Hi Lee an everyone else

i just wanted to let you all know i fully understand the different emotional status of those of us on the "curative" path compared to that of those on  "paliative" care , there is a vast difference between the two but we should all continue to offer support to each other with any non clinical hints and tips which can help , i have recently struggled with anxiety being in a crowded social situation , i now am reluctant to go into anywhere with more than a dozen others in it , had some reflexology recently but the jury is still out on that one , is anyone getting B12 injections or any other supplements ? that we may not be getting through our reduced food intake , any advice would be welcome , lastly i hope those who haven't been posting for a while are doing ok Ray b in particular , anyway may your god bless you and yours and take care.

Regards

Douglas

Hi Douglas,  its getting bad when you're asking for advice- you've been our inspiration (or definitely mine).

Sorry but I cant help with the B12 injections. 

My Dad has been trying to take in any vitamin deficiency through smoothies- identifying anything he needs then adding this through specific fruits/veg.

We have (as a family) just been out for a few drinks after I finished work, and this really makes a positive difference- the social impact is really good. We spoke about different 'life' situations and this was definitely a positive. 

Good luck to everyone. 

Lee 

Hi Douglas and Hilts and Milly, Lee and everyone,

Douglas I think you would definitely need to take supplements.   You may find that deficiencies can contribute to general anxiety, as well as other conditions.  In Scotland during the winter it is recommended that we take vit D supplements.   Do you get blood tests to check your various levels?   As the GP should then be able to prescribe some vitamins in high dose tablets and you don't end up taking things you don't need.   You can get some nice tonic type stuff to drink as well to help your iron levels and it's easier to take than tablets?   Also you can get Vit C sweets from the supermarket.   My husband has been given a load of various vitamins from the doctor, and plans to start taking them when the chemo is over as at the moment he is struggling to eat and is still relying on the jej feed.   He is suffering with the after op chemo, still has one session to go in a week's time.   Interesting you tried the reflexology.  A lot depends on the therapist giving it I imagine.   Maybe takes a few sessions to relax into it?   I appreciate so much all the things you've written on this forum.   I also hope RayB is ok.

Hilts, I hope you are ok,  I look at this board a lot, and hope everyone is ok, it helps to know other people are out there knowing how I feel, and brave enough to write on here.   I love reading your posts.   Of course we are scared about this hateful cancer and will it come back creeps into our heads.   I try to tell myself, when I feel low, just wait a few days, something will come along take my mind off it.   Maybe something will make me laugh or smile, or find a good programme on tv, a poem, a book, a walk.   Some chocolate.  Some good news might be waiting around the corner.   You never know.

Milly, my husband is getting some new and interestingly nasty chemo side effects.   He now has oral thrush so eating is even more of a challenge.   I wonder if he will be up to the last round of chemo next week.   I hope Kev is managing to get through his chemo.

Take care,

Sally X

Hi Sally

i to am on the scot gov vit D and taking ,adcal , cod liver ,B12 and multi vitamins  but think i need more , i had the oral thrush also and got antibiotics to clear it up not corsodyl  unless you want yellow teeth , your right though i really need stronger supplements and  a blood test , thanks for that , remember  any advice  is always appreciated , you take care.

Regards

Douglas

Ah, bless you Doug..

You are probably like us and the old brain 'processing' the whole affair. I am well familiar with anxiety, having been born like it. I don't mean the 'worry' type anxiety ( although that goes with it, I mean the BIG life bothering one, where you become very good at 'avoiding the triggers', vis a vis, reducing quality of life.  Like us, you are reacting to the whole process, on top of that , the' project fear', that has been Covid

So, easy to see the why, but question is what to do? Nip it in the bud for sure, take it on, there are so many things out there, CBT, counselling, groups, take the lot (:. A friend of mine , looks 'normal' on the outside, actually has pretty bad OCD, even got to the point of her not eating for fear of 'contamination', she has had a huge amount of 'input', and has managed to sit in a caff and eat a cake & coffee.

You mentioned reflexology- I have never been a fan of 'alternative' therapies, their value for me has always been feeling good in that moment, not as a 'cure',  So enjoy them , do as much as you like, along with other stuff.

