Forum Discussion
kmakm
8 years agoMember
Wobbly nearing the end of active treatment
19 days ago I had my bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction, last Friday I saw the oncologist, yesterday I saw the plastic surgeon and today I saw my breast surgeon.
At the end of the appointment he said see you in six months. Right from the start I always knew that this time was going to be a challenge for me. That when the steady forward motion of appointments slowed to a trickle I would find it challenging. As I left his office I felt OK. I had lunch with a friend but when I got home I had a little cry.
I've put in place some plans and strategies to help me through the rest of the year, which I'm determined to devote to recovery. Plus I've got a list of other activities to play around with to try to reclaim my life, and reduce the stress which has dominated it in recent times. I recognise that I have to find a new normal. But right now I feel a bit bereft and a little frightened. Life will go back to normal, but do I want it to? I can't have been through all this for nothing can I? Can I make something better rise from the horror of the last six months? How long will I feel this way?
At the end of the appointment he said see you in six months. Right from the start I always knew that this time was going to be a challenge for me. That when the steady forward motion of appointments slowed to a trickle I would find it challenging. As I left his office I felt OK. I had lunch with a friend but when I got home I had a little cry.
I've put in place some plans and strategies to help me through the rest of the year, which I'm determined to devote to recovery. Plus I've got a list of other activities to play around with to try to reclaim my life, and reduce the stress which has dominated it in recent times. I recognise that I have to find a new normal. But right now I feel a bit bereft and a little frightened. Life will go back to normal, but do I want it to? I can't have been through all this for nothing can I? Can I make something better rise from the horror of the last six months? How long will I feel this way?
55 Replies
- ZoffielMemberNo I couldn't, Kate. I'm a work from home casual; if she says there is no work for me there is nothing I can do. If she had cancelled shifts, maybe, maybe not.
- PatsyNMember
Are you sure about that Joannie? I don't get a pension until I'm 67 and I was born in 1954. I'd love to be wrong, lol.Joannie said:I for one would like to retire from the workforce and take up golf and some other new hobbies, and spend more time with friends and family. But I won't get a pension until 66, so another 3 years to go. I sometimes think we are expected to work ourselves to death. :( - kmakmMember@primek I'll post a photo or two when I'm there :)
- primekMemberThat's fantastic @kmakm
- kmakmMemberYou're a pithy, earthy guiding light for me and no doubt many others @onemargie. Right back at you! Thank you. K xox
- kmakmMember@Zoffiel Your boss is a **** of the highest order. That is discrimination. If you had the energy you could report her. What a cow.
- kmakmMember@primek I heard back from the Otis Foundation. I'm booked in for one of their properties in mid to late June. SO looking forward to the fresh country air. Hope the weather is as clear and sunny as it is in Melbourne today. Huge thanks to the family that donated this property.
- Kiwi_AngelMember@Zoffiel @onemargie I’m so glad all you women are here. We are all going though the same thing and have our individual challenges along the way. Family can be a help or a hindrance in these situations I have realised. Be strong as I know u all are ladies xoxox
- ZoffielMemberI've stopped keeping count of what this has cost financially in the last 20 months. I've gone through $50k in savings. Lost wages... phhfftt $120k? Not that you can count that. Apparently. Im about to hack into my mortgage--20 years of hard work getting frittered away on bills.
I've been working from home about ten hours a week but when I told my boss I needed more work and would have to look elsewhere if she didn't have any she had a hissy fit. No work the last two weeks. Tells me all I need to know about her, really. Three job interviews this week, which is promising I suppose. There is fuck all work here and the most likely option is 70km away. Great. I have no idea how I will find the energy for ten hour days, but what are my options. If I don't do something soon I'll end up down by the river living in the campervan with the horse float as an Annex. - onemargieMember@tigerbeth @Brenda5 @kezmusc @"Kiwi Angel" @Romla @kmakm hey lovelies I feel we have all had plenty of advice to give to each other along the way of this shitty uphill climb that is breast cancer. As we are all so different it’s given me and plenty of others the strength to keep on climbing as there is always someone to pull you up out of the shit and show you the summit. I definately felt that way at the start. Felt quite vulnerable to be honest and as shitty as the chemo was I felt somewhat “protected” and because I had triple neg bc and I don’t take any of the preventative meds post so it was a bit scary to begin with. 2 years cancer free (nearly) and I’m getting on with life pretty good now. Although I get the reminders every three months with oncol and surgeons appointments and the usual yearly heart echo that “it’s not quite all over just yet” and I still get a little anxious prior to these but overall it’s good. I’m a survivor and this is my new normal but I’m at peace with it now. Grateful to be here grateful I have my family around me and grateful I’ve met you guys (even if only virtually for some of you) as it’s given me the opportunity to rant when I’m pissed off and guide and advise me when I’ve needed it too. Big hug to you all. Margie xx