Just diagnosed, high anxiety

elainegint

I am 68 years old and was just diagnosed. First meeting with oncologist is next week. But I'm crazy anxious about the whole thing.

And because I live alone, I am especially concerned about the recovery after the hysterectomy --- how painful, how long, how much help I will need at home.  I would be grateful for any input or advice.

cmb

After surgery

I live alone too. Before my surgery I stocked up on groceries and pet supplies such as litter and cat food.

I was fine on my own after surgery, but I did ask my sisters and a good friend to help with washing the litter boxes once a week for the first month since I was restricted from lifting more than 10 pounds for 30 days. The boxes of litter weighed more than 10 pounds.

Actually the most challenging part was just getting out of bed without anyone to help. It was really painful and I felt like I was pulling at my incisions. So I found a video on You Tube that demonstrated a good technique that really helped:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heEvgDc4w90

I took the pain killers for the first couple of days, but then I stopped as I didn't really need them. I also did not take the pills prescribed for constipation as I did not have this problem. I had the opposite problem with diarrhea, which continued to bother me during chemo, radiation and even today. So while constipation after surgery may be more typical, be prepared for diarrhea too just in case that how your body reacts.

I didn't drive for the first week or two, but I did after that since I wasn't taking the pain medication.

As compared to chemo and radiation, surgery was the easiest part of the treatment process for me.

Feelingalone74

HI elaineeight, it's
HI elaineeight, it's perfectly normal for you to be feeling anxious about your new diagnosis and the hysterectomy. Do you know if you're having a laparoscopic hysterectomy? I am in the beginning stages. I had a hysterectomy last month and will start treatment in another week. I think everyone's body tolerate surgery differently. But I can tell you that I have laparoscopic and it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. The first day was very uncomfortable in the hospital. I only had to stay one day. When I came home I did have much discomfort but the Tylenol and pain killer and nausea medicine helps tremendously. I had to rest often for the first few days and realized only took the painkillers no I don't usually take things like that. It helps. The first week was exhausting. If you have a friend that can stop by just to help you with meal prep or just helping u out that would be helpful. I do suggest going grocery shopping and getting meals put together prior to surgery so that you'll have something easy to heat up. Take little walks even if it's only around the house. They told me to walk often but dont over tire myself. I would walk to the corner a few days then go a little farther for a few days. By day 7 I was feeling better and day 10 I felt almost like myself again and could do light house keeping. 2 weeks I was back to my normal routine. Taking long walks and daily activities. Keep your focus one day at a time.
This is no easy time and the diagnosis is hard to cope with. You're not alone . Your feelings are perfectly normal!
This discussion board has given me so much info. The ladies on here are so AMAZINGLY, KIND AND SUPPORTIVE. Having them share 1st hand experiences has helped me to know what to expect.
Best wishes to you, Michelle

elainegint

cmb said:

After surgery

I live alone too. Before my surgery I stocked up on groceries and pet supplies such as litter and cat food.

I was fine on my own after surgery, but I did ask my sisters and a good friend to help with washing the litter boxes once a week for the first month since I was restricted from lifting more than 10 pounds for 30 days. The boxes of litter weighed more than 10 pounds.

Actually the most challenging part was just getting out of bed without anyone to help. It was really painful and I felt like I was pulling at my incisions. So I found a video on You Tube that demonstrated a good technique that really helped:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heEvgDc4w90

I took the pain killers for the first couple of days, but then I stopped as I didn't really need them. I also did not take the pills prescribed for constipation as I did not have this problem. I had the opposite problem with diarrhea, which continued to bother me during chemo, radiation and even today. So while constipation after surgery may be more typical, be prepared for diarrhea too just in case that how your body reacts.

I didn't drive for the first week or two, but I did after that since I wasn't taking the pain medication.

As compared to chemo and radiation, surgery was the easiest part of the treatment process for me.

Thanks so much. I'm hopeful

Thanks so much. I'm hopeful that it will be done laparoscopically, which I know should make the recovery easier and faster. 

I am trying to get a friend or maybe a home health aide to stay with me for the first few days after. And I have a caring neighbor who will also help.  No pets to worry about, just myself. 

In your experience, are chemo and radiation always required? Of course, I don't know yet about my case. 

