Loosing it today
Shorelle
Member Posts: 80 ✭
Hi Ladies,
In need od a pep talk. Been very emotional this week just wondering if its back. You all know the feeling. I get these expanders out in March so they are at 500mls each and heavy and hard. But my breathing feels laboured and have a niggling cough. Also hay fever symptoms for months so hoping its nothing more. What is the benefit of getting it checked. If its spread do I really want to know. Are there benegits of finding it early? 3 little girls need me so Im not coping with these thoughts.
In need od a pep talk. Been very emotional this week just wondering if its back. You all know the feeling. I get these expanders out in March so they are at 500mls each and heavy and hard. But my breathing feels laboured and have a niggling cough. Also hay fever symptoms for months so hoping its nothing more. What is the benefit of getting it checked. If its spread do I really want to know. Are there benegits of finding it early? 3 little girls need me so Im not coping with these thoughts.
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hi @Shorelle
Lets do a pep talk .... pull those big girl panties up and get in and get it checked out the sooner the better you do know that ....
Now come here and have a cuddle and a bit of a sook.... sending you energy to be brave and go and see the GP or Onco etc and get whatever needs to be done to rule our recurrence
I dont have the experience of the expanders but I know @primek has that experience so I know she and others will respond regarding those.....
Breathing could be laboured because you are anemia or have Asthma, the niggling cough could be reflux people dont realise it can cause just a cough..... it might be simple things like some nexium for the reflux some ventolin for the breathing or it might be something else only way to know is to get it checked...
But you know you need to get it checked out...
Yes you want to know there are benefits to finding it early, because the sooner you know if it is a recurrence then the sooner they can treat it and give you a long life, I know women who have had mets for 10+ years now .....
Please go and get it checked those 3 little girls need their mum to look after herself so she is here to look after them....
big hugs
soldierCrab4 -
If you're concerned, get it checked out. Go to your GP for starters. I've become a frequent flier with my GP, from someone who rarely went! It's normal to get worried at times, but if it's interfering with your ability to function, maybe some counselling would help.
I don't know for sure, but I would think that if it is spread, early diagnosis would help.
Again, talk to someone, maybe even the BCNA helpline, or a cancer council counsellor.
Take care, Lyn0 -
The expanders are stretching your pectoral muscles. I didn't like that one bit and I felt like I was getting squeezed. Trying to avoid the sensation had me taking quite shallow breaths. I was not a happy camper.
You still need to get it checked out. Marg1 -
I initially felt quite out of breath when I exercised with my reconstruction and was scared as I did have some heart failure from chemo. (All good now). What I worked out was when I was doing things my chest muscles were going tight and with the implants I just felt short of breath. Once I figured out what it was I'd take a big breath and just drop my shoulders saying relax...and bingo no tightness. It takes time and even after changeover it takes time. I'm 8 months from changeover and only now does it feel relaxed over the implant. I have to massage it too...as per surgeon.
Now think about what your heads going to do if you don't get checked out. You will just lay awake, worry all day and become teary and it will just suck the joy out of life. See a Dr. Get the check. And if all good...big sigh of relief. If not...there is still so much that can be done.
We get it. I've had pelvic scans. Spinal CTs and most recently a dental OPG. Before all of them even though I knew it was a) a virul bug b) arthritis and c) a bloody dental abscess...the fact that they weren't text book presentations scared the hell out of me. Who would think one would be happy they have a dental abscess and gladly have a tooth pulled? . But...just for a moment when I had weird jaw pain that 2 dentists were puzzled over ...was I terrified it was brain mets causing neuropathy or a bone met in my jaw.
Happy to say all is well with me. But the fear is just below the surface. Tell the Dr what you are worried about. The Drs I have seen have been absolutely compassionate about my fear and very very thorough and not dismissive at all. X2 -
@SoldierCrab whats the benefits of knowing its spread. I cant deal with that. My big girl pants dont exist anymore.0
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@Shorelle Most likely it hasn't. I've had to do some back reading but I believe you have an estrogen responsive cancer since you are on Tamoxifen. Is that correct?
