Hi ladies, This week has turned out to be a little more stressful than I would of liked. After chemo 2, it took a few days of changing medications until I felt better, I usually take coversyl for high blood pressure, but chemo makes it drop and I was feeling dizzy and headachy. So while I'm on chemo no bp meds. At least it sorted out now. Our credit card was also scammed for over $2500, so we cant use the account until the bank sort it out. 4-6 weeks! So no online shopping for chrstmas now. I will be juggling accounts until it's sorted out. My 20 daughter got her new car last night, took it for a drive and got caught speeding!!!!! She lost her licence for a month. She needs her licence to get to work, (shift work) all hours, no public transport. And she just got this job, and she got a loan for the car. I was angry I couldn't speak! Now I'm just tired, it makes me tired. I know it all seems silly little things compared to what so many of you lovely ladies go through, but I just needed to vent, and I'm not sure if it's the chemo or what but I just seem to cry so easily now. I feel like I'm always crying. Much love Penny xxx

Hi Penny, sorry to hear you are having a hard time lately. The chemotherapy would not help either, with coping with stress of " life" that continues while treatment is on. Having credit card scammed also, and now you have to wait 4- 6 weeks to use the account ! plus daughter's new car, loan repayments and her being off road for a month, so hard to get to work. also your BP being low on chemotherapy. AND xmas too, when it is traditionally stressful. well... can you just take it easy for 6 to 12 months, or even longer. I think it is worth it in the long run. the chemotherapy does sap your energy, and you have not finished yet. have you supports you can lean on to help, at this time? sincerely, kathy.

Oh Penny you have every right to cry when you want or need to. I also did not cry or show any emotion in front of my family. I know thats wrong and we should let them know exactly how we feel but it is very hard to do that. I found i did not want to see them hurt or worried about me. I did not think they would understand my pain either. I was the tough one. It's silly isn't it. Your not alone on the way you feel Penny, we understand how it has turned your life upside down. Breast cancer and everything that comes along with it is really a heavy load to carry by yourself. Maybe a chat with your Dr might help a bit. I Hope you start feeling better soon, chin up you'll be ok. Cheers Jo xx

Isnt it great to just blurb everything out , and not be patronised . Feel free to chat anytime .. I have had stressful month of November, my mum fell and broke her hip , she lives 4 hoursw away... so had to stay with her and help out and was very stressful as she also cares for my disable brother, whom she thought would bae able to look after her when she came home from hospital.... I had to arrange respite care for him for the next 8 weeks , was done and she is very angry at me for doing that, so of course our relationship has become strained also. so it never stops , and my doctor is concerned for all the stress it has put on me also.... but had to be done only daughter and noone else to do it... sometimes you have to remove yourself from the situation to get a break and of course i did many times, i even swore at my poor mum , so took off for a walk on the beach with the dog , he didnt know what had hit him with all the exercise he had been getting .. nice stress releif watching the waves roll in.. I am home once again now till after xmas having a rest, so hopefully my stress levels should drop now......Kathy if you need some help with your emotional issues, you can call CAncer Council and they can help you with getting some professional help for 6 free consultations or your local GP through a health plan with them, but you do have to ask, many people arent aware of this service, diabetics, heart conditons and such have this service so you are entitled due to your chronic condition. The government bulk bills for 5 consultations whether with Pshcologist, Dietitian, Exercise Physilogist, Physio, or whatever they think may help you thru your bad patch....I have used both services and have helped me through plus some happy pills too...I did fight the anti depressants but in the long run they helped me get over the hurdle and still do.....hope this helped you .. cheers Maureen

Hi Penny, You are only human and having to cope with everyday life on top of chemo is more than most people can cope with. Horrible thing to happen about the scam! Sods!! I hear what you are saying. I'm feeling very tired at the moment. I've got 2 days left at work and that cannot come soon enough. Little things at work are getting to me as well as trying to do Xmas shopping etc. I know I have to keep my distance andstop myself from saying things I may regret. I also know it is partly the chemo. I know what you mean about family and friends and the fact that this site is wonderful. My support network has dwindled but I still have some good friends here if I need them. All of my family are over east - Melb, Sydney and Hobart. This is where i find this site brilliant - so many like minded people. I'm thinking of joining a face - to - face support network in my area next year just to talk to others going through the same thing. I'm always here if you need to vent! I do as well and my hubby and children don't always understand. Take care and I hope those little things improve so you can enjoy Christmas stress-free! Love Alison xx

What a crap time you are having leading up to Christmas! Blubber away and stay in sooky la la land till you've cried it out. I think your daughter might be able to plead her case about the fine - her mum's having chemo for cancer card.It seems so unfair and inconvenient.That is terrible about your credit card.Gosh there are some nasty people about.As if you feel like Christmas shopping now-fighting the crowds and feeling tired.I'm feeling angry for you too.Well it can only get better now surely-hope it does. Big hug. love Tonya xx

Stress | BCNA Online Network

12 Replies

pennyb
Member
14 years ago
I will ask my doctor about it. Thank you xxxx
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
Thanks Jo Xx
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
It's got to get better! How are you doing Tonya? How's the house coming along?
pennyb
Member
14 years ago
Jane for sharing, feeling a little better today but do intend to talk to my doctor about it. Not crying today. I went to the look good feel better program which was a lot of fun, and was nice to meet some lovely ladies. Thank you again for taking the time to write to me. Much love Penny xxx
pisces_tas
Member
14 years ago
hi jane,

yes I had the " thought" .."I can always gas myself if it gets too much "..soon after the first chemotherapy.

