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kathryn1
kathryn1 Member Posts: 88
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hello Everyone,
I am 48 yr.s old and was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer in May. I had a complete hysterectomy and part of my colon removed. I did end up back in the hospital with an infection, that has cleared up now. I had my first chemo treatment last Fri.. I seem to be feeling better than I expected.
I have a question. Yesterday I was pulling some weeds outside, not pulling hard, and the ribs on my left side popped very loudly. Now they're sore. Has anyone else noticed anything similiar to this during chemo?
I would also like to ask what things everyone does to keep their spirits up? I have a wonderful Husband who is very supportive. But sometimes I get very "down".
I have been reading this message board everyday. And all of you are in my prayers.
Kathryn

Comments

  • sherron83
    sherron83 Member Posts: 4
    #2
    Prayers to You Kathryn
    I had spans of depression myself with all kinds of thoughts going through my head everyday. I'd cry for hours & then feel relieved. My doctor also put me on Paxil which actually helped me alot. I guess once the reality sunk in that I had cancer I got it in my head that I wasn't ready to go anywhere yet. This thought I kept in my head and fought everyday with great determination to beat it!! Besides putting my faith in God, my husband also was VERY supportive. He would hold me as I cried for many reasons until I finished. My husband and I both work for the Dept. of Veteran's Affairs and when I was having my surgery at Sinai he took 2 weeks off without pay to be with me. The only thing the nurse's had to do for me was give me my medicine. My husband bathed me, made my bed with clean sheets everyday and walked me. He slept in a geri-chair for those 2 weeks. Just the will to fight this made me stay strong and the thoughts that I wanted more time with my husband and family. I wanted to get back to work too. They found my cancer in Stage 3 and it burst in my stomach to where they had to scrape my intestines. Today I feel good but still in the back of my mind, I wonder if it will come back somewhere else. We just keep praying and take one day at a time. I also kept a journal and would write down everything I was feeling both negative and positive. It really helps just to get it off your chest and not keep in all inside. I send my prayers to you as well as everybody else. Thank you all for letting us be able to express our thoughts and feelings here. It helps a great deal!! May God bless all of you and your families!!

    Love, Sherron
  • seably
    seably Member Posts: 29
    #3
    PAIN IN RIBS
    Hi Kathryn,

    Sorry to have to welcome you to this message board, cancer sucks, but you will find the ladies here are a wonderful source of support and advice.

    While it's probably nothing serious, I think you should contact your doctor regarding your rib pain.

    Sounds like you and I have had similiar experiences...I'm 50, stage 3C, in April I had a complete hysterectomy, colon resection, spleen & omentum removed, followed one week later with an abdominal infection for which I required a wound vac pump for 3 weeks. I'll be doing chemo treatment #5 of 6 next week, taxol IV/cisplatin IP. After treatment #3 I also had rib pain. I had a CT which was clear so the doctor doesn't know what the rib pain was from, but fortunately for me the pain went away after a couple of weeks. I pray your pain is nothing to worry about.

    It's tough to keep your spirits up every day, everyone here can relate to this I'm sure, but heck, I had bad days before the cancer dx. You are very fortunate to have a loving and supportive husband. Lean on him whenever you feel the need. I'm sure he's strong and wants to help anyway he can.

    To help me though the day, I talk with friends and family, some of which I hadn't spoken to for a long time.

    Also, I pray a lot. God will give you more strength than you ever thought possible.

