i feel i carnt move on with my life yet,iv finished my treatments in feb and had a holiday but feel so rough just lately.im not sleeping my heads full of stuff,im having one hot flush after another iv got pains in both legs just above my heels doc says its tendonitus so carnt walk very well.im a mess completly cracked up last night and cried and sobbed like never before.im due to see my consultant tomorrow and im sure she will just ask if im ok and send me on my way,she doenst talk much and i dont feel i can talk to her.im not back at work either as iv been off since last june iv been told i will have to be re trained in my job and although my manager knows im ready to come back she hasnt been in touch for weeks.sorry to sound so full of self pity,i know i should be happy now its all done but i carnt seem to get myself together.lynne
Dear Lynne
I am sorry to read that you are feeling so low at the moment. Please feel free to call our helpline for a ‘listening ear’, the team are here to offer you support and can talk to you about how BCC can help you further. One example is our peer support service whereby we can put you in touch with someone who has been through a similar situation to you so that you can talk things through, you can read more about this and other help available here:
breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-breast-health/moving-forward/
The helpline is open weekdasy 9-5 and Sat 9-2 on 0808 800 6000
take care
Lucy
Hi Lynne
Sorry to hear you’re so low.
The first thing that strikes me is that it is such early days yet following your treatment. You say you’re ready to go back to work but it doesn’t really sound like it. Your manager may not be contacting you because she wants to avoid making you feel pressurised. Even if you are going to be retrained, you may need to be thinking about a staged return and gradually building up your hours.
The other issue is all your ongoing problems. The hot flushes are terrible and not getting a decent night’s sleep can drag you down so much. I don’t think there’s a simple answer to that one - I certainly haven’t found it!
I was interested to hear that you have tendonitis. I have been having terrible problems with my achilles tendon. I’ve never had anything like it before. I am having physio for that and it may be worth asking your GP if that’s an option for you. Sounds like you might want that to be considerably better before you return to work.
I joined one of BCC’s telephone support groups which I found so helpful. It gave me an outlet for my anxieties and a chance to discuss it all with other women who really understood. Might be worth calling BCC helpline and asking about that.
take care, Elinda x
thank you iv rung them today and they are going to get back to me soon,many thanks for replying.lynne
That’s good Lynne - I hope you’ll find that as helpful as I did.
take care, elinda x
Hi
It’s early days for you yet. You’re not long out of treatment and it does take a while.
I went back to work too soon and really couldn’t concentrate etc.You need a phased return to work. I went back too soon and suffered for it. Your workplace should offer you this (you are entitled to it). I turned it down and suffered as a result. Take whatever time you can to ease yourself back into your job. The treatment takes it out of you.
Go easy on yourself. I’m nearly 3 years from DX and 2 years from finishing treatment and I’m only just feeling nearly ‘back to normal’.
Mal
Hi Lynne,
Sorry to hear your not feeling great. The other ladies are right in not going back to work too soon, i did and it was a mistake, very stressful. I think i know where your coming from,i’m one year on and had my 1st mammogram and it was clear but i still don’t feel happy! Don’t get me wrong it was great that it was clear but it only seemed to last a day and then i felt ‘down’ again. I also seem to still have a lot of anxiety and mood changes that i don’t understand. I know i’m in a dilemma about whether or not to have lipofilling or not but i feel as if i should have put things behind me now and be happier!!! So, your not alone in feeling this way. Sorry i can’t help you more, maybe you could try something to help you to sleep even if it’s for a short period of time?
Take care