Appointment tomorrow--nerves in overdrive

I know it's just a silly little postop--but it's my first vault smear since the surgery and I'm feeling a bit apprehensive (to say the least). I'm glad of the opportunity to discuss my postop problems with the doctor, but almost panicky about the pelvic. How odd that when I DID have cancer, I didn't know it and felt great, was absolutely unafraid of gyn visits. Now that I DON'T have it, I feel yucky a lot of the time and am scared to death of the gyn visit.
Go figure.

Valarie

(I'll be quoted on that for years.) It's not odd at all now that the cancer is gone to feel scared and nervous. Our once good bodies betrayed us and underneath is that feeling they could do it again. It's called "cancerhead" and we have it to varying degrees. And remember that any surgery is invasive and major and although we'd like to snap back, we heal at different rates and it can actualy take a long time for bodies to adjust. Let's get the appointment over with good news and you'll feel a lot better.

Hi Valarie, Wish there was a way to calm nerves before appointments. Seems like everything is ok until a gyn visit looms and then sneaky Cancer head rears up. I don't have my 6 month checkup until mid-Sept and I already think I feel something just not right, etc. May your appointment go well and you get the all clear quickly. s and blessings, peggiesue

At my first 3 month appointment I was a nervous wreck. The night before I had to take an antivan to be able to sleep. I was the same way at 6 months and 9 months. Before each appointment I was pretty sure I had many kinds of cancer. At the 9 month check up I told the doctor what a wreck I was. He said that I should look forward to the appointment because if he sees something he can treat it quickly before it becomes a more serious problem. That helped. At the one year appointment I was actually, kinda, looking forward to it. I wanted to pass that one year mark because I knew that it was a big deal statistically. The further out we get from treatment the greater the chances of no recurrence. I danced outta that appointment! I promptly went to the store and bought my favorite kind of champagne to celebrate.

If you can, plan something nice to do after your appointment, to celebrate. Go out to dinner or shopping or whatever would be fun for you. Celebrate being cancer free and further away from the beast with less chance of a recurrence!

Then come back here and share the good news with us!

Hugs,
Janie