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Anyone ever had this diagnosis, PTSD , after having cancer ?

marian
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I was diagnosed just over four years ago with breast cancer in both boobs, and my lymph nodes.

Since then I've suffered lots with periods of anxiety, and I've never really come to terms with what happened. I bury it from everyone else as I'm sure they've had enough of me. Anyway, this period now my employer has sent me for couselling to find out what my "problem" is. After only two sessions the counsellor has told me that she is 99% certain that I have PTSD and  she is shocked that no-one has ever picked it up before. Why would they, I don't tell anyone about the flash backs and the terror. I think I'm just not coping with life in general and I should forget it and be grateful. Which of course I really am, I couldn't have had better support from our great health service. But when I'm wading through the porridge of life I take myself off in to my own little world of silence and just go over and over what happened. Things are a little worse at the moment as my consultant has told me the next time I see him will be the last !! I told him and I really meant it that although I would be over the moon to never see his face again( in the nicest possible way) I also, at the same time want him to come and live with me ! He laughed but I really meant it. I really feel at times as though they are leaving me out at sea without a life jacket.Is there anyone else out there that has been through this sort of thing ?

I'm strangely pleased that this this PTSD has been mnetioned, it's as if I've been validated in my fears and feelings. I honestly thought that was only possible to happen to soldiers and the military, or kidnap victims.........it appears not.

I'd really appreciate any comments or tips because I'm getting fed up with myself now and am feeling really guilty about the way I feel when so many others don't get the results I've had so far,

Phew why didn't I say all this on here months and years ago, this site has been very good to me over the years but I've felt on my own with this one,

Marian 

  • Offline in reply to marian

    Thanks Marian,

    I hope you manage to get past the PTSD and can begin to start enjoying life again.
     

    Best wishes
    Dave

  • Offline in reply to LorraineD
    Hi Lorraine The fatigue thing is something people without cancer can't really understand. Some days it is totally debilitating to the point where you couldn't summon up the energy to write a letter or make a phone call let alone deal with someone elses problems. I did read about Canada moving towards a more enlightened position on end of life options. Here in the UK a handful of Bishops and some well meaning but deluded MPs decided that here in the UK you have to see it out to the bitter end. This means a trip to Switzerland well before you otherwise would need to, rather than die at home at a time of your choosing. My father died of cancer at home and was in great pain, fortunately he had a good doctor whom he knew well, who gave him increasing doses of diamorphine plus a sedative on the last day which shortened his life by several days but kept him pain free. (I hope) I too have no fear of dying but I do fear having to die in a prolonged way to satisfy the religious beliefs of a few Bishops and MPs. I hope that today is one of your good days. Kim
  • Offline in reply to LorraineD

    Hi Lorraine,

    I posted a reply to your post about assisted dying but the gremlins seem to have got to it and it hasn't appeared.

    I don't think either of us will ever suffer Cancer-related PTSD as the P stands for Post and we're both living with cancer. I'm very careful to tell people that I'm not a Cancer Survivor - just someone who has had to learn to live with it.

    On the plus-side, I do have more of a YOLO attitude these days - You Only Live Once and no-one ever gets off this planet alive! 

    Kim has mentioned that the Assisted Dying Bill was rejected b the UK Parliament. On top of religious concerns about what is a personal issue in what is supposed to be a secular society There were also scare stories in the media about the possibility of greedy families terminating their ageing grannies to get their hands on their money before it was all squandered on paying for Care Home costs. 

    The author Terry Pratchett campaigned long and hard for AD to be legalised here - his arguments were very strong and especially poignant as he had a terminal disease.

    All the best

    Dave

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