Question: I am an endometrial cancer patient. Stage 3 due to cells being found in one lymph node. I finished chemo in January of this year and I finished external and internal radiation in April. Toward the end of chemo I became unable to walk across the room without feeling like I was going to collapse, and my heart rate getting into the150s. I went to the e.r. No tests officially showed that I was dehydrated but the e.r. doctor said I am probably chronically dehydrated. I went to the cardiologist and tests came back normal. I made slow but steady improvement...ten weeks until I felt normal, and made it fine through radiation...going everyday, walking from the car, taking stairs even. Then one week after radiation ended, that feeling of not being able to walk even a few feet was back. And I have been like this since April. I am using a wheel chair to go to appointments. Stay in bed unless I have to go to the restroom, which puts me in chest pain and strain. It is my blood pressure getting high more so than my heart rate since this came back in April. Readings of 162 over 116 one time just from walking 20 feet. Seen bottom number as high as 122. Heart rate is sometimes good with activity now but in the last week has been creeping up too. 147 over 115 b.p. and heart rate 116 just because I walked to and from bathroom about 20 feet away. These numbers while bad, might not sound super high, but I feel it...chest feels so incredibly strained. I used to always be okay as long as I was resting. My blood pressure and heart rate is thankfully still good at rest, but I am in chest pain a lot even laying down now. I have been to e.r. several times, primary doctor, had heart c.t. which was good, and will see cardiologist soon. The only thing that has been found abnormal is severe vitamin d deficiency. Mine was 7 with 30 being normal. On high dose 50,000 unit twice a week for six weeks now. Not rechecked but told to go to one a week now. And borderline hypothyroid. 9 with 4 being normal, is the only other thing found out of the myriad of tests I have had. Yet, I can not walk across the room without chest feeling like it is going to explode. I have had diahrreea since the first day of radiation. So for almost 5 months now. Get some relief from Imodium and prescription antidiahreeal, but how long can someone take an antidiahreeal? Because of the warnings on the box of Imodium, I only take it once or twice a week, and sometimes have diahrreea anyway. I should be in a happy time...done with treatment and getting good scans. I don't understand. I have been so worried about my heart but tests are good. The diahrreea has become a way of life, but it has hit me that this is not normal...5 months of it? I am afraid the effects of radiation may be permanent at this point. It has to be why I can't walk. Too weak. But how to stop it? No tests have shown I am officially dehydrated. But I have to be. No tears, and very dry mouth the last few weeks. The e.r. sends me home. I can not go their everyday for fluids and to have electrolytes and stuff checked. And have not been since the first part of XXXXXXX when I went several times after getting a very tight squeeze, squeeze in chest after walking a little and b.p. going very high and then bottoming out and heart rate was 170. Begged to be admitted, but wasn't. Placed on beta blocker by e.r. doctor, but had to quit due to heart rate being in 50s some times when I am at rest, which is almost all of the time because I can't do anything else. Meanwhile problems persist. Primary doctor says see specialist and specialists say see primary doctor. Help and advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you for your reply. What about the diahrreea that has persisted for five months? Is this dangerous to have it for so long?

Thank you. No mention of corticosteroid treatment. But I will ask. Thanks, again!