1. < Cancer: Managing Symptoms

Heart pounding since diagnosed with cancer: What can I do?

Posted by gbnana @gbnana, Nov 3, 2021

Too often throughout the day I am feeling my heart pounding. It makes me feel shaky and very uncomfortable. It must be a kind of anxiety that is bringing me an adrenaline overload. I do try to manage it with deep breathing but that is not helping enough.
Any ideas please

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gbnana | @gbnana | Dec 8, 2021

Day 5 post mastectomy!
Have been doing quite well physically. Pain has been well managed with Tramadol with acetaminophen. Sleeping has been very good.
I have reduced my pain meds down to 2 a day just fine.
HOWEVER today I am really down, I have no fight in me at all
I know the possible reasons but can't change them.
Bills piled up, income is small senior pension that I can't cover everything with, food is scarce and I really feel like something yummy!
Christmas season is here, people want to visit and don't accept that I don't want company. They all say you need support but visits stress me. I am an introvert and treasure my friends of course, but sometimes I just can't do it.
I just can't see my life getting any better at my age 70!
Today is HARD!

REPLY
3 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 9, 2021
In reply to @gbnana "Day 5 post mastectomy! Have been doing quite well physically. Pain has been well managed with..." + (show)
@gbnana

Day 5 post mastectomy!
Have been doing quite well physically. Pain has been well managed with Tramadol with acetaminophen. Sleeping has been very good.
I have reduced my pain meds down to 2 a day just fine.
HOWEVER today I am really down, I have no fight in me at all
I know the possible reasons but can't change them.
Bills piled up, income is small senior pension that I can't cover everything with, food is scarce and I really feel like something yummy!
Christmas season is here, people want to visit and don't accept that I don't want company. They all say you need support but visits stress me. I am an introvert and treasure my friends of course, but sometimes I just can't do it.
I just can't see my life getting any better at my age 70!
Today is HARD!

Jump to this post

@gbnana Not everyday will be an "up" day. You're allowed to feel the way you do, no matter what others may say. Reach out to a trusted friend and get that yummy treat! You deserve it!.

As a fellow introvert, without the surgical you have gone through [five days ago!] I understand the not wanting to be burdened with putting out energy you need for yourself and healing. Tell those well-meaning people, that dr has ordered you to take it easy, and severely limit your exposure as you recover. They may respect that.

And, life will get better.....
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Dec 9, 2021
In reply to @gbnana "Day 5 post mastectomy! Have been doing quite well physically. Pain has been well managed with..." + (show)
@gbnana

Day 5 post mastectomy!
Have been doing quite well physically. Pain has been well managed with Tramadol with acetaminophen. Sleeping has been very good.
I have reduced my pain meds down to 2 a day just fine.
HOWEVER today I am really down, I have no fight in me at all
I know the possible reasons but can't change them.
Bills piled up, income is small senior pension that I can't cover everything with, food is scarce and I really feel like something yummy!
Christmas season is here, people want to visit and don't accept that I don't want company. They all say you need support but visits stress me. I am an introvert and treasure my friends of course, but sometimes I just can't do it.
I just can't see my life getting any better at my age 70!
Today is HARD!

Jump to this post

Days like this are the hardest ones. I hate it when I think of you going through this, mostly because I can remember exactly what these days feel like. Trust me when I say, things will get better, even if it does not seem that way now. Set those medical bills aside for now, this is not the time you should be worrying about those. Tell me what kind of yummy treat sounds good right now? I remember craving a gelato or a cannoli. Are you a cake or cream kind of girl?

REPLY
1 reply
gbnana | @gbnana | Dec 9, 2021
In reply to @auntieoakley "Days like this are the hardest ones. I hate it when I think of you going..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

Days like this are the hardest ones. I hate it when I think of you going through this, mostly because I can remember exactly what these days feel like. Trust me when I say, things will get better, even if it does not seem that way now. Set those medical bills aside for now, this is not the time you should be worrying about those. Tell me what kind of yummy treat sounds good right now? I remember craving a gelato or a cannoli. Are you a cake or cream kind of girl?

Jump to this post

Thanks for your note, I am trying to trust that I will move into better days!
Not a cake or cream girl, savoury all the way. Problem is I don't know what it is that is yummy right now...not a big problem is it?
It helps to know you have come through this ok

REPLY
jkh | @jkh | Dec 10, 2021
In reply to @gingerw "@gbnana Not everyday will be an "up" day. You're allowed to feel the way you do,..." + (show)
@gingerw

@gbnana Not everyday will be an "up" day. You're allowed to feel the way you do, no matter what others may say. Reach out to a trusted friend and get that yummy treat! You deserve it!.

As a fellow introvert, without the surgical you have gone through [five days ago!] I understand the not wanting to be burdened with putting out energy you need for yourself and healing. Tell those well-meaning people, that dr has ordered you to take it easy, and severely limit your exposure as you recover. They may respect that.

