Lost in the aftermath!!!!
Hello ladies
just wondering if anyone else out there can relate?Im finished chemo(end of march)and 6 weeks out from surgery,all recovering well thanfully.But i cant seem to shift the 'lost'feeling.I have gone from the safe cocoon of appointments with various surgeons mostly telling me what i had to do and having dates pencilled in for pretty much every week.Now its 3 weekly visits for herceptin,see the breast surgeon in 6 months and the plastic surgeon in 3 months.I have yet to see the oncologist consultant(whom i have only ever met once before chemo).Dont take me wrong im delighted to be done,but nobody tells or helps you to readjust to the new normal we all live now.I get up in morn get kids out to school ,and then wonder what to do,so of course the mind wanders.
Im sure its early days yet and i will pull myself together,but does anyone else understand?
xx
Comments
Girls,
If you are in Dublin, Arc in Eccles Street or South Circular, will kindly provide counselling, (and other therapies) related to your cancer experience. Just get in touch with them and they'll set up an appointment; it's a fantastic service.
Mind yourselves,
xx
Can totally relate to how you're feeling. I had Mx and auxillary node clearance in Jan, after 6 months of chemo, and this was followed by 5 wks of radiotherapy. Am now on Tamoxifen for next 5 years - and that appears to be it! Am back at work, feeling fine but, yes, sometimes feel a wee bit lost...
I text the breast care nurses a couple of months back, asking if I needed any more checks on remaining boob, didn't get any replies and felt really ignored, so I text again (a bit shirtily) and then felt guilty cos I know they are so busy with other patients and that I should be just getting on with things and be glad that the cancer is gone. They made an appointment for mammo on other boob for next Jan, that seems sooo long away. I did ask if I could pop along to clinic some day as I still have discomfort in my arm from node removal, and I haven't heard re reconstruction yet.
I think our feelings are quite normal and am hopeful they'll ease in time.
Lost, yes a normal reaction to the end of daily/regular support from the medics. We don't even realise how dependant we get to that regular contact. Councilling can be the answer and as suggested earlier, in Dublin the ARC group are fantastic because they don't only have the councilling available but also some other relaxation therapies.
Don't be too hard on yourself, be kind to yourself and give yourself the time you need to come to terms with the adventure. I've been where you are...time is very helpful to the healing process, but not being too patient with it all I've found it to be a bit frustrating. Councilling did help me, gave the adventure and the post adventure feelings some perspective.
Positives to you 
Hi Wilmaone,
can relate totally, finished Herceptin in Feb & just can't get my act together. Tried going back to work part-time but am now back out on sick leave. Between the physical symptoms of exhaustion & total lack of focused thinking (my brain is now a cloud) & the side effects of Tamoxifen & also the emotional kick-in after treatment. I think I went thru the year just fighting for survival and now that it's complete - successfully thank God - I can't seem to deal with "normal" life. Am loooking at going for some sort of councelling but haven't a clue of what or where I will get this. Am patient in Beaumont.
Take care,
xxx
