Waiting for a rapid referral cancer assessment appointment - come hold my hand!

[HolofernesesHead]

Hello, as my thread title says, I'm waiting to see the gynae oncology team next week as my GP suspects ovarian cancer. I know it's relatively unusual in pre-menopausal women but it's complicated for me as I have Crohn's Disease. I've been having really terrible stomach pains since July which I knew weren't part of my normal Crohn's problems, so I went for an ultrasound in Nov which showed that my spleen is enlarged, and again in Dec which showed a 6 cm cyst on one of my ovaries. Oh, and gallstones too. Nice!

I'm having lots of pain in my stomach (esp. in the lower abdo and on the left where my spleen is) ann am taking painkillers a lot . I'm also soooo exhausted - I got sent home by one of my tutors today who even offered to drive me home, bless him. It's like I've been run over by a steamroller, physically - I'm just completely wiped out. I've been feeling a bit low emotionally today as I hoped I'd feel better after going to bed super-early yesterday but still woke up this morning feeling rubbish. I'm a postgrad student and normally really passionately love my work but am just not able to function very well at all. Also feeling like a bit of a substandard mother to my 2 fantastic dc.

So if anyone feels inclined towards a spot of virtual hand-holding while I wait to hear what's what, I'd be v. grateful!

op,i am about to try and sleep as baby had me up last night but ill be back tomorrow. I had breast cancer when i was 26 so was one of the few. I am now 44 and have been well ever since (after lots of treatment) I have had many scares since which have turned out to be nothing so dont lose hope.
When i was waiting for a diagnosis i kept busy tried not to be alone and even watched lots of funny films.Dont worry about the dc,do easy stuff with them like sofa and dvds or cinema,you are allowed to be worried and not yourself for a bit.I will check in tomorrow xx

Hi and thank you Ledkr! I'm glad to hear you're well now. I know what you mean about watching films - I'm watching my way through series 1 and 2 of Downton Abbey which is perfect escapism! :)

Holding your hand and wishing you all the very best xx

So hard waiting fir medical tests and results. Ive been lucky but will always remember that cold chilling feeling. Sending hugs xxxxxx

Thank you Puzzle and Ohdear. It is really hard waiting! :)

Am here too for you. I'm like Ledkr, and have had treatment for Breast Cancer. I know how horrid the waiting is. I'm fine now too though, so even if you do end up getting bad news take heart from us.

Thanks! Am feeling absolutely crap today, full of pains :( so I'm in bed surrounded by magazines, books and MN! :) are you well now?

Yes I am thanks. I still get paranoid about the smallest ache and it took me the whole of last year to get over chemo, but now I'm fit and healthy (fingers crossed!). I've just started running which feels good and felt like a distant dream when I found my lump. Really hope you get the best of news, but hand holding available as much as you want it. xx

Thank you! It's great that you are well enough to start running; was that something you did before you were ill? Not surprised you're paranoid about twinges and pains. I am feeling so unwell today :( I need to stay horizontal, medicated and as distracted as possible! :)

Sorry to hear you feel so rubbish.Your body has a lot to contend with at the moment,the stress and worry can't be helping.Escapism is the best way forward.Do you have any friends with box sets you can borrow? There are some great deals on Amazon at the moment.There was a thread a few months ago asking people to name the series they enjoyed the most.I love having a whole series stretching out in front of me!
On a practical level what are you able to eat?Do you have someone to shop/cook for you and help with the DCs?
Keep warm and sleep whenever you can.

No, I didn't run before. I've had a run of health things, as had to have my spine fused in 2009 as it was collapsing. Running is something I honestly thought I'd never be able to do.

Horizontal sounds sensible. Hope you're upright again soon though.

Wow, good for you, Smee. Sounds like you've come a very long way.

Salad, thanks for the suggestions. My DH is at home today and tomorrow and is looking after the dc, doing housework etc., so I'm well looked after. I just managed to eat some bread and feel a bit less nauseous now :) boxed sets are a good idea, I'll look up the thread! :)

Am here as well holo.
I had lymphoma when I was 29, am 41 now and all is well!
I do remember the dreadful waiting room feeling. I still get it 12 years on, even at the gp!

