I woke up early this morning and got up, feeling pretty good physically! But when I started opening e-mail I got so frustrated.... First, problems signingin to my acct with a major retailer. That took up over an hour and even when I phoned their customer service, I didn't get the help I need. Then, I had an e mail from the big medical system most of my doctors are part of, asking me to sign in for an appt in two days, an appt that was canceled and rescheduled for next month. So I tried to find out about that online and got nowhere. Called their "customer service" number and got a guy who was no help and offered to transfer me to a scheduler, who'd be more likely to have up to date info, but when he tried it didn;'t go thru so he gave me their number. When I called that number, I got a message that they were closed! It was 8:50 here so that seemed strange to me. Now I gotta do some stuff befor3e my husband leaves for an appt he has. I'm still feeling pretty good physically, so I'm going to try to focus on that! lol I'm usually less easily annoyed than this.....even with this cancer. Today is just a bad day, I guess!
Do others here find yourselves more easily frustrated than before MBC?
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PJBinMI
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Thanks! I did fairly well the rest of the day...just had to do something positive, so I put on colorful clothes, LOL. Often helps my mood...how superficil is that! LOL
I definitely have my cranky days. It doesn't help that on top of cancer so much else is a mess out there. I try to take Mr Rogers advice and look for the helpers... and try to focus on issues where I can do something, rather than big, existential things. Even so, call centers send me right over the edge.
Thank you! We got alot of spam phone calls....they annoy hubby alot more than me and that helps me keep it together! I do wish phones had a feature to electronically capture those phone lines and keep them from ever calling our number again!
Pam, you can block the spam numbers. Go to your iPhone call log, recents, click on the info button on the right hand side after their phone number and you will see an option to “block this caller”.
I only use my cell phone when I'm away from home and I only give that number to a few people. We live in a rural area and don't get coverage at home. It's the land line that gets so many spam calls. It labels them probable spam alot but we aren't aware of a way to block calls. Thanks, though!
There are a couple of robo call blockers one can buy for land lines. (I got one free from Verizon because they screwed up and cut off my service for a month, but I haven't installed it. That seems to be as much of a pain as calls.)
I'm so sorry you started off your morning with all of these technology issues, but glad that you are feeling good physically. Since my MBC diagnosis I definitely have a lot less patience with even small things and get frustrated more easily so I totally understand. There is so little we can control with MBC that we need to be able to control other things going on in our lives. Hope you get everything resolved and have a good rest of your week and weekend. Sending hugs
Having cancer is a huge burden on the emotional system. It takes just one little thing to push me over the edge. Could even be good news. I want to cry. Give yourself some credit for being strong and dealing with it all. Think about something positive so it can blow over.
Thanks! I put on one of my favorite bright blue shirts and a necklace with shades of blue, after a good shower. Make up helps me, too! My eyebrows and eye lashes are really thin. My left eye has about three lashes left..even great mascara is no help there, so I've quit trying! Wish I had control of my hair! But not having to shave arm pits and legs is the good side of losing hair! LOL
I feel so much better when I have a favorite outfit on, a cute wig to cover my thinning, unmanageable hair and makeup (eyebrows and lashes filled in with makeup). I do love not having to shave though. Most people here see me on the golf course a lot with a hat, hot and sweaty from the Florida heat (although I do have cute golf clothes). When they see me with regular clothes, my wig and makeup they always comment how good I look (and many of them know about my diagnosis). Their comments always lift me up no matter how bad my day has been. Take care.
Thanks! Our youngest daughter moved to Florida a year ago and we get almost daily updates from her about the weather there. She's definitely a warm weather person and neither my husband or I am. She was here for a visit last month and was cold when we were hot! lol
Yes! Some days it doesn’t take much to set me off. Mostly though I have more patience than before my dx. I figure I am already dealing with a VERY BAD thing so everything else is a very small thing.
Wow! I’m thinking that even a person without MBC would be feeling very frustrated with these goings on! I have noticed I am definitely more short tempered. I believe it is due to the Fulvestrant that I’ve been on for over 2 1/2 years depleting the estrogen I’m still producing. I try to take a break and stay focused on the fact that I’m still feeling good most of the time and on the days I don’t, I try not to have to deal with those type of things which is sometimes easier said than done. Take a deep breath and try to enjoy the rest of your day!
Thank you! I did manage to get past the crazieness of all that yesterday morning! Our grandaughter was here for awhile in the early afternoon. She's 13 and about to start 8th grade. She's signed up for the volleyball team and excited about that. She knows who three of her teachers will be, and she likes all of them. It's fun to have kids around and to listen to them! 13 is not an easy age for alot of parents...so much easier to be grandma! LOL
I feel your pain! I’ve got a long list of phone calls I need to make today and I’m sitting here with my morning coffee, thinking I could just procrastinate for another day and do something fun instead! My advice is go do something fun for the rest of your day!! Hugs
Thanks, Katie! It's reassuring that I'm not alone, though I hate knowing that other metsters are so familiar with this! I did manage to have a much better rest of the day!
