I am struggling to find my “new normal“

CancerAli
CancerAli Online Community Member Posts: 7 Connected
edited May 2019 in Mental health and wellbeing
I had Head and Neck cancer, and am now in remission. I still have 3 ops to go. 
Due to lack of counselling after my 12.5 hour op & 4 days in a medically induced coma, I now have mental health issues, PTSD, chronic fatigue and I am in pain everyday even though I take a load of medications including morphine. 
I will never be “me” again ?. I am struggling to find my “new normal“. 

Comments

  • Ami2301
    Ami2301 Online Community Member Posts: 7,877 Championing
    Hi @CancerAli welcome to the community! I am sorry for all that you've been through. I, too, was in a coma for 4 days last year and I still suffer with flashbacks and certain things trigger me to panic. I am also on a lot of medication and its took nearly a year to accept that this is the new me. It is a hard and long process but with the right support, you will get there ? 

    Have you spoken to your GP about being referred to counselling or something similar?
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,722 Cerebral Palsy Network
    Hi @CancerAli
    Great to have you here. Cancer changed my life too. It takes time but you learn to live with the changes in your life. It's taken me 10 years.
  • Chloe_Alumni
    Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing
    Hi @CancerAli and a very warm welcome to the community! Thank you for taking the time to share this with us all, I'm sorry to here you are finding it challenging to adjust- I know this is something myself and other members of the community will be able to relate to. I hope you find the community helpful and please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions :)
  • CancerAli
    CancerAli Online Community Member Posts: 7 Connected
    Thank you for your warm welcome Chloe. 
  • CancerAli
    CancerAli Online Community Member Posts: 7 Connected
    @Ami2301 Hi ? I get PTSD counselling at the moment, but I don’t think my sessions will go on forever. 
  • CancerAli
    CancerAli Online Community Member Posts: 7 Connected
    @Richard_Scope Thank you for replying. Yes, cancer sure is life changing! I try to look on the bright side but not always easy. 
  • Antonia_Alumni
    Antonia_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 1,764 Pioneering
    Welcome to the community @CancerAli how are you doing today? Thank you for sharing this with us. It does take time to adjust. We are all here to support you, please let us know if you have any questions. :)
  • Gerald
    Gerald Online Community Member Posts: 214 Empowering
    Hello CancerAli this is how I get by I Have mental health problems to with Severe Depression and Anxiety for a long time now and have had a lot of help with things and just to talk to on the site and then there is my cat sally in the picture she is like a mum with me and is 18 now and follows me every where like a shadow but she helps me get by day to day as good as I can and her sister makes me happy with how she is still in kitten mode at 7 and that's the black and white one called scooby-doo as its where are you now and what are you doing now. and this is them
  • CancerAli
    CancerAli Online Community Member Posts: 7 Connected
    @Gerald thank you for the photos of your gorgeous cats. I have dogs, goats, hens, ducks & bunnies. I call their home ‘my therapy place “. I spend many a lovely hour with them, mucking out and stroking them. I find their company very calming. 
  • benjamintolmer
    benjamintolmer Online Community Member Posts: 28 Connected
    hi... wish to get well soon.   :s
  • Gerald
    Gerald Online Community Member Posts: 214 Empowering
    CancerAli said:
    @Gerald thank you for the photos of your gorgeous cats. I have dogs, goats, hens, ducks & bunnies. I call their home ‘my therapy place “. I spend many a lovely hour with them, mucking out and stroking them. I find their company very calming. 
    Hi CancerAli Love the pictures its good to have them i you life to help day by day all the best.

Categories