    Take care and God bless,
    Stacey
  • kathryn1
    kathryn1 Member Posts: 88
    #4
    sherron83 said:

    Prayers to You Kathryn
    I had spans of depression myself with all kinds of thoughts going through my head everyday. I'd cry for hours & then feel relieved. My doctor also put me on Paxil which actually helped me alot. I guess once the reality sunk in that I had cancer I got it in my head that I wasn't ready to go anywhere yet. This thought I kept in my head and fought everyday with great determination to beat it!! Besides putting my faith in God, my husband also was VERY supportive. He would hold me as I cried for many reasons until I finished. My husband and I both work for the Dept. of Veteran's Affairs and when I was having my surgery at Sinai he took 2 weeks off without pay to be with me. The only thing the nurse's had to do for me was give me my medicine. My husband bathed me, made my bed with clean sheets everyday and walked me. He slept in a geri-chair for those 2 weeks. Just the will to fight this made me stay strong and the thoughts that I wanted more time with my husband and family. I wanted to get back to work too. They found my cancer in Stage 3 and it burst in my stomach to where they had to scrape my intestines. Today I feel good but still in the back of my mind, I wonder if it will come back somewhere else. We just keep praying and take one day at a time. I also kept a journal and would write down everything I was feeling both negative and positive. It really helps just to get it off your chest and not keep in all inside. I send my prayers to you as well as everybody else. Thank you all for letting us be able to express our thoughts and feelings here. It helps a great deal!! May God bless all of you and your families!!

    Love, Sherron

    Thank you
    Thank you very much for your response!
    My Husband took time off work without pay, to stay with me in the hospital too.
    The journal is a good idea. I will try it.
    Love,
    Kathryn
  • kathryn1
    kathryn1 Member Posts: 88
    #5
    seably said:

    PAIN IN RIBS
    Hi Kathryn,

    Sorry to have to welcome you to this message board, cancer sucks, but you will find the ladies here are a wonderful source of support and advice.

    While it's probably nothing serious, I think you should contact your doctor regarding your rib pain.

    Sounds like you and I have had similiar experiences...I'm 50, stage 3C, in April I had a complete hysterectomy, colon resection, spleen & omentum removed, followed one week later with an abdominal infection for which I required a wound vac pump for 3 weeks. I'll be doing chemo treatment #5 of 6 next week, taxol IV/cisplatin IP. After treatment #3 I also had rib pain. I had a CT which was clear so the doctor doesn't know what the rib pain was from, but fortunately for me the pain went away after a couple of weeks. I pray your pain is nothing to worry about.

    It's tough to keep your spirits up every day, everyone here can relate to this I'm sure, but heck, I had bad days before the cancer dx. You are very fortunate to have a loving and supportive husband. Lean on him whenever you feel the need. I'm sure he's strong and wants to help anyway he can.

    To help me though the day, I talk with friends and family, some of which I hadn't spoken to for a long time.

    Also, I pray a lot. God will give you more strength than you ever thought possible.

    Take care and God bless,
    Stacey

    Thank you very much. I left
    Thank you very much. I left a message for my doctor.
    Thank you for the prayers too.
    God bless you,
    Kathryn
  • jane65
    jane65 Member Posts: 277
    #6
    kathryn1 said:

    Thank you very much. I left
    Thank you very much. I left a message for my doctor.
    Thank you for the prayers too.
    God bless you,
    Kathryn

    kathryn1
    Hi Kathryn,
    The diagnosis of cancer is a terrible shock and is so frightening. I was diagnosed with OVCA 2 1/2 years ago and it was horrible to hear those words..

    I had my surgery, I'm staged 4B and I've had 2 kinds of chemo, it's rough and puts our bodies through hell, but if it kills the cancer, we'll deal with the side affects.
    Right now I'm off chemo since my last scan was clear. My CA is going up again, so it's a matter of time until I'm back on chemo.

    I expected that because OVCA is a chronic disease and we just have to treat it, and push it back down periodically. Of course there are some ladies who only have to treat it once, and it never recurs, I wish you to be one of those lucky ones.

    Your husband is really a gem and you must be a great lady, he obviously loves you very much. Thankfully I married one of those gems 45 years ago.

    My oncologist also prescribed an anti depressant,it's a rare person who can get through this without being down, and sad. It happens when we think about what we, and those who love us, are going through.
    We also go through the why me? And what did I do wrong? The answer is that none of us did anything wrong, and none of us deserve the hell this has brought to our lives. It' just something that has happens, and must be dealt with.

