Doppler test

Up early in NY today. My onco called me yesterday and I have to go to breast cancer and be there by 9 am to have an Doppler test on my legs which she explained is like an ultrasound. She wants to make sure there is no blood clot there. Then I have to walk around block and spend my regular appt. at the cancer center. Not used to eating up when still dark. But I read that they get the results right away so by the way I go to cancer center and see my onco, she will have them. I just want it to go away. I think its poor circulation also. Below freezing here in NY today. Hopefully I will get some meds to make it go away.

[nstonerocks]

Good luck today. It’s cold here but not windy. 💕

[Hidden in reply to nstonerocks]

You know how they say it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity? That’s how I feel about the wind when it’s cold. I attended a party in Boston last night and it was cold and clear with no wind. The air was so clean and with a good coat and all the pretty Christmas lights, it was nice waking around. It’s those damp raw gray days — even if it’s 50 — that are tough for me. Today is sunny and clear here so I hope you have sunshine there too.

[Bailey3266 in reply to Hidden]

I’m in Boston too for 3 weeks visiting my “hometown” for holidays from Calif. OMGoodness it was cold here early last week—supposed to be 50 today with no wind & sunny—that’s a beautiful day here (more like Spring or Fall); anyways—I’ll take it. I definitely would love to see some snow before we head to our new home 1/5/2020! First nite (NYEve is typically freezing out & we have plans for a nice dinner in EastBiston with champagne toast and firework bungeeing from”Rooftop” at mid nite! Wow I oray for 50 degrees that night; but they’ll also have warm drinks available. Hope all are well & you can enjoy this holiday season to the utmost despite our current situations!🎊🎉🎊🎉😍

[Hidden in reply to Bailey3266]

Yes, early last week was “wicked” cold as we say around here! Once the wind died down, it was manageable. Supposed to be 56 and sunny later today so I plan a nice long hike in nearby conservation area. Good walking trails and two small, pretty ponds. Very Currier & Ives. Enjoy your hometown visit.

[Hidden]

Good morning! I'm so glad you're having it looked at and dealt with! Please let us know how it goes...

[Andersl]

Its really good that theyre doing a doppler ultrasound. If you have poor circulation in your leg that will pinpoint where it is and then they can decide what to do.

Xx

[Hidden in reply to Andersl]

All I was told after the Doppler ultrasound, is that I have no clots in my leg. They did not tell me what it was or what to do. I guess my onco just wanted to be sure I had no blood clots there and the other doctor in the medical center said all I was asked was to check if there were any blood clots and there were not. My onco told me to go to my primary doctor who is already too scared to treat me for anything (he is almost retired) so all he will do is refer me to a specialist. I do not need referrals. But I bought online from Amazon a elevated pillow to keep my legs about my heart level specifically for people with swollen legs and feet. The other night I just tried to do it myself with four pillows and it made a difference. Expecting the one I ordered to come tomorrow night. I read alot of the reviews and most people said it work fine and made a big difference I am already note one foot is not swollen anymore/.

[Andersl in reply to Hidden]

Im pleased blood clot has been ruled out and also that a pillow to taise your legs is helping. I personally would want to know whats causing ig so would take up the offer of a referral.

Lou xx

[mariootsi]

I hope so too! Bundle up. It's freezing in New England.

[barbarac76]

Have you gotten any answers regarding the swelling in your ankles and legs?

[Hidden]

Hi,

How did it go? Please let us know how you are getting along. Hopefully you have some answers now about what's going on with your legs.

Take care,

Sophie

[Hidden]

I am rather upset. I went to have the doppler test which basically is an ultrasound of the legs and was told there is not clots there. So I asked the doctor what is it, then? He said I don't know....we were just told to check to see if you have any blood clots? So that is what we did. I then had to walk around the corner to the cancer center and my onco (I am really losing my confidence in her) told me to go to my primary doctor. I said he is old, close to retirement and he is scared to treat me. All he will tell me is to go to a specialist. So for myself, instead of laying on couch to watch TV, I am laying in my recliner to have my legs elevated. I believe it is a clotting issue and circulation issue bc I am overweight and have no activity. It is freezing here in NY, plus it hurts when I walk bc of that stupid large scar I have in my groin area. Last night they were burning.