What are the benefits of knowing?
Well changing treatment paths for a start.
Even if it has returned there is treatment. My sister had advanced metasteses. She lived to see her children marry and even met some of her grandies. It wasn't an easy life but it was filled with love and joy. It was worth having the treatment to stabilise the mets.
Not knowing and just worrying will just make you miserable. What if it hasn't spread and you spend years just being fearful. At least by knowing you can be doing something to improve your health and giving yourself your best shot . Kath x
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OK @Shorelle
The benefits of knowing it has spread .....- lets see your team can get onto it and reverse it and stop it if it is early enough...
- you know what you are fighting and then you can get help and fight the bitch again if needed.
- YOU find out it is something simple like asthma or reflux or your expanders and muscle pain
- you have peace of mind once you know
- your team will be aware of the symptoms and will address them promptly (I have a g/f who had recurrence, she promptly alerted her team had tests yes it was a recurrence.... they gave her 6 months chemo (not as horrible as her first chemos.).. 9months later no evidence of disease she is healthy and getting on with life.) they told because she was prompt they were able to treat it and she has her life for that.
- no stressing so therefore you can relax and heal
- you can be more present with your girls (because while we stress/worry) we are not present with our family but in our heads stressing...
- accepting that you have beaten this disease. it is doable and you are capable of wearing those big girl panties.
- After surgery my surgeon said technically we are cancer free the radiation and chemo is to mope up any stray cells.
I have taken the steps to get support from a psychologist and I go promptly to the GP if I have any symptoms that are troubling me...
You are the only one who can pull those big girl panties up..... Those pants do exist because you have 3 girls who needs to see their mother fighting like a girl showing them she is strong and she will not lay down and give up.
we have your back, we will listen and support you but you are the one who has to get off the proverbial couch and do something....
do you have a breast care nurse? ask her to refer you to see the counsellor or get a mental health plan to see a psychologist under medicare we have a right to that after our diagnosis.
Hugs
SoldierCrab
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Getting it checked won't change what it currently is but will either put your mind at rest or get you on treatment to sort it. It doesn't make it easy. My mantra so far has been: It is what it is. And it's all about the kids, isn't it? Being there for them. So have a cry (do it in the doctor's office if you need to) and make the appointment. Have you got someone to take you? You've got lots of shoulders here when you need to lean.1
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Hello @Shorelle,
Don't hesitate to call the helpline on 1800 500 258 and speak with one of our cancer nurses or breast care nurse.
It can be really helpful to talk about what is going on for you.
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I agree with all of the above. Get it checked out, and move on from there with whatever is necessary. I felt like this when I had my expanders in and they were only about 400mls. Worry is unfortunately quite common and it's best to just deal with it and you are more than likely just fine. Please call the help line, it's great to talk to someone who can talk you through it and is also a professional.It will also make you feel better just saying it all out loud to someone who is not family. Tell them your fears,cry if you want to, but do it. Lean on your friends, they want to help you.1
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Shorelle have you spoken with the BCNA helpline? if you haven't been to the Doctor yet have you made an appointment ?
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I spoke with them today. Im seeing Inc on Monday. Do you all feel its serious????0
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I dont know if it is serious I just know that your own peace of mind will be the outcome of getting it checked out no matter what it is or isn't .... I knew you were struggling and wish I could make it easier for you to get support and help and checked if that makes sense.
We all struggle as we go through this shitty roller coaster ride from hell.......
But we also go through treatments and come out the other side and after a while begin to reclaim our lives.....
You have so much to focus on your girls etc.....
I am happy to read you spoke with the helpline and have an appt on Monday....
I pray it is something easy and simple and nothing wrong at all but the expanders or the body healing from the treatments.
Soldiercrab
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