How to get past that first Post Pet Scan Anxieties

Sable1
Sable1 Member Posts: 14
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

 

rI am having alot problems dealing with my upcoming, first post Pet Scan. As the 22nd gets closer I become more irratible, depressed, crying, not sleeping at night and just down right scared. Has anyone else experienced this? What can I do to help myself thru the next two weeks and the 48 hour waiting period for the results. Please help as the nightmares are becoming quite frequent with crying in my sleep. Concentrating at work is impossible because I cant stop thinking about going thru it again. I feel like Im losing the fight!

 

Sable1

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Scanxiety....

    As we call it.......

    Here is a little trivia for you..., and ODDS are Matt will chime in...

    Of the several years that I have been kicking around here, very few people have something show up on their first PET...other than residual from RADS..

    A lot depends on how long ago your treatment ended.. Residual can show up for awhile..

    So more than likely, if you finished up treatment more than 3 - 4 months ago, you're scans will be good.. Less than that might show some residual...

    We all go through this, and quite frankly, it doesn't get much better for a few years in many of us....

    Welcome to Club Abi-Normal...

    John

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Scanxiety....

    As we call it.......

    Here is a little trivia for you..., and ODDS are Matt will chime in...

    Of the several years that I have been kicking around here, very few people have something show up on their first PET...other than residual from RADS..

    A lot depends on how long ago your treatment ended.. Residual can show up for awhile..

    So more than likely, if you finished up treatment more than 3 - 4 months ago, you're scans will be good.. Less than that might show some residual...

    We all go through this, and quite frankly, it doesn't get much better for a few years in many of us....

    Welcome to Club Abi-Normal...

    John

    Of JohnSkiff (like a Donfoo) Its good to hear. Good luck with first pet. Whats the uniform? G.

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #4
    sable, unfortunately we all

    sable, unfortunately we all go through this and we haven't found away to make it easier.  try to stay busy so your mind can't wonder so much.  wishing you the best and saying a prayer for good results.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #5
    can you say "scanxiety sucks"

    Sable1,

    Odds are you are  “scanxiety abi-normal” , but how you deal with  the run-up to scan (and wait) is individual.   Some exercise, some medicate and the rest of us are between happy thoughts and the knowledge we did all we could, all that was asked of us and hopefully that was enough.

    Emotions may run high for quite a while, but with more good appointments under the sable label you should fare much better (it won’t hurt to see recovery from the side effects either).

    Matt

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #6
    Ah honey.....

    my heart aches for you.....I know scanxiety so very well.....everybody here can attest to the fact that 2 weeks before scans, I camp up by my ceiling fan.....and stay there.  Smile  Ask youself, do I feel better than I did 3 months ago? Has anything 'new" come to light?  The answers are no, so remind yourself that nothing new is good.....no news is good news.

    I still Ativan leftover from treatment (2 year old pills)......I take 1/2 every night before bed during my scanxiety time.....lack of sleep makes nerves worse.  If you don't have any Antivan (Lorazapam) left over, call your Oncologist and ask for some to get you through this nerve wracking time.

    p

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #7
    P reporting in

    P is the scanxiety queen of CSN. Glad she posted as she knows it better than most and how to march on.

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #8
    donfoo said:

    P reporting in

    P is the scanxiety queen of CSN. Glad she posted as she knows it better than most and how to march on.

    CT

    Had CT recently. Scan good 3/4 way through software messed up. Have to go back.....

  • edbravo
    edbravo Member Posts: 63
    #9
    Yes it does scare me too. you

    Yes it does scare me too. you just have to be strong even though it is hard. I always think of my dear mother who just got out from depression. She fell into depression when she heard of my cancer, after trying to hide from her for about a month. I had too be strong for her, and thats probably how i got through it. Be close to your love ones, and they will help you through in one way or the other.

  • Sable1
    Sable1 Member Posts: 14
    #10
    phrannie51 said:

    Ah honey.....

    my heart aches for you.....I know scanxiety so very well.....everybody here can attest to the fact that 2 weeks before scans, I camp up by my ceiling fan.....and stay there.  Smile  Ask youself, do I feel better than I did 3 months ago? Has anything 'new" come to light?  The answers are no, so remind yourself that nothing new is good.....no news is good news.

    I still Ativan leftover from treatment (2 year old pills)......I take 1/2 every night before bed during my scanxiety time.....lack of sleep makes nerves worse.  If you don't have any Antivan (Lorazapam) left over, call your Oncologist and ask for some to get you through this nerve wracking time.

    p

    Dear P

    Thank you so much for that advice. I haven't taken any Lorazapam in a few weeks. At least I know it will help some. Tomorrow is the scan and I'm just a nervous wreck! I'm so scared...I dont want to go through it ever again. I hate the disease but I know we all do. Im sure I will just be a basket case by the time I walk into the facilty for the results. Sometimes the anziety is so strong I feel like I am going to pass out. Gos be with me!

     

    Sable!

  • Sable1
    Sable1 Member Posts: 14
    #11
    Guzzle said:

    Of JohnSkiff (like a Donfoo) Its good to hear. Good luck with first pet. Whats the uniform? G.

    That is my son at the police

    That is my son at the police academy graduation prior to us learing of my cancer. I was so happy and proud!  Wish I looked like that now with some weight oppose to the skinnyy me. He became a police office in Festus MO.  Anyway, scan is tomorrow and of course I am a bag of nerves. I suppose the easy part is the scan and the hardest part is waiting til Friday for the results.  This SUCKS!

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