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Posted 5/31/2005 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ladies... so much going on right now, this weekend I was given the chance to be the manager of our team at my real estate office.  The old manager was an idiot, and enough of us complained, and I stepped up, and my broker/owner gave me the job.  But it's been so much stress lately...hours and hours and days of pure stress. 

Thursday I walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes (I am SO out of shape!).  It was the first time in a LONG time I had done that, I  didn't think I overdid it though.  Saturday morning I woke up, my left cheek/eyelid felt funny (actually it felt that way a few days ago, but this was a slight bit more noticeable to me)... and I noticed something wrong with my speech.  I can talk...no one is noticing, but I am having trouble articulating words, they are just a slight second delay in coming out.  Its extremely frustrating... I KNOW I have to call my onc tomorrow... but I start this new job!  I am so upset, and I've had to smile today and pretend nothing is wrong.  I haven't told anyone yet, not even my DH.  I want to cry and scream.

I am hoping (?) it's not brain mets, but instead mayube a heart related issue...maybe a slight heart attack?  Anyone out there w/a similar experience??  I am so scared, and just numb.  I want it to go away....I want to ignore it so bad.  I just got a chance at a great job..... anyone have any advice as to what it could be.  i know i have to call my onc.

Stef

Posted 5/31/2005 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
{{STEF}}} I don't have any idea what is going on, but I just read your post and wanted you to know that I am here for you. I know you are worried and scared and you have every right to be. That along with just getting a break at a new job, it's just not fair that you have to be dealing with this now. (or ever for that matter) You need to talk with someone and you already realize that you need to call the onc. Good luck tomorrow and be sure to let us know how everything turns out. I will keep you in my prayers and send you lots of hugs!

L&H
Sara
Posted 5/31/2005 12:50 AM (GMT 0)

Stef: How frightening. I am so sorry. But, if you are still having problems w/ your speech and your cheek and eyelid have not shown any improvement, I would strongly suggest that you go to the ER tonite. You said that you had been on the treadmill. I would bet that w/ all of the stress from the new job and of course cancer, it has been too much for your system. It may be nothing more than a pinched nerve or it could be the signs of heart problems. Do you have high blood pressure. I don't mean to frighten you anymore than you already are, but I just don't think this is something that you should wait until tomorrow to have checked. Share this with your family. That is what families are for.

Please keep us informed.

Hugs...Deb

Posted 5/31/2005 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Tell your family.  Everything that happens to us isn't cancer.....remember that!!!  I know the fear that living with having had cancer is like but stress can do so much and mimic many diseases.  Your family would want to know, trust me.  Also, if you go have it checked out now and nothing is wrong - imagine how good you will feel.  If something by chance is going on, it can be treated IF you let someone know and do what you can do to find out what's going on.

Posted 5/31/2005 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that you must tell your family. I didn't when I was having problems but when the strokes became so noticeable, I didn't have much choice. It would have been better had they known what was happening beforehand. In my case, it was a 98-99% blocked carotid.

There are many things that this can be but until you know what, you may well be scaring yourself.

I can understand how you feel about the new job but this may be nothing to fool with. You should call the onc today.

Hugs, Jo-Ann
Posted 5/31/2005 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Stef,

I'm sorry to hear about your fears right now. I agree that it's best to share them with at least one person, besides all of these wonderful ladies, that is near to you physically. I had a friend who had a similar situation and it turned out to be Bells Palsy. There are various stages of it and hers was quite severe with her left side of her mouth very noticibly weakened and drooping. But she told me about more milder forms. No treatment and over time it went away on it's own. With all of the new stress you have, it could very well be something like this. Hopefully you can find a way to manage the stress and come up with a chant whenever the stress gets bad. PLEASE let us know what your doc says! Best of luck to you!!!!

L&H,
Laure'
Posted 5/31/2005 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Stef I hope by now you have done something about this. I am glad to see Jo-Ann has answered you because it sounded to me like what she described to me several years ago when she had her strokes. Please see a doctor if you haven't and come back and let us know what is going on. It could possibly be stress but you need to find out for sure. Notice I did not tell you not to worry until you know you have something to worry about. You need to find out what is going on. Hugs and prayers, MK
Posted 6/1/2005 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi again...well I went to work today, and forgot to call the onc. could it have been stress? it does feel better today, barely noticeable to me, and i don't think anyone else has noticed at all. my S's are slightly lispy but thats about it...my tounge doesn't feel as 'lazy' today.

