Help with new onset symptoms

[Bailey3266]

Hi:

I got crazy thoughts today and new primary doc appt this Friday as I just moved from Boston to Calif.

My crazy thoughts:

How do you know when Mets have spread to Brain? My last & only Brain scan was negative in 11/2017. I’m 54 yo & on I/F combo since 11/2017!

These are my symptoms:

•extremely forgetful

•I thought I had whats called “retinal flash”; but ,they are as frequent as 2/week when they used to be 2xs/year (never had them before Mets diagnosis);

Just had thorough eye exam and got all clear & he told me they weren’t actually a “retinal flash” as that would mean I had detached retina! Oh that’s a relief—but what is the cause I see bright colorful moving lights(like the lites from a Ferris wheel or carnival at night) with eyes open or closed.

•worst symptom=dizziness-sudden. Was in Bed n Bath and everything was moving and felt like I was gonna hit the floor; went to “Med-stop” vs ER cuz it was rite next door. They said it was vertigo which is fancy name for dizziness. So, this episode was 3rd time in 2 weeks-worsening each time. Happened just now in Target (sending son off to college Monday=>”empty nest”😢.

•I have putting pedal edema about 1-2+

•typically my blood pressure is bit on high side 154/82-ish; @ Med stop it was 100/50; heatrate was 58; O2 Sara were 94; EKG showed bradycardia—with NSR (normal rythym).

•I’m suddenly very light sensitive ; esp right now in Target!

I’m not dehydrated I drink 2 Liters +/day and don’t drink alcohol

•I smoke minimally <5 per day

•labs at Oncologist apt ~6 weeks ago were normal-low...but nothing worrisome.

•no temperature; but one of the episodes I was sweating bullets—like back in my “hot-flash days”

Any thoughts—should I be concerned and ask for brain scan—he’s new Oncologist to me with UCLA; so I trust the name; but I don’t know him well yet—some docs will do a scan of u ask others will blow it off.

My last CT scan showed no radiographic evidence of cancer in July and March of 2017! Not wishing this on me I just don’t feel right—maybe it’s separate cardiac issue but Med-stop kinda ruled that out-oh yeah my blood sugar was 92!

Thx for any input!

[MacroMom]

My first thought after reading your post....if I had just moved across the country with all that a move and adjusting to a new city entails....AND was dealing with all it means to send a child off to college for the first time.....AND had been on I/F combo since 2017....I'm sure I'd be showing lots of signs of stress too! Rather than ask for a brain scan, perhaps you can let your new oncologist know what's going on, both physical symptoms and all the emotional changes you are experiencing, including the fear of brain mets. Based on your most recent scans and blood work, he/she should know if a brain scan is appropriate. I'm sure some sisters here who are also on I/F have wisdom about your side effects too and possible connections. Meanwhile, are there things you can do to slow down a little more in the coming days? Please keep us posted - wishing you a happy new home and a caring, capable oncologist!

[Barbteeth]

Poor you...vertigo is the worst...I know from past experience

You mention flashing lights...are you sure that’s not migraine symptoms?... if you’re not a sufferer then it can be quite alarming if you’ve never experienced it before...it’s called an aura and usually lasts for about 30 mins to an hour followed by a headache

Hope all works out well for you...this disease is certainly difficult to cope with

I’m at the moment ready to go to the races all poshed up with frock fascinator etc and all I want to do is hide away and cry but I’ve forced myself to put a brave face on so I’m not letting people down...it’s my son in laws 40th birthday

Barb xx

[Red71 in reply to Barbteeth]

Please post a picture of you in your frock and fascinator. We don’t get to get that posh over here in the states!

[Barbteeth in reply to Red71]

Didn’t have a photo taken...wasn’t in the mood!!!

Think have a UTI and going to see GP this morning

Barb xx

[BangorBelle56 in reply to Barbteeth]

Oh dear! Now that is all you need x

[mariootsi in reply to Barbteeth]

Hope you feel better. UTI's are such a pain.

