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- This topic has 21 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 4 months ago by
Jahendry12.
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- December 29, 2013 at 5:05 pm
I’m so glad I have found this.. I’ve been a little lost with all this and seems that nobody really wants to talk about it so I’m hoping I can find some input here.I started noticing something was wrong back in late Aug early September.. I was tired all the time. I’m physically active and workout five to six days a week and was doing a very physical job at the time but I was really the only one struggling dieting it physically with being so tired.
It was during that time I started to notice a swimy feeling in my head and I was getting confused and angry at almost nothing. I honestly thought I was getting early dementia or had cte.
Two months later I was still tired and having the same issues with my brain.. I would describe it as taking pain killers on an empty stomach and the sick feelings that come with. But I kept brushing it off till one morning I woke with a severe burning feeling on a spot on my back. When I went to look in the mirror it was a dark spot I had had for years and apon touching it it began to ooze dark thick blood.
Being uninsured two days later I found a dermatologist that would perform the biopsy. I told the nurse and the Dr what I had been going through. The Dr only visually looked at my back and said there were a few spots he was concerned about but the one I came in for definitely needed to be biopsied.
A week later the results came back that it was in fact melanoma and it needed to be removed and he recommend I get health insurance to get it taken care of.
Well my insurance wont kick in till the first of the year and other things keep popping up.. I still have the swimy brain only worse now.. I stumble now sometimes when I walk.. I’ve noticed lymph nodes in my pelvis get larger over the past month or so and now I’m getting pains in the area.. I get a stabbing pain in my diaphragm from time to time and I find it hard to catch my breath..
I’ve been to the er twice now cause it gets so bad..
My white count is “elevated” and they say it can be from just an infection.. my brain scan had some admoralities but nothing “acute” and my chest xray looked “alright”
I know er and Dr talk all to well and they dance around things.. I guess I’m hoping maybe someone has had similar symptoms
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- December 29, 2013 at 6:13 pm
I also had no way of paying for my care but my dermatologist if he can find a hospital that has programs I got to UAB in Alabama who has a charty cancer program you need to get to a oncolagist fast and he sould be sending you to one please try and find a program that can help you there is hotlines that can help you cancer hotlines please get help quick …..
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- December 29, 2013 at 6:13 pm
I also had no way of paying for my care but my dermatologist if he can find a hospital that has programs I got to UAB in Alabama who has a charty cancer program you need to get to a oncolagist fast and he sould be sending you to one please try and find a program that can help you there is hotlines that can help you cancer hotlines please get help quick …..
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- December 29, 2013 at 6:13 pm
I also had no way of paying for my care but my dermatologist if he can find a hospital that has programs I got to UAB in Alabama who has a charty cancer program you need to get to a oncolagist fast and he sould be sending you to one please try and find a program that can help you there is hotlines that can help you cancer hotlines please get help quick …..
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- December 29, 2013 at 7:45 pm
I did not have the head stuff but being tired all the time yes. For me it was also kind of like having the flu then 20 minutes later I would be ok then a little later the flu was back. After 3 weeks a bulge appeared on my side which later the doctors finally said was a seperated muscle. Long story short I would say get to the doctor and probably get a pet scan as soon as possible. Also they told me a pet scan does not detect mel in the brain so they did a mri of my brain.
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- December 29, 2013 at 7:45 pm
I did not have the head stuff but being tired all the time yes. For me it was also kind of like having the flu then 20 minutes later I would be ok then a little later the flu was back. After 3 weeks a bulge appeared on my side which later the doctors finally said was a seperated muscle. Long story short I would say get to the doctor and probably get a pet scan as soon as possible. Also they told me a pet scan does not detect mel in the brain so they did a mri of my brain.
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- December 29, 2013 at 7:45 pm
I did not have the head stuff but being tired all the time yes. For me it was also kind of like having the flu then 20 minutes later I would be ok then a little later the flu was back. After 3 weeks a bulge appeared on my side which later the doctors finally said was a seperated muscle. Long story short I would say get to the doctor and probably get a pet scan as soon as possible. Also they told me a pet scan does not detect mel in the brain so they did a mri of my brain.
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- December 29, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Since your insurance kicks in Jan 1, I would research Melanoma specialists in your area, schedule an appointment as soon as you can get in (don't accept if they say they can see you in a month – demand to be seen within the next). Ask for a PET scan, Bone scan and MRI & schedule surgery to have the melanoma removed. They should be able to schedule pretty quickly, but I know for a PET, they need approval from the Insurance company since it is so expensive.
When you went to the ER, would they not admit you and do surgery as well as other tests because you did not have insurance? If that's the case, go to the ER at midnight on Dec 31st and demand to be admitted so they can start doing what they need to do to get you on a plan for dealing with the issues you are experiencing.