And, life will get better.....
Ginger

Jump to this post

Ginger you are SO correct that @gbnana is allowed to have a down day or even a bunch of them! We ALL hear that we need a positive attitude to beat cancer. Of course you are going to feel down! It is sad to get cancer. Taking care of yourself, asking friends to bring a “yummy” to you and leave you to just be is a great way to take care of yourself. You will heal. 70 is not too old. Sounds pretty young to me as I get closer to it every day!

REPLY
simo | @simo | Mar 28, 2022

@gbnana I started same symptomps of heart pounding when I started having unusual discharge from my left breast following with swollen part of the lobuls. It became increasingly alarming when the pounding increased by just walking from my place to the elevator (short distance) and followed with diffiulty speaking (as if i ran a marathon) it stopped suddenly... when i discontinued the genesis prescription of Nexium: I took like less than a week (and allerg-tec(allergy sneezing& runny nose) i assumed the combination of theses 2 meds caused it. The pounding stopped but I still feel that the symptoms are coming back then it stops.
I tried drinking lemon water (no sugar), not sure if this is the reason that it stopped.
Thank you for menioning about the breathing @gbnana

REPLY
1 reply
simo | @simo | Mar 28, 2022
In reply to @simo "@gbnana I started same symptomps of heart pounding when I started having unusual discharge from my..." + (show)
@simo

@gbnana I started same symptomps of heart pounding when I started having unusual discharge from my left breast following with swollen part of the lobuls. It became increasingly alarming when the pounding increased by just walking from my place to the elevator (short distance) and followed with diffiulty speaking (as if i ran a marathon) it stopped suddenly... when i discontinued the genesis prescription of Nexium: I took like less than a week (and allerg-tec(allergy sneezing& runny nose) i assumed the combination of theses 2 meds caused it. The pounding stopped but I still feel that the symptoms are coming back then it stops.
I tried drinking lemon water (no sugar), not sure if this is the reason that it stopped.
Thank you for menioning about the breathing @gbnana

Jump to this post

@gbnana
error : generic of Nexium
I have a daily walk of at least 2 miles twice a day or 3 miles at once, per day and I never felt the pounding, only after my symptoms in the breast started. Now i only have funny look of the lobules, changing shape then suddenly are back to normal.

REPLY
simo | @simo | Mar 29, 2022
In reply to @gbnana "Day 5 post mastectomy! Have been doing quite well physically. Pain has been well managed with..." + (show)
@gbnana

Day 5 post mastectomy!
Have been doing quite well physically. Pain has been well managed with Tramadol with acetaminophen. Sleeping has been very good.
I have reduced my pain meds down to 2 a day just fine.
HOWEVER today I am really down, I have no fight in me at all
I know the possible reasons but can't change them.
Bills piled up, income is small senior pension that I can't cover everything with, food is scarce and I really feel like something yummy!
Christmas season is here, people want to visit and don't accept that I don't want company. They all say you need support but visits stress me. I am an introvert and treasure my friends of course, but sometimes I just can't do it.
I just can't see my life getting any better at my age 70!
Today is HARD!

Jump to this post

@gbnana
Hello @gbnana I noticed I am reading your journey dated December 2021..
Please allow me to say it is normal that it bothers you to be around people, because you need to rest and being surrounded, requires lots of energy and can be exhausting (giving the attention, interacting). Our health changed. Some days are good, other days are ok, or suddenly the side effect of the treatment are hard on us physically and mentally. I lived with many relatives who went thru your stages, where sometimes it is very hard for them. (3 sisters with different type of cancer)
If you try and I am sure you do, to accept that our mental state changes when our health fails us. The people around us, friends even relatives some of them, try to help but instead, inadvertently place a heavy burden on the person going thru health changes. I try to list to them and respect them but do not allow their advice to worry me or make me feel ... am not doing my part. The mind and the body know when is the time to every single thing:, we have to accept that and it is not easy that things are no longer the same. Financial hardship causes more stress and affects us.

REPLY
1 reply
gbnana | @gbnana | Mar 29, 2022
In reply to @simo "@gbnana Hello @gbnana I noticed I am reading your journey dated December 2021.. Please allow me..." + (show)
@simo

@gbnana
Hello @gbnana I noticed I am reading your journey dated December 2021..
Please allow me to say it is normal that it bothers you to be around people, because you need to rest and being surrounded, requires lots of energy and can be exhausting (giving the attention, interacting). Our health changed. Some days are good, other days are ok, or suddenly the side effect of the treatment are hard on us physically and mentally. I lived with many relatives who went thru your stages, where sometimes it is very hard for them. (3 sisters with different type of cancer)
If you try and I am sure you do, to accept that our mental state changes when our health fails us. The people around us, friends even relatives some of them, try to help but instead, inadvertently place a heavy burden on the person going thru health changes. I try to list to them and respect them but do not allow their advice to worry me or make me feel ... am not doing my part. The mind and the body know when is the time to every single thing:, we have to accept that and it is not easy that things are no longer the same. Financial hardship causes more stress and affects us.

Jump to this post

Thank you for reminding me how best to take care of myself.
Even though we are in our 70's we are both looking for work, maybe some extra income may help our stress

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