What with all my current heart issues and follow-ups next week I received a telephone call from the Breast Imaging Dept asking me to attend the Hospital on Monday next week as a follow-up to my Mammogram last Tuesday. I had breast cancer Dec 2019 treatment January 2020 which was 2x lumpectomies and radiation so I'm very concerned. Luckily my Holter fitting isn't until Weds next week so that's a relief.So now I have to try and keep calm so my heart doesn't start doing somersaults.
More than a little scared!: What with... - British Heart Fou...
More than a little scared!
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fairyfeathers
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hello I don’t have experience of this but can only start to imagine how you must be feeling. it’s good they can see you quickly, but I can also see why this would also worry you so much especially with your previous experience. I can only hope it is nothing of great concern and that the next few days go very very quickly. Difficult to do with something playing on your mind, but find ways to distract yourself.
I’ve been worrying and anxious and quite a bit yesterday so much so my 13 year old son noticed and he said to split my time into 30 minute slots and fill them with one activity that is absorbing - jigsaw, knitting, filling in forms I keep putting off!!!!Then move onto something else. Otherwise I have been sitting and brooding, he only suggested yesterday and trying it out tomorrow.
Might help get through the time till your appointment.
I wish I had better words of comfort ❤️
fairyfeathers• in reply to
thank you so much for your words of comfort. Your son sounds lovely and his wise words helpful. Sorry you have been anxious and worrying hope you try his suggestion in the hope it calms you.
I will try and keep myself busy and fill the days with nice things and enjoy the time with my hubby and elderly doggy. xx
• in reply tofairyfeathers
Sounds like a good plan to keep you occupied. ❤️
fairyfeathers• in reply to
yes I need to keep my mind busy with positive nice things so hubby taking me out for a few hours for a trip to the seaside to include a visit to a tea shop🙂 thank you for your response to my post. x
Your seaside trip sounds so lovely! I love tea shops so much—the tiny sandwiches and little treats and lots of hot, delicious tea! I hope that you have an absolutely wonderful time! Your husband also sounds lovely for suggesting the trip!
About two years ago, I had to have two different types of breast biopsies for possible cancer. I remember that the waiting was the worst part. It took almost two weeks to get the results back. I was so scared, and I was alone and on my own waiting. That time was difficult, but I was very lucky and did not have cancer. I am now overdue for a new mammogram, but this last year has been rough. I just keep trying to take one step at a time in my health journey Any good news is a blessing!
I hope that your news next week is good. And you got some excellent ideas on how to keep occupied so that you don’t worry so much. In fact, I am going to try the suggestion that the 13 year old young man made. He sounds very wise.
Keep strong and try to enjoy your trip to the seaside and to the tea shop!
hi I replied to you but it seems to have disappeared ?? You have been thro a lot and one step at a time is all we can do really. As you say waiting results is tough but no way round it. So pleased you got the all clear after your biopsies. But I’m sorry you have had a rough time of it. I hope things improve for you going forwards.
I’m looking forward to my trip to the seaside and the tea shop, makes me happy😃
huge piles of well wishes are just what I need right now so thank you so much xx
As if you haven't got enough happening already! I'm not surprised you're feeling scared. Filling your time with nice things with your hubby and elderly doggy (that you mention above) sounds like a really good plan.
I have 2 elderly cats 🐈 and they're lovely, but are not as eager to please or participate in calming activities as a dog 🐕 would be!
I wish you only the best outcomes for your up and coming medical appointments. Please let us know how you get on.
thank you. I used to have a cat, she was lovely lived to over 21 hrs old. I’ve not long to wait for my appointment for which I’m grateful for. I will report back. x
hi ff
I recently got 2 mature rescue cats and I can so recommend it. They just want cuddles and love and would help occupy your mind positively. I’m writing this with one sleeping around my neck!
Sending you all the best and stay strong.
hi, your cats sound fabulous. I used to have a Burmese cat who was such a diva, she certainly loved being spoilt rotten. She lived to over 21 years and was great company. Thanks so much for your response to my post.
I had this happen a few months ago. It turned out to be a benign cyst, which they drained. I hope you have a similar good outcome.
thank you for your response. Let’s hope my appointment goes well too. Im pleased you were able to have your benign cyst dealt with must have been such a relief!
