Stressed and down

Dear

Please phone the helpline number  on this page , the nurses and advisers are so knowledgeable and will listen to all your fears and try and point you in the the right direction for help. 

You are doing great and it’s the system that has let you down .

lots of Love 

Ruby Rose  

Hi hon,

It's still such early days - of course you are still healing physically and trying to get you head round it all mentally.  As RubyRose suggests, call the MacMillan helpline and offload to them.  I'm sure it will help a lot.  But maybe you also need to be more explicit with friends and family about how much you are struggling and what you need from them.  Whether it's to take the kids out or help tidy the house or take you for a coffee. 

I had quite bad fatigue following my radiotherapy for a good 6 weeks but it does get better.  Getting out for even a wee walk in the fresh air with the kids will do you the world of good mentally and help with the fatigue.  So maybe you could make that a small aim each day. 

In my area, there are services that are offered by Maggie's or the Breast Cancer charities for post-treatment help and courses such as 'Moving On' which help to put you in touch with services that can assist, but also just give you a chance to meet other people that have been through the same as you.  People who do get it.  Perhaps google and see what charities work in your area and they will refer you to these courses.  You can then rope your friends in to look after the kids while you attend.  MacMillan and Maggie's also run complementary therapy sessions and fitness classes.  All these are aimed at building up your mental as well as your physical health. 

I wish you all the best with your referral.  Pointless to tell you not to worry but try to think that it's very early days and more likely to be treatment related. 

Hugs,

Linda xx

Thanks Linda, I’ve started on a Moving On course and found it really helpful. Only done 1 of the 4 but was nice to know what I’m going through is normal. Mood wise I’m feeling a bit better and have friends and family more involved. 

As for the lump, I had my breast clinic appointment and the nurse I saw said she can’t believe I’ve had to wait almost 4 weeks. She went on to say that existing patients are treated differently to new patients and are made to wait longer! So I went along, appointment was 40 minutes overdue and by the time I went in the radiographers and reception staff had gone home which means another wait for ultrasound appointment! This could be a few days to over a week! I’m going to call the chief breast care nurse and see what she can do. I feel like my life is on hold and living in limbo is not fun! X

Hi Wigglewoo,

I'm pleased you've posted an update, also pleased you've got on the Course, I went on something similar and it helped, it's good to be with others who understand what you've been through/going through.

How terrible the staff didn't wait to see you when you had an appointment and it was 40 mins overdue, truly awful. Yes, def call the Head BC Nurse and insist they get you in, after all you went to the appointment, having waited 4 weeks to be seen! 

Good that you have people more involved to help you too.

Keep us updated.

Best Wishes.

Thank you Peterawake

It was great to be able to talk to others who just got it without having to explain it. I was anxious going but everyone was so lovely and got some great tips from the lymphadema nurse. 

I will be calling first thing, I just need this over so I can at least start to move forward. Will let you know how I get on. 

Hi

hope you ge ton ok.. I think we should all be treated the same.. doesn’t matter if you’ve been before or not, if it’s a lump it’s a lump... give the head nurse a call... xx

Hi Wigglewoo, sounds like you are taking the bull by the horns and getting things organised, well done! As already said it’s early days and your doing amazing even though it may not feel like it. Wh we are exhausted it can be so easy to focus on things that aren’t going well( no excuse for poor care from NHS though!!) you are dealing with so much and being a mum! Take it one day at a time and like others have said be specific about the support you need if you can. Sending much love and reminding you to look towds all the things you are achieving everyday, starting at the little things and moving up!

️x