Feeling Alone

KCKitty
KCKitty Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Emotional Support #1
HI, I;M NEW TO THE BOARD. I'M NOT SURE I ENTERED THIS IN THE RIGHT FORMAT. I JUST HAD A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY JUNE 3RD FOLLOWED BY A FIERCE INFECTION AND EXPANDER RECONSTRUCTION. I WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD I HAD SURVIVED ALL THIS WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE, BUT MY HUSBAND IS STRUGGLING WITH IT ALL. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD GET ADDITIONAL SURGERY FOR HIM BUT I'VE HAD IT! I CRIED ALL DAY, I THOUGHT I WAS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD CONSIDERING , BUT NOW I FEEL TERRIBLE. ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. KCKITTY

Comments

  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    Hi
    You have been thru alot. The first thought that came to my mind is, your husband is struggling with this. What a putz! Only do the reconstruction if that's what you want. We're hear on this board to be supportive.
  • bluerose
    bluerose Member Posts: 1,104
    Hi Kitty
    I agree with tiny one, you get surgery for YOU not anyone else and if you really feel YOU want it BUT this has just happened to you and it's alot to handle. It's too soon to start talking about other surgeries, you are still healing from the last one and doubtlessly have to face alot of emotional issues of your own first.

    This is YOUR body, you do what you need to for YOU, not for what someone else might want. I would suggest that rather you tampering with your body to help your husband deal, find a good psychologist or therapist to have him help your husband deal. Cancer is hard on the whole family and I know that your husband is going through his own part in it but he needs to take responsibility for his feelings and thoughts and talk to a professional to help him through, you aren't responsible for his feelings about YOUR body and shouldn't be altering yourself to solve his issues.

    You have gone through enough, you don't need this on top of it. He needs to pony up and see someone to discuss how he is or isn't handling it. If he won't go to a psychologist maybe his family doctor, or yours, can have a chat with him about it.

    All the best. Blessings, Bluerose
  • KCKitty
    KCKitty Member Posts: 11
    feeling alone
    Thank you everyone for all the support. I've decided to slow down and take a breath and wait before making any decision about surgery. I ordered nipples via the mail. Can't wait for the ups guy to arrive! Thank you again. KCKitty
  • Victoria1566
    Victoria1566 Member Posts: 23
    KCKitty said:

    feeling alone
    Thank you everyone for all the support. I've decided to slow down and take a breath and wait before making any decision about surgery. I ordered nipples via the mail. Can't wait for the ups guy to arrive! Thank you again. KCKitty

    Feeling Alone
    My family is great with getting things done but not emotional support. I joke with my friends that I was raised by wolves, and I could give you some examples of their lack of emotional support for me during my battle with breast cancer this summer and during my husband's unsuccessful battle with leukemia two years ago. I held a grudge over their behavior two years ago, but this time it made me laugh. I know that sounds strange, but it I just suddenly realized that they were not going to change, and I either had to continue to be angry or just accept them where they were. Luckily, I have a friend to laugh with about the things they say and do. I don't know if this helps......some people are just horrible at dealing with other people's pain. With my sisters, I have decided to love them anyway.
  • sue Siwek
    sue Siwek Member Posts: 279
    i am thinking that maybe
    i am thinking that maybe your husband like most men, are hard pressed how to handle a touchy situation. it is possible that he doesn't care that you haven't any breast but thinks that maybe it bothers you. hence, he is suggesting that you have reconstruction. men are strange that way and maybe the real concern for him is that he will lose you, or that you will feel less with out "boobs". i have not experienced this situation but have had a reverse situation where my husband has been left unable to be a lover to me and is concerned that i am needful. i am not, just want him to be well and enjoy what time we have with our children and grandchildren. maybe a frank discussion is needed between the two of you.
  • SonSon
    SonSon Member Posts: 174
    sue Siwek said:

    i am thinking that maybe
    i am thinking that maybe your husband like most men, are hard pressed how to handle a touchy situation. it is possible that he doesn't care that you haven't any breast but thinks that maybe it bothers you. hence, he is suggesting that you have reconstruction. men are strange that way and maybe the real concern for him is that he will lose you, or that you will feel less with out "boobs". i have not experienced this situation but have had a reverse situation where my husband has been left unable to be a lover to me and is concerned that i am needful. i am not, just want him to be well and enjoy what time we have with our children and grandchildren. maybe a frank discussion is needed between the two of you.

