Starting to Get Worried.

Updated on May 11, 2012
J.S. asks from Green Cove Springs, FL
5 answers

My mom is having some serious issues. Let me first start off with a list of things she has been through in the last year and a half.
1. Lost her job due to company shut down
2. Went back to school (federally funded program)
3. Just two months into school found out she had breast cancer, with no health insurance, She had to go on Medicare
4. Had a mastectomy
5. Had a horrid reaction to the pain medication, she spent 36 hours catatonic.
6. During her catatonia, she told me that she was really thirsty and having a burning pain in her chest. Her mind told her she died and went to Hell. So in her mind and memory she spent 36 hours in Hell. That about killed me just hearing it.
7. Chemo while still going to school (she hates the program she is in, which she was talked into)
8. My dad discovered he had an aortic aneurysm. (this turned out nor to be a big deal. It's in the lining of his stomach and the docs are just keeping an eye on it, but they spent a couple weeks pretty freaked out till they got all the tests back)
9. Their homeowners insurance is threatening to drop them unless they get their roof repaired. Luckily we know some people that are doing this at cost for them, super luckily they just received an inheritance that will cover most the cost.

Needless to say, this would break anybody. Especially with the side effects of chemo. My mom has always been an anxious person, but now it's at a point where she can barely eat or sleep. She says she wakes up with her heart racing, and dry heaving. Her doctors have halted her hormone replacement therapy until she becomes more mentally stable. She is seeing a psychiatrist and is on an anti anxiety medication. Nothing seems to be helping and she is getting worse. I am really starting to worry.

I guess my question is, has anyone else had or know of this reaction from chemo/cancer? Her psychiatrist told her that a lot of women have mental problems after going through chemo and fighting cancer. She finished her last chemo session in the beginning of January, I would think the drugs would be out of her system by now? I hate feeling this helpless.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Dawn, when she first had the reaction to the drugs she had a brain scan. Everyone was pretty freaked out. The neurosurgeon said everything looked ok. But that was back in July, right after her surgery. They were afraid that she had a stroke or that her cancer had reached her brain. She doesn't remember any of that. She was still catatonic at that point.

I really think it was the combo of meds that spiraled her out of control. They gave her an amiben which sent her into waking nightmares, then when she started screaming they gave her a tranquilizer, then an anti psychotic, then an muscle relaxer. Even though she was showing signs of distress the still put her in for her second surgery the next morning, So, on top of the drugs she was placed under anesthesia. She was completely gone after that.

I about came through the roof when her doctor tried to blame her for her bad reaction. In his words, "Some people just don't handle surgery well." Well, a bet a lot of people don't handle the amount of drugs you pumped into her well. I was SO ANGRY.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D..

answers from Charlotte on

Added - yes, I remember your post, J.. So terrible! And I wouldn't blame you for wanting to scream at that doctor - what a total jerk. He should watch that movie "The Doctor" with William Hurt. He'd understand better if he went through a medical crisis of his own. Press for another brain scan, J.. This has nothing to do with not handling surgery well. So very sorry!

Original:
J., this just breaks my heart, reading all of this. I hope that the next time someone writes in having a rant about people who are hard on their caretakers after surgery, will read your post here. Maybe it will give them some humility. (Well then, maybe it won't... there are some really unapologetic people in this world...)

It sounds like there have been chemical changes in her brain. Have they done a brain scan to see if her brain activity is normal? I'd ask for a neurologist and discuss all of this and ask for a scan to be done. It could be that she will have an abnormal brain scan. I doubt she will be able to finish school this way. If I were you, I'd look into getting a disability lawyer to go to bat for her to get social security disability payments. That would at least be something for her.

Hugs~
Dawn

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Portland on

I know it sounds impossible to you, but she BELIEVES she went to hell, and she is not alone. I think this might be affecting her more than you know. She needs to deal with this and she needs help. I read a book years ago about a woman who killed herself and went to hell then was found and brought back. I don't remember the name. I did a basic google search and found this link by a cardiologist who talks about patients who have died and come back. Not everyone "sees the light" so to speak.
http://www.emjc3.com/helland.htm
Even though she was awake, you know that she was not "there" and so she possibly had an out of body experience.
She may also be grieving for the loss of her breasts. A lot of women identify with them and don't feel like a real woman after a masectomy. I am sure there are resources out there for her like support groups and stuff. Good luck, I haven't been through this, and I doubt anyone has, but try going toward one problem at a time and see if that can help. I am praying for you and your family!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

If you haven't already, I am going to urge you to go to the site
www.breastcancer.org and ask the women on the chemo forum about this. BCO is probably the best site on the internet for women with breast cancer. Some of these women are more knowledgeable than many doctors that I have found. There is also a lot of research on this site that you can look into.

1 mom found this helpful

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

Thank goodness I have not had all the stressors you mom did, but I can tell you getting a cancer diagnosis is a big game changer. Things like heart disease and diabetes are almost completely controllable. But cancer is not. The person will never be the same after it.
After I had open heart surgery to fix a hole in my heart, I was actually euphoric even though the recovery was hellish. But after the cancer surgery, I experienced terrible depression. I found a hobby I loved and that has helped tremendously.
I hope your mom can find another job or something to keep her busy so she is not thinking about cancer. Has she tried a support group?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.A.

answers from Boca Raton on

So sorry to hear about all this. YES, chemo can cause horrible reactions. Chemo is toxic, it's dangerous and really scary. Yea, I know people think it saves people and cures cancer and all that.
Check out a woman named Kris Carr http://crazysexylife.com/

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions