PTSD from breast cancer and really horrible medical unprofessionals?

cinnamonsmile
cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
edited July 2011 in Breast Cancer #1
I have mentioned here and there the awful, and I do mean awful time I have had with drs since my cancer diagnoses. Some were cancer were related, one was a neurologist. When my oophrectomy was cancelled the afternoon before surgery, I went bullistic. The surgical technician had gotten paperwork I was supposed to sign 31 days before the surgery, had not read it all and from what she did read, thought it did not pertain to me, so insurance called and informed the surgeon's office they would not be paying for my surgery. I complained, and complained, and I said I was tired of complaining to one dept then the other, etc. I said I wanted ONE person to handle all my concerns. She said she would get back to me, that was APril 29 and I have yet to hear from anyone. I think she was told not to contact me for fear of a lawsuit (one neurologist FORGOT to give the test results she got while I was in surgery for a BMX w/ SNB and AND that I have a dangerous blood clotting disorder...I got them two months later when my FAMILY dr. looked at her tests and found it, send her an email...the nurse later called and told me she had the results but thought she would wait until I was recovered sufficiently to give me the news...duhhh... I asked my surgeon if this was info she would have thought necessary at time of surgery and she of course said , yes). THere is sooo much more screw ups this clinic had with me.I went to another clinic to see an ob-gyn for ooprhectomy. while explaining my cancer, she got uppity, and bithcy, and stood up in my face kind of thing and told me DCIS was NOT cancer, it was precnacer, well, i went off.I told her the facts about DCIS, that is preinvasive, not precancer. that she needs to get reducated, that her director of the oncology dept and the ACS deems it cancer and if that was her attitude towards my cancer she is fired and I refuse to let her doing any work on me.
So much has happened since seven months ago!! Treatments changed, drs. changed. surgeries changed, I have changed... but i seem to have nasty flashbacks, extreme fear of medical drs, nurses, etc other than my family doc and two pain drs and two of the nurses their. I push back all feelins of severe anxiety because I cant bear to think of it and relive it.I already have severe anxiety and bipolar with severe depression unrelated to cancer. Can you get PTSD from breast cancer and really horrible, I mean really really horrible drs??? I have to take xanax when I go to meet new drs now and avoid getting some health issues taken care of because I can not handle seeing new docs. When I saw my pain drs for the first time, my top blood pressure was 199!!! after laying down after my treatment, it was 136 on top.
I still have undiagnosed brain lesions they found in 2007 (which no one told me about till an ER dr found it and told me, and no one really cared). They were still present in 2010, but the neurologist that was supposed to be helping me was fired (see above). I am too scared and totally overwhelmed. I have my weekly pain dr appts, my dreaded occupational therapy apts twice a week (I dont like the one gals personality, but she does good physically for me).
What do I do???
I had to take a xanax to even write this out, my breathing is hard, my mind is racing, its an awful awful feeling.
Please help...

Comments

  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    You're all right - they're the incompetent ones
    In a word, yes. Proof in point, there is currently a clinical trial for this very thing. See: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01034215?term=ptsd+breast+cancer&rank=1

    And from the National Cancer Institute:
    http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/post-traumatic-stress/HealthProfessional/page4

    Unfortunately, I also experience such incompetence...so much so that last week I told the oncology department that I'd be much less stressed out without their interference in my life. Further, that I'd rather just take my chances and even if I die at least I won't be an angry, constantly-on-edge-biatch, as a direct result of their treatment to me or lack thereof.

    I wasn't saying that without first weighing the consequences. My aunt, my sole source of support, finally succumbed to her Stage 4 breast cancer after an 8 year 'remission.' She died only this past September. The cancer spread to her bones, liver, and finally her brain. She refused chemo/treatment when the cancer returned. It was her choice.

    Talk about PTSD...as I sat in her hospital room all I could think was that I was looking at MY own future. Sometimes I still think that. It doesn't help any that the oncology department cannot get it together and at the very least just do the job that they were hired to do if nothing else.

    I think you have an all too good understanding of what it's like. Unfortunately. And while you may get suggestions to just change doctors it's really not that simple is it? Besides, why CAN'T the ones you have act reasonable already?!!

    I don't think even remedial training would help some of these types. It's just that ingrained such is their terrible work ethics.

    Have you tried contacting Patient Advocacy? I'll tell you what, a doctor or nurse that gets a call from them pretty much straightens out their act, however it may last only as long as that particular incident is resolved. The good thing is you can just keep on invoking Patient Advocacy. Eventually, it will reach higher ups. Keyword: eventually!

    (((((Hugs)))))

    sorry if double post, preview doesn't seem to work for me today! =)
  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    Where do you live?
    Are you in a rural area? Is a large city reachable? Are there only 2 clinics available to you?

