I am really losing it...

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Pure
Pure Member Posts: 1,796

This past month I have had scare after scare...All these scares have resolved and I was FINALLY doing fine. This past weekend I celebrated my sons birthday-3 years since he was born. I was happy and feeling great. I woke up Monday is like a constant state of panic.With that said I have my checkup in 1 week, my mom is being operated on tomorrow for her breast cancer, and those two things have weighed heavily on my mind. But now,  I feel like I have to keep breathing deeply, have to catch my breathe, like I drank 5 cups of coffee, edgy. like I am on drugs... I can't relax..Everytime I loose my breath I think I have lung mets making it more hard to breathe for that moment.  I am highly nervous, and just keep breathing deep... I am not sure if it's my throid that is off ( I have been loosing hair in the shower) or if I am just completely breaking down... I can't take much more...My mind is just killing me.

Comments

  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited January 2013

    Jennifer, I think it's just anxiety with your check-up and your mom's surgery...that's alot on you.  It sounds like a panic attack to me, not lung mets.  I swear as soon as I saw my scan report and saw that I had a hot spot on my lung...I became breathless for several days and thought it was the spot causing it.  There have been few times in my past that I suffered from panic attacks and this sounds exactly what I experienced.  Our mind is so powerful, try not to let it run away with your sanity sweetie.  Sending you hugs and prayers.  Stress can play a role in hairloss and congrats on your lil' man's b-day!

  • liefie
    liefie Member Posts: 2,440
    edited January 2013

    Maybe now is the time to get a prescription or something to help you relax. You have a lot on your plate, and the stress and worry is not good for you. You don't need to feel bad because you need something. Many women on here find that they can calm down and relax with the help of a good drug. It is not a permanent thing. When you feel better, and things have settled down, you will be able to handle it again. There are drugs available that are not habit forming. Best wishes!

  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2014

    Get thee to the nearest treadmill, or if you live where it's warm, simply put your sneakers on and go outside and run as far as you can without stopping, then stop and walk, then run some more, and repeat. Get your heart pounding for at least half an hour a day. It really quiets the mind.

    If you can get to a gym with a punching bag, try that too.

  • RosesToeses
    RosesToeses Member Posts: 721
    edited January 2013

    Pure, I'm so sorry for all the stress and tough stuff you have going on right now. I agree with the suggestions above, but mostly I just wanted you to know I'm praying for you and we're all pulling for you as you make it through all of this! ((hugs))

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2013

    Pure, you're dealing with so much right now, it's no wonder you're feeling anxious and stressed. As well as everything else that's stressing you, some medicines can cause anxiety. Read more about it at this link, including information about complementary and holistic medicine strategies that can help, antidepressants, other ways to help ease anxiety.

    • The Mods

  • sherry67
    sherry67 Member Posts: 556
    edited January 2013

    Pure,

    Sounds like you are having anxiety attacks..I have felt the same as you on many occasions ..my chest tight my heart feeling like its going to come out of my chest...waking up in a panic ..I take Xanax and it helps I take a low dose because not big on pills but helps me sleep at nigh if not I toss and turn all night and wake every 2to3 hours..don't be afraid to ask for help or to talk with someone..

  • rozem
    rozem Member Posts: 1,375
    edited January 2013

    pure

    i agree with the others...it sounds like panic attacks.  I've had many, panic attacks can really make you feel like you are having trouble breathing, you are having a heart attack, legs going numb...i've had it all

    drugs are always the last resort but maybe some ativan to help you get through this tough time would be helpful

    (((((((hugs))))))))

  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited January 2013

    Pure, this sounds so familiar to me.  I have had scare after scare as well (although not compressed into such a short time), and as any med onc appointment approaches I just get more and more anxious.  Doesn't matter how I'm feeling.  I try to remember to tell my partner so my unpleasant behavior is more understood.    

    It absolutely sucks to have been stage III.  It sucks to be diagnosed when you have little kids, or are pregnant (I wasn't on the boards then, but you were pregnant when you were diagnosed, right?) .  No oncologist is going to give us a clean bill of health and send us on our way, so we have to learn to live with knowing we have a relatively high risk.  Not to try to scare you with that, but I know you already know it's true.

    I have tried meditation.  I'm not good enough at it to be able to do it in our little house with our little kids.  I'm never there alone, except when everyone's asleep at night and that doesn't count because then I'm trying to get everything done and get to bed.  So I don't meditate, but I wish I could.  Instead, I use exercise and drugs - the two things I see mentioned.  And I see a therapist regularly to try to improve my imperfect head.  My use of Ativan has not gone up with time so I'm not really worried about addiction.  And I am really worried about dying young.  I feel like the prescription is justified.  If I were worrying about something silly and the anxiety seemed out of proportion to reality, well, then maybe I would see it as a problem.  Or if I were needing it more and more.  But I'm not.  I'm justifiably scared.  I don't want to leave me kids with one parent.  There's a lot more I want to do (I never understood what that phrase meant before cancer).   

