Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone on this forum has ptsd in addition to ovarian cancer? It’s ok if I get no replies. I’m having my debulking surgery next week and when I was in hospital 3 weeks ago it triggered my ptsd really badly. I’m looking for some support or advice on what could help me to get through this next, bigger scarier surgery.
Many thanks 😊
Hi Hailun
I have anxiety so I can relate and I had a really bad reaction to 9 weeks in isolation in a covid ward in 2020…
You probably know what makes you comfortable, what you need to feel safe and in control. For ages I didn’t share any details of my anxiety with the medics who were treating me, but later I came to see this was a mistake. Telling them very directly, making them add my anxiety issues to my medical notes gave them validity and gave me something to lean on when making requests.
For example, I am not able to tolerate down the throat covid tests. A nurse tried to do one last week and I was able to say calmly ‘if you check my notes you will see that I have anxiety and this form of testing is likely to affect my mental health’.
In hospital in 2020 a nurse shouted at me and tried to manhandle me to face her when I refused but now she would face a disciplinary for doing that.
I would encourage you to try this approach and if there are things that you know would make it easier to tolerate the procedure, like where in a ward you are placed, levels of noise or the way you would like them to talk or not talk etc. Then tell them and make them write into your notes and a note to refer to your notes on your bed board, so that all staff are aware.
It gets you away from the ‘being awkward’ label.
Best of luck!
Thank you! Yes I’m very open with the medical team about my ptsd, because I know that they are there to help me. Unfortunately some procedures I have to have, even though they trigger. Unfortunately the whole ward is located in a place that triggers - can’t explain that without telling you what this trigger is, but it basically means that I will be triggered big time and can’t prevent that. But I Wei’s find last time that even though all the staff knew that I have ptsd, I found myself having to explain my triggers again and again. So next time I’ll ask them to write it in my notes. Thank you!
Really sorry to hear that Hailun, that's so much extra pressure on you.Have you spoken to your consultant? I wonder if they could get you some trauma support before surgery? Definitely talk to them, they won't want you in an acute state of stress and anxiety going into surgery. The hospital might have some pre-surgery support.
Good luck,
Jax
Thank you! Yes I’ve already spoken to them about support. They can ask the in-House psychologist to visit me once after the surgery. They don’t offer more. They said that they‘ll do what they can to help me get through the treatment, but I’m not sure how.
I am so very sorry you are going through this - I was really frightened too before surgery. You could call Macmillan or Ovacome - you can talk to them every day and I got free counselling after surgery from Macmillan which helped too - I really recommend them. Other than that please try to keep strong - keep eating even if you don’t feel like it, little walks, headspace meditation app, trying to read although it can be hard to concentrate, listening to music and watching Netflix etc does help and will stop you thinking about everything - even if for a short time. I was given anti anxiety tablets too after surgery before chemo but you could ask and they really did take the edge off everything. I was very reluctant as I have never relied on medication but it certainly helped me. Sending you love and take care xx
Hi Hailun,
Yes I experienced PTSD never had it before however, mine surfaced after I completed treatment I was pretty much on autopilot during my surgery and chemo I started having anxiety PTSD is common in Cancer Survivors I'm in the states but my Cancer center offered free counseling for Survivors which helped me tremendously I really only needed to go a few times to put everything in perceptive I also got in tune with what triggered the racing heart it was a bit of a needy long time Friend that was not sensitive to what I was going thru our Friendship has since went by the wayside as I started setting boundaries and she blew up at me reflecting back the break was probably long overdue but I am truly blessed with Friends that get it also I'm involved with my local OC Survivors group I've met some wonderful Ladies. This journey changes you but I found in a lot of positive ways we never are the same but eventually you find your new normal and move forward this website is my favorite so many Teal Sisters on here, so helpful. I think I had myself so worked up about my radical debulking surgery that it went much easier than I thought and like other survivors this was also during the pandemic so my Husband was not allowed to be with me. Hugs from Chicago
Thank you! What are Teal Sisters? Sorry if I should know, am new here. So sorry that you had to go through all that in the pandemic. That must have been so hard. I have an incredibly supportive husband and our health insurance just agreed to pay for someone to take our little one to kindergarten each day. I’m glad to have such support.
Like Breast Cancer survivors are pink, Ovarian and other cancers of the female region’s color is Teal so we refer to each other as Teal Sisters. You are very blessed to have a supportive Husband and good insurance I have the same that’s wonderful that your insurance will pay to take your wee one to school one needs support thru this journey.
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