Hello everyone
Reading these posts is incredibly reassuring.
When I was diagnosed in Feb, everyone at work was so supportive and they’ve continued to be so throughout the whole thing (op in March - mastectomy with immediate DIEP recon).
My recovery has been reasonably straightforward, so physically I was feeling well. But as the return to work approached, I found myself in tears quite a bit. Would I be able to cope? Would my staff feel confident that I could still manage them effectively? Had my deputy been doing too good a job?!!
The boss agreed I could do a phased return - 2 days, 3 days, 4 days etc, but in practice, once I was back I was back and it meant working at full speed immediately. Even on days I wasn’t actually in college, I was working from home and couldn’t switch off. By the summer holidays I was absolutely shattered. We’ve now just started the new academic year and so far things are ok…but I do get moments where I have real crises of confidence. Physically I feel fine, but I keep wondering whether I’m going to sustain coping with things emotionally and psychologically - has anyone else experienced these doubts?
I guess it’s only natural. I know I have to be able to do the job I did before March and I can’t expect anyone to make allowances. But in reality, we’ve all had a life changing experience and it’s something that we’ve got to cope with alongside resuming work again.
Is there anyone slightly further down the line who can say when it is you stop thinking about what you’ve been through almost every hour of every day?
Love to all who’ve been there and are coping with life back at the coal face.
Lizzie x