Post traumatic stress??

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Ericaalaine
Ericaalaine Member Posts: 11
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Hello all

It's been awhile since I was on.... Tomorrow I have my annual MRI and I feel like my life is on hold until I know the result. I was diagnosed dec 2010 with a 10 month old and brand new job and triple negative... I worked through all my treatments and looking back I have no idea how. Every time I go to oncologist who is the nicest guy I start shaking and am overcome with anxiety. Last mammogram they saw another something (turns out was nothing) but it was very hard. My husband is a tremendous support but is constantly worried about it coming back. Thank God for my mom and her calming words. My question is... Does it all come rushing back for everyone? People are so concerned when you have it but don't realize how scary it is to think about!!

Erica

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  • Nel138281
    Nel138281 Member Posts: 2,124
    edited April 2013

    Post traumatic stress - absolutely.  There is no way we could go thru what we are or have and not have some residual or ongoing anxiety .  Like anyone who has been through a battle, of any sort, divorce, cancer, war, tramautic experience there will be things, it might be a smell or picture that will trigger memories.  In time, as we get further away from the experience, everything will fade into the background a bit. At least I hope so. You are not alone and will find many of us have very similar reactions  "scanxiety"  is the way folks refer to it.  Breathe, breathe and breathe.  Let us know how it goes.

    Be well

    Nel

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  • TexasPeaches
    TexasPeaches Member Posts: 19
    edited April 2013

    I love "Scanxiety"--that just fits!

    What I'd like is a general practitioner who specializes in people who have had cancer. Mine is great, but sometimes I'm convinced by the look that there are 3 heads on these shoulders, just above the wreck of reconstruction. The anxiety is real. The fear that sniffles are brain tumors....well, real sometimes, also. Just had a PET scan yesterday because of severe sciatic nerve pain the chiropractor can't touch--could be metastasis? Grateful it isn't cancer, but what is it? If I were normal, I may have just asked for a referral for a back person and be 1/2 way there now. 

    If you believe what you have is actually PTSD, there is help, effective help. PTSD is a concern if you have 3 sets of symptoms: 1) intrusive thoughts and images (dreams, difficulty concentrating), 2) work to avoid everything related to the experience (feeling numb, insomnia if nightmares are present, detached from others, avoiding addressing the issue), and 3) hypervigilance (such as your shaking) upon reminders of the related events. A therapist that is certified in EMDR by EMDRIA could likely knock out this for you in a few sessions--at minimum help you get a 'safe' or 'calm place' established. It is good stuff--it works. 

    Hang in there. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out....

    Aloha,

    Susan

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