All in my head

What a bugger @Blossom1961, I'm so sorry. Can you work with your GP on this? K xox

Hi K, My GP is the one who found the Herceptin S.E.’s in the Australian Medical Journal. She is fantastic. She only moved into the clinic in February but after one visit I decided she was going to be my regular doctor even though she is only fifteen. Well, maybe a bit older, but not much. I just feel the lack of honesty and transparency with the specialists is off putting. Just ranting. I do that well and it is nice to be able to do something well. LOL

It's very aggravating when a medical practitioner shrugs off side effects but the problem is that some side effects are rate and he/she possibly has no knowledge of them. I had peripheral neuropathy from Taxol, it's not rare and while mine improved while on Herceptin, pn is a cussed customer and variable. Cracked and ridged nails are also common from most chemo regimes. Taxol side effects can take a dismally long time to go away for a minority, and that may lead to  a rather unprofessional nonchalance. An itchy rash and breathlessness deserve to be looked into however. Agree with @kmakm to see if your GP
can help. Best wishes. 

It's a long haul with remnants from earlier treatment lingering.
Counting down to the last treatment gives you something to look forward to
Take care 

I think the thing is that specialists are trained to treat their little piece of the pie, whereas GPs take in the bigger picture. Some specialists are better than others of course. I dislike feeling 'handled' and don't ever feel like that with my GP, but sometimes I do with specialists. I get that you have to be careful delivering bad news, and difficult information in complex scenarios. I also understand that some patients will manifest a side effect from worry alone. It must be challenging to know which patients can handle which information. It would be best to know your patients better I guess. But how can you do that in the sometimes incredibly brief slots you get with the stressed and worried people who come to see you? The best specialists are the intuitive ones who are good with people. Sometimes people skills do not go hand in hand with medical brilliance...

Arrogance is not remotely helpful in these situations and it is most arrogant indeed to dismiss your symptoms without taking note and enquiring, and then trying to alleviate them. You simply can't be the only person in the world who has reacted like this to Herceptin! I wonder if your onc ever researches if anyone else has had them? Do they ever take note? Or so full of their self worth and simply convinced of being right? Hmmm, you could always seek a second opinion...

Hope you feel better soon. K xox

Oh @Blossom1961 your onc needs to learn to google!  

https://www.drugs.com/sfx/herceptin-side-effects.html Didn’t take me long and I note I have the tiredness after treatment so tired today(treatment was yesterday) I’m itchy today, pain in hip and knee (herceptin or armidex who knows) I occasionally have the metallic taste, stuffy nose is me really no surprises 

if your gp is sympathetic use her instead of the onc

It takes probably over 6 months for your nails to recover from chemo...and mine only did after multivitamins were added in my diet...so it's difficult to know if its herceptin or chemo side effects still. (I mean my haur grew back white initially and onky now 2 years on has darkened right down)
Breathlessness is something I had...and was found to have heart side effects. ..shown on the gated blood pool scan. (This can cause a cough also)
Make sure your thyroid is checked...if enlarged it can cause a cough.
I used to get very tired on day of herceptin. The sleep issues is common following chemo so it makes  the picture confusing.

Hi @primek My fingernails were okay when Taxol finished. I was stupidly quite pleased with them. Five months later and on Herceptin and they are getting ridged and splitting lengthwise. Oh well, they are a minor issue. The itchy rash has just developed after the latest herceptin infusion so I am hoping it is fluky and caused by something else, although according to the herceptin manufacturers up to 36% of people get this. Aloe gel seems to be easing it. They have just checked my thyroid and thankfully it is all good. Heart check is at the end of month. Aches are getting worse but still bearable, I just occasionally grimace. Thank you lovelies. Sometimes I just need to offload. xxxxx

You can't always see the effects of the taxol on nails until it grows out. I'm not discounting the herceptin but the combo.
I know of another member who had itchy skin on herceptin and perjeta. Wonder if an anthistamine could help. 

I agree with @Afraser strangely what you describe is exactly the side effects of Taxol @Blossom1961 wondering if it's just taken a little longer to come out? how long since you finished Taxol and went onto Herceptin? I've know alot go onto that but haven't heard of side effects. 

I know with the rash from Taxol absolutely nothing worked, antihistimines, creams zero...only ceasing and letting the body heal. I've been left with neuropathy that impacts walking longer than 30mins, my toes are numb and in excruciating pain. Ah well!