Heart Troubles

Just to catch you up on what’s going on in cancer world this week, I thought I’d write.

I had chemo on Tuesday and started my new shot Sandostatin which is often used for carcinoid tumors. It’s supposed to help with my GI symptoms. It hasn’t so far but maybe in future It’s s 6,000 shot. Thank God for medicare. So in addition to my expensive trodelvy infusion, I’m getting this one once a month.

But something strange and miraculous happened on Wednesday. My pulmonary doc’s office (they drain my lungs) called for me to consult with another doc who specializes in pleurodesus procedures. You can have a catheter put in your back to drain fluid or have talc inserted in lung lining to dry up fluid.

They did another chest x-ray although I had just had one done maybe 10 days ago. Doc didn’t see more fluid in my lung lining. But what he saw was fluid around my heart which may mean I’ll need that drained. That’s called a pericardial effusion. I was impressed by this Doc’s thoroughness. He said the fluid wasn’t there with last chest x-ray. yikes! He wanted me to go to ER. I said “no way! I’m never going to an ER again. I hate them.”

So he got on phone calling docs who might see me stat. I got an appt for an echocardiogram yesterday and i’m seeing a cardiologist today. I’m scared. My heart has always been the healthiest part of me and Dan says that the draining of the heart can have complications. I have been having some rough pain on left side.

I feel like Janis Joplin belting out “c’mon take another piece of my heart now cancer.” Be thinking of me as we figure this out. I’m including my imitation of Dolly Parton with my new blonde wig. just for fun! I lived in Sf about time Janis was red hot (1968). I was in high school but always admired her.,Maybe my heart problems will be nothing.