    Stress itself can cause hair loss.  

    Happy birthday to your little guy.  

  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited January 2013

    One word:  Xanax.

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited January 2013

    Thank you guys so so very much:)

  • hopefour
    hopefour Member Posts: 459
    edited January 2013

    pure...how I wish I could give you what we all so desire...the promise that the cancer will never return...the ability to control the future...or removing the BC sorrow of the past... it just is not a gift given us.

    I am not one who likes to give personal advise, but rather state advise from a medical source or such but, I wanted to share some tools I use to overcome some of the fear, worry and stress of BC. I agree with statement above about running/ walking to lift your spirit, but also add that I play at full volume the song "Calmer of the Storm" by Downhere...I run/walk with this blaring until the negative voice of my mind is silenced....over and over again I play it!!

    I also have this werid little saying that a bird can land on your head, but you decided if it will build a nest...meaning a negitive thought can come to your mind, but DON'T let it build a nest in your mind...remove the negitive thought and exhalt only thoughts that are excellent or praiseworthy to your life!! ( if my four kids were reading this they would say I can't believe you wrote that mom..it's one of my many quotes to them..ha)

    Battle the negative thoughts moment by moment and don't let them build up as than the battle is so much greater to over come!! I hear the wonderful love you have for your family. Hold fast to that and the joy it brings. Let BC and it's stress, fear and worry only have a rare moment than put it back and go live this amazing life you have and will have for years to come!!!

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2013

    Hopefour, that is funny. I never used to listen to music before BC, but now I use music much as you describe. My current favorite is Muse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDlVtJf-jiE

  • shianne29
    shianne29 Member Posts: 452
    edited January 2013

    Pure, I can't add anymore than the advice already given. I hope you feel better soon and that all is well with mom and that your check up goes smoothly with nothing but good news!!! {{{PURE}}}

    PS, sometimes just holding my children helps me breathe easier. Grab that little one of yours and squeeze!!!!!

  • SpunkyGirl
    SpunkyGirl Member Posts: 1,568
    edited January 2013

    What you are going through is so normal, Pure!  Honestly, the three year timeframe was tough on me, too.  I remember too many times to count that I just felt like "something wasn't right and it was back".  I can't even tell you how I got through it, until it happened so many times that I started to think, "Okay, here we go again.  It's just my fear."  Truly, it took a long time to separate the anxieties from anything real that wasn't going on.  No one understands until they've been in our position.  And the three year mark was hell on me, too.  DH was six years into his cancer diagnosis and was starting to have a lot of issues. 

    I am so thankful for each and everyday that i have with my boys and my dogs, and I feel wonderful.  I hope that you get there, too!

  • DCMom
    DCMom Member Posts: 624
    edited January 2013

    I KNOW exactly what you mean about the breathing.  The more you worry the harder it is to get a deep breath.  Whenever I start getting that it snowballs and I really have to talk myself off the ledge.  It always makes me think the worst, but I have learned to lay flat on my back and focus on breathing down to my stomach first.  Then once I am able to get a couple deep breaths I convince my mind that if it were truly something there it wouldn't go away with proper breathing.  It doesn't fix all, but it helps a lot.  Another strategy is the tapping method for anxiety (this one you can google).  

    During my Adriamyacin drips I had such bad acid reflux and heartburn (completely psychological because it started as soon as they pulled the stuff out).  I had to drink water the whole time they ran the drip and I still think that started a mental acid reflux problem for me.  All the pills I take now (herbals and vitamins) don't do my swallow a big favor either.  I am rambling, but just wanted to let you know how often I have come to these boards with the exact same concerns you are having now and none of them have amounted to anything

    Big Hugs and Calming thoughts

  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2013

    Oh I am so sorry this is still lingering Jen.  You have been through so much with yourself and now your Mom.  Anyone in your position would be stressed to the max.  I know I'd be jumping out of my skin for sure!  Do you have some Xanax or the like for anxiety?  If not, get in to see you PCP MONDAY and get something to help.  Also think about seeing a therapist.  I just found a new doc for meds and she is encouraging me to get a new therapist as well.  Shit, we have PTSD as far as I'm concerned and having to see your Mom go through that only rubs salt in the wound. 

    PM me or FB pm me anytime girlie. I'm here for you.
    Love you,
    Sharon

  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited January 2013

    Thank you guys for your help. I really appreciate your help and support. I am going to the doctor today to get some help. I am still stuggling with the Mornings being the worst. As the day goes on it gets better. I wish all you the best:)

  • DCMom
    DCMom Member Posts: 624
    edited January 2013

    Jen



    I am praying for you. Big hugs and just know how much you are thought of today!



    Susan

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