Can't offer anything here other than my very best wishes. In addition to his many health issues my husband completed treatment for cancer 2 years ago. As his treatment was limited due to his heart failure they can't tell us he is cured so it's always there lurking in the back of your mind, it's not easy is it! Fingers crossed 🤞 that all is good for you.
thank you for your best wishes. Sorry that your husband has had cancer on top of other health issues. I wish him and you well going forward.
I will try my best to keep busy with positive happy things, whilst keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
Hello ff. Don’t let your imagination run away with itself. You can be called back for all sorts of reasons many quite trivial but it has to be done. I have had bc twice and now have heart failure and all that entails too. It’s not the end of the world…life goes on.But you haven’t got that point…if you ever do. So try to put it out of your mind if you can…not easy I know. I have been there.
Have a Walnut whip…….they make everything much better for me !
Let us know how it goes.
wow, thank you for your lovely response, really means a lot to me. You have been thro so much yourself, but your positive upbeat response to my post has helped me so much. I have given myself a good talking too this morning as my heart has been doing somersaults due to my over thinking things causing unnecessary stress. As for the walnut whip, haven’t had one of those in years, I used to love them as a treat. Maybe it’s time I pushed the boat out and bought one.
dear fairy feathers I pray all is well with you and wish you well, I also suffer severe anxiety, and live alone not even a pet! Today I’m off to the pacing Clinic with the fear that my fairly new pace maker has to be removed and replaced so I can imagine how you are feeling, so all the way to hospital I shall be singing I will survive (under my breath as I wouldn’t inflict that pain on passer byes ) and hope it works 🤞take care my thoughts are with you
Thank you. I hope all goes well today at the Pacing Clinic. Anxiety is such a pain and impacts so much. Your singing I will survive under your breath sounds like a plan😃. I will be thinking of you so let me know how your appointment goes. Take care
thank you I will write back
hello again,pacing clinic ok with my pacemaker, recorded quite a few A F episodes but if they become to much she said she would refer me too cardiologist too see if my meds need adjusting. Said there is a bit of of movement but not to worry about it just be careful and no gymnastics 😂, hope your well x
sounds as if Pacing Clinic apptment went ok for you. It’s reassuring that they will refer you if your AF increase. I’m ok thank you just anxious but not long to wait for my appointment. I’m sure you will be careful especially if you start doing gymnastics 😂 xx
Oh crikey, it never rains but it pours as the saying goes. I know it's easy to say and much harder to do ( I'm the worst to follow this advice) but it really isn't worth worrying about things until you know you ve got something to worry about. Even as I write that, I know that's not going to help you but just know that we're all thinking of you. Good luck
yes what you say makes perfect sense, worrying doesn’t help or change anything. I just need to tell my brain that . Thank you for your good luck and it’s comforting all the support I am getting.
Good luck. Hopefully it’s something simple like a cyst. Please let us know how you get on xx
thank you. I will report back. xx
Oh Fairyfeathers - as if you don't have enough to contend with at the moment. I'm not going to say don't worry (it's only human nature), but there's some great suggestions above already. A trip to the seaside with a visit to a tea shop is my favourite - I love a day out like that. I find just watching the waves come in and out, and the sounds of the seaside, almost hypnotic. Every best wish for good news on Monday, hopefully it's just a follow-up chat. Carol x
thank you. Yes a trip to the seaside is rather wonderful even if it’s bit chilly. Plus a visit to a tea shop is the icing on the cake. I will record the waves on my mobile and play it back when I get anxious. So thank you Carol, I’ve my fingers crossed all will be well. xx
I was in hospital for 5 weeks after my HA last January and before my triple by-pass in February and remember thinking (in that 'rarified' and sterile setting) that I'd never complain about walking outside in the rain and cold ever again, I'd have given anything just to feel fresh air on my face. I love it these days and if I ever find myself feeling a bit miserable if I'm out in the rain or cold I remind myself what it was like not to be able to enjoy it! I also find it so relaxing being warm & cosy snuggled up in bed at night listening to the wind and the rain on the window if it's stormy. (My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, her last of 6 chemo sessions finished just last Wednesday. Everything has gone really well, after various tests and MRI's, her heart and lungs are strong, as are her bones and the 3cm tumour has shrunk significantly. She meets with the docs and surgeon today at 11:15am to find out when her operation will be to remove the last of the wee swine.) I'll be keeping my fingers and toes well and truly crossed for both of you! xoxox
walking in the rain makes me feel alive so I don’t worry about the weather. It must have been awful being in hospital for 5 weeks! I send my best wishes and gentle hugs to your sister going thro her breast cancer journey. All the best to her and to you and thank you for keeping your fingers and toes crossed xx
Thank you so much for your kind wishes Fairyfeathers - Oh, she's a cat-lover too and has two of the little rescue rascals who keep her on her toes! Fluff is rather elderly and very sedate and mostly spends her days sleeping but Eddie, who has one eye and half a tail, doesn't even allow her to even speak with anyone on the phone - if I call and we're yarning he doesn't his absolute best to distract her. He likes all her attention to be on him!🐾🐾Then when she comes off the phone, he totally ignores her!😆He's such a wee scoundrel!