Hi PJ, they are my also my initials…. First of all I just hate technology today. I miss real people picking up the phone n chatting .,,So that my dear irritates me. Second, I have been doing so well since my MBC diagnosis n my meds. Side effects not hardly any and all is good with keeping g everything stable n not metastasizing to other areas. But… I had a rough summer. Outta everything that I had to go through the worst is losing my hearing…. N when I tell you it is depressing. June 30 I had a myringotomy on my left ear .. it’s a tube placement but It felt clogged N I couldn’t hear a brass band even with my hearing aides. My left ear had been like that since I was a child I flunked every hearing test since first grade to 12th the drs always told my mom it was nerve damage. N I was born this way. Now the clog. N i wear 2 hearing aides. Now I wake up 2 weeks ago n now my right ear is giving me grief. I call my ENT they say Sudafed which I cznt take cause I recently got high blood pressure ….long story short I just went on Tuesday n I need another right ear myringotomy. Now he is questioning me about my family history n wants to do CT scan. I have the sweetest husband but he speaks extremely low n one day he raised his voice n I thought he was hollering n of course some days I am thin skinned n started crying n I said I have a disability. Now mind you I had my hearing aides in .. so how you say it …it is my Achilles heel. It brings me down. N talking on phones well as much as I dislike texting it’s so impersonal I find myself doing it more . I also ordered the best hearing aides. But this summer we were invited to 2 graduation parties n 2 BBQS n I cancelled cause I can’t hear in large crowds. But I feel lucky that everyday I wake up is a blessing n my joy is music n my new neighbor heard I was under the weather all summer n he burned me my fav music n made me 5 CDs of oldies n Motown. N I pulled out my Bose cd player caused we just moved n I put one in n my husband ran an errand n I blasted it n I was dancing around the house … music just lifts me up. N I thought how nice to take time to burn some CDs he said alittle birdie told him I love Motown n he ran with it My childhood GF lives across the street from him n his wife N told them all the issues I have been having n nothing g to do with my MBC. But yes PJ I have those days. You are in good company it’s healthy to get it out and share N I am here for you .
Thank you! Your name grabbed my attention. One of my husband's close friends has a very similar name, just one letter difference, and I got a bit of a chuckle out of that. MBC sure does make us need more Grace! Pets help me alot. WE have cats and our (probably) last dog died but now we are dog sitting a yellow retriever from Sunday night to Friday night. He's a love, though not in the middle of the night when he jumps into our bed, LOL. His owner, our youngest daughter's boyfriend, works out of town alot and used to have his brother dog sit, but the dog made it very obvious that he likes being here better. Our house is the only place other than home where he eats normally. I get a kick out of that! BEing dog and cat loovers was one of the things that brought me and hubby together!
Definitely, the whole world is different and then you have cancer on top of it and with metastatic people don’t get it anyway yeah it’s frustrating. This new world with passwords and apps and simple things that used to just take a phone call. Take about an hour, trying to login to some account and you’re not talking to anybody ! I say turn your music on and dance! Makes you feel better we can’t control the world and our cancer sucks, but don’t let take your joy your way! I hope you have a great day today and you’re certainly not alone. Thanks for sharing.❤️
Oh absolutely Pam. I am so much more impatient! It rears its ugly head periodically. It's like I don't need this aggravation along with everything else I have to deal with! I hope your day improves!
Thank you! My day did improve! I was able to take a shower without any help, put on colorful clothes, and got way past that frustration. My husband took our/his-really to lunch and brought her and my favorite chocolate candy home and both helped alot! LOL
Thank you! It did! I put on some of my favorite clothes, make up, and felt alot better. It's sure reassuring that I'm not alone in being more easily annoyed now than before cancer, though I would not wish it on anyone!
I hear you. We all have those days. I honestly think the best thing you could do is just walk away from at that time and come back later or maybe another day. I hate paperwork
Thank you! I don't mind paperwork when I have some quiet time to do it! But computers and cell phones are challenging! (When I started college, computers were room sized or larger, LOL!) I've wondered if AARP or the local place that serves old retired people and I can't think of that name, offer ccmputer and cell phone classes. I's sure sign up!
Metaphors sure can help. One of my friends describes MBC as being like being on a huge roller coaster with a blind fold on! I relate to your cupm os stress, too!
