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Sue_Townsend's avatar
Sue_Townsend
Member
13 years ago

Sue

I am only new to this, so please bear with me.  I was first diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer in February 2012.  I had a 2cm tumor, for which I underwent a lumpectomy.  It all started on the day of my operation when I was sent off for the usual imaging etc of the area and a hook wire insertion.  And thats where it all went wrong!  The radioligist said it would be like having the biopsy and should be over in about 20 minutes.  After 2 1/2 hours of excruciating pain, 9 lots of needles, and telling him I couldn't breathe, he managed to puncture my lung (to which I was oblivious)  I knew something was wrong, but just thought it was the pain from the hook wire.  He covered it up on his report and I underwent the lumpectomy with a punctured lung!  I woke to not being able to breathe etc, and a surgeon who was so worried about me and sent me straight to another hospital that had an intensive care unit.  I was transfered by ambulance.  From there it just got worse.  It went from bad enough, having just found out I had breast cancer and having the tumor removed, to now in another hospital with a tube in my chest to reinflate my lung.  That didn't work after 3 days, so then I had lung surgery.  If I thought everything else I had was painful, then this was out of this world as far as pain goes!   Not to mention what it put all my family and husband through.  I was out of hospital after 8 days and very uncomfortable for quite a while at home.  But while I was in hospital, the pathology came back on my breast cancer to say that there was a futher 5.5 cm of tumor in the milk duct and I would need a mastectomy.  So after all this, it has meant that my treatment has been back to front.  They couldn't do a major surgery after everything that had happened, so went on to have my chemo for the next 6 months.  Half way through my weekly treatments I started to have bone and joint pain.  And it has continued.  I don't think it is getting any better.  I had my mastectomy 9 weeks ago and also a reconstruction.  Which I am only half way through, because I wanted to have the tram flap version, but it was just too risky for me, yet again. (problem patient, I now am).  So my problem is I am trying to lose weight, I gained about 13 kgs.  I am on Arimidex and my joint pain etc is just not going away.  I am at my wits end.  I am trying to excercise, which I do 1km, 1/2 an hour it takes me, but it is not making any impact on my pain, my weight or anything that it should.  It is a real effort to do that much.  Do others have these same effects from the drugs and is it worth being on these drugs.  I have just been so emotional and hard to get along with, I think everyone will bail on me soon!  It is just not what I am like, nor do I want to be this way.  I feel if I could just lose some weight I might feel lighter, therfore easier on my joints and easier to get around.  I have been going to weight watchers, tracking everything, and I am the only one there with a consistent weight gain every week, haha.  When will it all get better.  I just want to be normal again.  Just wondering if other ladies have felt the same way, as I feel like I'm fast turning into a whinger.  Which I don't want to happen.  It impacts on everyone around me.

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  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    13 years ago

    Welcome to this network where you can vent and not be judged.You have had a terrible time of it (more than you bargained for) and you need to debrief and time to get over it.Don't blame yourself about the weight because I've known the thinnest people complain about joint pain on Arimadex.Is it possible to try another med?I'm on Tamoxifen and that's not too bad apart from hot flushes. I read somewhere that when your eostrogen drops right down it causes an enzyme (can't remember it's name) that makes you accummulate fat,increase. No wonder it's hard to lose weight.It's also hard to exercise when you have joint pains and hot flushes.Just do what you can do.

    I've had 2 bouts of breast cancer(7 yearsapart in the same breast) and inbetween them I broke my ankle. I had a specialist operate on me who put the wrong screw in and I had 5 months of agony and on crutches.When he realized his mistake he quickly put me in for more surgery(no apology) to remove the plate and screws.Well he stuffed up again and left a screw floating in a muscle.I endured another 9mths of pain and hobbling about until a ct scan showed the problem.Needless to say,I didn't go back to him and I successfully won my claim of medical negligence.It wasn't much but I sent him a clear message and got some closure on 18mths of suffering. At the very least,you deserve an apology from that radiologist.

    With each bout of bc it took me about 2 years to feel confident in my health again and feel somewhat normal(that's if you ever do).It's only been a year for you and you went through alot -be patient,be kind to yourself.Would water exercise be better on your joints?Have a holiday from wwatchers if you are cringing about getting on their scales.I'm sure you are loved for who you are.We are too hard on ourselves.I'm just gradually chipping away at the extra 6 klios I put on -mostly through diet but am not fanatical.

    Blog back here again for support or to vent - we all understand.

                                               Tonya xx