What has helped you through your journey?
I thought I would start a post to see what has helped people through their journey, so that maybe something might help others.
I will start with:
Ahh Bra Type tops - I found these great post op...
Forum Discussion
- Napping - The fatigue has been really bad, this 2nd cycle of TCH, and I would be done in without being able to have naps when I need them. If I do pretty much anythign I then need to nap for 1-2 hrs to recharge myself.
- My Laptop & internet connection - where would we be witout our internet connections, and my laptop means I can bring the computer to me, instead of having to go to my computer. A real life and sanity saver.
- My Dog - she is amazing, she knows when I am not 100% and gets all snuggly. She lies with me, next to me, or under my bed, NEVER on top of me (like she used to). (She is an AMAZING girl - Boo (her name - as her pedigree name is STUPID - it is Dream On, and I am NOT calling her that) is a 9 1/2 yr old Norwegian Elkhound bitch, and our fur baby (child substitute) who has also been my assistance dog since she was 12 weeks old - to help me with my pre-exisiting medical conditions (although she has had most of this year off due to surgery and chemo etc).
- My hospital bed & over bed table (hospital table) - I had severe side effects from y mastectomy and immediate slicone implant reconstruction (caused by my pre-exisitng conditions - this is is NO WAY a normal reaction and is becuase I was born with faulty connective tissue and nerve wiring), and was only allowed to come home from my 14 day hospital stay if a hosptial bed was delivered to my house (this is set up in our loungeroom), I was unable to get into or out of bed alone (even with the electric bed) for over a month - about 6 weeks) and still 3months later need the back up to help me (or I get SHOCKING muscle spasms etc), and I STILL cannot sleep flat on my back, I have to sleep in a slightly upright position, the bed makes this better, becasue I can change position to reliev my back etc as well. And now with chemo and the fatigue etc, having the bed makes life easier. It is on free hire from the local equipment loans service for 3 motnhs and they just extended it for another 3 months to take me through to 17th August (and when chemo is all over and done with) If I don't need it before then, I just call and they will come and pick it up and put it back into there hire pool.
- The TV, and movies etc - with chemo brain and the fatigue I am finding reading hard, because I get stuck on sentences and read it over and over and over.... again, still not understanding what I have read. TV or movie watching is easier, because I don't have to put so much effort in.
- Meeting fellow Breast Cancer sufferers and survivors - ESPECIALLY those around my own age. I met some LOVELY ladies yesterday and we had a great time, meeting and having brunch together, and are going to do it again in 2 weeks time (we are all in our 40's - ranging from 48 to 41 (me the baby of the group so far ?)). This really helps, knowing that other women are going through it and are out the other side (they have all finished their chemo and some have finished radio too).