How do you cope? Feeling Anxious......

[SlugLobber]

Good luck, Darcy. Have you thought of asking the consultant if they can put you in touch with someone who's had the procedure done? I know I'd be only too happy to reassure someone if I'd gone through something they were bricking it about.

[Verinda]

Good luck from me too Darcy. I finished a whole year of treatment for breast cancer last August. A year seems like an eternity (especially when you've got no hair) but it really isn't, it passes so quickly you'd hardly believe it.

Id recommend looking up alternative treatments and doing things just for yourself, things that are healing but don't involve doctors, I really believe that alternative and conventional treatments complement each other very well.

When I can't get to sleep I try to focus on something extremely boring, like saying the times tables in your head, you should be asleep before you get to your 12 times table!

And do talk to your wife. We wives worry more if we feel shut out! Good luck for tomorrow.

[darcyvuqua]

Just dropping in for an update as I spent most of the day yesterday up the allotment yey

It's almost certain my joints will be fused but I have to have an 'analogy' of my bones test to determine which joint to fuse oh well at least I know now!

Thanks to everyone for your kind words

[Feral007]

Yep, no knowing is much worse than knowing usually. Have a good relax and garden now.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Darcy. As Feral says, at least you know now and can plan your gardening (and all the other things you do) around it!

[out in the cold]

Sometimes just knowing what is or isn't gonna happen is reassuring Darcy.

I am the world's worst control freak, so much so that I would rather drive the full length of the country myself rather than be a passenger in the car and catch some sleep. I tend to panic about things that I am not in control of, and this is totally understandable when it comes to your health.

I know that in times like this, we have had the services of a community nurse to talk to at our doctor's practice. It might sound twee, but talking about stuff like that is very important, especially if they can help you deal with stress (which believe it or not comes under the broad general heading of "Mental Health Issues" these days, which is actually a good thing and means the NHS have actually got someone there specifically to talk to you and discuss ways of helping you to cope. I presume that your practice will have someone similar, so make enquiries.

(BTW, when I say "nurse", the person I know of was a blokey bloke called Gary, didn't wear a uniform and was happy to meet you in a cafe for a coffee or whatever, so it is totally non threatening and has no stigma attached.)