Luckily, I live in a city where I can order online for delivery for just about anything I need. 

Thanks for the Youtube video link. I wouldn't have thought of looking there. 

elainegint

Feelingalone74 said:

HI elaineeight, it's
HI elaineeight, it's perfectly normal for you to be feeling anxious about your new diagnosis and the hysterectomy. Do you know if you're having a laparoscopic hysterectomy? I am in the beginning stages. I had a hysterectomy last month and will start treatment in another week. I think everyone's body tolerate surgery differently. But I can tell you that I have laparoscopic and it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. The first day was very uncomfortable in the hospital. I only had to stay one day. When I came home I did have much discomfort but the Tylenol and pain killer and nausea medicine helps tremendously. I had to rest often for the first few days and realized only took the painkillers no I don't usually take things like that. It helps. The first week was exhausting. If you have a friend that can stop by just to help you with meal prep or just helping u out that would be helpful. I do suggest going grocery shopping and getting meals put together prior to surgery so that you'll have something easy to heat up. Take little walks even if it's only around the house. They told me to walk often but dont over tire myself. I would walk to the corner a few days then go a little farther for a few days. By day 7 I was feeling better and day 10 I felt almost like myself again and could do light house keeping. 2 weeks I was back to my normal routine. Taking long walks and daily activities. Keep your focus one day at a time.
This is no easy time and the diagnosis is hard to cope with. You're not alone . Your feelings are perfectly normal!
This discussion board has given me so much info. The ladies on here are so AMAZINGLY, KIND AND SUPPORTIVE. Having them share 1st hand experiences has helped me to know what to expect.
Best wishes to you, Michelle

I don't like surprises, so I

I don't like surprises, so I really appreciate your information.

Although it isn't pleasant, I can handle a little pain or discomfort. It's the anxiety that is really debilitating for me on top of everything else. I've been taking a tiny dose of Xanax to get me through so far. 

But knowing that i should be able to be self-sufficient after a week is somewhat comforting.

Feelingalone74

Great idea suggestion the

Great idea suggestion the video cmb! 

I was worried about that too. Just go slow. You'll  be ok!

I also suggest getting your some magazines,  a good book or Crossword puzzles during your healing time . Keeping my mind busy helped!

I couldn't drive for 2 weeks as well so if possible get as much as you think you'll need prior to surgery and getting any daily prescriptions filled if needed.

cmb

I had laparoscopic surgery,

I had laparoscopic surgery, so my recovery was easier than other women who had the full abdominal surgery. But as Mabound noted in her response on the other discussion topic, you won't know the stage or grade of your cancer until after the surgery is done. That will dictate what, if any, further treatment will be needed.

I second Feelingalone74's suggestion about puzzles. While I normally enjoy reading, I found it hard to stay focused on books post surgery and during chemo. So I ended up doing several puzzles (not the cross-word ones) during this period. It was a good way to keep my mind occupied without much effort.

Forherself

elainegint said:

I don't like surprises, so I

I don't like surprises, so I really appreciate your information.

Although it isn't pleasant, I can handle a little pain or discomfort. It's the anxiety that is really debilitating for me on top of everything else. I've been taking a tiny dose of Xanax to get me through so far. 

But knowing that i should be able to be self-sufficient after a week is somewhat comforting.

You haven't mentioned

your biopsy results.   The treatment really depends on the type of cancer cells.  If they were endometrioid it is really possible that you will have. not more treatment.  If it was another type, chances are you will need further treatment.    I had laparoscopic and an incision.  I don't remember much pain at all.  I took pain killers for two days after.  I left the hospital after 24 hours.  

elainegint

 I don't know what stage it

 I don't know what stage it is but pathology report said it wa atypical complex hyperplastic and focal, well differentiated and called endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Gyno said it was caught early. She said for a bad thing it was the best possible situation. That's all I know right now.

I am a knitter (professionally at times) and love crossword and suduko so I am stocking up to keep me occupied. MIght even try a jigsaw puzzle. 

So great to have found this discussion group. So grateful for all your insights.

suzycruise76

elainegint said:

 I don't know what stage it

 I don't know what stage it is but pathology report said it wa atypical complex hyperplastic and focal, well differentiated and called endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Gyno said it was caught early. She said for a bad thing it was the best possible situation. That's all I know right now.