These are just my thoughts. After going through this for almost 3 years now, I know how fast they CAN & SHOULD move and I know patients need to advocate for themselves. Hope this helps.
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- December 29, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Since your insurance kicks in Jan 1, I would research Melanoma specialists in your area, schedule an appointment as soon as you can get in (don't accept if they say they can see you in a month – demand to be seen within the next). Ask for a PET scan, Bone scan and MRI & schedule surgery to have the melanoma removed. They should be able to schedule pretty quickly, but I know for a PET, they need approval from the Insurance company since it is so expensive.
When you went to the ER, would they not admit you and do surgery as well as other tests because you did not have insurance? If that's the case, go to the ER at midnight on Dec 31st and demand to be admitted so they can start doing what they need to do to get you on a plan for dealing with the issues you are experiencing.
These are just my thoughts. After going through this for almost 3 years now, I know how fast they CAN & SHOULD move and I know patients need to advocate for themselves. Hope this helps.
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- December 29, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Since your insurance kicks in Jan 1, I would research Melanoma specialists in your area, schedule an appointment as soon as you can get in (don't accept if they say they can see you in a month – demand to be seen within the next). Ask for a PET scan, Bone scan and MRI & schedule surgery to have the melanoma removed. They should be able to schedule pretty quickly, but I know for a PET, they need approval from the Insurance company since it is so expensive.
When you went to the ER, would they not admit you and do surgery as well as other tests because you did not have insurance? If that's the case, go to the ER at midnight on Dec 31st and demand to be admitted so they can start doing what they need to do to get you on a plan for dealing with the issues you are experiencing.
These are just my thoughts. After going through this for almost 3 years now, I know how fast they CAN & SHOULD move and I know patients need to advocate for themselves. Hope this helps.
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- December 29, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Thank you for your input and advice.. I’m pretty alone dealing with this and sadly its been the folks in the er that has help and informed me the most.I’ve read papers written lately that say that if it spot is bleeding that regardless of the depth that its made its way into your blood system.. does anyone know if this is true?
When I try and call the Dr that did the biopsy he is always gone for a few days or off with his new baby and I feel like I get the brush off from the nurses..
I’m not afraid of this.. I just want to know what it is I’m fighting and why my brain get like this
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- December 29, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Thank you for your input and advice.. I’m pretty alone dealing with this and sadly its been the folks in the er that has help and informed me the most.I’ve read papers written lately that say that if it spot is bleeding that regardless of the depth that its made its way into your blood system.. does anyone know if this is true?
When I try and call the Dr that did the biopsy he is always gone for a few days or off with his new baby and I feel like I get the brush off from the nurses..
I’m not afraid of this.. I just want to know what it is I’m fighting and why my brain get like this
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- December 29, 2013 at 9:23 pm
A bleeding lesion does not mean melanoma has entered your blood stream. Bleeding may or may not be associated with ulceration, but ulceration is only one factor when staging melanoma.
Do you have a copy of your pathology report from the original biopsy?
I agree, a melanoma specialist is the way to go.
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- December 29, 2013 at 9:23 pm
A bleeding lesion does not mean melanoma has entered your blood stream. Bleeding may or may not be associated with ulceration, but ulceration is only one factor when staging melanoma.
Do you have a copy of your pathology report from the original biopsy?
I agree, a melanoma specialist is the way to go.
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- December 29, 2013 at 9:35 pm
No.. just the bill lol -
- December 29, 2013 at 9:35 pm
No.. just the bill lol -
- December 29, 2013 at 9:35 pm
No.. just the bill lol -
- December 29, 2013 at 9:23 pm
A bleeding lesion does not mean melanoma has entered your blood stream. Bleeding may or may not be associated with ulceration, but ulceration is only one factor when staging melanoma.
Do you have a copy of your pathology report from the original biopsy?
I agree, a melanoma specialist is the way to go.
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- December 29, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Thank you for your input and advice.. I’m pretty alone dealing with this and sadly its been the folks in the er that has help and informed me the most.I’ve read papers written lately that say that if it spot is bleeding that regardless of the depth that its made its way into your blood system.. does anyone know if this is true?
When I try and call the Dr that did the biopsy he is always gone for a few days or off with his new baby and I feel like I get the brush off from the nurses..
I’m not afraid of this.. I just want to know what it is I’m fighting and why my brain get like this
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- January 4, 2014 at 5:01 am
Hi adam – wondering if you were able to get into a doc and how you are feeling? J
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- January 4, 2014 at 5:01 am
Hi adam – wondering if you were able to get into a doc and how you are feeling? J
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- January 4, 2014 at 5:01 am
Hi adam – wondering if you were able to get into a doc and how you are feeling? J
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