Good luck. Fingers crossed for you. I recommend 24. All 8 series are discounted on Amazon. It's addictive and will take your mind off everything.

Isn't 24 a bit complicated? I've had such a bad day today, am in bed now feeling so sick. The anti sickness tablets have done nothing to help, and I can't take the codeine because I can't eat :( am drinking Fever Tree tonic water though, which is gorgeous and makes me feel slightly better :) I guess it'd be even better with some gin, but not until im better!

Thanks for the support, it's good to hear from people who have come out the other side! :) lymphoma sounds scary, Wentworth.

Holo, if the feeling sick part is new, or if its getting worse, you need to get to A&E - or at least see your GP tomorrow, no? Just because, whatever the things you're being investigated for, there are all sorts of acute conditions (appendicitis and pancreatitis - especially since you have gallstones - spring to mind) which should be ruled out or treated fast.

Painkillers can cause awful constipation, too, which could add to pains and exhaustion and feeling sick.

All this worry over the top of Crohns and an ovarian cyst (at best)....you poor love, no wonder you're feeling rubbish. You are not a sub-standard mother, just a poorly one!

somewherebecomingrain - that struck a chord with me. About ten years ago I got caught in a rut of wearing BHS jeans , baggy jumpers and mum boots hides fleece, I only wear it round the house nowadays, honest I was run ragged by dc and just had no energy to be "creative" about what I wore.

I could see other mums at school doing the same. About the end of Juniors we all seemed to get our fashion mojo back and now I love sale shopping and trawling ebay to try new more up to date styles.

I have had the same hairstyle for about 15 years but as it is the MN haircut maybe I can get away with it??

Sorry, that was weird. Typed out a post and it posted a previous thing I posted on a different thread. Strange. I'll try again.

I think someone has mistaken this for another thread - !

Ah - xpost.

Okay, I've found my post and will try again!

Hi Holo, just dropping in to give you a manly pat on the back That's a whole lot of symptoms you've got going on there

I had a cancer diagnosis last year and can sympathise with the waiting. My way of coping was to seize every scrap of enjoyment out of every single thing I could - even sitting down with a coffee I decided to be grateful for and savour. Lots of boxed sets - I love a good period drama and have ordered another this week. Lots of Mumsnetting!

The hospital regularly had us waiting in waiting room way beyond the appt time. just to prolong the agony - the longest wait was over two hours - though I wasn't cross because I know they were giving patients time to talk, including me, and they were all terribly kind. I used to sit there "riding" waves of adrenaline! I took an easy crossword puzzle book to try to focus my attention on which seemed to work quite well.

Anyway, treatment is over and I'm not planning on getting ill again

I think you will feel "better" mentally/emotionally once you have a treatment plan in place - that gives you tangible stepping stones to recovery, a feeling of doing something positive.

Anyway, we're here to see you through this.

The hospital regularly had us waiting in waiting room way beyond the appt time. just to prolong the agony - the longest wait was over two hours - though I wasn't cross because I know they were giving patients time to talk, including me, and they were all terribly kind. I used to sit there "riding" waves of adrenaline! I took an easy crossword puzzle book to try to focus my attention on which seemed to work quite well.

Anyway, treatment is over and I'm not planning on getting ill again

I think you will feel "better" mentally/emotionally once you have a treatment plan in place - that gives you tangible stepping stones to recovery, a feeling of doing something positive.

Anyway, we're here to see you through this.

Now my post is repeating itself!!!! And I can't even blame an Iphone! Sorry, hope it makes some sense - all the best.

Hello lovely MNers! :)

I'm feeling a bit better this morning, although the nausea kept me awake a lot in the night :( Elibean, my GP has asked the duty doc to phone me today to check in, and I'm going in for blood tests. Does anyone know if anti sickness tablets take a while to work?

Anyway, very excitingly, I've just ordered the boxed set of Jonathan Creek from Amazon :) I used to love that when it was on TV! :) and my domestic goddess friend has just popped round with a bag of home made shortbread, and another friend has brought some books round, and I'm listening to music so I'm feeling pretty well looked after right now! :)

Sorry, meant to say thank you Dee for telling me about your experiences. Waiting for anything is hard, isn't it? But waiting for test results more so...

Aw, your friends sound lovely Holo, especially the shortbread baking one.