How did you cope with self isolation before surgery? I had my PCR test on 29 December to go in on 3 January for my debulking op on 4 January. It's day 3 and I am really struggling with not seeing anyone and it is exacerbating my anxiety about the op too. I just want a hug really but I live on my own. I'm also an outdoors sort of person so I would like to walk in the country and connect to nature to calm me but I can't.
My Mum lives nearby and started radiotherapy for oesophageal cancer yesterday and I can't support her how I would like to either.
I am trying to keep busy preparing the hospital bag, house etc but I keep loosing motivation and lapsing into tears, all through this journey I have managed to keep fairly positive but feel I am losing that right now.
Even when I get to hospital I won't have any visitors (if any are allowed!) and won't know any staff because it's not the one I have been treated at and is a fair way from home.
How did you cope? New ideas would be very welcome xx
PS: On reflection, I don't think the fact that it's new year is helping because a lot of talk on radio and TV is about connecting/meeting up..
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Morini
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Hello, I haven’t had to isolate for an op but was in hospital during lockdown 1, on my own and scared…so I get where you are coming from. Maybe line up some comforting tv… things you have watched and enjoyed, perhaps some travel or nature programmes to remind you that you will get out there again.
Ring people regularly…explain that you need support right now and ask if you can ring for a short chat every day. You can play games or do quizzes over the phone or zoom.
Some help lines will be open…. so make use of them.
Finally, do some bird watching from your window if possible… best of luck xx
Thank you, that's really helpful, I arranged a ZOOM meeting today which really helped me and have another one later and I still have friends to contact so I hope to have some chats over the weekend too.
And I have scattered some bird food on my lawn too (the birds seem to shun my bird feeder!)
Your poor girl no wonder you feel stressed outWith your Mum to worry about also its coming at you from all angles. Ring friends tell them how you feel ring your family. The op will soon be over and done it makes it worse with being New Year. Try spoiling yourself if you can eat drink what you like spoil yourself. Watch t.v. something cheerful it will all soon be over. Sending love & big hugs SheilaFxxx
Thank you, I think your first sentence was so helpful, it just normalised what I am feeling and made me think it's ok to feel so down right now with this situation but that it will pass. I have since had contact with friends and family and I am setting more up over the weekend and they were making future plans with me which has helped. And my Mum is home and feeling fine after her treatment too which is a relief. xx
Absolutely brilliant you will be fine, lm sure you'll feel a little better knowing your Mums feeling a bit better will help. And also making plans will help. Just take care your in my prayers sending love & hugs SheilaFxxx
Hi,I'm not surprised you are feeling like this, it's an incredibly hard time for you. I try to do things that use my brain but not too much to distract myself and only things I enjoy. Crafting- knitting if you have some wool etc around or seeing, a jigsaw puzzle. Like others gentle films. I also like to make sure I'm organised so sort things, not sure why but it makes me feel better. Sending lots of love and hope xxx
Thank you, I think normalising this has been really helpful, I was beating myself up for feeling sorry for myself. Great minds think alike, I ordered some wool for some little knitting projects on Wednesday and it arrived today! I've also decided to do a little tidying in my garden tomorrow xx
Great idea, being outside and getting things nice for your return. I have knitted a little lap blanket for people who have helped me. I enjoy doing it and hope it is a special gift for them. You're going to be ok xxxxxxxxxxxx
Not much to add, but will reiterate the good suggestions - ring friends, or Zoom/FaceTime, cook something that you really love to eat and that will take a bit of preparation time, watch a film or telly programme that you've been longing to see, play your favourite music. You can do this! Sending hugs!
I can fully understand how you have been feeling. It is good you have been able to tell friends etc that you need that extra support right now. I really wish you well for your surgery, and hope that you are surrounded by lots of brilliant, compassionate nurses and doctors at the hospital. Also other patients, I've kept in touch with one lady opposite me. Everyone is very supportive in hospital of one another, probably more so with no visitors around. Those suggestions of doing things to keep you occupied whilst you are isolating like crafts, puzzles etc and your zoom connections with friends will help I'm sure. Thinking of you. SUE XX
I'm really sorry you are getting everything thrown at you all at once. The ladies have made some great suggestions and your op will soon be in the past. Even though you don't know the staff in Hospital I have always found them kind and caring so don't concern yourself about that one. You'll also have the other patients to connect with who are in the same boat. All the very best and take care Sue xx
I had my op during the last lockdown. I didn’t get a definitive diagnosis until after surgery as mine was clear cell. To be honest it was a bit scary getting the diagnosis on my own. I was also in a room by myself as I had complications after surgery which kept me in for 10 days. I will say however, on reflection, it was better not to have visitors at first as I was exhausted. It was easier to FaceTime or phone people when I felt up to it. I was isolated with my hubby beforehand, so wasn’t alone, so not much help there I’m afraid. I have to say in hospital, they keep a close eye on you and when I had a bad day they sent for the Macmillan nurse to talk to me. She was a great help. If you have contact details for a Macmillan nurse they can offer support before your op too. Mine was excellent.
