So, who else is sick of this whole routine?

Join the club. We all go through times when we just want to get it over and be healthy again. That is what we are here for, to help each other through the tough times and rejoice over our small victories.

Wow, Tina, your post is so timely for me! I was scheduled for my 3-month follow-up next week and discovered that it would just be a clinical exam and some bloods (no mammogram, etc.). I am just so sick of this drill and, so, I called and cancelled and said I'd see them in another 3 months when we'll be able to actually see something.

I'm so sick of being a patient. Do you realize that there are people our age walking around who have never been to a doctor, an ER or been hospitalized? How does THAT feel?

Marin

I don't know if I could find anyone who is not sick of it! One thing I did which really helped me though was this. I bought some sweat pants and comfy shirts when I had my orginal bc. I wore pretty much these sweats and shirts for that year during my tx. When rads were over and my hair had come in well enough to do something with it I pitched those clothes in the trash! You know how things remind you of things, I wanted nothing to remind me of my bc journey that wasn't necessary and clothing was part of it. It may sound strange but it really helped me move past that part of my life. I also repainted my bedroom and my comforter to change that appearance also. Sometimes doing things that give you a fresh start will make things fade into the past quicker.

LuAnn

I hate going...but I am such a worrier, it is a comfort when they say all is well.
Blood work?? My docs said no blood work necessary, just physical exam. Great, one more thing to worry about....sigh.

yep, I'm sick of it too...sick of so many Drs...Med Onc, Rad Onc, PCP, Wound specialist, gyn, PS, breast surgeon...blah!

Me too - there's something wrong with you if you're not sick of it!

Count me in as being totally sick and fed up with the whole world of "cancer". I never dreamed my life could be changed this much from my "before breast cancer days". I was diagnosed at age 45 in February of 2006 and have not been NED at all. I go from chemo to radiation to chemo to surgery to chemo and more chemo. My weeks are filled with doctor appointments, writing checks for copays, filling prescriptions, being stuck, poked, prodded, questioned, etc. It is tough road, ladies. I am so thankful for this website and contact with people in the same situation as me. Sick of the whole routine? I HEAR YA!

Sandy

Amen, Sisters! This is my main reason for not pursuing reconstruction, yet. ANOTHER dr? More appts? And (yikes) MORE surgery? Ugh!

Take care,
Bugs

I loved reading this...............I have recently just befun feeling this way too....I am just tired of being reminded every day that I really will never be "normal" again.............just go from one check up to another and I feel like I plan everything around what if.........I am sick of it and would just like to take a vacation from me!!!!!

I sure was going through it. Then I had "withdrawal" afterward - felt lonely and shot out of the system, thought "who's taking care of me now??". I go to the hospital where I had chemo to do research and I used to always use the bathroom outside of the chemo unit just to know that they were still there. I felt so taken care of by them and appreciative feeling they saved my life.

Now it's not so bad. I go every 3 months or so to one or the other surgeon or onc. No one seems overly concerned and neither do I. I can't control if or when it might come back, I can only hope for good surveillance and know I have to stay on top of weird things instead of ignoring them like I have all my life.

Next week is regular yearly with PCP and the week after 6 mo f/u with plastics.

All I can say is that the intensity of it will be over before you know it. I never would have believed it if someone told me that even at the end of treatment but it is actually the truth. The problem then is getting on with life!

Jorf

Week before last I had three doctor's appointments and a surgery.
Last week I had three doctor's appointments.
This week, I have three doctor's appointments, one of which requires a 3+ hour drive each way!!!
And this is supposed to be my post-chemo rest & rebuilding time.
Yes, I'd say I'm getting pretty freaking sick of this whole routine - and no end in sight. Bilatreral mastectomies w/immed. bilat. DIEPs coming up, and as soon as I am recovered from those. . . the oophorectomies!
Anybody for Bora-Bora in January?!?

Lisa

For me, the hardest and saddest thing of all is that I will never have my life back as I used to know it. I have always been very active - gardening, remodeling, working - whatever. Now that the cancer's back, and only after a year of my first go round, I don't have the strength or the desire to do what I used to do. I find it very difficult to ask others for help. I'm used to taking care of things, myself. I, too, am sick of the pills. Everyone talks about the lack of insurance for all, but if you have insurance, which for me is Cobra and costs me nearly $500 a month, when I don't have any income at the moment, I still have all those copays for medicine, dr appointments, plus gas, hospital bills, etc. I, too, am totally sick of it all. But what is the alternative? I don't like that road, either. When I was done with treatment the first time, I was actually depressed because I knew my "cancer team" was looking out for me. I now wish it had stayed that way. Even though I'm grateful for all their work and care, it would suit me fine if I never had to see them again. And I don't care to take another pill, or a rinse for my mouth, ever again. Here's to you, ladies, may we all just hang in there.
Topo

We are really lucky - our medical insurance is great (knock on wood!) and since the bc journey began the company that my husband works for started picking up part of my medical ins. instead of giving DH a raise. I can live with that!

Went to the onc. yesterday - I'm still going to be going to see him every three months. I am getting so sick of this! Geeze, now I have to schedule appointments with the dermatologist every year for head to toe skin checks. It just never ends.

I cant even type this with out crying......ME IAM SICK OF IT ALL!!!!

I'm sick of it too...and I've been NED for 2 years!  I go along just fine, then WHAM.  Something happens to put it all back in my face.  We try to "get over it" if/when we can.  But it's always there, isn't it...like waiting for the other shoe to drop.  A co-worker (diagnosed one year before me) was just dx with mets to lung.  And THAT has me back on these boards.  I've convinced my onc to let me have 6 month instead of 4 months check ups because I ended up in tears in her office last visit.  For no reason. Seems, if I say "I'm fine, no worries"..they just push and push until they find the button that makes you say "OK, so fine!  So I'm worried all the time.  So I STILL hurt.  So I don't WANT it to come back...is that abnormal!"   No, I didn't actually SAY those things, but she asks about my Tamoxifen symptoms and I tell her.  I'm not asking her to presribe the myriad of drugs she wants to pump in me.  I'm not interested.  But she just keeps offering, otherwise...she probably feels like I don't have a need to see her or something.  Anyway, last visit she says "You act like you want this to just go away" (guess I was short in my answers...dunno really).  I said "Well, isn't that the goal!?  Don't we ALL want it to just go away!?  And aren't we happy when it does...temporarily or permanently...go away!?  Why do you keep hounding me about more prescriptions!?"  So she says "well, I'm no psychologist but now it sounds like you're depressed".  Geesh!  I'm only depressed in this office when I have to address the situation over and over and over.  No one else in my life, who didn't already know about my cancer, would have a CLUE. 

Yep...I'm sick of the routine, sick of the disease, sick of the treatment, sick of the fact that this beast keeps "getting" my peeps! 

Best to you all!