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helen_anne's avatar
helen_anne
Member
13 years ago

I don't believe it!!

Hello everyone I hope this post finds you all well or at the least feeling positive on this journey. I thought I would tell you all the latest on my situations which is currently a bit bizarre!! But a situation I think we could all possibly learn from. To give you some background I finished chemo back in May 2012 but within a week contracted a serious infection in the bowel and was isolated in hospital for a week. Had to return to work one week later on very small hours and gradually worked up to the full hrs of my job by Christmas. During these 6 months I got lots of sniffles and snuffles, sore throats etc but nothing serious. I also had a bit of trouble adjusting back to work, accepting my limitations in that I'll never be able to work full time or in the high level career I had and consequently suffered from depression (this was my last post) but I'm happy to say I'm back to my old self and have a special project at work to do which I am enjoying. By now you're probably thinking 'So? Where is this leading?' Just as I thought things were going along fine - out of the blue - WHAM!!! I am down for the count!! I am back in good old Box Hill Hospital with some mystery virus that saw me admitted with a temp of 39.4 and a heart rate of over 150, shaking, shivering etc etc. I have had so many tests - CT , lumbar puncture, bloods taken from groin & foot (I was so dehydrated they couldn't get any from arms), x rays, MRI and are now awaiting blood cultures to see if they can figure out what it is. Meanwhile I've had abt 10 big bags of fluids and some very strong IV broad spectrum antibiotics to help with the infection. The ironic thing abt all this was I said to hubby 'if I didn't no that I wasn't on chemo, I'd swear I'm neutropenic'. And guess what - I am!!! This virus is attacking my white cells and I'm down to 0.14 when normal is around 4.0 - 3.0 (lowest scale of normal)!!! I should have been a bloody dr!! Anyway the point of this post is to really to show you that even though I'm 6 months or so post chemo - don't get a bit complicent in caring for yourself or over doing things which I have been guilty of!! I did not want to admit to myself that I am just not the same girl with the boundless energy I use to be. I was very much in denial that I had changed and when I returned to work, threw myself in full force ( much to my colleagues concern but nothing was going to stop me!) I did lots of things that I can look back on in retrospect now and think to myself - 'perhaps I should have taken it a bit quieter'! Still I have always been one if those people who has 5 things on the go at once, cancer or no cancer. My point is no matter where you are on the journey, or how long it's been since you've finished treatment - ALWAYS remember to take it easy and LISTEN to your body! Don't over do it! Put yourself and your health first and hopefully you won't have this happen to you. My complicency and 'she'll b right mate I've finished chemo' attitude has taught me a valuable lesson. I hope my post will help anyone out there think twice before going in gung-ho after the chemo/rad land treatment is finished. I'm expected to be in here for at least 5 days! Okay doctors - point taken - Helley will slow down and be a good girl (for the moment!) Bye for now

7 Replies

  • scotty's avatar
    scotty
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Helen, that was an interesting post poor you!!!!!! I hope you have learned to take it easy. Says me who does not though after your post I will try xx I have the other end of the health issue for us I have still got a lot of stress in my life estranged Husband who just won't stop giving me stress I can't leave Moe where I live because I have an 82 yr old Mother who I won't leave so I just have to put up with him he does not care that I got BC  sorry girls rant over just had to vent hope you all are well. Does Tamoxifen cause joint pain I feel about 90 hobbling around

  • Leonie_Moore's avatar
    Leonie_Moore
    Member
    13 years ago

    Thank you for your lovely comment.  I found this thought in my head a couple of weeks ago.  I hope it gives you something to hold onto.  "No need to live in awe of anyone - live like them!!"  You will "get there" - little steps at a time. XLeonie

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hey Helen

    I am so sorry you are so unwell and have had to endure so much all over again. I do thank you for sharing with us though. I think we all need a bit of a reminder to slow down a bit sometimes and that it does take time for us to get over this whole BC thing. I know I am still very up and down in my health and feelings. I would love to be to just go full steam ahead but unfortunately it isn't happening quite the way I had hoped.

    All the other ladies knowledge and experience is so very very welcome. I would love to be more like Leonie and have the attitude to life that she has. I guess sometimes we have to take a few very hard knocks to make us sit up and take note.

    I am wishing you a very speedy recovery and that your time in hospital will be as pleasant as possible. Hoping you bounce back and like quite a few of us heed the warnings/advice to take it easy.

    Lots of love, Mich xoxo

  • Leonie_Moore's avatar
    Leonie_Moore
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Helen,  I hear everything you say.  You have been through a lot and I can "hear" that you are "learning lots" about yourself and life along this journey.  My Pink Sister friends told me that it takes 2 good years after you finish chemo to feel "like your old self" again.  And this is if you haven't had any challenges along the way.  Every time I did /do too much and felt/feel horrible I remember this  We are so eager to get back to where we were before BC that we forget to "Go with the flow" of things.  I have learnt so much and now heed my body.  I too gave up work after this second diagnosis and also moved house after 23 years of living in the other house (yes Tonya and I are twins).  I have totally embarked on being well.  I go to a Life Coach, Keneisologist, Chiropractor and Lymphatic massage on a regular basis.  I take concentrated herb supplements, relax as much as I can and avoid anything or anyone negative.  If I can't fully avoid negativity I have strategies to "get me through it".  I only read books about people who have achieved amazing feats.I continually remind myself to "think" and act in the only way that works - with LOVE and CARING.  It has taken me a long time to get to this point.  I am loving it.  I no longer REACT to others I RESPOND in a loving and caring manner.  It is really working for me.  Rest up Pink Sister - you owe it to yourself. XLeonie

  • Tracey_Lou's avatar
    Tracey_Lou
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi ya, Hope your starting to feel better xoxo Not a long message just wanting to let you know I'm thinking of you and sending you Big Hugs and positive vibes xoxoxo Tracey
  • Tracey_Lou's avatar
    Tracey_Lou
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi ya, Hope your starting to feel better xoxo Not a long message just wanting to let you know I'm thinking of you and sending you Big Hugs and positive vibes xoxoxo Tracey
  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    13 years ago

    Oh you poor darl,that's awful to think you are back in hospital.I am so sorry for you.Don't blame yourself because this can happen whether you are lying on a couch or working gung ho.I think we are so intent on getting back to "normal"as if to prove to ourselves that the cancer has gone. I know I don't have the same energy I had before chemo.I have to take extra drugs to counteract the Tamoxifen side effects and I feel tired alot of the time. Just when we get abit of confidence and climb back on our perch,something comes along to knock us off. I have to go for tests this week because I've had some spotting(3 years post menopause).I've started thinking that it would just be my luck  to be the one in whatever to get uterine cancer. Not fair is it -we've done the hard yards and now just want to get on with our lives.I cringe when I think of all those horrible tests you've had to endure - especially the lumbar puncture,ouch!!!! I hope you are out of hospital soon and return to a slower pace but doing more enjoyable things for you. After I had been back at work for a year after chemo,I just snapped one day and decided to leave my job of 16yrs and sell my house of 23yrs.I couldn't be happier! I'm not saying do the same but sometimes we need to make changes in order to enjoy  life more.I hope you find your balance and get your health back soon Helen.Love and hugs to you tonight- Tonya xxx