This weekend was mega-stressful to me, since i went to my boss to complain about my manager.... it was that adrenaline-pumping, oh-gosh how-do-i-say-this kind of moment, and it was that morning (Sat.) that my speech was affected the most. thenight before i had tossed and turned and worried about it... and BOOM saturday i noticed it.

i will call tomorrow...but still not telliong dh yet... i just can't. can they do a blood test for bells palsey?

i am making all kinds of funny faces in the mirror, but all my facial muscles seem to be working just fine. i dunno.... siiigghh... i will call dr. tomorrow.
thank you for all your help, i love you all dearly!

Jo-ann what did they do for your blocked coratid?? what happened with your strokes? are you recovered now?

thanks all.
stef
Posted 6/1/2005 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Stef-
There are SOOOOOOO many other things this could be from besides cancer, you might consider calling your medical doc first, before the onc. Unless there has been a workup and ruled out other conditions, I think you should not call the onc first.

I think if it were brain mets you would have other symptoms too, and they would be more pervasive and chronic than what you describe. Definitely should get it checked out though, and we'll all be with you...

L&H,
Lori
Posted 6/1/2005 8:15 AM (GMT 0)

Stef,

I agree that there are other things besides cancer that could be causing this, so this should be checked out. Bell's Palsey involves the facial nerve which does not include the tongue, so I am guessing that this is not it. With all this stress you are having, it would be helpful if you could share your worries with someone; you shouldn't have to handle this alone! You know we are all here for you, but you need a real life hug right now! L&H, Frayda

Posted 6/1/2005 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
I have had Bells. My son has it right now. He can not blink his one eye just like I had, but he is having a hard time talking. His face looks like he had a serious stroke.I did not have a hard time talking , but dh says he can not imagine what would slow my mouth down. I think my son is having trouble talking because his mouth is so droopy. What ever it is I hope they find out quickly and its no big deal. Wishing you luck, Joyce
Posted 6/1/2005 10:54 AM (GMT 0)
Stef, good luck to you. Hope it is nothing serious. sending prayers your way.
Posted 6/1/2005 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
Stef, I hope you have called a doctor and are getting answers. Even if you have improved you need to let a doctor know. I am praying that your fears have subsided and that you can enjoy your new position. Stress does many things to us to remind us to slow down a little and breath deep. I also hope you have shared this with your DH. He needs to know in case it happens again. Love and hugs to you, Candy
Posted 6/1/2005 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Stef,

 

Not a fun experience you had and I SO agree with all the ladies above that this is worth checking out.  I have a very young cousin-in-law that had some mini strokes.....with similar symptoms that you describe, and blew them off because she was in her 20's.  She then did, sadly suffer a bigger stroke and is still working her way back from the effects.  They can test you to see if you suffered a little one, or have a carotid blockage, or something else going on. Cat-scan, MRI, or ultrasound on the carotid arteries. 

 

I suppose my passion might come from watching my Dad go into the ER after a tiny little stroke that left him a bit unbalanced in his coordination, a little eye problem and some heaviness with his tongue. They sent him home (he drove) and 2 days later he had a much bigger one with pretty difficult results.  They can put someone on blood thinners (if stroke is the problem) and reduce the chance of another one.  IF...this is the problem.  Sure worth finding out.

 

Like others have said, it can be lots of things, but I wouldn't blow it off without checking a few things out.

Prayers and love ~ Joany

Posted 6/2/2005 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Stef,

I'm so sorry you're going through this. My guess would be Bells Palsey. My dad had it before I was born, and it left him with a permanent twitch. But it never bothered him in my lifetime. I don't think they know what causes it still, but it's my understanding it goes away completely in most cases. I'll be watching the board and sending prayers while I'm away. Good luck, my friend.

L&H,
Rita
Posted 6/3/2005 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Steph, I had TIA's, which they called mini-strokes, but they were beginning to last 12-14 hours each time. I had an angio"blast" and then had surgery where they put a plastic stent in the carotid. In fact, it has been bothering me and I have an appointment with the neurologist Jun 29.

