Day 2 after treatment.

mrmauld
mrmauld Member Posts: 44
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Today I got up feeling like every muscle and bone in my body had been beatin. I did get some sleep. About 5 hours. Then we all got up and went to church, I felt like I had to just drag myself, but I know I have to be strong. When we get their, our pastor came over to see me and that was it I just fell apart. Maybe no more days like this. I didn't feel like going anywhere this afternoon after seeing my mother, and returning home, I just laid around on the couch. I think if I feel this way tomorrow that I will make a date with my couch. Of course after I get the kids off to school. I am thinking of returning to work On Feb. 16, 2009? I don't need to continue to stay home? What do my sisters think of this. My short term disability runs out on March 1 but I still have 2 more reconstruction surgeries to go through this year that I might need those other few weeks of short term that is left.
Any answers or advice????
Michelle

Comments

  • Aortus
    Aortus Member Posts: 967
    #2
    Take it easy on yourself!
    Sorry to hear you had such a rough day, Michelle. Five hours sleep is better than nothing, but obviously you need all the sleep you can get. Moopy and I ran some errands around town while everyone else was going to church (the better to avoid crowds), but after that I insisted that she take it easy on herself. Which involved quite a bit of quality time with the couch.

    Please don't push yourself so hard. Staying as healthy as possible during chemo has to be your first concern. And please don't make any decisions about returning to work without some input from your oncologist or nurse practitioner. Moopy has been looking into returning to work in two weeks (she's going bonkers staying home all the time and the money sure wouldn't hurt), but the oncologist isn't quite so sure. It wasn't what we wanted to hear from him but it was definitely what we *needed* to hear. I know your decision won't be an easy one, but please get some medical input too.

    I am wishing and praying for all the best for Moopy and *all* her sisters and all the caregivers too!

    Joe
  • mrmauld
    mrmauld Member Posts: 44
    #3
    Aortus said:

    Take it easy on yourself!
    Sorry to hear you had such a rough day, Michelle. Five hours sleep is better than nothing, but obviously you need all the sleep you can get. Moopy and I ran some errands around town while everyone else was going to church (the better to avoid crowds), but after that I insisted that she take it easy on herself. Which involved quite a bit of quality time with the couch.

    Please don't push yourself so hard. Staying as healthy as possible during chemo has to be your first concern. And please don't make any decisions about returning to work without some input from your oncologist or nurse practitioner. Moopy has been looking into returning to work in two weeks (she's going bonkers staying home all the time and the money sure wouldn't hurt), but the oncologist isn't quite so sure. It wasn't what we wanted to hear from him but it was definitely what we *needed* to hear. I know your decision won't be an easy one, but please get some medical input too.

    I am wishing and praying for all the best for Moopy and *all* her sisters and all the caregivers too!

    Joe

    thank you
    Thank you Joe, that has been my case too, going bonkers, but the money will be much appreciated. I will indeed get my onc's advice before returning. I will have my 3rd treatment on Feb. 13 "my mother's 78th birthday" and I plan on if I am well enough he might release me to go back to work . I guess we'll see. Thank you so much for great advice.
    Michelle
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #4
    Michelle, I also am sorry you were so tired yesterday. You actually did a lot more than I was able to do that first weekend. If you can, then, I agree w/ Joe that more time resting is what will help. I also am concerned with work. I am on leave until 02/11 and have been since the mastectomy on 11/24. My manager and company has been great, but I worry about running out of leave time, like you. And I miss work and a normal life. I miss seeing my coworkers and thinking and doing something totally outside of cancer and my current state.

    My employer offered an acute treatment plan where I work only 60% of my schedule and get paid 80%. That means just 2 days a week. I thought this was wonderful; but, as Joe told you, my oncologist did not sound optimistic. He could not say that I would be able to work 2 days every single week because of the risk of my blood count forcing me to be home (that has not happened yet, and I pray it doesn't). So, I am back to not sure what to do myself. The only thing I know is that neither of us should work more than our health can handle right now. Maybe your oncologist will have better news for you. And the other sisters in pink will have more advice. I had a threat about my concern with going back and getting out and about. The ladies were great about giving me their feedback and advice.

    Hang in there, Michelle. Each day gets better.
  • mrmauld
    mrmauld Member Posts: 44
    #5
    Moopy23 said:

    Michelle, I also am sorry you were so tired yesterday. You actually did a lot more than I was able to do that first weekend. If you can, then, I agree w/ Joe that more time resting is what will help. I also am concerned with work. I am on leave until 02/11 and have been since the mastectomy on 11/24. My manager and company has been great, but I worry about running out of leave time, like you. And I miss work and a normal life. I miss seeing my coworkers and thinking and doing something totally outside of cancer and my current state.

    My employer offered an acute treatment plan where I work only 60% of my schedule and get paid 80%. That means just 2 days a week. I thought this was wonderful; but, as Joe told you, my oncologist did not sound optimistic. He could not say that I would be able to work 2 days every single week because of the risk of my blood count forcing me to be home (that has not happened yet, and I pray it doesn't). So, I am back to not sure what to do myself. The only thing I know is that neither of us should work more than our health can handle right now. Maybe your oncologist will have better news for you. And the other sisters in pink will have more advice. I had a threat about my concern with going back and getting out and about. The ladies were great about giving me their feedback and advice.

    Hang in there, Michelle. Each day gets better.

