Hi, Just wondering if any one else was suffering from mood swings and more so, since chemo and radiation. I go up and down and get uptight about little things. I have some starflower oil from the health shop to see if that helps, but have only been taking it for a couple of weeks.
Kay
It would be good to let oncologist know how hard things are for you. Our bodies suffer a lot under treatment. My body cracks if off my diet for more than 4-5 days.
My 'old' GP wanted to put me on antidepressent for severe insomnia saying it was stress from cancer diagnosis and to see psychologist. I declined the antidepressent and went and saw Psychologist. While under intial treatment I felt no stress but later when took back responsibilities of motherhood stress increased and the psychologist who practised cognitive behavioural therapy helped me immensely. I have done close to 50 hours with psychologist and it has helped immensely. Emotionally have never been better in my life. I see her as mentor and plan to keep going. I encourage you to work with psychologist as I would never have believed how good I could feel.
With treatment our bodies can do crazy things. My supplements help keep my hormones mostly balanced.
Hi Kay
Oh dear! It hasn't occured to me that I might not be getting back to work as normal! I was surprised when my oncologist signed me off for 3 months and when I realised that I have been not working either at all or part time for 5 and am still tired!
Kay, I have some days where my mood changes hourly. I have recognised that there are some days I simply cannot trust myself with other people in case I bite their heads off and this is completely unlike me. I am on Zoloft too which has made a positive difference and I am somewhat calmer but cannot get used to only being able to do one thing then wanting a sleep - or not so much "wanting" but sitting down to have a cup of tea and falling asleep!
My radiation oncologist has told me to calm down and to stop trying to rush things - it can take up to a year from diagnosis to feel either normal or back on your way to normal and for some it takes longer. This is not a disease that is only physical and I was really not aware of the emotional and mental toll it takes on each of us. I am so grateful to you for raising this topic!
susie
My income protection with Q Super (govt) ends in January. My current medical cert ends on 31st December. Lots of decisions to make. It is quite scarey to think about a Total and Permanent Disability to end my "career" but I think if my specialist agrees with this I think it is the only way for me to go. One good thing in my favour to make my decision easier is my age. At 55 I can access my super - not that it is enough to take me too far. I have put all the choices on paper - had a bit of time whilst hubby is away working this weekend. Thought, now that I have written it all down, I might meditate on it to help with an answer.XLeonie
I think it takes many months to get some energy back after chemo.Good that you can chill out and go with the flow.When do you have to return to work? Last year it was so important to me to return to work as soon as I got over chemo.Guess I wanted normality back and prove to myself that I was ok.Now I'm ready to toss work. Not an easy decision to make is it.
Tonya xx
I got terrible mood swings when I stopped chemo and started Tamoxifen. My poor hubby had to keep me away from the knives!! I ended up taking a very low dose antidepressant(endep 10mg)which also helped with hot flushes and helped me sleep.
Tonya xx
