She told me which hospital she is going to. It's one of the best in the nation. She's going to be an associate director of an inpatient oncology program. She said she'll be working with a number of people who used to work at my Cancer Center. It sounds like there isn't much room for professional growth in my hospital; the other hospital is bigger and has a lot more money.
She said she worked out a deal with the new hospital that would allow her to continue seeing her existing patients for outpatient care, if they want to stay with her. I love her, but I also love my infusion nurse, and physical therapist, and the providers in the Breast Center. I don't want to change everything in the middle of active treatment, and who knows, maybe I'll like my new oncologist just fine.
My old oncologist seemed a little annoyed that the new oncologist scheduled my next appointment so far in the future (6 weeks from the last appointment, 3 weeks from now), particularly since I reported the symptoms in my hands at the last appointment. But in her defense, at the time, I had only experienced symptoms for I think 2 days, and I don't think I sounded too distressed about it yet.
Anyway. I gave her the whole history about my hands feeling puffy and tight and numb and tingly. I think the Lasix (furosemide) did work because my hands have continued to feel better since Saturday. I can hold things in the morning without my hands feeling weak or painful, and I haven't felt any numbness at all. I even skipped my morning routine today and yesterday because it didn't feel necessary. I still have a bit of tingling, but it is very mild, and it doesn't interfere with my ability to use my hands. I can tell the swelling itself is better, too, because I'd been wearing my watch wristband on a looser setting since all this started, and today I was able to switch it back to its original setting.
My doctor gave me a prescription for Lasix to take as needed. Apparently, Lasix makes it hard for the kidneys to absorb potassium, so she also gave me a prescription for a potassium supplement.
During my physical exam, she said my hands still look a little puffy, so I can go ahead and take another dose of Lasix to see if getting rid of even more excess fluid might help make the last of the tingling go away.
I told her my theory about my arms swelling because of overuse. She said that's possible, but also said the Lupron can cause fluid retention, which is what the new oncologist said, too.
I told her my theory about my arms swelling because of overuse. She said that's possible, but also said the Lupron can cause fluid retention, which is what the new oncologist said, too.
She said my recent blood work showed that my vitamin D is low, so she gave me another prescription for a vitamin D3 supplement.
Also, my "phos" (phosphate) is a little high. She said she doesn't know why my phos would be high, but maybe taking the vitamin D will help that, too. If not, then I might need to see another specialist, like an endocrinologist.
I remember that my phos was high back in December, but I didn't ask about it then. I guess I figured it might just be a fluke. A little bit of Googling tells me that a high phosphate level could be linked to osteoporosis, which I know is a risk when taking exemestane. I checked my labs online, though, and my phos has been high since before I started exemestane. (My phos went back to normal after that one time it was high in December, and then it was high again on 1/17/20 and 2/7/20.) Of course, osteoporosis is also a risk when taking Lupron.
I have to say, it's pretty depressing, having all these prescriptions, and worrying about osteoporosis, at age 43.
I have to say, it's pretty depressing, having all these prescriptions, and worrying about osteoporosis, at age 43.
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