I do have some permanent damage from the strokes. I have problems holding things with my right hand and I tell my fingers which keys to hit but they don't listen very well. Typing allows you to fix the errors but you should hear some of the things coming out of my piano. LOL

Now, bear in mind that I had mentioned this to my onc's asst in Nov. She didn't think it was anything. I saw him in Mar and he ordered the MRI. He sent me to the neurologist who ordered an MRA. The hospital wouldn't call me back to set up the test and I let it slide, for several weeks. I learned, the hard way, that this is not something to fool around with.

Please call the onc. In the beginning, the strokes weren't severe and weren't continual. I'm praying that it will be something very easily controlled.

Love You, Jo-Ann
Posted 6/3/2005 10:23 PM (GMT 0)

ok.... i promise to call dr on monday, no excuses... the effects have worn off, but i worked about 50 hrs this week and just neglected this whole issue, and still didn't tell my dh... he is in virginia this weekend w/our oldest son visiting an old friend, so i am here with our younger 2 kids (ages 8 and 7)... i will try and relax all weekend and not work.  hope nothing happens before monday, now i am starting to be paranoid. i did have the nausea and diarreah earlier in the week too. ugh.

but i did have an ekg about 4 weeks ago (since i mentioned in my 6-mo followup with the onc that i was getting tightness in the chest at night) and it was ok.  (??)

i just want to stop being a patient!! i know you all know what i mean.

hugs to all, and i'll stop being stupid. and call on monday.

stef

Posted 6/4/2005 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hoping you get some solid answers on Monday, Stef. This is indeed worrisome, so we are really going to be on your case if you do not call the doctor. Nothing is worth risking your health. Take good care. Hugs, Lauri
Posted 6/4/2005 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
I am waiting for a biopsy on calcifications, anyone want to talk to me
Posted 6/4/2005 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Lyme disease may have symptoms similar to bells palsy, diarreah could be another symptom, aches, pains, fever are a few other symptoms of lyme disease. Not everyone gets the classic bulls eye rash, nor is it a disease in just Connecticut or the northeast only. Just another thought, please see a doctor and keep the board posted, good luck!
Posted 6/4/2005 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
HEYYYYYYYYYYYY -THANK YOU for reminding me!!!
ok, how soon after a tick bite do you get symptoms with Lyme disease!!!

I had a VERY small tick on the inside of my left wrist about 3 weeks ago. I forgot about it because I saw it in the early morning hours and I was still groggy when I pulled it off and flushed it....I still have a small scab where it was...and I had totally forgotten about it!

i wonder if that could be it.... another thing to tell the dr. on monday.... THANK YOU HAPPY for reminding me of that, i can't believe i forgot about it.

gosh i hope thats it.
stef
Posted 6/5/2005 11:48 AM (GMT 0)
I pulled 2 ticks off me the other day, told my onc and he immediately put me on antibiotics, just to be safe. I then took my cat to the vet, he just wasn't himself, very lethargic and feverish, sure enough he was diagnosed with Lyme disease and is taking the same kind of antibiotics that I am taking! Taking antibiotics asap after a tick bite can rid your chances of getting the disease, if not treated or dx'd, it can be a nasty disease that can get worse in time. I'd absolutely mention your tick bite to your onc, get an rx for antibiotics, better safe than sorry I think. Deer ticks are very tiny and black, and easier to yank off the skin than a dog tick for example. Good luck and let us know how you make out!
Posted 6/5/2005 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Wow again I have learned something. Thanks happy! for the tick/lyme disease suggestion and information. Hugs, MK
Posted 6/6/2005 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hey all, I just noticed there is a lyme disease message board right here on healingwell. In a post I found there states 'Besides Lyme disease, ticks can transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycplamsa. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected, so it is important to be tested.' With my cat being tested, I learned 'bartonella' is aka 'cat scratch fever', I guess ticks can transmit that too. (Are we all singing the Ted Nugent song now? LOL). If I remember correctly, Lyme disease is aka 'rocky mountain spotted fever', this name is in some of the older health and disease books. Anyway, don't mean to go on and on about Lyme disease on a breast cancer board, good luck with the doctor appt!
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