What got you through the "waiting" period?

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ayr1016
ayr1016 Member Posts: 228
edited January 2016 in Just Diagnosed

What helped you get through the waiting period on finding out what your treatment plan is going to be? My appointment with the surgeon is a week from today. Then, I'm sure more waiting time to see the MO. I have anxiety problems already. I did call my doctor and had her call in a prescription for Zoloft. I started taking that 2 days ago. I have been on that before and know that it worked for me. But, I've been super nauseous. I don't know if it is because of the Zoloft or my general anxiety of what is going on with me now. I'm trying to distract myself, but cancer is on my mind from the time I open my eyes till I take an Ativan at night to put me to sleep. Should I take the Ativan during the day too? I'm hoping the Zoloft works. I am trying to keep positive, but it is taking ever fiber I have to make it through each day of waiting.

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  • tshire
    tshire Member Posts: 239
    edited December 2015

    Xanax. Lots of Xanax

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  • Skittlegirl
    Skittlegirl Member Posts: 428
    edited December 2015

    Jigsaw puzzles

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  • Konakona
    Konakona Member Posts: 173
    edited December 2015

    same here, Xanax is what is keeping me funtional for now

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited January 2016

    Around the time of my biopsy we had a family reunion scheduled, so it really did distract me for awhile there. I actually found out my diagnosis while eating lunch in the basement of the Capitol building in DC. Foo! So then I had to go the rest of the time knowing that I had BC, but unable (unwilling) to share it with anyone else but my DH.

    I don't know how you cope with the waiting. Between the time of finding out and recovering from the lumpectomy and re-excision, I took some Xanax at bedtime here and there. Otherwise, my brain just went around and around all night long.

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  • MLP3
    MLP3 Member Posts: 534
    edited January 2016

    I was diagnosed on the 30th and I'm meeting a team of Drs on 1/6 which seems like forever. I'm on vacation with my family in NH and I have no choice but to keep busy. I've been skiing, hiking and taking walks to get in every last bit of the things that I love to do before this process starts. I am trying my best to stay strong and positive. When my mind goes to a dark place, I immediately tell myself to stop and start to focus on the upcoming treatments that I may be facing and how I can prepare myself to go into this with a strong, healthy body and mind.

    For me personally... Take both boobies off! I'm at that point in my life that I'm secure about myself and I could care less about a mastectomy. Get them off, cancer out and give me a mommy makeover while Im there! After having 3 kids, a perky set of tat-ta's that face due north while lying down sounds really good to me right about now😁

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited January 2016

    hi, mlp....I made myself tired by cleaning and organizing closets and drawers. Made donations of unused household items. It made me feel I was doing something productive and helped me sleep. The nighttime was the hardest for me. I made up my mind I was going to work thru treatment, because I was busy and distracted at work. In hindsight, trying to keep a normal schedule helped me tremendously.


    MsP
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  • MLP3
    MLP3 Member Posts: 534
    edited January 2016

    msP... Totally relate... I came home from my biopsy and nervously started cleaning my refrigerator

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited January 2016

    Journaling. I did a lot of journaling while I waited. It helped me sort through emotions and made me feel a little better.

    Waiting is hard and in my opinion, the toughest part of this crap.
    ((((Hugs)))) Hang in there!

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited January 2016

    Journaling, music (listening & playing), friends & family, and--alas--food & shopping.

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  • madjeanius
    madjeanius Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2016

    We are all different and are helped by different things, but I know for me that if I try and stay positive then I am more vulnerable to disturbing negative thoughts compared to if I adopt a more neutral "equanimous" stance.

    Therefore in the early waiting period I was able to be less anxious and more calm by adopting an attitude of fully accepting my situation and being willing to accept whatever the outcome might be (I thought to myself "what's the point of refusing to accept reality any way - it only causes me more suffering"). This helped me stay grounded in the present moment and experience whatever moments of joy presented themselves while I was waiting to hear back about results.

    Whether this helps or not I wish you all the best, Ayr.


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  • CatsRus
    CatsRus Member Posts: 310
    edited January 2016

    Celexa, Ativan and books....lots of books! I read like a fiend. Good luck to you

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  • MLP3
    MLP3 Member Posts: 534
    edited January 2016

    I have the same attitude as madjeanius. I'm a mind over matter type of person anyhow.

    What's keeping me busy? Kids with 2 home from college, this forum for sure, researching, making healthy juices,spending time outside as much as I can and most importantly... Wine🍷

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited January 2016

    During the initial waiting period between diagnostic imaging & biopsy, what helped distract me was my trip to New Orleans: the three days of all-day entertainment law classes; the food, drink & scenery; the music (I played a gig at Neutral Ground coffeehouse); and getting to know the people I met. It didn't completely distract me, as I did find out I was BIRADS 4b via my patient portal; and I kept getting those intrusive “what if?" thoughts interrupting me rather often. Between the biopsy and path report, I didn't really have much waiting time, only about 36 hours. After that, between then and my initial surgical appt., and before (and after) surgery, logistics were my primary focus. I did a lot of planning for our upcoming Mediterranean cruise--not just on the Viking site but also consulting my calendar and various treatment options (and the suggested timeline for each). I did consult Dr. Google but soon concluded I would need to apply my own filters as to the credibility of ideas--so I put on blinders and consulted only BCO, the ACS, Komen, NorthShore Healthcare, WebMD and Mayo Clinic websites. I also thoroughly read both Dr. Susan Love's and Dr. Elisa Port's comprehensive breast health books. In the meantime, there were also humor books and musician biographies and a backlog of DVRed TV for diversion.

    I will say that the waits for OncotypeDX and genetic-mutation testing were more nerve-wracking, perhaps because path reports and appointments came through more quickly.

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  • ayr1016
    ayr1016 Member Posts: 228
    edited January 2016

    thank you so much for all of the replies. I'm trying to plant my feet on the ground from the upheaval from the last few weeks. I will be revisiting this thread again and again to remind me there are things to take my mind off of things and to relax (hard to do for me!). I finally had my MRI today and got the rest of pathology back, so at least I could fill a bit more of my dx signature on here in ;)

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