Overwhelmed and Numb

chrisso · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject: Overwhelmed and Numb

My boyfriend and I met less than a year ago and we started dating in mid-March. The first of July he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He lives in Mississippi and I live in North Dakota. After the diagnosis he went to stay with his family in Connecticut (let me tell you they are CRAZY-- I thought he was exagerating before) Shocked

. I went to visit for 10 days in July/August. Just after I left, hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast and completely washed away his house and his car. Fortunately he had the foresight to put his important things in his lab. His building was the only one at the campus to not sustain major structural damage. Dodged that bullet, fortunately. At the end of September, I flew out to Connecticut to be with him for his surgery. His mom had a stroke 2 years ago so she's not 100%, his dad lives in Costa Rica and his sister just had a baby the end of July so that leaves me to be there and care for him as much as possible. Due to scheduling issues the surgery did not take place until the 20th. I am happy to report that the chemoradiation pre-surgery reduced the tumor to just a microscopic patch of cells and they were able to reconstruct his rectum and that his illiostomy is only temporary. Unfortunately there was lymph node involvement. He was in the hospital for 7 days. I spent every day and every night there with him. Then we moved him back "home" to his aunt and uncle's. I just returned home on Wednesday. It's been a long past several weeks. I am so overwhelmed that I don't feel anything anymore and I'm just exhausted. I just needed to share my situation with people who understand. A friend of mine who knows everything that's been going on asked me today why I am so tired. I was flabbergasted.

chrisso · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 1:45 pm Post subject: The crazy family

I just wanted to clarify that although his family is crazy they're really nice people. Very Happy

Souhila Aouali · New User Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 2

Hi Chrisso! how r u? I forgot to thank u on ur interest! hope to talk to u soon! ciao!

ladiexmack · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Posts: 4

i know how it feels. my boyfriend and i have been together for 4 years. he is 26 years old and was diagnosed with hodgkins disease state 3 nodular sclerosis in october of 2004. he went through many cycles of chemotherapy as well as radiation. then he was on a watch and wait stage. last month they did a CT scan and found that it moved to his left lung. he now has to do a more aggressive chemo once every three weeks. each time he's in the hospital for 4 days. i've been there every night and day like you. he finally came home from the hospital last week. it's been very life altering and has made the two of us love each other so much more. we value life alot more now and see things in a whole different light.

just to make u feel more comfortable, i am right there with u. i know how it feels. if u need to talk i am here. =)
_________________
-mackie

MarkS · Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Overwhelmed and Numb

"I am so overwhelmed that I don't feel anything anymore and I'm just exhausted."

Yup. It's not simply a matter of the physical demands but you've been under a heavy emotional strain too. The body has limits on how much it can take before it shuts down and that is true both physically and emotionally. Take some time for yourself now to relax and recharge.
You need to take care of yourself too in order to stay strong for him.
_________________
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

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