Almost 1 year after Diagnosis
Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 3:39 pm
It will be 1 year next month. I have been "creeping" on all of these posts for almost the entire time.
I'd like to thank all of the "posters" that got me through it all. I read all about what to expect with surgery, what to bring to the hospital, how to get ready for chemo and all sorts of posts about going through chemo.
I never registered and certainly never posted anything. Now it seems like enough time has passed that I am ready to talk about it without being too cheery about the outcome or negative about how I was feeling during the chemo. In retrospect, it sounds like I was all over the place with my emotions... I was worried that I would sound like I couldn't make up my mind! LOL And- that is all true. I changed my mind almost hourly... I was very optimistic most of the time and also felt absolutely awful during the 6 months of chemo.
Without getting too long winded (too late- I know!!) I am finally posting because I now feel that I have the knowledge to help others. I am feeling great physically and emotionally and would like to help those that are in the position that I was a year ago. This is scary... give yourself a break for being sad and scared. But, this is also beatable!
For me- the surgery was so easy. I had surgery the week that my Daughter was graduating from High School (I was not going to miss that graduation ceremony for anything). As it turned out, I was out of the hospital the day after surgery and I had no problem with the Graduation 3 days later.
The Port was not so much fun. I had the port put in a couple of days before we left for a beach vacation and that was a bad idea. I was sore and uncomfortable for days....but, it may have also been thinking about the chemo appointment the day after we returned from the beach. I'm a headcase!
I read all of the posts on here about Chemo... and my experience was different. Others talked about being a little tired, but still being able to carry on daily activities and even travel. ummm.... not so much here! All I wanted to do was sleep. I slept during treatments and then continued for the next 3 days. I was able to peel myself out of bed and go to work--- but I got absolutely nothing done (let's just keep that between us). I think I had every side effect and even made up some new ones... But they were temporary. Aside from the weight that I put on (I blame my husband for feeding me too much when I was doing nothing but sitting on the couch!), I feel great. My last dose of poison was on November 30, 2016.
The bottom line (yes- I will actually stop writing at some point!).... I told myself that I can handle anything for 6 months. And- there were times that I didn't think I could go back to the hospital...I just kept going. And- the 6 months ended. I got through it and others do too.
I am lucky to have the worlds best husband...and 2 kids that battled through it all with me. There are plenty of things to say about how different friends and family react and how many people amaze and disappoint... but that is another post. For now- Take care of yourself. And know that you can do it! In the end, there may be some blessings that came out of this whole mess. I can't believe how lucky I am in so many ways!
Thanks for reading to the end.
I'd like to thank all of the "posters" that got me through it all. I read all about what to expect with surgery, what to bring to the hospital, how to get ready for chemo and all sorts of posts about going through chemo.
I never registered and certainly never posted anything. Now it seems like enough time has passed that I am ready to talk about it without being too cheery about the outcome or negative about how I was feeling during the chemo. In retrospect, it sounds like I was all over the place with my emotions... I was worried that I would sound like I couldn't make up my mind! LOL And- that is all true. I changed my mind almost hourly... I was very optimistic most of the time and also felt absolutely awful during the 6 months of chemo.
Without getting too long winded (too late- I know!!) I am finally posting because I now feel that I have the knowledge to help others. I am feeling great physically and emotionally and would like to help those that are in the position that I was a year ago. This is scary... give yourself a break for being sad and scared. But, this is also beatable!
For me- the surgery was so easy. I had surgery the week that my Daughter was graduating from High School (I was not going to miss that graduation ceremony for anything). As it turned out, I was out of the hospital the day after surgery and I had no problem with the Graduation 3 days later.
The Port was not so much fun. I had the port put in a couple of days before we left for a beach vacation and that was a bad idea. I was sore and uncomfortable for days....but, it may have also been thinking about the chemo appointment the day after we returned from the beach. I'm a headcase!
I read all of the posts on here about Chemo... and my experience was different. Others talked about being a little tired, but still being able to carry on daily activities and even travel. ummm.... not so much here! All I wanted to do was sleep. I slept during treatments and then continued for the next 3 days. I was able to peel myself out of bed and go to work--- but I got absolutely nothing done (let's just keep that between us). I think I had every side effect and even made up some new ones... But they were temporary. Aside from the weight that I put on (I blame my husband for feeding me too much when I was doing nothing but sitting on the couch!), I feel great. My last dose of poison was on November 30, 2016.
The bottom line (yes- I will actually stop writing at some point!).... I told myself that I can handle anything for 6 months. And- there were times that I didn't think I could go back to the hospital...I just kept going. And- the 6 months ended. I got through it and others do too.
I am lucky to have the worlds best husband...and 2 kids that battled through it all with me. There are plenty of things to say about how different friends and family react and how many people amaze and disappoint... but that is another post. For now- Take care of yourself. And know that you can do it! In the end, there may be some blessings that came out of this whole mess. I can't believe how lucky I am in so many ways!
Thanks for reading to the end.
