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Erica_Shadiac's avatar
Erica_Shadiac
Member
13 years ago

Daunting....

Thought I'd check some other's websites. There is so much information from personal experiences here! Fantastic way to get ideas and help.

But it is also daunting..... There seem to be so many new things that can cause me grief with bits of my body. Having been someone who has hardly ever taken a sick day I am finding this extremely difficult to adjust to. Maybe some denial that this is really happening to me. But I think it is also the me that says no matter what happens I'll deal with it.

Lymphoedema - any cut, abrasion to my left arm could cause this (any time from here on in) and even to my flat breast. Cording - hmmm - thinking I might have that under my left arm. Makes it difficult to stretch the arm. So... do I see a physio to be proactive with learning to deal with drainage and my own massaging and am I doing enough in stretching my arm or do I need help...?? What happened to going for a jog, doing a bit of gardnening, carrying my grandkids or shifting furniture without a second thought!!??

coping
lymphoedema
  • Erica_Shadiac's avatar
    Erica_Shadiac
    Member
    13 years ago

    Mich, I can't believe how similar to me you seem to be in your thinking - you're just way ahead of me in the journey!

    "Women are like tea bags: you never know how strong they are until they're put in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

    Thanks again.

    Erica

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hey Erica

    I am glad you read some of the other posts but yes it is very daunting. The whole reading of other peoples stories is to prepare for the worst but guess what that may not happen to you, you may be lucky and be dealt a great set of cards and don't need to keep an ace up your sleeve.

    As you say you will deal with it and you will because you are already proactive and looking ahead for any issues and being prepared for what may happen. There may be lil things that sneak up on you but you are like me and you like to be informed and knowledgeable and know to expect the unexpected. You may be like some and sail through it all or like others and have to work hard to stay on top of it all but please just remember that it is doable.

    If you are strong, if you are prepared, if you have the love and support to help you get through, if you have BCNA and all us girls that know where you are coming from and what you are going thru you are armed and ready.

    There will be moments, there will be ups and downs but you have prepared yourself as best you can and you will just roll with the punches cause we are made of tuff stuff and that will help you get thru BUT if there is a time you need more than that then all you have to do is reach out to us your pink sisters, cancer council, family, loved ones, your medical team......there are so many people out there that are more than willing to be there to help you get through so you just have to ask and someone will be there.

    You are allowed to be frightened cause unfortunately that comes with the BC diagnosis but you will find you just get on with it cause that is what you have to do and you just work with it and you manage to get through it all. It is tougher for your loved ones than you because you are the one that is experiencing it every day and you just somehow deal with it and if you can't you reach out. Hopefully your loved ones will reach out if they need to as well.

    We are here for you, I am here for you so don't be scared, just keep yourself busy doing what you need to do and the rest will take care of itself.

    I know, we know, cause we have been there.

    Give us a yell if you need us.

    Lots of love always, Mich xoxo