1 1/2 weeks post mastectomy

Tfenter
Tfenter Member Posts: 1
edited August 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

I was diagnosed on June 9 AndI had my surgery on June 21 and expanders were put in place. Have had 2 of the 4 drains removed and feeling a little better physically every day. However emotionally I'm falling apart. The reality of what has just happened has me incredibly overwhelmed and I can't look at myself without falling apart. I'm sure this is normal but don't know how to handle these emotions. Any advice?

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  • jeanlynann
    jeanlynann Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2016

    I think a cancer diagnosis is a life altering event. I went in for an infection in my breast from an old biopsy, and they found cancer.I have a bad aortic valve and needed to get the infection out of my chest for future heart surgery. I could not have general antheia so no mastectomy . Lymph nodes were ultrasounded. No chemo to hard on heart. Radiation was very hard on me . Feeling way better now. Mentally it is a daily struggle to keep from falling apart. I go to a real breast cancer support group and it is great. I learned it is normal to have these falling apart moments. I think personally I will never be the same after the cancer diagnosis . Pretty common, I think. I have started on exemestane and so far 2 weeks so good. Anastrozole tore me up! The group I am in validates my feelings, and helps me emotionally .




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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2016

    Hi Tfenter and Jeanlynann-

    We want to welcome you both to our community here at BCO. We're glad you've joined us, and hope you find these forums to be a source of support and encouragement as you both continue down this road.

    A cancer diagnosis is something that will affect every aspect of your life. It's normal to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, and many of our members have cycled through the same emotions. Support groups help, just having someone to talk to. Also, talk to your doctor about some of the feelings you're experiencing. You'll hear from other members who have benefited from therapy and/or medication to help them through some of the difficult changes and fear after their diagnosis. Just know that you're not alone, and you have the support of this entire community behind you.

    The Mods

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited August 2016

    I've been through the emotional turmoil. I wish I knew ahead of time my plastic surgeon could "fix" my missing breast. My oncodx number scare the living **** out of me. I thought for sure I'm dying from this. Time is definitely your friend,

    . One day you will get relief. Only time can heal your emotions.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited August 2016

    Meow is right re: time will help. In the mean time I highly recommend talking to someone who can just listen. My church has a Stephen Minister program and I was assigned and met with a volunteer who was a social worker in real life.

    PTSD - like symptoms are common for us BC folks. My brother, who is an onc, said I needed antianxiety meds, an anti-depressant, and counseling to pull out of it.

    I'd be willing to bet you are still reeling from the surgery. As my PCP says, it is a brutal surgery. He thinks the loss breast tissue itself causes drops in our hormones, and when I was seeing him for anxiety and depression he said he had four other mx women just like me, and suggested we form a club. :)

    Advice? Feel what you feel. You don't have to be strong for anyone. This whole thing is a process. For many of us this is the first time we look our own mortality in the face. The crazy thing is that we are resilient beings and little by little we learn to accept our dx and we learn to live with the uncertainty. It take a lot of hard "emotional" work to get there. You will get there.

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  • pab
    pab Member Posts: 53
    edited August 2016

    I agree with everyone! Surgery itself is emotional let alone they removed something from you!! I was a mess after my bmx and just after my exchange (7/7/16. It's just so emotional. I would just sit there and cry. It didn't matter if I looked at myself or looked at my kids I just cried! Then I would laugh a little cuz I had to enjoy my family and laugh a little. This is so overwhelming. My BS gave me Valium and it was wonderful! It also helped with the muscle spasms. Keep talking to someone. If you don't have a group or church or pal then keep posting here. It's what this is for. I found this a little late in the process, I wish I joined earlier! You will get through this. We are here for you. Cry when you want to cry. Get mad when you want. And allow yourself to be happy too.

    Hugs!!

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  • JEBA
    JEBA Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2016

    Hi Tfenter, I had my surgery on 7/12 and have to say i know how you feel. To this day i still have not seen my chest on purpose. So my husband and kids are dressing me, even the doctors make sure i am in a position where i will not see myself by mistake in some mirror. Would this feeling go away, I have to say that i do hope so. I also joined a support group, and on that meeting, i looked and touched every women new/old boob. I can see that i will probably behave the same way, not just yet.

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