    That makes a lot of sense...
    That makes a lot of sense. Sort of like when the wife asks "does this dress make me look fat?"... better say "no" if you want to dance with her at the party!
    There are lots of things I lie to about my husband because to say the blatant truth about it would make him uncomfortable...like that belly of his - it is about time we went to labor and delivery for that!
    Fatima
  • KCKitty
    KCKitty Member Posts: 11
    sue Siwek said:

    i am thinking that maybe
    i am thinking that maybe your husband like most men, are hard pressed how to handle a touchy situation. it is possible that he doesn't care that you haven't any breast but thinks that maybe it bothers you. hence, he is suggesting that you have reconstruction. men are strange that way and maybe the real concern for him is that he will lose you, or that you will feel less with out "boobs". i have not experienced this situation but have had a reverse situation where my husband has been left unable to be a lover to me and is concerned that i am needful. i am not, just want him to be well and enjoy what time we have with our children and grandchildren. maybe a frank discussion is needed between the two of you.

    More Surgery
    Hi Sue,

    I just had my third surgery 3 weeks ago the last being for implants but things are not what they used to be. I lost alot of tissue ect. because of infection , on the whole I feel like I look ok. I have tried to talk to my Husband but he is not a good communicator. He says I look fine but is not coming around at all. I am starting to question 25 years of marriage and if I want to deal with this. When I asked him how he felt if I did not get surgery he stated I needed to ask myself how I would feel if something happened to him and how I would feel with someone new. Go figure.
  • KCKitty
    KCKitty Member Posts: 11
    SonSon said:

    That makes a lot of sense...
    That makes a lot of sense. Sort of like when the wife asks "does this dress make me look fat?"... better say "no" if you want to dance with her at the party!
    There are lots of things I lie to about my husband because to say the blatant truth about it would make him uncomfortable...like that belly of his - it is about time we went to labor and delivery for that!
    Fatima

    surgery
    LOL, I needed that!
  • SonSon
    SonSon Member Posts: 174
    KCKitty said:

    More Surgery
    Hi Sue,

    I just had my third surgery 3 weeks ago the last being for implants but things are not what they used to be. I lost alot of tissue ect. because of infection , on the whole I feel like I look ok. I have tried to talk to my Husband but he is not a good communicator. He says I look fine but is not coming around at all. I am starting to question 25 years of marriage and if I want to deal with this. When I asked him how he felt if I did not get surgery he stated I needed to ask myself how I would feel if something happened to him and how I would feel with someone new. Go figure.

    Cryptic Communications...
    Strange with some men you ask them a direct question and yet they still cannot give a direct answer.
    He is just going to have to learn how to deal with your situation. It may take him longer.
    Fatima
  • sue Siwek
    sue Siwek Member Posts: 279
    KCKitty said:

    More Surgery
    Hi Sue,

    I just had my third surgery 3 weeks ago the last being for implants but things are not what they used to be. I lost alot of tissue ect. because of infection , on the whole I feel like I look ok. I have tried to talk to my Husband but he is not a good communicator. He says I look fine but is not coming around at all. I am starting to question 25 years of marriage and if I want to deal with this. When I asked him how he felt if I did not get surgery he stated I needed to ask myself how I would feel if something happened to him and how I would feel with someone new. Go figure.

    as you are getting use to
    as you are getting use to the way things are so is he. as you become more comfortable with yourself i will bet that he will to. give him a chance. in the mean time heal you have been through a lot and so has he.