I'm terrified of the recovery room

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SophiaMarie
SophiaMarie Member Posts: 352
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Last week I was dx with idc and will be having a lumpectomy his coming Monday the 5th. I'm not looking forward to surgery, especially he radioactive dye (surgeon said it really burns) - but I'm not afraid of all that. What terrifies me is when I wake up - and my surgeon walks in.... Then I get the verdict. In my lymph?? Larger than she thought? Sometimes I can handle it, and sometimes I'm drowning in this. I know it does no good to worry, but that happens to be what I'm best at.



And even if she gets it all and my nodes are clear, for the rest of my life I will be paranoid about what I eat, that I exercise enough, and every little ache, dizziness, etc.



Life is now changed forever. How do you cope with this?!

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  • Beckers
    Beckers Member Posts: 1,883
    edited July 2013

    Oh my, that is the tough question. Breast cancer has a way of taking over our lives for a time. So many unknowns and a lot of waiting. I found the surgery thread for the month I had surgery on here and those ladies helped keep me sane. we walked each other through surgery, the waiting and the treatments. It is hard and we feel for you. Hang in there and do your best to stay calm. Hugs.

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  • SophiaMarie
    SophiaMarie Member Posts: 352
    edited July 2013

    I didn't even notice the surgery forum - thank you, I will check over there!

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  • flannelette
    flannelette Member Posts: 984
    edited July 2013

    Dear Sophia Maria - I don't think the surgeon will come into the recovery room to give you a verdit. Samples must be sent to the pathologist first, to determine what's going on. Lumpectomy - to me that sounds like very early stages. You will NOT worry about every tiney thing for the rest of your life! Like all of us, you will get a treatment plan, and once you latch onto that you will be out of this heaviest of fear stage, and onto taking some control and finding comfort in the fact that (it seems to me) you have been dx early. Running away with fear is the easiest, and normal thing to do. Your perspective will shift, and change, and adapt, as we all do - 1000s of us here. Once the lump is out, maybe try to be thankful it's OUT and you are now on your way to recovery!!

    If the anxiety of waiting for your path report is too much, now is the time to be kind to yourself - IMHO - that means get a prescription and take some tranquillizers when needed! Best!

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited July 2013

    Like Beckers said, BC changes your life in so many ways. It's a matter of finding what ways that work for you in coping. You're going through one of the most difficult times, before a treatment plan. Fight hard BC sister warrior, do not let BC take awaybmore than it already has in your life. You will learn that you are stronger than you ever thought you were in this process.

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited August 2013

    Sorry to hear about your DX. I hear you. It's scary. You've already gotten some good info and advice. Are there any support orgs around? My BS had a nurse educator/navigator who answered questions and also told me about all the free resources. I joined a guided imagery group and loved it (and still go cuz I've made great friends. When I get nervous, such ad when I'm scheduled for my mammogram, they really understand). Also my cancer support center had free counseling sessions. I also live 1/2 away from a big university with a medical/cancer center and I could use their free cancer support even though I wasn't being treated there (private meeting with their nutitionist + free chair massage) anyway, sorry to hear you're in this phase. We've all been there. Hang in there. I'll send you good vibes. ;)

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited August 2013

    Hello sweetheart, I wasn,t afraid of the recovery room for I was happy to make it thru there and on for my Fight, you take one day at a time, you pray and ask God for the strength to get thru it all, is what I did. I had 3 nodes involved and with my Faith in God and famiy and friends support I made it to 19 yrs as a Survivor and I took one day at a time. I said Thank You God for each day I mad it thru, you and all of US are in my prayers daily.  msphil(idc,stage2, 3 nodes, L mast. chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen)

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