Hi. I don’t have more suggestions but want to reiterate that you have many reasons to feel down and anxious: your mother has cancer and you can’t see her, it’s the holidays and there’s social pressure to be happy, happy, happy; you have cancer and are facing a big operation and further you wouldn’t be alone if it weren’t for this damn virus that keeps upending our lives. So it’s okay to wallow for a bit before you bounce back to your normal state of mind. Soon you’ll be recovering from surgery and things will get a bit better. I hope your mum’s treatment is successful too.
I went through similar Morini, december 2020 with a blood clot which preceded stage two OC, isolating even though I live with my partner of 33 years… he is emotionally rubbish but very good on a practical level! I took to writing in a reflective daily journey, thinking about positives in the situation such as this wasn’t happening to our kids and using mindfulness to keep me in the moment… there are lots of great support channels on YouTube with people that went through what I was going through. I educated myself as to what would be good for me following the debulking and how others had coped with the crappy side of chemo, I know this will not be everyone’s cup of tea but it worked for me…kept myself super busy with my hobbies and went for walks in nature away from the madding crowds! You will get through this and find strength that you never knew you possessed, honestly!! That’s why we’re called warriors!!! After the op you will not care whose round you or visiting in the hospital as you’ll be too busy recovering… order lots of good ready meals for when you come out! Binge watch Netflix and the like and keep your phone charged and by your side… one other saving grace was TikTok.. I wasted hours on it!! Lots of love xxxx
Others have given you great suggestions here for staying connected to your family and friends. I just wanted to add one more suggestion - audiobooks. Particularly books that are gentle and comforting. A few of my faves for this are: any Jane Austen novel, Wind in the Willows, The Secret Garden - old favorites. The nice thing about audio books is you can shut your eyes and just listen. A good voice talent can make a book come alive. Best wishes for 2022! Deb in Colorado
Thank you all so much, I feel so much better than I did 2 days ago. I have been chatting to friends and been outside doing the garden, washing my car etc., knitting and enjoying a few foodie treats.
I still feel anxious about surgery of course but the fog of gloom that descended from nowhere has lifted.
I am just packing my hospital bag and including lots of your suggestions to keep my spirits up in recovery. I am so grateful to you all for being there and caring 💕
Your doing well and it's a difficult to tread during Covid. I was diagnosed Christmas 2019 & the plan was 3 chemo, Carboplaten + paxitaxol. Then de-bulking then 3 more Chemo. Due to covid my first date for operation was 27th April 2020. That's was cancelled. So had to 6 chemo straight off and then got operation on 13th June 2020 but no mop up chemo afterwards and I'm Bracca neg so No maintenance chemo tablets or any other treatments as I was declared No Evidence of Desease. CA 125 came down to 16 from 86. I'm stage 3 c peritoneal cancer. It's just started coming back and CA 125 is about 72at last blood test. Am hopeful that I will be starting chemo again soon as I had a hospital A+E emergency admission on Sunday evening when I was bringing up volumes of Green sick bile and could not keep any liquid or tablets down. I had a scan in the early hours which showed up that I'd filled up will bile as my bowel was swollen due to the tiny new tumours that had iratated my bowel and it had stopped working. Came home on Tuesday to follow a liquid diet with small amounts of baby type food No Lumps to try and get it working. It's still not working so it might be back to hospital. They drained the bile out of me by tube up my nose on Monday morning. Hope it starts working soon as very worried at moment. Good luck with your treatment. I've kept very well since last year. Been so pleased to get back to some sort of normalcy. Had great treatment. It was very lonely during treat as we had gone into the covid full lockdown so no visitors and a long lonely sits in chemo treatment. But got through bit ok and have felt fine till now. Good luck with it all. Use that zoom and WhatsApps to keep in touch face to face and have long chats. I did meet a couple of best friends sat in the garden last winter in hats gloves and scarves fo a coffee and chat. Also met up with a friend for walks. Take care 😁
Bye the way I still get some very down days and depressed by the lack of contact with dear friends. But my walks always lift my spirits. Light love & hugs winging your way 😁🙏💜
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