I am a knitter (professionally at times) and love crossword and suduko so I am stocking up to keep me occupied. MIght even try a jigsaw puzzle. 

So great to have found this discussion group. So grateful for all your insights.

Hi Elaine,

"for a bad thing it was the best possible situation".....

this is exactly what my onco surgeon told me after the biopsy and scans.  I was diagnosed in January this year,and now I am after the chemo and radiation at first,and after surgery on May31. According to all pathology results I am cancer free,and do not have to have another treatment. And it all happened in 5 months!

Oh,I should mention,that I had colon cancer,not uterine cancer (even though the surgeons processed with hysterectomy plus the colon resection and tumour removal).

I am sure you are going to have easy recovery after your surgery,and wish you all the best,

Suzy

Ribbons

elainegint said:

I don't like surprises, so I

I don't like surprises, so I really appreciate your information.

Although it isn't pleasant, I can handle a little pain or discomfort. It's the anxiety that is really debilitating for me on top of everything else. I've been taking a tiny dose of Xanax to get me through so far. 

But knowing that i should be able to be self-sufficient after a week is somewhat comforting.

not too bad

I had a robotic assisted hysterectomy (plus all the other parts, ovaries. tubes etc.) plus a total of 22 lymph nodes. The actual surgery was not all that bad, I could have gone home the same day but since we live quite a distance away, I stayed overnight. The biggest surprise for me was the gas! With a laproscopic hysterectomy, they blow you up with gas so they can see what they are doing. That takes a few days to completely go away, I felt like a beach ball, although I didn't look like that. Maybe ask about that if they don't mention it to you. Recovery from the surgery was not super long for me, just not allowed to lift things for a while.

Fridays Child

Ribbons said:

not too bad

I had a robotic assisted hysterectomy (plus all the other parts, ovaries. tubes etc.) plus a total of 22 lymph nodes. The actual surgery was not all that bad, I could have gone home the same day but since we live quite a distance away, I stayed overnight. The biggest surprise for me was the gas! With a laproscopic hysterectomy, they blow you up with gas so they can see what they are doing. That takes a few days to completely go away, I felt like a beach ball, although I didn't look like that. Maybe ask about that if they don't mention it to you. Recovery from the surgery was not super long for me, just not allowed to lift things for a while.

Wedge pillow

We had a wedge pillow and I dug that out to sleep on the first couple of nights to help dissipate the gas.  Seemed to work pretty well.

MAbound

Ribbons said:

not too bad

I had a robotic assisted hysterectomy (plus all the other parts, ovaries. tubes etc.) plus a total of 22 lymph nodes. The actual surgery was not all that bad, I could have gone home the same day but since we live quite a distance away, I stayed overnight. The biggest surprise for me was the gas! With a laproscopic hysterectomy, they blow you up with gas so they can see what they are doing. That takes a few days to completely go away, I felt like a beach ball, although I didn't look like that. Maybe ask about that if they don't mention it to you. Recovery from the surgery was not super long for me, just not allowed to lift things for a while.

gas x

it helps to have this on hand, too. It really helps. The wedge pillow is a good idea if you have one because you don't want to sleep flat the first couple of nights afterward. If you don't have one, a recliner chair is comfy for sleeping  more upright, too.

janaes

I was one of those who had a

I was one of those who had a full abdomanal surgery. I lived alone with my two yonger kids at the time. My surgery took longer to recover from. I was in the hospital for 3 days. Im not sure why but it was the plan to do the full adominal surgery from the beginging. Its true they dont officially diagnose until after surgery. My oncologist told me mine was stage 2 before and that is what it was after surgery. I had a table by my couch and a nightstand by my bed and bought food that i could just keep there in case i didnt feel like getting up. I kept my medications there too to make it easier. I hope it goes easy for you but it took quite a while to fully recover. It worked out though. I drove still. That was easy part. I did stop tsking the meds too and just tolerated the pain. It did slowly get better.

