I have been pouring over my CT scan results, because that's what I do. Several surprises for me... apparently I have a "small hiatal hernia" which explains my occasional heartburn. I have diverticulosis, previously unbeknownst to me, but probably explains occasional gastronomical distress. I have "windows" of bone degeneration (not sure exactly which windows but OK). I have a small "unremarkable" cyst on one kidney. (Everything about me is unremarkable so no big deal there.) Lots of stuff going on in there and most of it age related according to Dr. Google. Still reporting on the thickened endometrium that is "suspect in a post-menopausal woman." That is the issue that caused the extremely painful biopsy in February that I guarantee will NOT be done again...ever. Absolutely no indication of what was causing the pain that sent me there. So I have a lot to discuss with the oncologist on Tuesday. I hope he brings a snack to our appointment.
Supplement with vitamin D if you don't already and take vitamin K2 if you don't already to help address those bone "windows". You will also want to watch the diverticula so they don't become worrisome, but then you probably also know that, too. Sad they didn't find the source of your pain, but maybe comforting as well, as they would have hopefully found anything serious. I have mentioned before that women seem to be "crosswired" (my term) as they seem to exhibit referred pain and the hurt isn't necessarily at the site of the issue causing the pain. You know we all wish you the best and pray for a good outcome to your struggles.
Thanks, Don. My oncologist does not want me taking any supplements during chemo; I'm allowed a multi-vitamin daily. My vitamin D has never been low; I'm an "outdoors" person and get plenty of sunshine. My blood calcium level is normal, too. I think those "windows" might be my spinal degeneration but I need to find out for sure. The pain is still a mystery; it was definitely in the area of my liver or right kidney, and created a "pulsing" sensation. This sounds weird, but as a mother it was similar to being pregnant and the baby kicking a muscle. I could even put my hand on my side and feel the "pulse" of pain. That makes me think it's possibly a small kidney stone...??? Maybe someone who has experienced a kidney stone will weigh in on this.
About 50% of people do. They found one on me when I had a CT scan for unrelated stuff (a very common way for folks to find out.) The young woman who did a followup ultrasound on it told me that she has one as well...she found out in Ultrasound Class when students took turns being guinea pigs. Mine took some followup (ultrasound, then an MRI, then another ultrasound a year later) to determine that it was no big deal. Regarding your "maybe" kidney stone: A couple of mine were sharp stabbing pains in the small of my back as the stone exited the kidney, and some I didn't feel at all. Some were a fleeting stab as they wended their way. If you had one that is stuck in one spot for any period of time, you'd be on the floor in pain not wanting to move. It's not a pulse...it's an unrelenting knife. Since your scans found that cyst on your kidney, they likely would have found any stones there as well. My scans for unrelated stuff showed I got 3 stones left. I cannot feel them at all. YMMV.
The throb makes me wonder if it isn't a muscle or organ that is contracting to blood flow. Is the pulsing in sync with your heartbeat or pulse?
No, it was totally random. I was thinking the contracting might have been a kidney trying to push a tiny stone through but I don't know if kidneys contract...?? The CT didn't find a stone but I'm not convinced those scans are infallible. I haven't had the pain again. It very well could have been some colon spasm since chemo does affect the digestive tract. I'm going to see what my oncologist thinks on Tuesday.
Your kidney does not push stones through. They are sharp jagged crystals of varying size that break free and flow with the urine.
Cancer Diary update. Today was Taxol #8, only 4 more to go. It was a long day, starting with labs, then a doctor appointment, and finally the chemo which was scheduled for 2:45 pm but didn't start till after 4. The chemo waiting room was jammed so I grabbed a recliner and read some Stephen King; also met a couple of sweet ladies, one with melanoma and the other with blood cancer. The melanoma patient showed me her hand, where her middle finger had been amputated above the middle joint. She said the melanoma had turned the tip of that finger black and was advancing so fast that it had to be amputated. There was a very ill young man sitting across the waiting room from me; probably in his 40s. An older man was with him, I assume his father. The young man was in a wheelchair and looked every bit a cancer patient; very pale, thin, weak, and obviously in distress, bless him. At one point he began retching and they brought him a barf bag. I wasn't sure I could keep my ham sandwich down as I have a weak stomach. Yikes. During chemo I kicked back and watched "Rear Window" with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly for the 38th time. We left the house at 9:30 this morning at got home a little after 7 p.m.; I'm beat. My oncologist prodded around on my abdomen and we talked about the pain that sent me to the Acute Care Facility last week. Neither of us has a clue. Doc wasn't going to speculate and only said that my labs are all normal and there's no swelling, fluid, soreness in my abdomen so another medical mystery. He said I'm actually doing great and my prognosis is pretty good, so I'll take it. (He resists saying "for someone your age," and I appreciate that. ) When I got home my Aetna/Medicare monthly summary was here. It's a weighty tome so I'll need to sit down with plenty of time and a pot of coffee to review that. Seems like the total billing was well over $90k already.
@Beth Gallagher If you mean for your entire experience so far, you have found a "bargain basement", lucky you! After a year of dialysis, the total billed amount is pushing half a million bucks. Frightening as it is, my dialysis out of pocket averages about $700 per month, the entire amount for the past year being in arrears. We have been negotiating with the dialysis folks for a waiver, so far with no success. Should we wind up paying this, that monthly cost added to our mortgage payment would total 60% of our entire income. Top that with insurance, real estate taxes, fuel for travel to treatment, food, medicine, and some drastic changes would be needed in our everyday lives.