Again, same with the vits & supplements. I have never been convinced of the added value. The peer reviewed evidence for a lot of it is at best sketchy. A lot of people are making a lot of money off people's anxiety.There is quite a lot of good stuff on vit d though. Again, the point with supplements is that if  they do no harm and make you feel better, then go ahead. However when vulnerable, the placebo effect can be very powerful.

So, Doug, I am afraid to say, that like us, you are completely NORMAL in feeling the way you do. But , probably, like us, it might be normal, but it ain't nice (: I am probably going to ring around today and 'scope' what is available (:

Anyhows, time to catch the lovely September rays (

Keeping the faith

Hilts.

Hi All

Your comments and advice are so helpful - it's good to hear about 'coming out the other end'  -  post op and second chemo. 
 

I feel good at the moment - 4 weeks after my pre op chemo. Going today for a stress echocardiogram to see if my heart can take the operation, which is scheduled for 29th - fingers crossed.   It all seems never ending and although I have a fantastic network of friends and family, I live alone and spend far too much time 'thinking' - at least the sun is shining. 
 

So good to have the support on here. 
 

keep smiling

Andi xx

Hi Hilts

Hope you and yours are well , i am on the case today with the supplements and dietary advice and will report back on any good information i get , everything else is under control  , on another subject where is RayB ? , take it easy.

Regards

Douglas

Hi Andi,  it's great to hear you are feeling upbeat, and good luck with the stress echo.   Glad to hear the sun is shining for you today!   It's a bit dreich up here in Scotland but still pretty and there were a load of seals up on the beach this morning when I went for a walk.   Husband is having a rest day today (he is post op on 3rd lot of chemo), so I am glad as usually he is pushing himself to do far too much.   
Take care, and hope to hear about your stress test.

SallyX

Hi all,

I totally agree that there are very different anxieties between palliative and curative. Also everyones situation is different on both these paths. My husbands cancer and op became a second consideration when he nearly died from internal bleeding had an emergency op and was ventilated. Then the life threatening lung problems as you know resulting in a 3rd op. A total of 6 weeks in hospital (two in ICU) with very few visits . So a very different path to what we expected.We still don't know if his lung has fully inflated but he is currently concentrating on getting through the post op FLOT. 

Sally as Doug said antibiotics can be prescribed for thrush. My husband had thrust pre op and was automatically prescribed them this cycle and have worked for him. Also Diflam for mouth ulcers. He is finding the 'build up' of the chemo in his body is making him extremely fatigued and he has to eat small amounts throughout the day even though he doesn't always feel like it. Overall though he is maintaining his new weight which is two stone lighter than before the op. Thankfully he'd put on over a stone in prep for op which I know not everyone can manage to do. My husband has been advised to take Multi vitamins and has the ones with Iron in them. No one has mentioned Vitamin D or B12 but I'll mention it to Kev. We are in the garden at the moment but in the shade lol. Interesting re Scottish Government recommendations.

Anxiety over COVID is again personal and very different for everyone especially if you've lost someone close. It has added an extra problem in my opinion- having a diagnosis of any cancer is life changing and Oesophageal cancer is so life changing. During a pandemic it is harder and not being able to visit your loved ones in hospital is awful particularly when they become critically ill. 
However thank goodness for our NHS and the remarkable people who work to save lives.

This forum has been so helpful - we are all individuals caught up in a diagnosis no one wants to hear. 

We wouldn't be human if we didn't have hopes, dreams and fears. 
Doug you and Hilts husband have been an inspiration to me and many others. Your anxiety is totally understandable. On a positive you are going out and there are many people struggling going out at all after the isolation Covid has caused without the added cancer and treatment. So well done for trying complimentary therapy and recognising your difficulty. 

AndI I wish you well with your forthcoming fitness test. My husband worked hard at being fit before the op and it's worth it. Well done for completing the FLOT.

Lee so good to get out with your dad and thanks for the update.

I too have been concerned about RayB. I always look to see if he's posted especially as this is his link.

Take care all and 

Keeping the faith 

Milly