    Thank you Moopy. I needed

    Thank you Moopy. I needed that advice. Sometimes it is hard to remember ourselves when we feel like we can go back to work. I do know that if we can't go back to work for a while that my RN told me if I ran out of short term time then I could draw temporary disability. Maybe that is an option.
    Michelle
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #6
    Good morning Michelle and Moopy
    Guess we are all about in the same boat, (again) I also would love to go back to work even if just a couple days a week. They say i need a note from the Doc. and they are not to sure i should be working in a hospital where there are so many sick people. I also feel that i need to get out of the house and see people and go on with life.Some days i get up shower and plan to go over and then something stops me either i am too tired or I am uncomfortable going out in hats, scarves to work and my wig hurts my head.I've been thinking if i could just work the week before i have to go back for infusion would be good as that is when i feel more like myself and not so tired. My husband family and friends tell me not to worry about it and to worry about myself first. I guess this is something alot of women are not yet used to doing.. but I guess i will see what the Doc. says and take it one day at a time,I should be doing things i always wanted to do but didn't have time for such as scrapbooking and organizing my home.We have lost so many familiar things ..our breast, our hair, self esteem and want to hang on to another part of us.. our job and independence. I praying that this will all fall into place for all of us.
    Hope you all havea great day!
    God bless Jackie
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #7
    rjjj said:

    Good morning Michelle and Moopy
    Guess we are all about in the same boat, (again) I also would love to go back to work even if just a couple days a week. They say i need a note from the Doc. and they are not to sure i should be working in a hospital where there are so many sick people. I also feel that i need to get out of the house and see people and go on with life.Some days i get up shower and plan to go over and then something stops me either i am too tired or I am uncomfortable going out in hats, scarves to work and my wig hurts my head.I've been thinking if i could just work the week before i have to go back for infusion would be good as that is when i feel more like myself and not so tired. My husband family and friends tell me not to worry about it and to worry about myself first. I guess this is something alot of women are not yet used to doing.. but I guess i will see what the Doc. says and take it one day at a time,I should be doing things i always wanted to do but didn't have time for such as scrapbooking and organizing my home.We have lost so many familiar things ..our breast, our hair, self esteem and want to hang on to another part of us.. our job and independence. I praying that this will all fall into place for all of us.
    Hope you all havea great day!
    God bless Jackie

    Familiar Things
    Reading your comment--about how we have lost so much--really hit home, Jackie. I was feeling like crying myself this morning. Just having the words written and the feeling shared, that I am not alone, helped. And seeing your sweet pup Tootsie--what an adorable little face. I couldn't help smiling. I like to picture her out running in the MT bl like you described. She is a comfort to me, too.
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #8
    rjjj said:

    Good morning Michelle and Moopy
    Guess we are all about in the same boat, (again) I also would love to go back to work even if just a couple days a week. They say i need a note from the Doc. and they are not to sure i should be working in a hospital where there are so many sick people. I also feel that i need to get out of the house and see people and go on with life.Some days i get up shower and plan to go over and then something stops me either i am too tired or I am uncomfortable going out in hats, scarves to work and my wig hurts my head.I've been thinking if i could just work the week before i have to go back for infusion would be good as that is when i feel more like myself and not so tired. My husband family and friends tell me not to worry about it and to worry about myself first. I guess this is something alot of women are not yet used to doing.. but I guess i will see what the Doc. says and take it one day at a time,I should be doing things i always wanted to do but didn't have time for such as scrapbooking and organizing my home.We have lost so many familiar things ..our breast, our hair, self esteem and want to hang on to another part of us.. our job and independence. I praying that this will all fall into place for all of us.
    Hope you all havea great day!
    God bless Jackie

    We're all the same and we're all different
    I am employed half-time and that worked well for me during chemo. My chemo was on Wednesday and I worked Thursday all day, feeling great on the steroids. By Friday afternoon I began feeling a bit whoozy and yucky. It was also my neulasta shot day. The weekends, I spent a lot of time with my bed, relaxation tapes and Ativan. Monday I was on the mend. Then I was ready to go back to work on my regular schedule. I think our bodies can respond so differently to the chemo that it's best decided by you and your onc.
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #9
    lynn1950 said:

    We're all the same and we're all different
    I am employed half-time and that worked well for me during chemo. My chemo was on Wednesday and I worked Thursday all day, feeling great on the steroids. By Friday afternoon I began feeling a bit whoozy and yucky. It was also my neulasta shot day. The weekends, I spent a lot of time with my bed, relaxation tapes and Ativan. Monday I was on the mend. Then I was ready to go back to work on my regular schedule. I think our bodies can respond so differently to the chemo that it's best decided by you and your onc.

    Work Pattern
    Thanks,Lynn, that helps. I will work w/ my onc and manager to figure something out.
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #10
    Moopy23 said:

    Work Pattern
    Thanks,Lynn, that helps. I will work w/ my onc and manager to figure something out.

    Work really helps me
    Work really helps me feel more normal. (If I ever was normal.) I like being away from cancer and into my old routine. It is important to keep honest with yourself,though and keep healthy. Precancer, I had some bad habits that are easy to fall back into...like not stopping to drink water when I'm already feeling thirsty, or continuing to work to finish something up when really I should be going home for a nap. Your body will tell you what you need. I am just not always such a great listener. Lynn

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