Just Diagnosed and Trying to Manage the Anxiety!

Kim, I have never had anxiety until I was diagnosed. I had a couple of panic attacks and almost went to the hospital I was so freaked out. I was given lorazapam to take for the panic attacks and then put on sertraline daily. Lorazapam also helps you sleep. It has helped me so much! I would encourage you to ask your doctor for something to help.

Best of luck, you can do this!

Hi Kims1961 - I am so sorry you have BC.  I am 59, and when I was diagnosed with BC on the left side and told I had to have a mastectomy, there was no hesitation to decide to have dbl mastectomy (BMX) no Reconstruction.  My BS wasn't to happy taking a perfectly good breast, but going flat didn't include my droopy breast.  I am 4 1/2 weeks post op and I have no regrets taking both breasts.

If you look under "Active Topics" you'll find many posts and stories that will give you knowledge, insight, comfort and tips that our Dr's don't share.  There is a site to prepare you for surgery, what to buy and get to make you more comfortable. And "Surgery in August 2017" served me well.  If there is not a topic for "Surgery in October 2017" you may want to start one. Its comforting to find others who are having surgery the same time and can compare notes and share tips. 

Take care and Breathe.

Hi Kim, ask you MO to get some Ativan so you can be more relax and get some sleep. Check on other posts you will find their stories and they might help you to decide what to do.

Hi Kim, i am so sorry about the anxiety you have but i cried reading your post because i feel the same and feel defective that after surgery I could not control my emotions. I literally had constant anxiety and emotional crashes. Even overwhelmed my partner. Thank you so much for having the courage to post this. I still feel that I shouldn't have these intense emotions as my situation is so much better than so many people. In love, Lynn

My goodness, how could it be possible to NOT have anxiety! I'd be willing to bet that there's not one single person on this forum who hasn't suffered extreme anxiety!!

It's OK to be anxious! Anxiety is absolutely to be expected, and you're not weak.

It's been 18 months since I had my bilateral mastectomy. I'm 47. I had cancer in one breast but chose a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. I'm almost done with reconstruction now - had my 2nd round of fat grafting last week. My breasts look and feel awesome, by the way, and that makes up for a little bit of what I've had to go through. It's so awesome never having to wear a bra! Reconstruction has definitely been worth it for me.

I'm not going to say breast cancer doesn't suck. It definitely does. These have been the most difficult months of my entire life, and my whole life has changed. I got my diagnosis a couple of days after I fractured my pelvis in 5 places in a horse accident. I had to be off work for 6 months, and that was earlier than I should have gone back to work, plus all this happened as my husband and I were moving from his home state of MI back to my home state of KS.

I have made it through so many things I never would have thought I could survive. I was told chemo and radiatioin wouldn't make a difference in my prognosis due to the type of cancer I have, and I'm grateful I didn't have to go through chemo or radiation. Physically, I would not be afraid to go through what I went through again. There seriously has not been real physical suffering and was a physical cake walk compared to what I imagined it would be. I thank God every day that I didn't have to have chemo or radiation but I now realize I could have got through that, too.The surgeries weren't nearly as bad as I imagined. Seeing myself after my mastectomy wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be, especially because I had the tissue expanders placed during the mastectomy. Even though they weren't filled, the small amount of saline that was in them kept me from having that concave look that I was so phobic about.

Being off work - now, that WAS as bad as I imagined. We nearly went bankrupt. Only by the grace of God did we financially survive this ordeal.

NOTHING has nearly been as bad as the anxiety I had during the time between finding the lump and getting the diagnosis, and then the time leading up to the mastectomy. I hope I never have to go through that sort of anxiety again. I just want you to know that I'm OK, and you're going to be OK. Nothing is ever as bad as we imagine it could be. Even the worst case scenario, in real life, is not nearly as bad as our imaginations make it out to be.

I've learned to give myself a break. Prior to all this I was practically a teetotaller. I was a total type A perfectionist crazy lady and I must tell you that this ordeel has totally mellowed me out. I have learned to drink two glasses of wine or 2-3 beers before bed every night now, and to totally love the heck out of myself and forgive myself for each and every thing about myself that I have ever perceived as weakness - because I am a total bada$. I'm enjoying the heck out of every moment I have with friends and family.

I've been through some stuff and come out the other end stronger and more capable than before. If I can get through this I can get through anything!! Since my surgery, I have advanced my career, got a gym membership and started working out and tanning, and set a 10-yr-goal for me and my horse to complete Tevis (a 24-hour, 100-mile, very difficult horse endurance race). I've got 2 granddaughters and 9 step grandchildren who love the heck out of me, and I love them. I've definitely found my priorities in this life and dedicate all my time to my highest priorities.

My doctor promised me I will still be around in 10 years and, by God, I'm going to enjoy the heck out of these 10 years! I could live to be over 100 still, but I'm making it a priority to enjoy the next 10 years for sure.

This sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks for you - but you'll come out the other end. If you're not on any medications for anxiety, talk to your doctor about that. Give yourself a break, no high expectations for yourself right now. Cancer is awful, and scary, and you have the right to cry and scream and drink and be forgetful and feel weak and everything else that goes along with it right now.

Just remember while you're going through it, though - breast cancer has a VERY high survival rate and the treatment is not hell on earth. Reconstruction is not bad at all, either.

Sorry for going on and on. This is my first time back on this forum since I realized I'm going to be OK.