18 months on not feeling myself

Hi there 

I know how you feel. I was Aug 21 bowel , Reverse Nov 22, lung cancer 23 

I am sick of it. I called my GP who has supported me and I am on medication, though originally it was because my Ileostomy diet caused a lack in serotonin So that may be worth a thought 

I have decided to forget about the C word until the month of my appointment for a check for whatever is going on. 

Im back from holidays and I’m hungry to enjoy things that I like 

Make a list of your things to do and ways of achieving those goals. It could be a Spa break or anything that gives you pleasure. 

I think Cancer takes over our thoughts and we need to fight back by enjoying what we like  

It’s easy to slip back into the routine without thinking about what that routine will achieve 

Sending you a hug 

Hi Dreamerbex . Sorry you are feeling like this. You get through all the traumatic stuff and then seem to flop. A lot of people feel like this some time after treatment. There is a wonderful article by Dr Peter Harvey about this. Sorry don’t do links, but if you can find it it would make sense of how you are feeling .

I know what you mean about retaining focus and information. I don’t work anymore but don’t feel I could manage to learn a new job anyway - remember silly things like film names or places can turn into a guessing game for my poor husband as I struggle to bring something to mind. There is such a thing as chemo brain so I usually blame it on that coupled with the menopause? 

This is the article that Seaspirit was referring to and it talks about the stages of recovering from cancer including convalescing

https://www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf

There’s also a lot of help and advice the Life after Cancer board with lots of wise words from Thehighlander  

 Life after cancer forum

Hope this helps

Take care

Karen x

I think how you’re feeling is pretty “normal”. I was so busy dealing with hospital appointments and treatment when I had bowel cancer, that I don’t think I really “processed” what I’d been through. Sorry about the quotation marks, but they’re the most common words used these days. It took me around two years before it sunk it, and then I’d suffer with flashbacks during the night m. I’m a big talker and found that chatting to my closest friend and posting on here have really helped. Take care of yourself.

Hi Dreamerbex I feel I have written this my husband had a blockage and blood clots long story short found bowel Cancer had a emergency operation spread to 8 lymph node suppose to have mop Chemo only managed 1 effect his heart went through all the emotions now 6 months on both just feel flat sad no energy he is not working tired bones and hand pain they say even from 1 Chemo he keeps going over what happen still can't get head round it people think we should just get on but they don't understand 

Hi Jkee I’m so sorry to read your post about your husband’s condition and experience. I don’t understand how anyone can expect us to just get on after such traumatic experiences. I hope you both have a good support network around you. It’s almost easier for those of us diagnosed with cancer than our friends and family. All of the attention is focused on us. I only managed two cycles of chemo infusions before my body couldn’t cope. Have you spoken to anyone about how you feel? Macmillan have been great in helping me over the past four years. There are some amazing people on their helpline who will just listen to you without judgement. If you don’t want to talk to anyone, then keep posting on here. We’re all at different stages of our “journey”. I really hate that word. None of us boarded a bus or plane! What treatment is your husband getting now? Let us know when you feel up to it? Do take really good care of yourself and your husband.

Hi Jools63 he is on no treatment the Cancer was removed and the Chemo because it was stage 3 was a insurance to kill any remaining Cancer cells they we thought when it effected his heart he would be offered something else but nothing licenced so watch and wait. A Chemo nurse rang yesterday thinking he had just finished his 6 months how did he get on we told her only 1 Chemo and the aches and pains and feel like we have been left she has arranged a blood count to to taken to see any Cancer cells and offered Simon a telephone number for his after care for his aches and pains but Simon won't ring sticks his head in the sand a full MRI will be done a year after operation so quess we just carry on xx

I’m so very sorry to hear that your husband doesn’t want to help himself, for want of a better phrase. I can only imagine how helpless and frustrated you must feel. I remember the struggle I had getting my husband to the doctor to get his diabetes diagnosis. I assume it’s a CEA blood test the nurse has arranged. I really hope someone else pops on here soon that can offer some advice about how to persuade a loved one to be more proactive. You can’t carry on as you are for another 6 months while he’s waiting for his scan. I’ll keep checking in to see how you’re getting on.