Working while waiting for surgery

Hi Katieh,

everyone else has made such excellent suggestions! I’m just going to add my own coping strategies to the mix. I found it weirdly helpful to focus on after-the-surgery and after the radiation when I decided I’d be too demoralised, tired and just flattened to do anything. So I cooked and filled the freezer (my husband has three signature dishes and I didn’t want them on high rotation - there is only so much pesto I can eat in a week, much as I love it). I filled my bookcase with a mixture of reading material and gathered my knitting supplies together. I went to a couple of things I thought I’d miss otherwise - a show at the NGV. I did work (I work part-time online) but I didn’t push it. These unfortunate events are what sick leave is for.

I tried not to pretend everything was normal - because it sure the hell wasn’t. I let myself cry - a lot. I journaled a lot because I find that therapeutic. I made lists - what makes me happy, things to be grateful for, books I wanted to read, sewing projects…nothing fancy, nothing out-of-reach. 

And, honestly, I’m now two weeks post radiation therapy and I’m still doing the same things. Everything has gone well but emotionally I’m struggling so I’m trying to take one day at a time and giving myself time to grapple back some resilience. I think the world kind of badgers us to get through stuff, get to the other side! stay positive! but sometimes it’s more realistic to create a soft, forgiving nest for yourself, hunker down and slowly, quietly meet your new self and learn to love her.