So I am going to have to find a specialist that accepts Medicare/Medicaid. Many of the doctors do not accept Medicare. They will accept Medicaid but not Medicare and even though I now have both Medicare is my primary, and Medicaid is my secondary so I have to go to a doctor that accepts Medicare. I cannot just go to a doctor that accepts Medicaid.

So another xmas I will be alone. I do not want to be at anyone's house and sleeping over (bc I dont drive) with my legs and feet looking so bad. I am more comfortable home.

I am not sure if its better to find a dermatologist or a vein doctor. Whichever one I can find that accepts Medicare. She was useless. I am losing respect and confidence for her.

So kind of down a bit bc I have no answers, although the pain has stopped. Last year I was alone bc of the surgery recovery which was painful and now this year my legs.

At least one friend ordered me four prime rib slices, double baked potatoes and desert from Omaha steaks so I have something special to have for Xmas and another friend sent me a do it yourself small xmas tree with about 9 presents all wrapped up for me to open on Xmas day.

I feel worse this year than last year and I told my onco that. I realize she is an oncologist but was hoping she could give me a referral to someone in the Maimonides "family of doctors", but the last plastic surgeon she recommended that she was friendly with was the one who made a mess of my leg and I had to go to ER three times so maybe I am better off.

What do you think dermatologist or vein doctor? I want the color to go away. Just not feeling it this year. Second year in a row I will be totally alone. None of my friends live in Brooklyn and although invited I am not comfortable sleeping at anyone's house.

Happy Holidays though to you and your family and hopefully we all will have a better year in 2020.!

[hopenowandtomorrow in reply to Hidden]

Hi Kearnan: I’m so sorry you are suffering & getting the run around. Have you considered cellulitis? My sister was overweight & she had that.

Cellulitis is an acute, usually noncontagious, inflammation of the connective tissue of the skin, resulting from bacterial infection and characterized by localized warmth, erythema, pain and tenderness, swelling and reluctance to mobilize the affected area.

Can you go to an urgent care clinic in the city? It’s typically treated with antibiotics. Praying for you ❤️🙏❤️

[Hidden in reply to hopenowandtomorrow]

I am too exhausted. For now, I am going to cut down on the salt, drink more water and more importantly, no more laying on the couch to watch TV. I bought a powered recliner couch yet I never use the recliner part so I read I need to keep my legs elevated above my heart so I am going to start using the recliner. I am so so tired of going to doctors. I will see how that works and then decide if I need a dermatologist to get rid of the large ugly blotch on my leg. I have no idea what it is. I have medicare/medicaid (dual coverage) so have to find one that accepts that. Last year I had horrific painful surgery that took four months and had holes in my leg. I was sure this year holiday would be better. I am just tired of it all.

[barbarac76]

Urgent care sounds like a good idea. If it is cellulitis, they can start you on antibiotics and you can get some much needed relief.

I'm sorry you will be alone on Christmas, but I hope you find comfort in the kind things that your friends are doing. The meal and Christmas tree with presents are so thoughtful.

[Hidden in reply to barbarac76]

I am fine with being home alone. Same thing last year only I was in so much more pain because of the surgery on my upper groin. I need to be home in my own apt. so I can take a bath if I want, take a nap........I will watch Jesus of Nazareth.....one friend sent me four prime ribs slices, twice baked potatoes and desert from Omaha steaks so I am good to go. I find it hard especially now to stay with friends who have people sleep over also. Have a blessed holiday!

[Hidden in reply to barbarac76]

I am telling you I had such a hard time trying to find a dentist until I had my onco write a letter and let them call her. Doctors will NOT want to give me anything or even treat me (( have found this before once I have to fill out the forms and they see cancer checked.) And I want a new onco but that is going to be too hard. She is, as my friend who had her, left her and went to Sloan Kettering) that she is flaky. I cannot go to SK even though I live in NY, because the NY location does not take medicare/medicaid patients.

