Other health issues

Hello. Have you tried the Macmillan helpline. I realise that cancer is your main concern but I'm sure the nurses will have come across others and may have some suggestions for you. If you're not getting support from Gp maybe ask them to refer you for counselling.  There may be a waitlist as I don't know where you are based but talking to Macmillan or maybe if you have a Maggies Centre near you may help now rather than waiting. People have said good things about helpline although I haven't used them myself. Good luck x

Yes my sister often waits for me in Addenbrooks Maggie’s. They’re really lovely. And Macmillan have arranged counselling for me, so that’s good. Not sure when it starts. I suppose I’m just overwhelmed and fed up of being ill. I realise I’m luckier than some - at least my GP is investigating and not just dismissing me as a hypochondriac- which would almost be understandable at the moment. It’s just all a bit much, you know?

-Ana- glad you have something sorted. I have my own extra health issues but sometimes it just feels like it all comes at once. Hopefully things can be investigated and dealt with. I can appreciate its hard. All I can comment is life is shit sometimes but take each day as it comes. I had a 10 year period of being on anti depressants which I managed to wean myself off about 5 years ago however being diagnosed with subsequent surgery, radiotherapy and now cording and swelling and tamoxifen for 5 years has made me more anxious. Some days are hard going but I know it won't always be like this. I'm just taking it one day at a time and plodding on which is all I can do but yes I know how you feel x

I do know what you mean. I first got diagnosed with BC on the 17th August and since then it’s been nothing but examinations , machines , needles , surgery , more examinations and hey in November for the big finale I have radiotherapy !

My story is no different than any of you ladies so I don’t feel I have had it particularly hard . Well the cancer in both breasts was a bit of a bummer to be told . But I do realise we all have bumpy journeys  on the road to recovery .

We are not hypochondriac people    just worried , tired women with a hell of a lot on our plates .

We are all here for one another.

Penelope xxx

-Ana-I know how you feel,  I have several other issues also and have ended up being under three different hospitals for these issues  who do not share information between them which is really frustrating.  My op for breast cancer is on hold as I am on blood thinners and they need to be stopped before I have the op. but they were prescribed by a different hospital which is holding things up.   I have private medical insurance with my job and  went privately for one of the issues and to be honest it just confused things even more by adding another hospital to the mix. and also if you went private you would probably just be seeing a specialist in one thing.  I would also love to find someone who could look at  all my issues and treat me as a whole,  I think its understandable that you think you have something else seriously wrong,  I feel the same but I guess all we can do is get one thing checked out at a time and cross it of the list.  Chris x

I also have three hospitals involved so I know exactly what you mean! I often carry around lists of my many diagnoses and issues, to make sure I don’t forget anything. But I forgot to tell the plastic surgeon I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which affects healing, scar formation and bleeding - oops! He sort of stormed in and said “Why didn’t you tell me?”. I’m like “I forgot” (which is pretty ironic given doctors in the past who thought I was just attention seeking). Anyway he said it increased the risks but after pinching my breast skin a few times decided I probably didn’t have the fragile skin typical of the common types of EDS. So all’s well. 

Tomorrow I have another pre-op check, so I’ll try not to forget anything relevant. I’ve literally put on 7lbs of water weight overnight so I hope that doesn’t affect things. Weird stuff happening to my body these days but it’s probably hormones.

As for a private doctor to look at everything, I am aware of private GPs but fir that to help I’d have to gather together all my medical notes. One day, perhaps. Or I’ll win the lottery and start at one end of Harley street and work my way down