I understand completely. Yesterday my dr ordered a Ct scan and an mri. The imaging gal called to set the up yesterday. She scheduled one she said for ‘tomorrow’ and one for Monday. Then last night I get a text reminding me my scan is on Friday. I got up this morning and it is Friday, not today which would have been her tomorrow. I’m having scans as I had a scan last week from my gp as I can’t breathe and I have fluid on my lungs, and they also found a 2cm lesion on my kidney they never saw before so my gp called my oncologist. Not a nice day. My gp also said I have IBS and I just had kyphoplasy on my L1&2 and now my T12&11 are fractured. I’m on Zometa, take D3 and calcium so I never get a break! Ugh
I like your idea about colorful clothes, maybe hats, jewelry.............I had one diagnostic procedure this am and am currently onnnnnnnn Holdddddd now for 20+++++minutes and counting to schedule the next diagnostic test...............OK now its time to eat!!!😜🤣❤️🤠🙈🙉🙊
Phones are sure different than when I was a kid! I remember when phones were all black. with dials unless it was just pick up and get the operator! Most homes had just onephone! Hope youi didn't have to wait much longer to actually talk with somebody! Seems like all businesses, including medical and educational, cut front line staff numbers to save money! Another thing to get upset about, LOL
Oh, yeah! When I was first put on synthroid. about 50 years ago, it was about 99 cents for a months supply! I forget what I have to pay now, but it's sure alot more.
Absolutely! I agree with all of the above . I'm so sorry your day started like that and I'm proud of you for turning it around. Some days , everything is exhausting . I feel like I vibrate closer to the edge ( since having MBC) and it's easier to get frustrated .Plus , it all just adds up!
Great metaphor! Thanks. I like you name here. Were you born on 4/1? My son-in-law has that birthday. He's great guy and he and my daughter are a great couple!.
Yes born in 1964. My mother cried because she thought people would tease me but I've always loved my birthday on April Fool's Day and to be honest, people always remembered it (even before fb reminded everyone !) . One of my high school friend's chose it as her daughter's birthday when it was clear she would need to be induced . To me it's a very fun and memorable day to be born
I think the whole world just got more complicated. It is hard to get through to anyone (real person) these days. It is always press 1 or 2 or 3 etc. And usually all the choices are not the problem you are having. Anyway, there are always days that are beautiful and remind us to be grateful and hopeful. I think modern science is very helpful. Most of us will live long lives even if we have to take medication forever. I do wonder if anyone has had an improvement in their breast cancer since taking the Covid shots. I have had clear scans (NED) since taking the vaccinations. I wonder if the vaccine has anti-cancer properties. If it does then we can all celebrate a good day. Cheers Marlene
That's an interesting idea about the Covid shots! I'm such a long timer (19+years) with MBC, that doing better is kinda hard to know. My cancer changed from E+ to triple negative earlier this year. Makes for few tx options. Geez, I have sooo many doctors! PCP, onc, cardio, pulmonary, gastro, hand surgeon, dental surgeon, allergist, neurologist, probably more I can't remember. I am stable right now, as I have been most of the time. It is complicated!
By now you know that you are not alone in feeling frustrated. When I have a day like that I usually think to myself "well just *^!%ing perfect, it's going to be one of those days". We all have more than enough to deal with as it is.
Oh, yeah, "those days" seem worse than before cancer, but then I think of the people on Maui, in Ukraine, in poverty around the world. Living in the US with a solid middle class income, good medical insurance and good family support makes me feel really priviledged!
Oh boy…this is a snapshot of days that I have. Yes I’m easily frustrated…annoyed that people can’t do their jobs to help me. But then…that’s the hormonal aspect of this treatment. And we’ve all heard the advice to breathe and relax…some days just have these stupid challenges…so you’re not alone. ❤️🩹 best wishes
Yes! Especially on the days when my neuropathy make me drop everything...repeatedly! I feel you! I think it's the meds. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
LOL...especially when dealing with my endless healthcare appointments and treatments.
But I just read an article a few minutes ago about it being OK for women who already have cancer to drink alcohol....and I see a slightly more bearable future now! 😉
Hi PJ lol i feel your frustration with making calls … I just take one day at a time. I just went through several days of trying to get my refills for my Exemestane… my NC oncology dr ordered a year supply …which o just finished up my last refill last mo th. ., my new oncologist has a different way of ordering so I had to call Good Hold RX to find out there protocol. Finally after 3 days it was ordered n mailed out. Today I have to call for my other pill. Thank you … your message reminded me I have to call.. also waiting for ENT to schedule my right ear surgery I had left ear surgery in June . N my Dentist I need a molar pulled. I had a rough summer n o need a vacation.
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born in 1964. My mother cried because she thought people would tease me but I've always loved my birthday on April Fool's Day and to be honest, people always remembered it (even before fb reminded everyone !) . One of my high school friend's chose it as her daughter's birthday when it was clear she would need to be induced . To me it's a very fun and memorable day to be born 
Sharing a positive experience 
Good news!
1 day Fasting
