Nervous about appointment

[SurreySurvivor]

Friday is my first appointment at the Breast Surgery at Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford. I'm getting more and more anxious as the day approaches. Do any of you have any appointment anxiety coping methods you would be willing to share?

[Jennymary]

Sending good luck love and hugs for Friday, let us know how you get on, whatever your treatment plan is I'm sure one of us would have been through it so please post any questions, no matter how silly they may seem. Xxxxxxxx

[Chrissie2]

Not too long to wait now but the waiting is the worst time for all of us. I used to get into a terrible state with giant butterflies in my stomach. I then gave myself a good talking to and told myself that I could not change what I was going to be told at my appointment and it seemed to work. Hope you find a way through it and hope all goes well x

[anne-57]

Hi, a couple of suggestions for you to try. I am a life coach and use these with my clients so I know they can work and used them myself when I needed to.

When you are feeling really anxious allow yourself to feel it and then take a deep breath and as you breath out visualise blowing up a balloon and filling it with your anxiety. Repeat once or twice then visualise letting go of the balloon and seeing it float up into the sky and out of sight. It will bring you instant calm and can be repeated as often as you need if the anxiety returns.

The second one is to create a mantra or affirmation along the lines of I am so grateful now that I have the strength to deal with what ever comes my way. I am calm and in control. Once you have words that sound right for you repeat it when ever you become aware of your mind drifting to thoughts of your appointment. It is good to take a deep breath in and out before repeating the affirmation too as that helps to slow your heart rate and gives a sense of calm in itself.

Good luck for Friday. You will get through this whatever happens.

[jackearls1000]

Hi I am having my lumpectomy on Monday morning ..along with a sentinel lymph scan ...maybe a biopsy not sure ....I'm in a bit of a state, trying to calm myself down ...any help appreciated x

[SurreySurvivor in reply to jackearls1000]

Do you have someone who can go with you? I find that helpful. I guess, for me, it is hard starting anew without my friends coming with me. They are all over 3,500 miles away now.

My oncology team in the USA gave me a script for Xanax. It helps, but it makes me sleepy. So, it isn't very functional for me.

[Nixh in reply to SurreySurvivor]

Good luck today, is it a check up? Have you managed to get your port flushed yet?

My tips for appointments - I try not to get there too early as waiting around makes me more nervous, taking a friend is definitely a good idea or I read something easy and light.. if I am early I usually grab a drink from the coffee shop and sit for a bit..

big hugs xx

[SurreySurvivor in reply to Nixh]

I had an exam and a short checkup. Still no luck getting my port flushed. Although the doctor said he would have someone call me Monday to sort it out. (Fingers crossed!)

[Nixh in reply to SurreySurvivor]

Hope you feel more relaxed about your consultant and the hospital now.. I had my port removed not long after I finished radiotherapy so a couple of months after I finished chemo, are you keeping yours? I didn't like the idea of having to get it flushed regularly, another reminder I suppose of it all, hope you can get it sorted on Monday x

[SurreySurvivor in reply to Nixh]

My Oncology team suggested I keep mine at least 2 years after completing chemo because of the aggressiveness of the tumor and my high risk of recurrence. They would prefer I keep it till 1 year after I complete endocrine therapy )do 11 years after completing chemo. So, it stays...

[Nixh in reply to SurreySurvivor]

Wow, didn't know you could keep them for that long.. they aren't intrusive so a very good way of receiving chemo and intravenous meds ... am glad I chose that way... take care, hope you have a good weekend x

[SurreySurvivor in reply to Nixh]

Yep. People who are metastatic keep them for the rest of their lives. They can stay as long as they are flushed regularly. 😊

Have a lovely weekend.

[Hidden in reply to jackearls1000]

Hi Jackearls 1000

I had the same on 01 June, so please do try to relax and enjoy your weekend as the proccess is very organised so you will feel comfortable and confident in your very experienced medical team and the care is wonderful!, they really do look after you. Try a good walk or a spa treatment or a treat you love, shopping or all of them🦋 Stay positive and be kind to yourself, it really is not so scary when you believe your team is there for you🌻 Big hugs and positive thoughts, ChristineMiranda xx

[Hidden in reply to jackearls1000]

Hi

I had the same last year and can honestly say it was absolutely fine , I didn't need any painkillers after at all , my arm was tight but the exercises you will be given will help and you really need to do them - the actual lumpectomy , my surgeon went around the nipple and no one would ever have known I had had any surgery , so really don't worry , everyone I have known had it has been fine .

Good luck

Jo x

[jackearls1000 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jo thanks for that ...I'm utterly winding myself up ....I tingle like mad all over it guess that's nerves ...x

[Hidden in reply to jackearls1000]

It will be nerves, have you looked at the exercises ? If not it's worth doing so that you know what you need to be doing after - particularly if you end up having radiotheraphy asI believe that you have to have your arm in a certain position ?

Jo x

[jackearls1000 in reply to Hidden]

Where do I find the exercises? I only have tomorrow I'm hoping to be able to rest up .. my daughter is having a sleep over tonight ...so that should keep me busy xxx

[Hidden in reply to jackearls1000]

If you go here breastcancercare.org.uk/sit...

You can download them, but your nurse/surgeonwill probably give you a similar one when you leave hospital - but knowing what to do before is helpful and may make you feel like you are doing something positive? X

[jackearls1000 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou I will take a look ....I didn't sleep too bad last night ...just want it over now ..we are off to London in 3 weeks for a week with my daughter so I am concentrating on that and using my time in bed to plan what we are doing ....thankyou for your help ..I do appreciate it x

[jackearls1000]

Hello SurreySurvivor ..yes my husband will be with me ...its been a long 3 weeks ...and a worrying holiday ...I'm just trying to keep busy and take one step at a time ....and keep calm ...I'm taking my daughter shopping tomorrow ..she has a friend sleeping over Saturday ...and Sunday ..well ill be getting the house clean ect ..so I have not a lot to do when I get over the op ..I must admit I have been reading other peoples posts and some have scared me about how things will be after ....I'm so scared x

[SurreySurvivor in reply to jackearls1000]

I understand. It is very scary. I wish I had an answer or suggestion. I've been fighting for 2.5 years now. Some I have met along the way have been lucky and got back to their normal lives very quickly. I wasn't that lucky. But, I just try to focus on what I can control. (That doesn't always work because I'm human. But, I try.)

I wish you the best of luck Monday.

[jackearls1000 in reply to SurreySurvivor]

Thankyou lots of love to you ...all we can do is take one step at a time ...I have an awful feeling things are going to go bad for me ...I feel tragic ....x

[Redwine50]

It's so awful waiting .i used to think of all of it as a battle and was determined to win .all are behind you .good luck