[Hidden]

Thanks...I do not need a referral here in US. I do have to find centers or doctors that will take medicare/medicaid. I just had no idea if I should go to a vein center I found online or a dermatologist. I will look for a cardiovascular specialist. I am going to order an elevated pillows for my feet. I read the blood pools at the lower limb with no activity. So I am going to order one of those. I Did find a center (Have to remember the name, I wrote it down somewhere) where it is a vein center but I do not want surgery. Any other things I can do at home in the meantime? (I dont know what you mean by pedal pulses???) Well, its freezing here in NY to go for a walk. Right now, I can only get my feet into open back mule shoes and even that is a tight fit. I need to deal with this now, more than the cancer, because I can visibly see it and that makes me more upset than the cancer that I cannot see.

[Bailey3266]

Yes I agree (as a retired nurse) with Sandra—try pillows under your legs Whilst elevating them as most recliner chairs do not actually elevate kegs higher than heart. Also cardiovascular specialist is the one 2 see first over dermatologist. I had a pain in right leg calf area (which IS indicstive of blood clot—mine turned out negative but pain would come every nite in bed. With Onc approval I now take magnesium; which helps with preventing cramps (or charley-horse pain)! Also do NOT be sedentary as that will surely lead you to getting a blood clot. Try to walk about a mile a day everyday. If u have iPhone or smartphone “there’s an APP for that! Call your Onc and ask for the VNA (visiting nurse association) to send out a “top priority/same-day visiting nurse & PT (physical therapist) for “EVAL & treat” for “safety” as you feel “deconditioned” (which is a blanket diagnosis) which is needed for insurance to cover for visits as you are “home bound” which IS coveted by Medicare. Once they are there they can ask doctor for social worker (who can help you find community resources a new primary doc (maybe even one who will come to your home) & specialists that you so need) and a therapist (who could evaluate & determine if you have depression/anxiety”)to do home care visits with you. I only wished you did this last week so you could travel for Xmas (which is still an option—most limos will offer discounted rate if you explain your medical needs or u could “splurge” for round-trip UBER or LYFT car service for the day.

Well I wish you a very merry Xmas and wish I was there to hug you. Another option & even more thorough than above @nedical/nursing/PT& psych home care services I described) is Palliative Home care Team not to be confused with “hospice care”team. This IS all covered by MC/MA dual coverage is welcomed at vba honecare agencues. Ask your oncologists office if they could call in STAT” orders today so they could start immediately since you shud not wait until after the holidays & when they call the chosen hone care agency for their“ intake Dept” who should coordinate getting drs orders & insurance coverage & get ball rolling.

All of this is meant to avoid a lengthy & costly ER/Urgent care visit or subsequent hospitalization. Trkehealth is also an option you should be asking for. Good luck—any ?’s feel free & I’ll check back Kater this afternoon! Hope this helps you & others. (This is not medical advice; just providing you with info from veteran Vommunity health nurse/manager. Gd luck & prayers & best wishes for speedy recover!

[Hidden in reply to Bailey3266]

Thanks...the elevation is the trick. I used four pillows PLUS then when I went to bed I used the four pillows and I woke up this morning and my foot is not swollen and I am not feeling pain. I ordered yesterday an elevated pillow (specifically for people with swollen legs and feet) and it got great reviews. So that was $45.00 and should come tomorrow night.

I have medicare/medicaid. (Dual coverage) so whatever Medicare does not pay, Medicaid will pay the rest. I already get free private car service to and from any doctors appts., not just cancer.

I do not have a cell phone. I do know that I cannot sit for hours at my pc that I will have to get up and take breaks. It has been pretty cold here in NY just to take a walk and my foot was so swollen, I could not even get into sneakers.

My oncologist is not easily reachable. Barely even answers emails. Anyway, I had been offered in the past a home care aide. I am not there yet. To me that is the beginning of the end and I can still take care of myself. I think the elevation pillow is going to make a big difference. Just by doing it one night made all the difference in the world. The red although still big on my leg is getting smaller. Using loads of moisturizers. I will drink more water and use less salt and take 15 mins. break from sitting at my computer.

I am okay being alone this xmas. On friend sent me 4 prime rib slices, a box of double baked potatoes and desert from Omaha steaks. Another friend sent me a do it your small Xmas tree with a whole bunch of small wrapped gifts for me to open on Christmas.

I am excited about the elevated pillow. How sad is that ? I will be 60 in January!