I just love pussy cats. I have a dog now but my last cat was a complete diva the world revolved around her. Such great company and lovely to cuddle. When they let you 😂
She definitely sounds a bit like Eddie the rogue! 😀
hi FF,
I know exactly how you are feeling💕💕 Anxiety is understandable.
I was in your position in June. I was Her2+ diagnosed October 2018 followed by chemo, lumpectomy and node removal, radiotherapy and herceptin for a year.
I had my follow up mammo and was called back for a core biopsy as an area of calcification had been visualised around lumpectomy site. Anxiety levels were through the roof. Told I would hear within a couple of weeks. 2 days later I had a phone call while driving. Oh no, panic set in and I pulled over. All was ok😁 Cancer wasn’t back.
Whatever happens you will deal with it.
Fingers crossed for a good outcome xx
goodness that was such relief for you to get the all clear. You had far more issues than I did on your bc journey. Got my fingers and toes crossed for a good outcome. thank you. x
All the best and take care you are in my thoughts and prayers ❤️
thank you so much for your lovely response. x
As a newly 15 year survivor of WLE (lumpectomy) in 2008 I can fully understand what you are going through! If you want a maybe new to you way to keep busy follow Ali Manning, Vintage Page Designs on Youtube youtube.com/@VintagePageDes... and FB. She got me into bookmaking way back in 2020 when I was a) awaiting heart surgery and b) recovering from being in hospital with the dreaded bug so could not do much! Good luck 🤞🤞🤞🤞
thank you for your kind thoughts and for the U tube suggestion. I will have a look. x
similar to thekey46 I had BC triple positive in 2018. Every annual mammogram is a stressful time. At a follow up group meeting we were told that the most likely cause of recall after a mammogram for us would be calcification. I also know if the news was worse than this that i would be in the best possible hands which reduces my worries. The waiting is the worst bit. Just not knowing. All you can do is distract yourself and a seaside trip with a tea room sounds delightful. Take care of yourself. ❤️❤️
My county, Derbyshire, gave yearly mamos for 10 years - it was weird not having one on year 11!
our breast care unit is one of the best in the UK so whatever the outcome on Monday I am reassured I will be well looked after.
same here in Bristol. They’re excellent. Which is reassuring. ❤️❤️❤️
Sorry, no advice, just wanted to say good luck, I hope all is well.
thank you for the good luck much appreciated x
Jenny Rx I will distract myself until my apptment. Our Breast Cancer dept is one of the top ones in the UK so I’m in good hands. I hope you are doing ok? Waiting is awful as it gives far too much time to worry. So seaside it is and a 🧁 x
I know that panic when you get called back even though I haven't had cancer. ( I get lots of cysts). It's likely just because of scar tissue from your treatment. Keeping everything crossed for you.
thank you so much for keeping everything crossed. x
I have come to know through personal experience that if you have had Breast Cancer then every mammogram thereafter is examined with every bit of extra care, and compared to a screening of someone who never had it, any thing that might just be ignored or watched until the next year will be a call back for you, so they get a closer look. They call it breast care management and when in doubt they take it out, I find that reassuring because as you know the earlier the catch the better the outcome.
Thank you for your wise words which make perfect sense.
hi. I can’t offer any advice but I wanted to send you best wishes and say that I hope things work out well for you. Xx
thank you for your best wishes. xx
Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out to be ok x
thank you so much x
Understandably anxious time. I wonder if it could be that the images were simply not clear enough for them to see/ interpret? Happened to a friend of mine.Wishing you all the best,waiting is worst!
That would be great if that is the reason for my recall. Waiting is horrible but not long until my appointment which I'm grateful for.
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