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).

TEAL THURSDAYS - Sign in and CLICK HERE TO ENTER LIVE DAYTIME ONLINE CHAT (1pm EST)

Options
1…89111314…208

Comments

  • angel27
    angel27
    Options
    Thanks for carrying on without me ladies. You rock!🌻
  • BeamBlossom
    BeamBlossom
    Options
    Sorry! I forgot to say farewell. Best wishes to everyone. 
  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    Back in the saddle following surgery that went no where last week. Who knew that adhesions and scar tissue don't show up on CT scans..so they were totally unprepared for the mass I have.  I think they referred to it as the Great Wall of China that they couldn't get past to get at what they were going to deal with.

    The good news, the reason for the surgery was not to deal with anything life threatening, so whatever PlanB is can wait..and I now understand the cause of the abdominal discomfort, sluggish bowel and excruciating pain when I twist or bend. 

    Back to the drawing table with my medical team on the 15th.. Apparently they took copious pictures to show me. In the meantime, at home resting and licking my wounds...not literally of course LOL. 

    Thanks to angel27 for taking the reins for me  last week.  

    So enough about me....how are all of you? Anyone do anything exciting on the long weekend? Anyone doing anything interesting or creative for our first virtual Walk of Hope on Sunday?  Anyone have new questions or something new to share today? 

    In the immortal words of Dr. Frasier Crane.....Canada, we're listening!
  • angel27
    angel27
    Options
    Hi @Fearless. Sorry surgery didn’t work out. I must have stuff inside too cause if I bend a certain way. Ouch.  We had a lovely labour day feast with neighbours.  BBQ ribs. Corn on cob. Potato& macaroni salads and cole slaw.  And for dessert watermelon sorbet and lemon Florentine cookies made by me!  Yum 
  • BeamBlossom
    BeamBlossom
    Options
    Hi Fearless and Angel27

    What? There was a holiday really?! Kidding, I’m on work hiatus still so the days all run together.
    It got a bit chilly so I moved from lounging on the garden chair back to lounging on the couch, that’s all the excitement I get these days. 
  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    LOL my losing streak continues. Right at 1 my internet went down. So now on my iPhone. 
    Great to see you gals. Been a long two weeks for me but on the mend thankfully. 
  • angel27
    angel27
    Options
    Oh no. We may get thunderstorm later but nice and warm now 
  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    And yippee, I'm back online on my laptop again. Second time service has bailed at exactly the same time on chat day. Thankfully it only goes down for a few minutes.  Really don't like using the iPhone...think my fingers are too fat LOL.

  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    Hi @Tinazzie.  I see you're with us too today.....
  • BeamBlossom
    BeamBlossom
    Options
    I do have a topic though, it would be to discuss returning to work. 
    Today, for the first time I’m actually starting to fear that maybe this fatigue is a reoccurrence sign. How can I still be soooo tired? I think I felt better during active chemo. 
    My GP says my blood counts are close enough to normal now that I can stop worrying about them. She is still investigating the proteins in my blood though.
    Is it possible one never gets their energy back? It’s feels like i will never be able to go back to work at this point 😟
  • angel27
    angel27
    Options
    It takes along time. Months really. 
  • Tinazzie
    Tinazzie
    Options
    Hi Ladies!  Glad to have you back with us @Fearless, but sorry that things didn't go as per plan.  But like you said, not life threatening - so you (and the surgery team!) can take the time to better understand the situation and procedure required.

    Ha @BeamBlossom, I'm with you....what holiday?   ;)  
  • BeamBlossom
    BeamBlossom
    Options
    @angel27 ...so then are people generally off work a year or more? Maybe I was very naive thinking I’d return sometime in Sept which is 2 months post treatment.
  • angel27
    angel27
    Options
    Everyone is different. And depends on job. I wasn’t ready to go back full time after 2 or 3 maths but some sort thru chemo. 
  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    I expect the kind of work factors in.  For me, I had transitioned to consulting already and much of my work done from home so a quick nap in the afternoon when I needed it could easily be factored in. That said, I walked away from my profession. It wasn't fatigue it was the chemo brain/brain fog.  My work revolved around multiple complex org change projects and being able to juggle multiple activities and process complex info and I just found I couldn't do it the way I used to. But ended up replacing that with the work I do for OCC, the project at Queens, some consulting to AstraZeneca...so I'm as busy as ever but able to do it all at whatever pace suits me.

