the bathroom, door closed, with the shower on. Or stand in the shower, for that matter...but that elevates body temp. Breathe deeply. I do this at the first sign of chest tightness...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    KathiM said:

    It may be allergies...
    Fall is allergen season...(obviously, bad spelling season, too..lol). I've also had troubles with breathing, although minor compared to yours. One of the perks of living in So California.

    If all else checks out (I like the suggestion of the CT to the chest), try what I do to relieve it....sit in the bathroom, door closed, with the shower on. Or stand in the shower, for that matter...but that elevates body temp. Breathe deeply. I do this at the first sign of chest tightness...

    Hugs, Kathi

    moisture
    I like to just boil a pot on the stove and stand above the steam; this also helps when my sinuses get so dry and painful/bleeding during chemo.
    Mary
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    Support!
    Hi Jamie,

    I am so sorry to read of your latest medical issues. I hope that today finds breathing much easier for you. Hopefully, your second opinion visit on the 6th of November will prove to be informative and will give you more options. I know how important graduate school was to you, and I am so sorry you have had to stop.

    Thanks for sharing with us. I hope your new plan will bring you comfort.

    Hugs,

    Kay
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    chynabear said:

    Allergies?
    I'm not sure if this will even help you, but it's at least another suggestion in the pot...

    I have occasional asthma... I don't even know what the actual medical term is... What it comes down to is that things I am severly allergic to, such as cats, will trigger an asthma attack where I am very short on breath and my chest feels like it is shrunk and I can't get enough breath. I have an inhaler that I use maybe once a year for times when I have difficulty breathing and this usually does the trick. Years when I seem to have more pollens that I have trouble with may cause me to be on one or several medications in addition to.

    I'm hoping this is diagnosed for you soon.

    Could it also be an illness?

    I'm sorry you have had to give up school at the moment. I'm praying you find more options in your second opinion.

    *HUGS*

    Tricia

    allergies
    Hi Tricia,

    Thanks for your reply. I do have allergies and have wondered about asthma. I will run it by my doctor. I don't think it's an illness. I just finished antibiotics for a sinus and ear infection.

    Jamie
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    tlsart said:

    short of breath
    Sorry to hear school has had to be postponed I was hoping that would all work out for you. Don't give up on it just consider it another bump in the road. As for the breathing issue make sure you don't have a blood clot in your lungs I was vary short of breath and thats what it turned out to be in my case. Resolved now by constant Coumadin therapy.
    I would like to know what your problems were with the regimine you were on with the Camptosar.
    I just finsihed my 2nd treatment with it and don't really want anymore call me a wimp if you want to. I spent 2 days before treatment in prayer asking for the courage and strength. My side effects were the same hot flashes that last the whole 1 1/2 hours during infusion and feeling like you have a weight on your chest and wanting to vomit the whole time.
    I had a lot of side effects to Oxiplattin in my fist 16 treatments but nothing like this. Thanks for any help. You have my prayers!!! Theresa

    chemo side effects
    Hi Theresa,

    Thank You for your reply. I was on these chemo drugs for 6 months and had the ususl side effects, though not quite as bad as what you describe. I had a 3 month break on avastin only and went back on the same drugs. It was different from the beginning. I was extremely(sp)weak, nauseated, dizzy and had horrible stomach cramps. I did 3 sessions and it got worse each time. It got to the point where I wasn't eating or drinking, got dehydrated, and almost passed out a couple of times. That's when I was hospitalized and several tests were run.

    Chemo is really difficult. This was my 5th round and although I had side effects I never experienced anything like this. I hope that you never do!

    Jamie
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    changing2 said:

    CTA?
    Just a thought! I was taking Avastin and complained of shortness of breath at times and MD didn't know what to think as PET/CT didn't show anything (think I had a chest x-ray too). Finally a new doctor ordered a CTA of the chest and it showed blood clots to the lung. I went on Heparin in the hospital and now I take coumadin for at least 6 months. MD said it was strange that all of the clots were only in the right lung (none in left). They thought it was related to the Avastin so it was stopped. I wonder if it was related to my port on the right side as it's been a problem for 2 years....you can't get a blood return from it! I know you're no longer on Avastin but maybe, just maybe they should do a CTA of the chest if it hasn't been done. You're in my thoughts ad prayers!

    blood clots
    Hi,

    Thank You for your reply. I actually had a full body pet/ct scan last Friday. No blood clots showed up at that time so I don't think that's the problem, but thanks for the suggestion.

    Jamie
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    KathiM said:

    It may be allergies...
    Fall is allergen season...(obviously, bad spelling season, too..lol). I've also had troubles with breathing, although minor compared to yours. One of the perks of living in So California.

    If all else checks out (I like the suggestion of the CT to the chest), try what I do to relieve it....sit in the bathroom, door closed, with the shower on. Or stand in the shower, for that matter...but that elevates body temp. Breathe deeply. I do this at the first sign of chest tightness...

    Hugs, Kathi

    allergies
    Hi Kathi,

    Thanks for the suggestions. I do have allergies and I do live in So. California. Allergy season this year seems to be worse than ususal. Also, we had horrible air quality a few weeks ago due to the fires. I will try steaming myself. I also plan to see an allergist. I haven't been to one in years.

    Jamie
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    msccolon said:

    moisture
    I like to just boil a pot on the stove and stand above the steam; this also helps when my sinuses get so dry and painful/bleeding during chemo.
    Mary

    Thank You
    Hi Mary,

    Thanks for the suggestion.

    Jamie
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    Kanort said:

    Support!
    Hi Jamie,

    I am so sorry to read of your latest medical issues. I hope that today finds breathing much easier for you. Hopefully, your second opinion visit on the 6th of November will prove to be informative and will give you more options. I know how important graduate school was to you, and I am so sorry you have had to stop.

    Thanks for sharing with us. I hope your new plan will bring you comfort.

    Hugs,

    Kay

    Thanks for the support
    Hi Kay,

    Thank You so much for the support. I really appreciate it!

    Jamie
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    Buzzard said:

    Epi Pen
    Had a lady get real short of breath during a treatment. Benedryl and an Epi Pen stick took care of it. She had an allergic reaction to the treatment and her windpipe was closing down. It was scary but the Epi Pen did the trick and fast also....Just another thought.....Good Luck and God Bless

    epi pen
    Hi,

    Thanks for the thought!

    Jamie
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    ldot123 said:

    5Fu
    Hi there,

    Very sorry to hear about your problems. I had shortness of breath during chemo. I also have allergies which compounded things. I ended up using a puffer and that seemed to help. Ask your doc about that.

    My thoughts are with you.

    Lance

    shortness of breath
    Hi Lance,

    Thanks for the idea. I will check into it.

    Jamie
  • changing2
    changing2 Member Posts: 118
    CTA
    Hope you do look into allergy issue:) However, just to clarify, it's my understanding that a PET/CT does not take the place a of CTA scan....for blood clots in the long. Maybe someoneelse could clarify this to be sure.....my blood clots in the lung DIDN'T show on PET/CT.
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    changing2 said:

    CTA
    Hope you do look into allergy issue:) However, just to clarify, it's my understanding that a PET/CT does not take the place a of CTA scan....for blood clots in the long. Maybe someoneelse could clarify this to be sure.....my blood clots in the lung DIDN'T show on PET/CT.

    CTA scan
    I will ask my doctor about a CTA scan. Thank You for the information.

    Jamie