DIBH anxiety post treatment

@JoeyLiz Yes I find focusing on my breath makes me anxious generally. When I pay attention to it I feel like I can’t breathe deeply enough , like my breaths are too shallow and I need to gasp for air. But I did get used to it during radiation after the first few times so it ended up being fine.

@JoeyLiz i did the dibh. Nearly 5years ago now  Practiced a lot before rads started. The staff were really helpful. 

I played a game with myself by counting when I had to do the DIBH, I practised it before hand when I couldn’t go to sleep. I only had one time when I had a problem doing it, in the last session I wasn’t on the same machine and it didn’t have the screen to watch while you were doing it so it just wasn’t the same. 

Hi @JoeyLiz. I didn't do dibh despite left sided tumour.  It simply wasn't suggested and I didn't know about it until reading something here on the forum. Having said that, it takes a conscious effort to stay calm during scans. I can't imagine the feeling that breath holding would invoke. I doubt you're alone in those feelings

Other than that, how are you?

I couldn't hold my breath, I waivered too much and couldn't stay within the "lines" I was meant to.  When I went for the practise of the DIBH I went well the first time, then the following two times I couldn't do it, and they knew I would have trouble as I had double appointments (both breasts), so they found another way around it, I am not sure exactly how they did that!  The radiation therapist said they have other ways for people that cannot manage to do the DIBH correctly, I just kept breathing too deeply, I could hold my breath, but not at the consistent depth.  I have had follow up ECG's and heart scans etc. and nothing sinister going on, and I hope it stays that way :)

I was worried before treatment when the rad onc told me that I had to do it. I remember practicing before I started treatment & I thought there was no way i would be able to hold my breath for that long. I did however, surprise myself during treatment. I remembered the cover of a book that was given to me by my BC nurse. It was a picture of a beautiful landscape. So peaceful & tranquil. I focused on remembering that picture & shut my eyes. I got through every session apart from the very last one, when they had to stop the machine as I took a breath. They all commented on how good i was & that there was only one time that it didn't work...i guess i cant be perfect all the time & it also proved that the rad machine does stop as soon as it detects that you have taken a breath!! xx

Hi 

I find i get anxious about all the scans, tests etc now. I practice meditation which helps but it is all rather unsettling. Maybe time helps but seems to me it is something I will need to work on.

Thankyou @iserbrown.   Yes @JoeyLiz this is what I had but didn't know what it was called.   I do have  anxiety when I have a scan I think it's just everything all comes back to me.  Sending you a hug. 

https://www.petermac.org/DIBH#:~:text=Deep%20inspiration%20breath%20hold%20(DIBH)%20is%20a%20radiation%20therapy%20technique,move%20away%20from%20your%20chest.

What does dibh mean.