Hi
I have been so busy trying to get the right treatment that the fear could not find a space to hit me but now i am just waiting for more surgery I realise how bad my situation could be, having had this lump for 5-6 years ( grade 2 invasive ductal carsinoma, dcis not all removed, nodes not done yet) and cannot stop thinking about possible outcomes.
the nightmares and insomnia have hit and it makes me realise how brave everyone is who has reached and overcome this time.
does anyone know what the 3 month window is, the surgeon mentioned it and we got side tracked so cannot find out until I phone someone next week.
thanks for reading this keep well
chris
Hi Chris,
I think the 3 month window is After surgery when Chemo should be starting. They give you 3 months to recover or allow for further surgery. I had grade 2 invasive duct carc but had to have 3 further re-excisions to get rid of dcis around the margins. My Nodes were 1 out of 10. I started Chemo 10 weeks after first surgery.
You need to wait for your results to get the bigger picture and make sure that you get a frank response to your questions. Write some questions down and take someone with you because I felt sometimes that you were bombarded with info and it was too much to take in.
Its now 10 months after my DX and I,m fighting fit. Please stay positive, YOU CAN DO IT.
Best wishes to you Love Andrea xx
One piece of advice I was given to deal with nightmares has worked well for me and may help you I hope so.
First don’t just lay there and try and get back to sleep. If you can try this:
get out of bed and go and write down what you’re having nightmares about.
Write down what outcome you’d like to see, imagine that and go back to bed.
I have had some of the weirdest twisted nightmares.
I found writing them down made me realise how daft some of them were.
Hope it helps you.
Angie
thank you Andrea and Angie
you have both made me feel better already, I think sometimes it just needs to be looked at with common sense by people who have experienced the same, when fear steps in its like switching off the brain and nothing works.
have you ever dreamt you were trying to get somewhere quick but your feet felt like they were stuck in treacle and you moved in slow motion.
You know I took my husband with me to appointments but the whole situation seems to overwhelm him and he takes in less than me, I understand really because he is so afraid for me. I wish I had taken my daughter who is quite calm and would be very logical, my husband would be upset not to come with me so I might take them both for any other appointments. He really does do his best and puts up with my moods.
I have decided to go for a mastectomy because I have already lost a big chunk and the margins are not clear. I have a good surgeon in birmingham who said I can keep the breast with the dcis if I have to start chemo and have the mastectomy after with immediate recon. its just the waiting now, I think thats why the fear has raised it ugly head and I have more questions.
keep well everyone
chris
Hi Chris
Sorry you’re having nightmares.
I think that to begin with we deal so much with all the physical sides of this disease that we don’t give ourselves time to deal with the emotional side too
My nightmares have been hideous, but have been while I’m awake If you see what I mean), and have more been an overwelming sense of dread or horror when I come across a situation
Hope things ease for you, Rebecca
I must add that my nightmares have pretty much stopped since I got my results and I had double mastectomy 4 weeks ago.
The pain is going down now, my energy levels are picking up and I’m starting to eat better.
I think this is because I’m making a point of going for a nice long walk almost every day. Fresh air and exercise is known to help with sleep and I think watching spring coming up is also really helpful. It’s jsut a simple act of distraction.
I know I’m likely to still need chemo myself but I’m enjoying the next few weeks and eating manuka huney etc to build myself up so I’d say get some excersise and distract yourself with lovely things and when you wake from the nightmare make yourself think of something you’ve seen or done in the last few days to cheers yourself up.
Oh and repeat:
“This too will pass”
trust me it will, you will adapt.
Dear Chris it does stay with you for ages especially at night but you get through it because you must.My chemo started 10 weeks after WLE.I hope you will come to Grinshill on April 11th.There are now 6 if you come,you could bring your daughter if you want to.Maybe meet there at about 12.45 and have a bar meal ad lots of time to talk afterwards.Everyone here has been where you are and we understand your fears.On a practical note what are you waiting for if not the mastectomy?Have you had a sentinel node biopsy?Have you had hormone/herceptin results after your first op?How big was the invasive tumour?Just ring me if you want to talk about anything.Love,Valx
Hi All thanks for the replies.
I am already walking a couple of miles 3 times a week just to get fitter but stopped dieting because it is not good when having any op, apparently it interferes with healing.
The next op. will take me to 9 weeks since the first one and then another 2 weeks for the results, all other results are going to the first hospital I was treated by and although they have been asked for all my notes they have sent very little to the new hospital I am being treated by so its a bit worrying. i think this is why the nightmares and insomnia are happening. I am going to chase up on my notes on Tuesday. Don’t you just hate holidays when you need to contact people in situations like this.
Horace, nothing has changed since we spoke in the cafe last week. I have replied to 2 of your other postings including the one about going for a meal and said in both of them that I cannot come because I am having the op on the 11 April although the meal is the preferable option.
keep well
chris