Am I the only one frustrated by all this? I simply don’t have time to be unwell right now. I am a sheep farmer, fortunately on a small scale, and lambing is due to start next week. I don’t have the physical fitness to cope with this, as I am recovering from two loads of surgery this month. I also start chemo beginning April. I look at the garden and am desperate to get on with the vegetable garden, but can’t. My left arm is really sore and pretty useless at the moment (despite exercises). Is frustration one of the stages we go through before acceptance? All my treatment happened so quickly I think I went straight from shock to acceptance, missing out denial etc. I’m usually physically active, and this recuperation etc is just SO FRUSTRATING. Any ideas on how to cope would be much appreciated! Thanks
Sue no suggestions (apart from not overdoing it!) but yes I think frustration is on eof the “stages”, it is part of the denial and shock we go through. It helped me to realise that I AM actually doing something pretty major, I am putting all my strength and resources into beating this damned disease, it could be the most testing thing I ever do in my life. My son moans when he comes home from work if he has to help out and says but I have been at work all day what have you been doing? My husband says she has been busy recovering from cancer actually…
Take it steady
Louise x
Thanks Louise. I fully intend to beat this, but there’s other things to do too! It certainly is good you have your husband’s support. Mine reacted badly initially and needed to see the doctor himself, to reassure himself HE didn’t have cancer again! ARGH! Anyway, he’s happy now and is putting his energies into making my life a bit easier. Maybe i should get him to dig over the veg patch!
Power to you in your fight against this disease and thanks once again for taking the time to tell me this is normal.
Hi Sue,
I think one goes through a whole range of emotions with this nasty disease. You are bound to feel tired and frustrated after two lots of surgery. In my experience energy levels vairy at different stages of the treatment (lots of people find the chemo exhausting - it wasn’t too bad for me ). It is Hugely frustrating at times but I think one has to learn to pace onself (easier said than done). I think you might need some help with the lambing - especially the nights? What sort of sheep do you have? I used to have shropshires and still miss the buzz of lambing.
cheers
caroline
I have Ryelands. I seriously helped someone through my work at CAB last year, and he kindly offered to help me with lambing this year. It’s the days that are a problem - at night my husband and daughter will be around. I know it’s just a moan, but it is hugely frustrating at this busy time of year to be so inactive. I’m sure you’ll understand. There’s just so much that NEEDS DONE! Why did you give up the Shropshires (just looked them up on internet - rather similar to Ryelands in many ways)? I do hope it wasn’t because of your health. The only thing keeping me going at the moment is the fact that it is just this year that’s screwed up - no showing sheep at the Highland and local shows etc.
Hi Sue,
Ryelands are lovely I especially like the little coloured ones just like Teddy bears- although I believe the ‘pedigree’ folk rather look down their noses at them - something to do with the wool not being quite so good? Anyway i hope you get a good ‘crop’ of lambs - they really lift your spirtis don’t they? We now have cattle -which is why i gave up the sheep - they just weren’t getting enough attention.
cheers
caroline
lol - the Ryelands have a very good staple - ideal for hand spinning, which I usually do, but can’t because of "cording"at the moment (another frustration - it’s a good way to pass time stuck in the house!). There is a definite prejudice against coloured Ryelands though! However, there’s a sub group within the Flock Book who are doing their best to address it. I’m not bothered either way - it’s just easier to see white ones at night! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with their wool as far as I can see.
My chemo starts Thursday, so I have sent the family away on holiday! I want to be alone to deal with this, not worry about how hubby and kids (16 &15) are coping. Once I’m through the first session, I’ll know what to expect. In the meantime, I’m enjoying peace and quiet; control of the tv remote and eating whatever I fancy!
What kind of cattle do you have? How have you coped with BC as well as a farm to run?
Hi Sue,
Hope all went well with your first chemo and it hasnt left you too spaced out. i found getting out in the fresh air helped me quite a bit - sort of clears your head. We have dairycattle (mostly fresian/holsteins but also some Jerseys) I don’t have a lot to do with the cattle (just the pigs, goats ponies and assorted hens!) so the treatment didn’t make a huge difference to my input on the farm but i think it was quite hard for my husband who was doing a lot of the running around with me and trying to run the business.
Hope the lambing goes well - still raining here!
cheers
caroline
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for thinking of me. All went well with first chemo. Felt a bit spaced out Saturday, but ok again today. I was even well enough to catch up with the clay pigeon shooting club for coffee (didn’t shoot, my left underarm too flaming sore!). Then I caught up with other friends in the next village for another coffee! Went home and cleared the path of snow then went for a walk in snow with husband. If I feel this good tomorrow I’ll nip into work (it’s voluntary, so they can’t sack me if I don’t show up!).
No lambs. Just as well - they’d have hypothermia in this. Last year I had twins with hypothermia in MAY. I’m not up to sticking newborns in the Rayburn to warm up right now.
Dairy cattle is SUCH work - what an amazing commitment. I was watching Landward on Friday night and they were saying about Freisans being “the” dairy breed, and I said to hubby there are precious few around now, they are mostly crosses.
Take care
Sue x
Hi Sue,
Hope you don’t mind me joining the thread. You made me laugh when you said that your hubby had to get himself checked out as he thought he had cancer. He sounds a bit like my hubby who told his family he’s got diabetes - this was because he was weeing a lot and read a leaflet. His parents came down the next day in a panic telling my here you are ill and now he’s got diabetes! - i had to tell them it was a self diagnosis!. After blood tests he was fine.
Take care
Sukes
lol Sukes! MEN! Am positive I did the right thing getting him out of the way whilst I had my first chemo in peace! Glad your hubby was fine…mine actually IS diabetic! How you doing?
Take care
Sue x