I just don't believe it!

User

Posted 18 Dec 2014 at 12:53

Steve,

I understand your response to your mum entirely. I was in exactly the same dilemma when I was diagnosed. I had had cancer previously and my mum had been very supportive then but it was thirty plus years ago. Now she is 91 and having discussed it with my brothers we decided for now we would not tell her, as she would just worry but is herself too old and infirm to do anything sbout that worry.

I have been lucky for three years now and the situation remains the same. I know that as I have an incurable diagnosis that there will come a time when chemo kicks in and I think I would have to tell her then, until then she can live out her life without that worry. I am realistic enough to know we will both die but kinda hope it is my mum first for this reason, it feels the natural order!

User

Posted 18 Dec 2014 at 16:38

Hi Steve,

Trevor calls his spray his headache producer. He has several all over the house and in the car etc. Your cardiac nurse is right if the second spray doesn't give relief in say 15/20mins or starts to worsen hot foot it via ambulance to A&E. Don't hang about. Once you have had this second angioplasty you will feel so much better in body and mind. I would think if your job isn't physically demanding it would be OK to return to work and maybe that being occupied will help your frame of mind but your body and of course your rehab nurse will be the best to guide you.

I always remember after Trevor's 1st heart attack his cardiac Nurse saying that he would be so much more aware of every little twinge his body makes where before he would probably not have even noticed.

BFN

Julie X

NEVER LAUGH AT A LIVE DRAGON

User

Posted 19 Dec 2014 at 23:46

Hi,

Thanks for your messages.

Today was four weeks since I had my heart attack and I'm beginning to realise that the next month (my other operation is due to take place a month today) is probably going to be quite hard for me.

Yesterday, I had to say goodbye to many of the people I've worked with for the last five years at a farewell lunch held by the newspaper to mark the final editions of the paper. They are continuing with an online edition but very few of the existing staff are staying so I feel as if it's very much the end of an era. I really feel as if I should be available for work as soon as possible otherwise other freelances will be doing the shifts that I would have hoped to have been given. By the time I've recovered it will be difficult to get shifts if the new editor has got used to using the other freelances.

The recent incidents where I'm experiencing chest pains are not going away and after a conversation with my cardiac rehab nurse yesterday, she agreed with my wife's feelings that next week would be too soon for me to return to work. She said that if I was her husband, she wouldn't be very happy if I did, especially as the chest pains have happened when I've just been sitting and not been doing anything that might have caused them.

I decided that she was probably right so I said I would wait until after the Christmas break and see how I felt then. She thought that would be best, she said she didn't want anything to happen to me before she had chance to torture me with the fitness programme she has planned for me following the January operation. She probably wasn't joking. I don't mind, I want to get fit again, when it's ok to do so.

Steve

Edited by member 20 Dec 2014 at 02:24 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 20 Dec 2014 at 07:08

Loved that last paragraph Steve. Your nurse sounds like a fine woman, wanting to torture you thoroughly AFTER Christmas!

I can understand your frustration at the restrictions placed on you, but if you return too early or have too much stress you could end up never having to worry about those things again.

I hope you have sorted our everything you are entitled to under the system to ease any extra financial worries because worrying about money or how you'll manage isn't going to help.

What other jobs can be done using photography on a freelance basis? I expect you've explored them all though haven't you.
Keep your chin up, keep resting, keep positive.

You will be so much better in 2015.

Best Wishes
Sandra

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 20 Dec 2014 at 09:18

Hi Steve,
The frustration in your words are virtually tangible!
I fully understand the drivers for you getting back to work but I'd say you just need to hold back for the next month and get yourself sorted.
I know news never stops but I'd guess work would be lighter over the Christmas break anyway, so a good time not to be available.

Kick back and focus on the family.

All the best

Kevin

User

Posted 22 Dec 2014 at 18:46

Hi,

Only five hours fifteen minutes until I can drive again. Have to start my Christmas shopping tomorrow.

Feeling good. Haven't had anymore chest pains since last week.

Looking forward to being released from house arrest.

Steve

Edited by member 22 Dec 2014 at 19:06 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 22 Dec 2014 at 20:59

WAY TO GO STEVE, back to driving again and a bit nearer normality but seriously Christmas shopping are you mad the day before Christmas Eve, you men you always leave everything until the last minute.http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif

I am a great believer in fate and I think 2015 is going to be your year, you have had your run of bad luck it's somebody else's turn know.

Merry Xmas and much better 2015.

BFN

Julie

NEVER LAUGH AT A LIVE DRAGON

User

Posted 23 Dec 2014 at 14:16

Dear Steve

I don't always respond, but reading your threads daily.

Wishing you all the best.

Alison x

User

Posted 23 Dec 2014 at 14:22

Pleased to hear things are getting easier for you Steve ,have a good Christmas and all the best for the new year Andy

User

Posted 23 Dec 2014 at 19:50

So pleased to hear things are on the up Steve.

Here's to a great Xmas and a better new year

All the best

Bri

User

Posted 23 Dec 2014 at 20:26

So good to pop on and see this positive post Steve.

Merry Christmas, the torture can wait!

Cheers

Allison

User

Posted 24 Dec 2014 at 00:47

Happy Birthday Steve have a good one.

Roy

User

Posted 24 Dec 2014 at 01:02

Roy,

Thank you, glad to have made it to this day, after the events of the last few weeks. There were times when I wondered if I was going to make it.

Hope you've just had a great day with your birthday celebrations, I'm looking forward to having my family around me to share it with me. I'm sure I will be a little sad too, realising what I could loose if I don't win this fight against cancer.

Had another show of blood this morning, for the first time since last week, just to remind me that my rectal problems haven't gone away yet.

I'm sure everything will come right in the end. I'm not going to let it spoil the next few days.

Have a great time.

Steve

PLEASE NOTE THIS CONVERSATION IS CONITUED ON THE "Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life" THREAD.

Edited by member 20 Jan 2015 at 15:25 | Reason: Not specified

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