Can't eat, can't sleep, body sore all over

Hrv17

since finding the lump i feel like I have been on a horrible Rollercoaster. I am trying to eat but feel so full and sick every time, I wake at night and just worry! I also have new aches and pains all over my body that freaks me out. I hope its just from stress. Instead my brain goes to thinking its everywhere. How do you get past this? I'm sad this is my life now. I know everyone on here is going through it. I just need advice on how to navigate a bit please.

sbelizabeth

You're experiencing the feelings a lot of us endured in the beginning. Stress, anxiety, fear, grief, worry, sadness. These emotions are all piled up on you right now and taking an enormous toll on your body. Please consider asking your doctor for medication to get through these days. There are meds that can help, short-term, with anxiety, depressions, and insomnia. I'm not saying we should medicate our emotions into oblivion, or that it's appropriate to pop a pill for every blip of stress. This is different.

And I promise you there are better days ahead. Once you get a plan in place and things start firming up surrounding treatment, you'll feel better. Yes, it's a long fandango, but as I discovered--you'll be on the other side of it before you know it. Gentle hugs.

bcincolorado

I am so sorry you are feeling so anxious right now. I remember being up at night and not being able to sleep after first being diagnosed myself. The beginning is definitely the worst and you are diagnosed at least. You did not list your Her2 status but with any luck you may escape chemo (I did) after Onco testing showed no benefit for me at all.

Try some melatonin if you can get some (I take the gummy kind at night myself) and it really does help with sleep and is safe to take regularly I know. It may help with your sleep which will help your mental state as well.

Hopefully you have support around you to help distract you and support your in your health.

Hrv17

I will try the melatonin! I meet with the surgeon tomorrow but am a little freaked out. My her2 is equivocal. I guess that means a +2? And positive means +3. Not quite sure what to think of that.

I hope I avoid chemo too but I guess time will tell.

barbara4

Hi there,

I understand your feelings. As you said you are not eating well, the lack of nutriments can maybe be the cause of the body ache. Try smoothies, soups or other small quantities of healthy food.

Beesie

Hrv, so sorry you are going through this. Yup, it's stress. When you are having problems dealing with it, remind yourself that how you are feeling is perfectly normal. All the new aches and pains are perfectly normal. It's how our brains and bodies react to the shock of the diagnosis. But what's most important is to remind yourself that none of it means that there is actually anything wrong, other than the diagnosis that you know about.

As for HER2, the IHC test has a very wide equivocal (2+) range. So it's pretty common to initially get an equivocal result. Then the FISH test is done. If you look at signature lines, you'll see that lots say "HER2- (FISH)". This indicates that the IHC test was HER2 2+ equivocal but then the FISH test came out HER2-. I've seen studies with anywhere from 45% to 80% of IHC 2+ tumors testing HER2- on FISH. So even being 2+ equivocal, there's a good chance you might be HER2-.

Hrv17

Thank you for the kind words and support! I really appreciate it and this site! It gives me hope the future will be okay!

moth

Time + time + time.

It really sucks at the beginning but it gets better, it really does! Hang in there 🤗

Mountainlover

I am so sorry you're going though this! But you're not alone , and it will get better!

I had exactly the same after diagnosis, couldn't sleep or eat properly, had all sorts of aches and pains, and I could barely function at work and at home.

Knowing what I know now, my advice to myself back in June(ok, too late for that!!!) and to you now , is to take a multivitamin to help the body to cope with the stress, get medical prescription to help with sleep and anxiety - I found that even just a few drops of xanax really helped- and exercise . I lost all energy after the diagnosis, but going outdoor, walking, even just 20-30 minutes really helped me to regain strength and mental balance after the surgery. I wish I had done it earlier!

But don't be hard on yourself, if you don't manage that's also ok, this is a tough moment, you will get through, but only you know what is best for you . A big hug...

AliceBastable

What helped me the most was to do deliberately fun things. It's harder this year, but you can still go on picnics with family or close friends, take walks in the colorful parks, watch silly movies, dance alone in your house - whatever is appealing to you. Looking back, I remember the fun things I did more than the medical crap.

msphil

hello sweetie lots of us had those symptoms also i couldnt eat sleep worried it was all over body im too young and on and on. My doctor prescribed ambien for the anxiety which was out of control. After there was a treatment plan things quiet down. I was planning my 2nd marriages and working. Took a 6mo leave and Fiance family friends was there for me. I started with Positive thoughts that i will get thru this and lots Hope. Praise God for Inspiration i am now a 26 yr Survivor and our 26 Anniversary. Hold on sweetie. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast and then got married and then 7wks rads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

Taralynn

I'm right there with you HRV! So many aches and pains that I know must just be the stress. Especially with 3 kids I'm always just holding it all in and I know my body is permanently tense. I keep reminding myself this tension headache etc only started after this horrible process got started.

I had my appt with my surgeon on Thursday to get things rolling. I got lots of favorable info but still keep wondering what if. It's hard not to. Trying to hold onto the positives! Hang in there! They say the first steps are the hardest and I definitely know we'll Both feel better once things really get in motion.

LarryCempall

Thank you, I had the same problem, now I try to treat it!