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cancer

(312 Posts)
etheltbags1 Tue 28-Apr-15 21:41:14

I have on many occasions asked for advice on these forums but this time it is really serious, my cancer is not responding to chemo and has not been killed in my lymph glands. Any advice how to cope with this situation, I don't feel ill or weak or ready to depart this life and will fight with all guns blazing but what can I say to myself in the small hours when I am scared.

MiniMouse Fri 29-May-15 18:57:17

Welcome home ethelt Just being back home will help you feel better flowers

Mishap Fri 29-May-15 18:37:59

Welcome home - so glad you are back in your own comfortable bed. Try not to worry too much - complications are rare and the medics are on top of these things.

Lona Fri 29-May-15 18:22:08

Look after yourself ethelt, I hope you can get some decent sleep now flowers

janerowena Fri 29-May-15 16:51:01

Ethel! You're back. smile There's nothing like your own bed, is there.

Grannyknot Fri 29-May-15 16:22:58

Good stuff Ethel you done good. flowers

shysal Fri 29-May-15 15:53:15

It is all behind you now etheltbags! Hope your recovery goes well.flowers

Ana Fri 29-May-15 15:52:07

Good to see you posting again, ethel, and I'm glad the worst is over.

Should have reminded you to take earplugs in with you! grin

loopylou Fri 29-May-15 15:50:35

flowers and best wishes for a speedy recovery ethelbags x

TriciaF Fri 29-May-15 15:20:33

Hoping this is the start of a complete recovery for you Ethel.
You're very brave.

chloe1984 Fri 29-May-15 15:04:25

Welcome home hope your recovery goes well .flowers

Falconbird Fri 29-May-15 14:47:45

Welcome Home Ethel - so glad you're back and all went well. flowers sunshine

bikergran Fri 29-May-15 14:24:49

Wecome home ethel smile hope your recovery goes smoothly.

GillT57 Fri 29-May-15 14:24:34

Welcome Home Ethelbags and I bet you are glad to be back in your own bed. Many people say that the worst thing about being in hospital is trying to get some sleep when there is always so much going on, especially when you are used to sleeping in a quiet bedroom with just a cat or two for company! My DM phoned from hospital 3 days after her hip replacement to say that if I didnt come and get her she was going to phone a taxi to collect her as she just couldnt get any sleep, and when she had finally fallen into an exhausted slumber the previous night, one of the staff woke her by shaking her shoulder to ask to check her next of kin details! I went to get her shock. Enjoy being at home, and we look forward to hearing from you when you feel up to it. Meanwhile these are for you flowers cupcake brew

janeainsworth Fri 29-May-15 14:23:50

Glad you are back home Ethel and your DD is there for you when you need her. I expect she'll be feeling very relieved too, to have you back.
Just take little steps and you'll soon be looking back and seeing how far you've come flowers

whenim64 Fri 29-May-15 14:22:51

Good to see you're safely back home, ethel. I hope you recover soon flowers

etheltbags1 Fri 29-May-15 14:15:02

thank you all for the kind wishes. I am home and hopefully over the worst. It was painful and uncomfortable but I expected that. I found that I could not sleep due to noise from other patients and staff doing their jobs so by the time I came home I was exhausted. I had lots of visitors and my DD stayed last night but from today I am on my own.
It is scary being careful with my scar in case I bump it or my cats jump on my stomach, I am also thinking of all complications that could happen and I worry.
However the main thing is that I am home and just waiting for my check up to see what the lab results said.

loopylou Wed 20-May-15 20:33:23

It'll all be over when you read this!
Welcome home ethel, hope everything went well.
Here's to a speedy recovery flowers

AshTree Wed 20-May-15 20:13:41

I hope the op went well ethelt and that by the time you read this you're feeling so much better than you'd imagined. flowers

Ariadne Wed 20-May-15 19:00:31

Good luck, ethelt!

Mishap Wed 20-May-15 12:25:36

ethel - good luck with your op.

Anxiety can reduce your pain threshold and make things that are only mildly uncomfortable seem painful. Try practising some of the relaxation that you do with your clients - I am sure it would help.

I injected myself for months with Clexane and it really does not hurt - momentary sting and that is all.

Eloethan Wed 20-May-15 12:19:23

Ethelbags I hope all goes well tomorrow. Perhaps your sensitivity to pain is because you anticipate it and become very stressed. I wonder if learning some relaxation techniques might help? Your GP might be able to advise.

grannyactivist Wed 20-May-15 12:15:25

I expect that by the time you're reading this etheltbags your operation and hospital stay will be behind you and you will have discovered that you coped after all. Here's to a speedy recovery. winesmile

Charleygirl Wed 20-May-15 11:56:14

I agree with Galen- anticoagulant injections sting for a few seconds but one could not describe it as pain- I should know, I am injecting myself x2 daily!

Good luck for tomorrow but Ethel you will have to get a grip of yourself.

Lynker Wed 20-May-15 11:34:02

Good luck Ethelbags, I am sure that you will be fine. I had a major abdominal operation a few years ago and I have a 12 inch scar to prove it. As an ex-nurse, I was pretty much aware of what was going to happen during the operation and I was scared. It really was manageable! There is some pain, (how could there not be?) but there are painkillers which are very effective. Please try and relax as much as you can and you too will be fine. Wishing you an uneventful and speedy recovery.

GillT57 Wed 20-May-15 09:13:13

Good luck Ethelbags hope all goes well, and remember, the medical and nursing staff are all there to help you and make things easier for you, just try and go with the flow, do not keep seeing ulterior motives in everyone, they are not there! Will soon be over and you will be able to get home to your own bed and get on with your recovery. All good thoughts coming your way