Forum Discussion

loz81's avatar
loz81
Member
10 years ago

Isolation

So i have finished my AC treatments now and am onto weekly treatments of taxol.  One down, eleven to go!!  I think that so far i have been one of the lucky ones with my treatments.  I haven't really had any nausea, I've been using the cold caps so I still have a fair bit of hair, still have my appetite.  My worst side effect is probably my tiredness and lack of energy.  I did however end up in hospital after my last AC treatment for being neutropenic, luckily is wasn't a very long stay.

At the moment i'm struggling a little bit with feeling isolated from everyone.   I don't serve customers at work at case any of them are sick and I pick up an infection.  I haven't seen my brother/nephews in almost two weeks because they have been sick so of course I'm not able to be near them.  I've been dealing with it ok up until now, but the last few days i've started to feel alone and isolated from everyone.  I know that it is for my own good but it still gets me down.  I guess i just have to take it one day at a time.

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scalp-cooling
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  • InkPetal's avatar
    InkPetal
    Member
    10 years ago

    I feel you :( Not in the treatment way, that's still to come for me, but just like being the only one, I know you can probably relate only being 34 and all, everyone my age is getting on with life and I'm stuck here. I haven't been able to find work around study, and now I've dropped study back on my oncologists advice and it's like my whole world is shrinking and I'm just horribly alone even where there are people around me. Really looking forward to normal in that far distant place.

    Maybe start making some regular phone calls to friends? ...I hate being on the phone but I can see it being a really useful thing to stave off the loneliness soon.

  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    10 years ago

    So far what has served me well is to eat an antibacterial stepsil before I enter any Drs, hospital, shopping centre or go visiting. Any visitors to my place also eat one to dampen anything they might unwittingly pass on.

    We used to go to the Brisbane ekka every year and it was a whole day of competition. Every year the whole family would suck a strepsils especially before entering the show bag pavilion and none of us ever got sick. One year we forgot to bring the strepsils and we all copped the flu.

  • Scared_Mum's avatar
    Scared_Mum
    Member
    10 years ago

    Isolation defiantly is not fun but sadly a means to staying out of hospital :(  

    Congrats on finishing AC and starting on Taxol (even if it is a weekly trip to the hospital uggg ) Nat is on the same treatment as you she started Taxol on Wednesday at least this one doesn't have quite as bad risks with neutropnia that AC has so hopefully you will be able to get back to some sort of normal soon.

    Cheers Sue xx 

  • loz81's avatar
    loz81
    Member
    10 years ago

    Thanks Deanne. Glad to hear that you're doing well. It makes me believe that somewhere down the track things will return to some sort of normal xx

  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    10 years ago

    What you are feeling is how most of us feel at some point in this marathon of treatment. I know I felt the second half of my 18 weeks of chemo was the hardest. I suppose it is just simply that our energy levels are getting pretty low.

    I felt that for the last few weeks of chemo I was like one of those marathon runners that have pushed a bit too hard and get that terrible wobble and stagger as they approach the finish line. 

    It does not help when you also start to feel that isolation and lack of face to face support. Like you say it is for our own good but it DOES make the whole thing even harder.

    But I got there, like you say, one day at a time and you will too. I am now over 2 years down the track and enjoying feeling healthy and well again. That makes all those hard weeks worthwhile. Hang in there and come and chat on here when you feel alone. You will always find someone who understands. Take care. Deanne xxx