jan9wils

Hellow Elainegint,

Hellow Elainegint,

I am sorry about your diagnosis. Cancer really sucks. People say things to try to be helpful like, "stay positive!, and your're strong!" which I did not find helpful at all. That said, you will find the people on this board extremely helpful. I feel that they "have my back".  I too,  live alone. I had a robotically assisted laparascopic total hysterectomy. I went home the next day. I did not do well with the pain meds they gave me so I switched to tylenol and that was fine. The gas pains were awful. I slept in a recliner. In the hospital they gave me a device to breathe into with a goal of reaching a certain level. This was to help manage the gas from the surgery. I walked a lot, little walks several times a day, around the house and then outside in the evening. My sister came to see me through the surgery and stayed for 5 days afterward. I was able to manage on my own after that. I recovered quite quickly. 

 

denise71919

elainegint said:

 I don't know what stage it

 I don't know what stage it is but pathology report said it wa atypical complex hyperplastic and focal, well differentiated and called endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Gyno said it was caught early. She said for a bad thing it was the best possible situation. That's all I know right now.

I am a knitter (professionally at times) and love crossword and suduko so I am stocking up to keep me occupied. MIght even try a jigsaw puzzle. 

So great to have found this discussion group. So grateful for all your insights.

Just diagnosed

hello Elaine. I too was recently diagnosed July 19. biopsy revealed uterine cancer. Appt this Tuesday with ongologist. Had no symptoms until after biopsy was done over a week ago. My anxiety is high. I recently lost my only son January 1st of this year. I am still grieving and now I face this.  Good luck to you. 

MAbound

denise71919 said:

Just diagnosed

hello Elaine. I too was recently diagnosed July 19. biopsy revealed uterine cancer. Appt this Tuesday with ongologist. Had no symptoms until after biopsy was done over a week ago. My anxiety is high. I recently lost my only son January 1st of this year. I am still grieving and now I face this.  Good luck to you. 

Oh! I am so sorry to hear this!

I am so sorry for the loss of your son! I can't imagine getting this diagnosis while dealing with such a burden. We put our hearts and souls into raising our children and would rather die ourselves than suffer something bad happening to them. Please know that I'm giving you a mental ((hug)) right now. If you need to talk about him, there are many sympathetic ears here. You may have lost him, but I'm sure he's left you with many memories that will be like him whispering in your ear when you need him.

Quilter_1

Gas

My sister-in-law called to see how I was doing when I got home from the hospital.  My husband told her that I was doing well, but, I was having trouble with gas.  She told him to have me lay on my left side, low and behold, she was right.  I could easily relieve the gas,  I’ll never doubt her again.  She is a wonderful sister in law, checked in on me regularly and stopped by often to see for herself.

 Best of luck to you.

 

elainegint

NoTimeForCancer said:

I am sorry

(edit)  Denise, I am sorry about the loss of your son  I just can't imagine what you are going through.  

Please ask to work with a gynecologic oncologist and know that this is your stop with questions.  

I would suggest you try taking this one step at a time.  You certainly have a lot going on, but you are not alone on this cancer journey.

(My apologies for my previous mis-post.  It was truly unintentional.)

Not Elaine

It is Denise who lost her son, not me.

elainegint

Arranging for help at home

My surgery is scheduled in two weeks and it will be done laporascopically. Althoug it is considered ambulatory surgery, because I live alone, the oncologist says he can keep me in the hospital overnight. That makes me feel a bit more secure. And I am arranging for some overnight help for my first night at home.  Going through pre-op testing, although some was already done for the D&C I had 2 weeks ago. My anxiety is still very high, but I just want this thing out of me!  Very weird to think about this nasty thing inside of me. Oncologist says that 90% of the women with this type of cancer who have a hysterectomy do not require further treatment, so I am focusing on visualizing myself in that 90%. But I won't know the grade, etc. until after the surgery. Thanks to all of your advice, I am stocking up on Tylenol, Gas-X, MIralax and Immodium , prepared for all contingencies. If you don't mind sharing, in your experience, how long should I expect to be bleeding after surgery? After the D&C, I was bleeding for 5 days, getting lighter each day.

Forherself

No bleeding after surgery

Others will give their experience.  During surgery your cervix is removed and the top of your vagina stitched closerd.   The wound heals but shouldn't bleed.  Some discharge but it wasn't blood.