Hello everyone! I’m newly diagnosed with IDC and due to have surgery(lumpectomy & lymph node removal) next Thursday.
Was doing ok - ups and downs till today but just can’t stop crying and don’t know what to do with myself
any advice?
Let yourself cry if you need to, if it feels like you want to, then dont worry about it. All ranges of emotions are possible over this time; anger, tears, hysteria, manic activity, feeling ‘ok’ then suddenly not. Its the human mind, and how it reacts to anxiety and stressful situations, its normal and natural. You don’t need to ‘hold things in’ and be brave if you dont feel it, allow it to happen, the positive mindset and strength WILL come after crying.
Over time, the next few weeks, the crying will become less and gradually bit by bit you will slide into acceptance, treatment and recovery.
The crying will release some pressure and tensions, and may last a while (I did for days after diagnosis LOL) I would recommend that you dont just sit and cry on a bed alone somewhere though, try and keep moving and active, housework, small jobs…AND…particularly planning and organising things for after the surgery and towards Christmas. I found that the surgery became the most massive focus, so that I could see nothing beyond it, in hindsight I didnt think enough about after it…there is life after it! (I had lumpectomy April 2016)
Get some fresh air if you can, even if its cold, go outside and put your face to the sun (if there is any) and breathe in deeply. Hear the sounds, sights and natural beauty around you…this is a type of mindfullness…bringing you into the present and distracting your mind from your worries. This is quite hard to do at first, really focus and concentrate on the singing of one bird, the cars in the distance, the clattering of your neighbour in the shed. Remind yourself with your sense of life out there! You might even find tears rolling during this activity, thats ok too lol
Hope this helps a bit, come back and chat here if you need to, someone is always around. ALSO, remember there is the telephone number at the top of the website, you can always ring if you feel youd like some support from real life women who HAVE been there themselves.
Hi Elangeni
What you are experiencing is totally normal - the shock of diagnosis can hit us at random times so when you need to cry, have a good old cry. Like you, I had lumpectomy and sentinel node removal last December, followed by radiotherapy and now on the hormone tablet once a day, and can honestly tell you that you will be surprised at how quickly you recover and start doing the things you always used to do. (Even if youdo need to cry at random times, and have the odd nap at equally random times…) xxxx