Well I ended up at the ER last night because I developed pitting edema in my ankles and the oncologist was afraid of a blood clot which can be caused by the chemo. After doing an ultrasound they found no clot and sent me home.
Saw oncologist after radiation this morning and he gave me a diuretic and potassium to reduce the edema. Talked to my general practitioner and he was concerned that oncologist didn't send me for cardiac workup since I have no preexisting conditions which would cause this edema. He believes that this is chemo induced congestive heart failure and if has not gone back to normal by the time I finish my radiation tomorrow, I have to go to his office so he can take a look and then is putting me in the hospital for a cardiac workup for two days. He is afraid if we don't address it, I will end up in full blown CHF. Not good because this then throws up in the air what will be done about the next course of chemo. Will I be able to get it? If not, that will drastically affect my treatment outcome so I'm quite scared at the moment.
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Thank you Diane. I'm not doing much research these days. What the doctors may prescribe and some of what they already have are known drugs to me so I'm just taking them. I had an echocardiogram on Wednesday and thankfully it was normal. Saw the oncologist, and although I still have edema, he feels that since it is being "controlled" by the meds that we will just "watch it" to make sure it doesn't progress.
In my experience, and again with my current medical issues, social workers do little more than provide lists of telephone numbers for you to call. These places for the most part just give you still more phone numbers. It is exasperating to have to make all these calls and repeat my situation over and over again only to be told they can't help me
I'm a single mom with only my son and daughter. My daugher lives with me, she's 17 and my son lives 5 hours away. That is the extent of my immediate support system. As I mentioned to my doctor the other day, you have to be rich to have cancer. One visit to the oncologist the other day and 4 prescriptions came to $110 bucks, totally unexpected.
I was shocked to find out that many foundations set up to assist cancer patients will not provide assistance for a diagnosis of anal cancer. Colorectal cancer sure, but anal cancer no. That was a new one. Other organizations whom I've contacted when this all began last October only help once within a 12 month time period so they cannot assist me until later in the year which leaves me in quite a predicament.
As mentioned to Michelle when she asked how you all could help, I asked if you ladies would go to the link on my profile page and then to the link on the homepage in a big red box on the left. If you could take the time to read and reply as you see fit that would be wonderful. I'm exhausted from both the effects of chemo and radiation and cannot get the rest I really need spending all my time between treatments on the phone or traveling to agencies for help. It is a difficult enough time dealing with life and death, but to have these other issues on top of it all is quite overwhelming.
Thanks. Bonnie
August 6, 2009 - 4:36pmThis Comment
Bonnie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to update us. Especially when so much is going on, and it's so scary.
Can we help with specifics on the possibilities? Do you need information on drugs used to treat CHF, for instance? I know you are a nurse, so you have access to good information and you understand it well. But right now you might be too busy for that kind of research. Just let us know how we can help.
August 4, 2009 - 9:27amThis Comment