    Please keep coming here for support, this is an amazing group of caring, knowledgeable ladies who support each other because "we get it."

    Good luck, and good health.
    Jane
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #7
    Sorry
    Welcome but sorry you are here. Stage II is very treatable and curable. It took me two months to quit crying. I also was put on Paxil 10 mg. to help me sleep and it sure works. Cancer is a shock to the whole system, mental, physical, spritual and emotional. I started to journal, joined this discussion group, and educated myself via the internet and library on ovarian cancer.
    Can't help with the rib pain. The supporting husband is the most important thing and aren't we blessed for that? I find listing the blessings in my journal is helpful or including them in my prayers of gratitude.
    (((HUGS))) Saundra
  • kathryn1
    kathryn1 Member Posts: 88
    #8
    saundra said:

    Sorry
    Welcome but sorry you are here. Stage II is very treatable and curable. It took me two months to quit crying. I also was put on Paxil 10 mg. to help me sleep and it sure works. Cancer is a shock to the whole system, mental, physical, spritual and emotional. I started to journal, joined this discussion group, and educated myself via the internet and library on ovarian cancer.
    Can't help with the rib pain. The supporting husband is the most important thing and aren't we blessed for that? I find listing the blessings in my journal is helpful or including them in my prayers of gratitude.
    (((HUGS))) Saundra

    Thank you Jane and
    Thank you Jane and Saundra!!!
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #9
    Welcome
    Hi Kathryn, I am so glad you found this board, you have discovered a great place to get support, give others support and gain knowledge. I have not had my ribs pop and am glad you left your Dr a message. Like Saundra said stage II is very curable, so praise the Lord for an early diagnosis.

    Please be aware that a Cancer diagnosis goes through the same stages as dealing with a death so if your spirits continue to be down talk to your docs about that also. They may want to order an anitdepressant for you ~ you body and spirit both have had a huge shock. Just think if it was only depletted of estrogen or only dealing with a cancer ~ but then the two things and then toss in surgery recovery and chemo. WHEW!!!!!! Wears me down just writing about it. So my dear, you are in a normal place and dont' be afraid to ask for help to get yourself back to how you know you normally feel.

    Buckets of Teal Hugs ♥ Prayers coming your way. Bonnie
  • ladyjogger31
    ladyjogger31 Member Posts: 289
    #10
    Welcome
    You will definitely find this a place to share your ups and downs, ask questions and help others. These are amazing woman here full of encouragement, enthusiam, compassion and support. Please come here as often as you want.
    I wouldn't know what to do with out my friends here.It's an awesome bunch of "Teal Warriors". I never had rib pain , so can't help you there. I'm glad that your husband is supportive that means alot with dealing with this disease.Keeping a good positive attitude is everything. I also take zoloft for depression and it works like a charm.
    Hugs and Prayers, Terry
  • kathryn1
    kathryn1 Member Posts: 88
    #11
    Thanks!
    Thank you to everyone for the welcome.
    I will keep reading and posting. It helps to have women to talk to who are experiencing the same or similiar battle.
    God Bless you all!
    Kathryn
  • sherron83
    sherron83 Member Posts: 4
    #12
    kathryn1 said:

    Thanks!
    Thank you to everyone for the welcome.
    I will keep reading and posting. It helps to have women to talk to who are experiencing the same or similiar battle.
    God Bless you all!
    Kathryn

    Here for You....
    Kathryn, I was stage 3 when they found out. Just keep your spirits up and remember WE are always here to help you through it!! My prayers are with you and deep down, I know you will make it just fine!! Never lose faith and your husband sounds just like mine and with God on your side as well as all of us, you'll beat this sweetie!! Thanks to all of you and you'll be in my prayers daily!!
    Sending sisterly love to all!!

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