Overwhelming saddness

2 minute read time.

I have to get this off my chest, hoping it will help me. I have been on here for some time now and have always felt positive. All through my treatment I have remained well and have amazed people with how I look and act. This past month I have found that I have plummeted into the depths of dispair and each morning I wake up I feel an overwhelming saddness envelope me.

Let me tell you my story and hopefully by writing it down I may feel better.

My nightmare began in April 2002 when my darling husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma. We lived each day of the next 4 years making memories and as if it were our last until eventually in March 2006 my darling lost his battle.

We had had an amazing loving happy marriage and I still miss him today.

In April 2008 I began to have rectal bleeding. I was referred to the Colorectal clinic where I had all the tests and was told that I was clear.

In October 2008 I found a lump and thought it was a prolapse. I was referred to the gynaecological clinic where they told me it was my bowel wall poking through and that it would be repaired along with my bladder if tests on my bladder proved that it was disfunctioning.

I had the tests in April 2009 and my bladder was fine. Nothing was said about my lump.

In May 2009 I was referred back to the Colorectal clinic because of more rectal bleeding. I was told it was Haemarroids and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The first was banded with a rubber band and I was told that the second would right itself eventually. I was told to go away and come back in 6 weeks.

8 weeks later on Thursday 2nd July I saw the registrar at the hospital who again said that it was IBS and that the pain would get better.

By then I was in horrific pain and just needed to get home to my bed.

On Sunday 5th July my bowel burst and I had to have an emergency operation to remove a very large tumour and 2 lymph nodes. I also needed a temporary colostomy.

After 3 months I started a 6 month course of chemotherapy, my experience with chemo wasn't as bad as I know some people have had. I got through it with minimal side affects and at least I didn't lose my hair.

I am now awaiting for an operation to reverse my colostomy.

So I am at the end of my journey and battle with cancer.

I have been very very lucky.

So why do I feel so very very sad?

I should be shouting from the rooftops that I survived.

I should be looking forward to a happy healthy future but I can't.

Am I normal, is it normal to feel as I do?

Love to everyone on here and please don't think bad of me for feeling so ungrateful. Love Julie xxxxxxx

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi, my Mum had 6 months chemo and we all expected her to be elated when it ended and she had a clear scan. To our surprise quite the reverse happened, and she was really rudderless and quite down. I think the psychological strain really only comes home when the treatment has ended. You don't really feel the significance and effect until this point, and I felt with Mum, that she was quite lost at the end. So please do not feel that you are the exception here. I get the feeling that many many people get depressed after chemotherapy, and it is no wonder, given how severe it is. I hope that there are people there to help reassure you. I am so happy for you that you are recovering, and hope that the feeling of sadness passes very soon. love Lal xxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Julie,

    I felt these same feelings as you when my treatment ended after my primary diagnosis.  I think it is because whilst you are ill you are doing your utmost to remain strong and you have treatment and appointments etc to concentrate on and its kind of a security blanket knowing you are being seen regularly. When it all stops as much as its a relief its a huge blow to the system and all you are left with are these emotions which may not have been so apparent before as you had everything else to think about....does that make sense?? I felt very depressed, isolated and lonely for a good couple of months as I didnt know what to do with myself. Everyone who was supporting me went back to work and I had to dust myself off and get on as if it had never happened..it was all 'over'. You have been though an immense amount of trauma, unimaginable to most people so please dont beat yourself up about how you feel now. It kind of feels like grieving doesnt it?  Give yourselff some more time and maybe talk to someone about how you feel eg GP. You may just need something to get you through but I promise it does get easier and you will start to feel better.

    Love Chrissi xxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Julie

    We started our journey within a week of one another and have followed a similar path. I finished chemo in February and am scheduled to return to work in about 4 weeks. It's a strange feeling. As Chrissi has said, while you're going through surgery and treatment, you sort of go with the flow and get on with it, but when that stops you feel like you're flying the nest. Everyone said to me 'you must be thrilled that you've been given the all clear' and I was, but I still had that little niggle at the back of my head. I'm not sure we will ever forget cancer, it will always be there in the back of our minds, but lets hope that very soon we can get on with our lives and enjoy every single little minute.

    Angela xxxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I remember feeling all those feelings when I was done with my treatments at Christmas 2005.   It was a strange thing, and yet I learned from other people that it is quite common and normal.

    You don't forget cancer.  I was never afraid to have a mammogram before, but I am now.  I dread it so much I am sick going to the clinic - and yet it is now more than 5 years since I was diagnosed.  I am "free" of cancer.   But you never are.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Julie..i can only echo what everyone else has said...i dont think it hits you until its all over. After my treatment finished and my last scan was clear..i suddenly thought...WOW...that really happened to me...and i too felt a bit down...maybe its an anti-climax...during your treatment you imagine how you will feel to be told its all clear...its great at first...but then it sort of hits you what you went through...well thats how it was for me..and as Angela said...you never forget that you had cancer...its always on your mind. Im back at work now and feeling much better and more positive about the future because im more or less back into my pre-cancer routine.,when everything was normal...but its still at there...in my mind. I hope when you have had your reversal and things are back to as near normal as you can get them that you start to feel better...but dont worry...it seems to be the norm to feel like this...we've all been there. Take care n good luck...love Sharon xxx