Forum Discussion
Not doing so well
Hi everyone. I thought I'd get on to share that after my MBC diagnosis 2 weeks ago, I am struggling. I'm on Ribo/Fulvestrant combo for treatment and two weeks in am doing okay physically. I wish I could say the same mentally. Having read many of the posts, I'm ashamed to want to post at all, but I wanted to reach out to see how others coped mentally in those first few weeks. I have had no success getting hold of a psychologist; you have to wait weeks. I feel depressed, sad and have only been able to cry in the last few days, and usually what prompts that is when I ask my best friend how he is coping and I see how he is struggling too. When he says 'I can't fix this' my heart breaks. I went to the supermarket the other day and felt like I was having an out of body experience. I have anxiety, not helped by lack of sleep, although that is better after I spoke to a GP and refused to get off the phone until she prescribed a sleeping tablet, so I've had a few more hours sleep since Sunday. I shake, inside and out. I feel numb, scared and when I set down to doing some work, I lack confidence.
So my question to you is, how did you manage when you first learned you had MBC? What did you do to help yourself? Any suggestions are warmly welcomed. Thank you sisters
So my question to you is, how did you manage when you first learned you had MBC? What did you do to help yourself? Any suggestions are warmly welcomed. Thank you sisters
22 Replies
- @LDP also I occasionally attended 2 cancer support groups, but now they have disbanded, thanks to the virus !!!!!!!!!
- @LDP I am not always positive. Although I often remind myself to embrace the changes I have to make or had to make. I will send you a private message.
- Thank you @Keeping_positive. Yes I wouldn't mind knowing where you attended. I like your ID name; I too so want to be positive but 3 weeks in from diagnosis, I'm still processing and that's why I want the support. How do you maintain your positivity?
- @LDP most people tend to think anybody can use the ONJ Wellness Centre, but that isn't the case. I had some treatment there, but changed to a closer hospital to me because I found the Centre to be so busy and buzzers going off all the time, and roaming musicians singing in peoples faces whilst having chemo in the chemo room. Have you visited the Wellness Centre? I was shocked at the lack of calmness, and outpatients had buzzers handed to them, so I would hear buzzers going off all the time when it was their time to be seen by the medical team. Granted they have 2 breast care nurses, but they are so stressed, and I would often see them with an outpatient that looked very ill indeed, I would have felt I was taking the time away from a patient in more need than me.
I wonder if you could find a smaller public hospital a bit further away that would allow the breast care nurse to contact you. Message me if you want to know where I went and I could not fault the care I had there. Take care, and it can be a maze trying to get the care you need/want, but I wouldn't say that the public system is superior to the private system, they are just so different. - Yes @cranky_granny, all those Fs apply including the one you choose not to use. I'm hanging in there best I can.
- @LDP. Hopefully one of the Melbourne crew can give you some advice on what’s available in Melbourne for you. Being from Sydney outer west i know nothing about Melbourne Services. The help line is a great place to start.I would be surprised if anyone on here that didn’t go through the roller coaster of emotions
the F/F’s are a my description. Fatigue, Flattened (as in no enthusiasm), Frustrated, Frightened, Forgetful, theres another F that i could insert but for decency I will leave it out.My medication gives me all those feelings even though i know I’m stable at the moment time seems to drag I’m often checking out Friday Funnies when Im having a down moment and always on the lookout for them to post. Along with the strategies the councillor gave me to use.Hang in there 💐 LDP - Hi @Fufan. I'm trying everything I know. One day I will ask and the immediate response will be 'Yes'
- Hi @cranky_granny. There seems to be something to be said about the public system by all accounts. I have the Olivia Newton John Wellness Centre in Melbourne just over the hill from me. Can I use it? No, wasn't treated there! Have to persevere!
- Hi @KimF I hope all went well with the surgeon. Yes, the unknown and loss of control! It's hard.
- Thank you @Afraser. Trust me I have asked everybody I know of and will continue to do so.
