Hi all,
I have a 6month review tomorrow with my Breast Surgeon in the local hospital and i dont know why, but i feel myself getting rather nervous and edgy.
I had a yearly mammogram in February with NED shown, but with all sorts of side effects from all treatment and feeling generally blah all the time, the Specialist Breast nurse i saw last month told me to mention it all tomorrow.
I always feel like i am fussing over nothing and panicking, but they always tell you that you know your own body and if anything doesnt feel right you must say so - but i always get the same reaction as if i am being silly and it must be this or that. Also i have been advised to ask in what circumstances would i be offered any further tests or even an MRI scan? I am sure that i can feel things that werent there before and when i read some peoples stories about recurrence, etc I feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing up in fear! I never used to worry about every little thing, i feel like a worrywart who is always on the lookout for something else to ponder on.!!
Here’s to a good meeting tomorrow!
Cheers, Michele x
You’ve 2 choices: say nothing/play down what you’re experiencing because you don’t want to be a pest or feel silly OR go through all your ailments with the specialist.
I was firmly in the former camp. Didn’t want to seem weak, out of control, annoying. But I need to get over that. We all pay into the NHS. We have had cancer and need to be vigilant. We deserve to be listened to and taken seriously. So my advice would be to report everything explaining that you are worried and want to make sure you are bring vigilant.
At the very least you will be glad you got it all off your chest.
Thank you ladies for your kind words of wisdom! I came away from my appointment yesterday feeling more positive and my hubby said he was pleased with what was discussed - i know he isn’t comfortable in certain situations so i was glad he was there to hear everything! He had been with me all the way through (as have my parents and sister!) and has had to put up with a lot from me from being sick and moody to working from home (his workplace have been great) for days on end just so i wasn’t at home on my own sometimes and running me to hospital!!
I told the consultant what was in my head and she was happy that my mammo was okay in Feb (she had my surgeon pop in and check me over as well) and he will see me in 6 months. My skin rash on the same side as surgeries,etc was mostly topical and the creams i was given by gp (they tried 3 different ones)is not going to help and to use a pumice or one of those big squishy sponges you can get in a gift set (!!!) and gently rub it until it is smooth.
The swelling i had at the top of my spine and to the left where you head bends forward is going to be looked at by ultrasound to rule out anything suspect - it aches a lot and i get vague headaches and dizziness - but she said it might be something to do with a muscle inflammation. I have to take ibuprofen for 2 weeks and see if it improves. She did say that because the NHS is not rich (??!!) they wouldn’t offer MRI’s to everyone, so i would have no chance of one of those 3D MRI’s!!
I have also been recommended to try Yoga or Pilates which we cannot really afford, so I am on the waiting list for some Physio (at one point the waiting list here was 18 months!). So i guess on the whole it went okay, but there is always a small part of me that isn’t 100% about it all!!!
Thank you both again and I now look forward to what the Cardiologist has to say next month regarding my treatment related Irregular Heartbeat, which is driving me insane, it’s been particularly bad this week and i am just about comuing to the end of my rope with it!
Have a lovely weekend both of you ~ the sun is shining here in Swindon and it looks like it will for the next few days at least!
Cheers, Michele x
Hello Seashell so pleased, your appt went ok and you are feeling better today. You said about going to Yoga/Pilates, but the cost. My Gp has offered me a 12 week referral to the local leasuire centre. Maybe yours could do something similar, I think you don’t have to pay the full cost. could be something to try, or maybe a DVD and try it at home. I am lucky and go to a lovely lady, she has groups at various levels, and our group is renewal, designed for people with injuries etc, so good yesterday that I think I nodded off during the relaxation at the end.
Hope the appt with cardiologist goes ok.
Take Care,
Jenny xx
PS I’m not far from you, but going to RUH