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    It is horrible the
    It is horrible the incompetence you have had to deal with. My uncle had a horrible oncologist when he was first diagnosed. My aunts insisted that he change. Now he is getting the right treatment only 20 minutes down the road.
    If you are up to shopping around, it may make the difference between treatment or no treatment in the future. Most oncology departments have wonderful, caring, intelligent staff.
    As for the anxiety, I have been seeing a counselor since I started treatment. I didn't want to let my mental health prevent me from beating cancer. This journey sucks even with the best medical staff.
    Take care,
    Cindy
  • bluerose
    bluerose Member Posts: 1,104
    PTSD comes from trauma
    PTSD can occur when a person has been traumatized by many things. Commonly it is associated with people who have been in horrific wars and have seen horrific things happen and also it can occur when people have been through other personal tragedies like seeing a loved one killed in front of them plus many other traumatic events. I have always felt that many cancer survivors/patients can experience severe trauma from their journies with cancer and today many studies are being done on that.

    It depends who you go to as to whether they believe in PTSD for cancer patients but most are coming around to realizing it makes sense. We as survivors are waging a war with our own bodies so of course this is a traumatic scenario.

    I personally had a couple of stand out scenes with horrible nurses and doctors over my 25 years of dealing with cancer in one way or another plus I have had other scenarios that include the cancer experience that have given me flashbacks in the past too.

    I would suggest that you see a psychologist (not just a counsellor) who specializes in PTSD. Don't diagnose yourself. From what you say I see a couple of PTSD symptoms but I am not a doctor and of course they could be symptoms of something else too, I don't know. Flashbacks can be associated with PTSD for sure. I had 2 that were directly related to cancer treatments.

    I went to a trauma psychologist who did EMDR therapy on me. Google EMDR and you can read about it. It worked for me but some people have issues with it. It's up to you to decide but I got rid of my trauma scenes that bothered me, you still remember the scenes but they just don't bother you anymore. I go back once in awhile to make sure all is still alright or if I have anxiety attacks which did develope after my treatments - about 15 years later. The pshychologist I went to for trauma also specialized in anxiety disorders.

    Don't let this affect you another day though without seeking help. EMDR does not usually include medications and is a form of hypnosis but not really - hard to describe. Anywho there is help out there. Vietnam vets were helped with their horrible PTSD with EMDR, other treatments they had lasted for years and didn't work but EMDR did away with their trauma from their war scenarios in very little time. Like I said it doesn't work for all but for those it does work for, like me, it was a God send.

    Take care.

    Blessings,

    Bluerose
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    Cinnamon
    I can very much relate to what you are feeling & what you have gone through with medical professionals! Without going into my story-I too have suffered severe anxiety, enough so that I have ended up in the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack twice.
    I do not like taking pills & prefer to do things naturally if possible.
    I recommend that you look into Gabatrol. It is like Xanax, only natural, non-addicting, and no side effects. I just started taking it this morning and already I feel a difference!
    I'm so sorry you are feeling like this & have been treated that way!
    Unfortunately, I have to get back to work & can't say everything I would like to, but if you would like to talk more about this, please feel free to send me a PM.
    ♥ Cat
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member

    Where do you live?
    Are you in a rural area? Is a large city reachable? Are there only 2 clinics available to you?

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle

    I live in a very small town
    I live in a very small town but go to a little bit bigger city for drs, and such. And yes, there are only two clinic conglomerates in the area. They have their major clinics and many smaller satellite clinics. I feel like finding new drs is like playing russian roulette lol!!!! You never know what you are going to get around here!!!
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member

    Where do you live?
    Are you in a rural area? Is a large city reachable? Are there only 2 clinics available to you?

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle

    I live in a very small town
    I live in a very small town but go to a little bit bigger city for drs, and such. And yes, there are only two clinic conglomerates in the area. They have their major clinics and many smaller satellite clinics. I feel like finding new drs is like playing russian roulette lol!!!! You never know what you are going to get around here!!!
    Oh, I should add, there are some WONDERFUL drs around here too. It's a matter of weeding thru to get the good ones!!!
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    mamolady said:

    It is horrible the
    It is horrible the incompetence you have had to deal with. My uncle had a horrible oncologist when he was first diagnosed. My aunts insisted that he change. Now he is getting the right treatment only 20 minutes down the road.
    If you are up to shopping around, it may make the difference between treatment or no treatment in the future. Most oncology departments have wonderful, caring, intelligent staff.
    As for the anxiety, I have been seeing a counselor since I started treatment. I didn't want to let my mental health prevent me from beating cancer. This journey sucks even with the best medical staff.
    Take care,
    Cindy

    I can't believe you have
    I can't believe you have gone thru this. This is awful! I am so sorry and will pray that you will find some decent medical help.


    Hugs, Megan