Apprehensive of living a normal life
Apprehensive of living a normal life Apprehensive of living a normal life
I have reposted this for new user anit19 in this room
Kind regards
BCC Host
I have finished all my chemo, radio and one year of herceptin. I still feel tired at times and every little change in my body sets me into panic mode. I feel very apprehensive about living a ‘normal’ life and wonder if there is anything I can do to make this transition back to normal.
Normal Life… …I don’t think the transition is an easy one…for me it hasn’t been anyway…though everyone is different.
I think part of the answer is not to expect too much of yourself…the tiredness can last indefinetly…remember your body has been through alot both physically and mentally.
I found reflexology and now acupuncture helped…especially with the panic/anxiety side of things…along with conventional medication from my GP.
I think we have to remember as well that we probably will never be the same person we were pre DX…life takes on a different perspective…
I think take each days as it comes, I am a worrier and suffer from anxiety so now how difficult it is to ‘‘carry on’’ with a ‘‘normal’’ life.
This forum is a good place to talk to people…hope things go well for you…keep in touch
karen x
personally l found once all my treatments were over and l was cast into the big wide normal world again with my next appt one year away and a prescription for Tamoxifen the most scary bit of all.I told myself l had to get back to normal-after all lwas lucky-been diagnosed in time had mastectomy chemo…However this didnt help!!added to pressure-those dear to you dont want to know your tired scared feel rough still-it became my mission to COPE -well dont bother!!!go at your own speed-thats normal!
Use the forums,peer support or helpline-just take care of yourself.Its good to reflect how you would talk to a friend if the roles were reversed and that can help get perspective on feelings beingok.
hope this helps-sorry to ramble!
take care sharon x
One day at a time Hi,
I found it interesting how as soon as all my treatment had finshed my MacMillan nurse’s job was done. Perhaps with others she might keep in touch. Because I was strong throughout my treatment she might have thought she wasn’t doing much, but it was after, like you that I started to struggle. I found planning and thinking too far ahead scary too.
I have found literally to live one day at a time has been the easiest way for me to cope. Somedays I can think about a few months ahead and others I get annoyed with myself because I can’t think about tomorrow!
Kindest Sonya
I’m scared of ‘normal’ I am also finding it very hard to get back to ‘normality’. I finished treatment (surgery, chem,rads) 3 months ago and am just about to return to work in 10 days time (I’m a midwife), but I’m scared to go back to my life pre-cancer. I don’t feel the same as I did one year ago, I have a different perspective on life (and death) and am not sure how I’ll cope caring for people who are also going through a life-changing event - having a baby.
I don’t feel pessimistic about the future, just fatalistic, what will be will be, but I still think about breast cancer a lot and can’t seem to clear my mind of the memories of treatment and worries about the future. Everyone thinks you’re over it once treatment has finished and, with the best of intentions, wants you to be well and to forget about the big ‘C’, but at the moment I am finding this impossible.
I agree with Karen that it’s best to take each day as it comes, and try to enjoy whatever you do. I’ve realized that it’s OK to be a little selfish now, to put myself at the top of the list sometimes because I have to look after my health, both physically and emotionally,
Take care of yourself.
Love, Ann X
chemo and weight gain Hello, I am new in this forum, and I wonder if I am the only italian here! I have been following your stories for quite some time and I really appreciate the discussions that are carried on here. I so need your help and advice! I have gained more or less 20 kilos when I had chemotherapy the first time two years ago, because of the cortisone treatment they gave me together with taxol and I did not manage to loose them. Then I had a recurrence in the same breast and after a mastectomy I am having chemo again, and despite not eating much because of nausea, and mainly vegetables, my weight is stable, well stable at the obesity level!
I would really love to loose some weight, I know it is not a major side effect compared to the others I got, but it would help me feeling a bit better about myself, since being bald without one boob and obese does not exactly help when you have already so much fear and stress to cope with…sometimes I would love to wear something nice instead of these long baggy stuff , shopping for clothes is a nightmare! With the mastectomy and the fat, I cannot really recognise myself anymore, and undressing or taking a shower is always difficult. My boyfriend has being absolutely lovely, telling me all the time how beautiful I am, so I would like to look a bit better for him as well.
Has anybody had any professional advice about loosing weight after a cortisone treatment? Thanks a lot and sorry for my English!
for quattrofromaggi Hi
I have started a new topic for you entitled ‘chemo and weight gain’ in this room so that it will be seen by more users.
Kind regards.
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
new normal… I think you will hear/read a lot of talk about a “new normal” after a BC diagnosis .It does change how you see yourself , everyone and everything around you. I dont think the fear and worry ever completely leaves you but it becomes more managable in time, fading more into the background. I might be an exception but i do still think of BC everyday to a greater or lesser extent-and if I have a pain or niggle ,I can feel the waves of fear and despair resurface. You are much more aware of your body after BC and how it’s behaving , so it is the new “normal” to fret over every ache.
I remember my BC nurse saying “It will take you a long time to get over this” -well I’m not sure whether I ever will. Like most of us , you have had a hugely traumatic experience -so be selfish and take some time to yourself when you need it.
Cherry
what is normal… On a work front -
I left work on the Friday, had the op the following day - and then 7 months later returned to work. I was determined to prove I could do what I had done before - and at the same level in the organisation. And I did. But now, I’m thinking so what… Life really is too short - even without bc - so is this what it’s all about? Ok - I need to earn a crust - but at what cost…
Although they haven’t said as such, my bc is probably down to my lifestyle - not hereditary. So I’ve tried to change my lifestyle - still am really - but oddly was asked today what I did outside work - and I couldn’t think of anything… Absolutely nothing. How shocking is that? My weekend is routine stuff. Something has to change…
On the personal side though - I do laugh more. When my husband does something daft, like miss the bin liner when emptying the shredder, or opens the box of an inflatable bed with a sharp knife - well I don’t need to explain that one - I just laugh it off now. For a while I think he was waiting for the ‘look’ from me - but has now relaxed and realised that I will laugh. You’ll gather from that that I didn’t used to.
I’m far less materialistic than I was. Yes of course I like nice things, clothes, handbags(!!), but I frequently look a stuff on-line, select to buy and then never hit the ‘checkout’ button.
But normal going forward - I think it’s what you want it to be…