I had a lovely chat with Pat my personal nurse advisor from Red Arc provided by my insurance company today.
Pat has organised some additional complimentary therapy sessions for me closer to home to help me to relax and reduce anxiety to give the drugs the best opportunity to work. I can’t have anything that involves too much pressure on my skin and I’m not very comfortable lying on my front at the moment so I have a Thai foot massage booked for Friday afternoon. I’m not too sure what it entails but keep tuned in and I’ll let you know how it goes!
As well as organising this amazing treat for me, Pat has been a great support since shortly after my diagnosis. Pat is there for me to offer practical and emotional support, she is able to answer any questions I have about the treatment I am receiving and the side effects I am experiencing etc. but more importantly to me, I can talk to her about how I’m feeling and what’s going on in my head without the fear of being judged knowing that she knows how to help me make sense of what’s going on in my mind.
From our first conversation I felt totally at ease and able to talk to her about anything. I know that a lot of people can’t see how talking to a complete stranger about your emotions or feelings could possibly be beneficial (including Phil 😉 ) but I would definitely say give it a go before you dismiss it, it can be quite liberating and immeasurably valuable to your overall sense of wellbeing. After our conversations I always feel uplifted, more positive and confident that I am doing the best I can to get through this.
The outcome of today’s conversation was that it’s more important right now to focus on getting through the treatment than to start thinking about what the next stage might be. It really is ok, in fact it is beneficial to only have a short-term plan right now because it’s probably one of the most important ones I’ve ever been working to. Getting this right will help form the foundations of what will become the ‘new normal’… and there will be plenty of time to work on that once we’ve completed this stage.
Talk to you soon
Lots of love Mand xxx
Mand, this is great advice that I’m going to try to heed; short term goals, cos who knows what is going to happen in the long term anyway.
Take good care, love xxxx
I feel the same way about this. People have been asking me “what’s the plan after the chemo?” and my reply is “she’s focused on the chemo right now, we (the royal we) cross that bridge when we come to it”. Love you,
Big Sis Booie (and The Solz)