Looking back.. it was a most stressful time AND for penny, on top of Xmas also.I too thought I could be strong emotionally, and tried to carry on. Talking about it, may help.

Yes I agree, speak to someone Penny about the crying. I think it is best to speak up EARLY, rather than later.

It is normal to feel a range of emotions, but it is also not uncommon to be overwhelmed, and i can see how the stress can change the brain chemistry.

I did seek help and took antidepressants .. zoloft.. 50 mgs daily, up to 150 mgs... now 50 mgs. ( take 2 weeks to see if helps to feel better, which it did ). It helped with flushing and perception of pain, and not crying so much too.

Kathy.
Jrova
Member
14 years ago
Oh Penny, you remind me of myself when I had bc the first time in 2002. I fricken cried for the whole year! My girls were 6 and 9 (the older one has autism) and my Mum had died 18 months earlier from cervical cancer. It seemed like the world was ending!! I ended up with clinical depression because of the ongoing stress (apparently it changes your brain chemistry) and was even crying when I watched the news at night. Please make sure you talk to a professional counsellor or psych if you haven't already. It helped me so much. Prior to seeking treatment, I told my husband I felt like gassing myself and our two girls cos everything seemed hopeless. Counselling and medication turned everything around and I finally got back to 'normal'. Coming out of that black hole of fear and worry was fantastic. On another note, our credit card got hacked a couple of months ago too! Someone in Spain was using it! I've had all the money refunded now, but its so inconvenient having no cards and sorting out all the diredt debits etc. I hope things start going a bit better for you soon Penny. Going through chemo twice, I found that feeling physically sick had a negative effect on my mental wellbeing that i couldn't quite shake till treatment was over. I guess its not surprising with all those toxins in our systems. Lots of love xx Jane
TonyaM
Member
14 years ago
What a crap time you are having leading up to Christmas! Blubber away and stay in sooky la la land till you've cried it out. I think your daughter might be able to plead her case about the fine - her mum's having chemo for cancer card.It seems so unfair and inconvenient.That is terrible about your credit card.Gosh there are some nasty people about.As if you feel like Christmas shopping now-fighting the crowds and feeling tired.I'm feeling angry for you too.Well it can only get better now surely-hope it does. Big hug.

love Tonya xx
TonyaM
Member
14 years ago
What a crap time you are having leading up to Christmas! Blubber away and stay in sooky la la land till you've cried it out. I think your daughter might be able to plead her case about the fine - her mum's having chemo for cancer card.It seems so unfair and inconvenient.That is terrible about your credit card.Gosh there are some nasty people about.As if you feel like Christmas shopping now-fighting the crowds and feeling tired.I'm feeling angry for you too.Well it can only get better now surely-hope it does. Big hug.

love Tonya xx
Al
Member
14 years ago
Hi Penny,

You are only human and having to cope with everyday life on top of chemo is more than most people can cope with. Horrible thing to happen about the scam! Sods!! I hear what you are saying. I'm feeling very tired at the moment. I've got 2 days left at work and that cannot come soon enough. Little things at work are getting to me as well as trying to do Xmas shopping etc. I know I have to keep my distance andstop myself from saying things I may regret. I also know it is partly the chemo. I know what you mean about family and friends and the fact that this site is wonderful. My support network has dwindled but I still have some good friends here if I need them. All of my family are over east - Melb, Sydney and Hobart. This is where i find this site brilliant - so many like minded people. I'm thinking of joining a face - to - face support network in my area next year just to talk to others going through the same thing.

I'm always here if you need to vent! I do as well and my hubby and children don't always understand.

Take care and I hope those little things improve so you can enjoy Christmas stress-free!

Love Alison xx
morseem
Member
14 years ago
Isnt it great to just blurb everything out , and not be patronised . Feel free to chat anytime .. I have had stressful month of November, my mum fell and broke her hip , she lives 4 hoursw away... so had to stay with her and help out and was very stressful as she also cares for my disable brother, whom she thought would bae able to look after her when she came home from hospital.... I had to arrange respite care for him for the next 8 weeks , was done and she is very angry at me for doing that, so of course our relationship has become strained also. so it never stops , and my doctor is concerned for all the stress it has put on me also.... but had to be done only daughter and noone else to do it... sometimes you have to remove yourself from the situation to get a break and of course i did many times, i even swore at my poor mum , so took off for a walk on the beach with the dog , he didnt know what had hit him with all the exercise he had been getting .. nice stress releif watching the waves roll in.. I am home once again now till after xmas having a rest, so hopefully my stress levels should drop now......Kathy if you need some help with your emotional issues, you can call CAncer Council and they can help you with getting some professional help for 6 free consultations or your local GP through a health plan with them, but you do have to ask, many people arent aware of this service, diabetics, heart conditons and such have this service so you are entitled due to your chronic condition. The government bulk bills for 5 consultations whether with Pshcologist, Dietitian, Exercise Physilogist, Physio, or whatever they think may help you thru your bad patch....I have used both services and have helped me through plus some happy pills too...I did fight the anti depressants but in the long run they helped me get over the hurdle and still do.....hope this helped you .. cheers Maureen