[Barbteeth in reply to mariootsi]

I now have some antibiotics...so annoying as I was so looking forward to the day at the races...shouldn’t have gone as wasn’t even interested in watching the horses in the parade ring which is normally my favourite place to be...beautiful thoroughbreds...never mind can’t be helped but sometimes I think somebody ‘up there’ has pushed the wrong button!! I just don’t deserve this on top of everything else

Feeling sorry for me!

Barb xx

[mariootsi in reply to Barbteeth]

I'm so sorry you are going through all this.

[Red71 in reply to Barbteeth]

I’m so sorry. It’s disheartening when you don’t feel good enough to do the things that would normally cheer you up. I hope the antibiotics kick in and make you feel better. Elaine

[mudakurag]

Sometimes the flashes that you are experiencing are caused by anemia. The dizziness and some of the other symptoms can also be caused by mieners disease(sp?)

an inner ear thing that is relatively common. Google it for more information

[hopenowandtomorrow]

I had all your symptoms after a chiropractor adjusted my neck. It gave me vertigo because it loosened something based in a gel-like part of my inner ear. It was vertigo. I was nauseous, couldn’t stand up, headaches , sensitive to light, etc. a number of things can cause this. I would get check for it. I was on bed rest for 3 days & on drugs then it went back to normal.

One test is to follow an object/finger as it moves from left to right without turning your head. If your eyeballs seem to shake while you do it, you have vertigo. You need someone else to watch your eyeball movement while you follow the finger. This was unrelated to my cancer. I hope it helps. ❤️🙏❤️

[Bailey3266]

Thank you all; it helps me a lot to know I’m not hypochondriacs; actually hate going to docs; but I’ll have a place to start at my Friday visit with my new primary. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

-@Barb; hang in there; nice of you not to want to disappoint; but there may come a time wen u our self-preservation ahead of others needs—or not (LOL—I don’t seem to be able to ; maybe after empty nest!)😍

[Selmac]

Hi, I totally agree with the responses. I have meniere's disease. It can strike at any time. When I lay down on my side at bedtime the room spins. After 15 seconds or so, it stops. The flashing lights you talked about can actually be stress related as a friend of mine when through that. You have reason to be stressed. I'm not trying to diagnose your problem. I just wanted to share my experience.

[Hidden]

Hi there.

I agree with all comments above. You have been through a very stressful time recently.

My thought process, is that if symptoms are variable, and come and go, then I don’t worry about them.

Thinking of you and hoping your Friday appointment reassures you

🙂 Clare

[LisaT23]

Hi,

I was on Ibrance faslodex and xgeva for 16 months. You mentioned a drop in blood pressure. I usually run about 134/85 but would drop to 100/60 if I stood up to fast. It would make me very dizzy and I almost passed out several times times (Orthostatic-hypotension even though I usually have hypertension.) Onc said it was due to dehydration even though I drink water like crazy. Ibrance can do that. It did not happen so much if I took my time going from lying/sitting to standing. But shopping with bending down to look at things could do it too. Worst cases would cause a crazy sweat too. was told to "take it slow" lol. And to drink more water LOL and also something with electrolytes.

Lisa

[mariootsi]

Sounds like you are under alot of stress! The move and our normal mbc stress is adding up! Try to relax as you get settled in and let your onc know about your symptoms.

[hdhonda]

My son has vertigo. He was driving when he had the first episode. He said it felt like he was spinning rapidly on a ferris wheel. He pulled over but felt to dizzy to drive and called a taxis to take him to ER. He still has episodes with it. Most people don't keep having a problem with it. Blessings, Hannah

[Tam-56]

Bailey,

I had similar symptoms before I began meds for MBC ... light flashes, floaters, right ear blocked, vertigo, sinus discomfort ugh it was awful! Frequent visits to GP and Eye doc before all symptoms resolved but took almost two months. They never really gave me a diagnosis. It may have been related to a sinus infection.

Maybe your symptoms could be the stress from moving to CA that has lowered your resistance? I hope you feel better soon. ❤️