Community Connection: Ovarian Cancer Canada is looking for volunteers! Could you help?
OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Peer Support Volunteer. Over a few hours each week, you would be part of a team that helps connect people, support conversations and are thought leaders for OVdialogue. This is your opportunity to give back to those who have/continue to support you through the tough times, share your unique experiences, and help celebrate successes. For more details of what this entails, please reach out to @Mfallis (mfallis@ovariancanada.org).
OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Peer Support Volunteer. Over a few hours each week, you would be part of a team that helps connect people, support conversations and are thought leaders for OVdialogue. This is your opportunity to give back to those who have/continue to support you through the tough times, share your unique experiences, and help celebrate successes. For more details of what this entails, please reach out to @Mfallis (mfallis@ovariancanada.org).
Best Of
Re: Teal Tuesdays - Live Online Chat! (Discontinued indefinitely)
@MonarchButterfly, I’ve recently started trying this. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I’m realizing that it’s not just one thing. We need many things in our arsenal to keep the anxiety monster at bay, not to mention the thoughts. Getting ideas of what others do certainly can help.
I bake when I can. I make soups to help me with my digestion. I read at night. No digital (as I’m writing to you LOL) I could use something mindless. Like knitting, possibly? I tried it years ago with failure. Too impatient, to be honest. Maybe I’m in a different place now.
I bake when I can. I make soups to help me with my digestion. I read at night. No digital (as I’m writing to you LOL) I could use something mindless. Like knitting, possibly? I tried it years ago with failure. Too impatient, to be honest. Maybe I’m in a different place now.
djapj
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Re: Teal Tuesdays - Live Online Chat! (Discontinued indefinitely)
Oooo. Shortbread. That will chase away my anxiety @MonarchButterfly ! Hahaha.
Seriously, I know I said before that I knit, and I do, but the best thing for my anxiety is prayer and worship. If I focus on God, and not my need (aka screaming anxiety), I come to a quiet and restful space. It has become a well-practiced routine and a content way to live. This is not a cure. I do not know if it will ever be cured, but I can live really well with the contentment.
I also have started an exercise program - Qi gong - that I really enjoy. The movement is really well suited to my need and easily adapted to my limitations.
So - one is good for the soul, the other my body - and the mind falls in line. :-)
Seriously, I know I said before that I knit, and I do, but the best thing for my anxiety is prayer and worship. If I focus on God, and not my need (aka screaming anxiety), I come to a quiet and restful space. It has become a well-practiced routine and a content way to live. This is not a cure. I do not know if it will ever be cured, but I can live really well with the contentment.
I also have started an exercise program - Qi gong - that I really enjoy. The movement is really well suited to my need and easily adapted to my limitations.
So - one is good for the soul, the other my body - and the mind falls in line. :-)
Re: Teal Tuesdays - Live Online Chat! (Discontinued indefinitely)
Hello @djapj and @Flowergirl.
You asked about keeping anxiety at bay. I find meditation works very well for me. Mornings are best for me as things tend to come up later in the day. Even if you can start with 5-10 minutes a day.
You asked about keeping anxiety at bay. I find meditation works very well for me. Mornings are best for me as things tend to come up later in the day. Even if you can start with 5-10 minutes a day.
Re: Teal Tuesdays - Live Online Chat! (Discontinued indefinitely)
I am actually doing some Christmas baking tonight- some shortbread cookies. I love baking and it was one of my favourite things to do before my illness. Baking makes me very happy!
Re: Teal Tuesdays - Live Online Chat! (Discontinued indefinitely)
reminder to use the @ sign and the user name - like this @djapj - it will help to notify participants under the topics
Re: Diagnosis
djapj! They officially tested the tumor after it was removed and staged it, but they did not do a surgical staging operation when it was removed. For example, they did not remove lymph nodes for testing or go through my total abdominal cavity looking for lesions. When they know they are dealing with a potential cancer, usually a gynecologic oncologist does the surgery and they do a specific type of surgical procedure. Mine was done just by my gynecologist because they thought they were only dealing with a large fibroid. He was surprised when he opened me up! He called an oncologist during my procedure to get some advice, but he didnt do the entire correct procedure. The only thing my gynecologist DID do was the peritoneal wash that came back negative. When I was suffering more from my adhesions they bothered me the most when I had a lot of gas in my bowels or my bladder was full. It was SO painful at times I couldn't even walk. It would come in waves and I recall once at work I was thinking I might have to pee in my garbage can to alleviate the pain if I wasn't able to walk to the bathroom. Good thing the wave subsided and I was able to quickly walk to the bathroom. Once my bowel or bladder was emptied, the pain subsided. I just noticed the pain was worse when my bowels bothered me since the adhesions were there. I used to have one adhesion around my belly button that would pull something awful when I had a bowel pain. I had a surgery and it was released. I had my hysterectomy 7 months ago now so I am waiting to develop new ones. I already have some from my ovary removal 10 years on the right side. I know its likely adhesions because I don't have anything else there besides my appendix and I go through a checklist in my head about appendix pain to make sure that's not what it is. Any pain on the left side is likely just adhesions. Its good to know anatomy and your own body issues to know the difference. Takes time to understand it all!
Re: Diagnosis
Hi! I too was told I had a "mass" and thought it was a fibroid and after the surgery was diagnosed with a large ovarian tumor. Mine was over 10cm in diameter and a stage 1a. Additionally I didn't need any chemo or radiation and feel like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, since I didn't get an "official" surgical staging by an oncologist. Every little pain and twinge I get I think 'is that a recurrence? Should I call my oncologist?' Ugh! I have always struggled with adhesions too since my first ovary was removed 10 years ago now (due to adhesions and stuff causing excruciating pain). So I can totally relate. Some days I don't feel like a survivor but other days I really worry.....a lot.
Re: Teal Tuesdays - Live Online Chat! (Discontinued indefinitely)
Hi @Sheena178 and @djapj, so glad that you have joined the Ov dialogue, welcome.
Re: Teal Tuesdays - Live Online Chat! (Discontinued indefinitely)
Hi @djapj - we try to meet up here - live, on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM CST - if anyone is around to chat ... as always the site is open 24/7 and we hope you will find much support here!
Re: Diagnosis
Welcome @djapj- glad you were able to get the surgery and some physical relief!
Do they have a followup-plan for you? If you use the search bar at the top right, someone in a previous post mentioned about adhesions.
Thank you for sharing your story and joining the chat site. There are lots of good topics and information sharing from this great community - welcome, we are here to support each other!
Do they have a followup-plan for you? If you use the search bar at the top right, someone in a previous post mentioned about adhesions.
Thank you for sharing your story and joining the chat site. There are lots of good topics and information sharing from this great community - welcome, we are here to support each other!