Monday, February 25, 2008
In my last post, I listed 5 ways I felt I'd "failed" during my cancer experience -- which means, since I'm pretty much the same as most women, that most women probably feel like they've failed in similar ways. I'm going to continue, and I invite you all to add your "fai...
Hey Laura - Since you asked -
1) When you have a side effect that's not "normal." I happen to be inflicted with terrible itching all over my trunk, every night. Was it from the surgery? "No, not possible," said the surgeon. From the tamoxifen? "No, that's not a side effect," said the oncologist. "Take some Benadryl," said my PCP. What? for six years, I should take Benadryl every day? I could just feel all three of them looking over my head at each other, making that circling-finger "she's crazy" sign at their temples...
2) When I got pneumonia 2 weeks after finishing chemo. It was like I had the plague. None of my regular doctors visited - I think they saw me as evidence of THEIR "failure," perhaps? "She's finished chemo and now she's in the hospital with pneumonia, on oxygen? How did THAT happen? She must not have been taking care of herself properly..."
Come on, ladies - anyone else out there ever feel like they weren't up to snuff in the competition to be the ideal patient?
PJH