    My energy did return....slowly, and then lost it again with the drug trial. Interesting but I was off the drug for two weeks before my surgery and within four days I was like the energizer bunny. Going back on the drug on the 15th but I expect at a lower dose because I dont' want to give up that feeling again.  

  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    Oh, and @BeamBlossom, while it's always important to keep your medical support informed about how you're feeling..I would think recurrence the least likely cause for your fatigue. As the other gals mentioned it took time to rebound.  Most of my friends were at least four months and some six before a return to work was feasible,..but as mentioned it does depend on what you do and the arrangements available.  
  • angel27
    angel27
    Options
    I agree chemo brain. I had trouble when I went back to work and that was more than 2 years. I was a law clerk 
  • cbot
    cbot
    Options
    Hi everyone! Just an FYI I'll need to sign off around 1:30 for a phone appointment. Welcome back @Fearless - sorry things didn't go as planned...
    @BeamBlossom, I am already wondering about return to work and I haven't even finished my treatments yet! Last chemo is scheduled for Sept. 24. My friend wonders why I'm worried about work, but it's very important to me - the days truly do blend together when one is off their usual routine.
  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    Gals, I know this sounds silly, especially coming from a Type A personality, but I found setting low expectations for myself worked great. Every time I exceeded expectations it was a major boost.  Anytime I set expectations too high or unrealistically I was left feeling like I was failing in my recovery.  That's been a major change in how I live my life and I can say it's left me with so much less stress.
  • angel27
    angel27
    Options
    wise wise words !
  • Tinazzie
    Tinazzie
    Options
    @BeamBlossom, I finished my chemo in August and am on leave until the end of December.  I've heard from a few people that it is quite ambitious to plan going back to full time work by that time.   It is still 4 months away, so I'm trying not to think about it right now.  Many things could change.  But like @Fearless, I too am worried about being able to cope with going back to work in a fast paced environment.  I loved the work - and my colleagues and miss that part of my life. Will have to see what's realistically possible - and what's really important to me at the end of the year.  
  • angel27
    angel27
    Options
    And Covid esp when immunity is low 
  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    @cbot clearly we're all so different. It's really all about personal resilience...physical and emotional and unfortunately they are interdependent.  So one could be physically ready but if you're totally stressed out it drains physical energy.  At the end of the day your body and your mind will tell you when it's time. But nothing better than testing the waters first and easing into fulltime work if your employer or work allows for that......baby steps are really helpful in preparing to take the giant leap.
  • BeamBlossom
    BeamBlossom
    Options
    @cbot I felt just the same coming into my last chemo treatment but that feeling sure has subsided since I can’t stay awake for more than 4 hrs at a time, I’m rather shocked and was sure once my blood issues got sorted I’d be rearin’ to go, but not at all, now that I’m hear. 
  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    Yes, @angel27....the Covid factor.  We sure can't forget it. But on the bright side, it does allow some of us to test the waters working remotely which is an ideal way to get back into it.
  • Tinazzie
    Tinazzie
    Options
    Hi @cbot!  

    Yes, @angel27 - Covid is another worry with returning to work.  Especially if the 2nd wave hits in the Fall.


  • Fearless_Moderator
    Fearless_Moderator Moderator
    Options
    @BeamBlossom does any of this help with your perspective about return to work.?
  • BeamBlossom
    BeamBlossom
    Options
    I’ve been working from home full time since mid 2018 so would be working from home again when I resume. It is incredibly complex work and very demanding, 10 hr days, seldom take my head out of my computer, back to back meetings most days. It was daunting when I was well and now, well it’s even more so. Maybe I will be following in your footsteps fearless as far as career goes.
  • cbot
    cbot
    Options
    Good points from everyone. My employer and Long Term Disability ensurer seem open to a graduated return to work - I will work out the details when the time comes!
  • cbot
    cbot
    Options
    Signing out now! Thanks all!

Categories