Medical Ptsd After Surviving Stage 4 Cancer

[jackrabbitslimz]

This is my first time posting.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer on 6-16-15.
Did chemo, several surgeries including one that lasted for 13 hours where I died on the table.
My cancer has been in remission for several months.
Now that things are normal again, I'm starting to experience the full brunt of PTSD.
I live in a somewhat big city.
Yesterday I took myself to the ER wing of the local psychiatric hospital. The hospital was reluctant to prescribe anything because it was in an ER setting. So I was prescribed Visatril, which has been helpful in relaxing.
I have an appointment for next Monday to see a psychiatrist who specializes in oncology.

I would appreciate any advice I can get going forward.
Also, if there are any questions you want to ask, feel free to do so.

 

[StarChild]

This is my first time posting.

Hi @jackrabbitslimz, as I see, when looking at your member tag, or on your profile page, that you posted in 2010 as a "carer" of someone you dated.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer on 6-16-15

I'm really sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis.

I'm starting to experience the full brunt of PTSD.

Concerning PTSD; May I ask, is this an official diagnosis, you've received from a psychiatrist? And can you tell, what was / is the cause for it (the PTSD)? And what exactly do you mean when talking of the "full brunt of PTSD"?

I would appreciate any advice I can get going forward.

It would be very helpful for you, if you would be more specific; What questions / problems you have and what kind of advice on what subject you're looking for.

Because the more and the better people understand your request(s), the more specific answers you'll get. As that's just how it is. All the best to you!:tup:

 

[jackrabbitslimz]

Hi @jackrabbitslimz, as I see, when looking at your member tag, or on your profile page, that you posted in 2010 as a "carer" of someone you dated.

I'm really sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis.

Concerning PTSD; May I ask, is this an official diagnosis, you've received from a psychiatrist? And can you tell, what was / is the cause for it (the PTSD)? And what exactly do you mean when talking of the "full brunt of PTSD"?

Yes, I used to date a girl who had PTSD at which point I joined this forum. I didn't know I'd end up needing it for myself..

I'm in remission with cancer. That's in the past.

Yes, this is an official diagnosis received from a psychiatrist.

What caused my PTSD? Dying twice myself (and being defibbed), watching people die in chemo, and generally living for 10 months very closely with death.

What I mean by full brunt: repeated frightening thoughts, flashbacks, anxiety attacks, nightmares, night terrors, feeling detached from reality.

I don't ask a specific question right now. I'm still figuring this out. I mostly intended this post to establish contact with the community.

 

[joeylittle]

I think it's great that you are going to be able to see a psych who has a specialization in oncology. Will you be doing talk therapy with them as well, do you know?

And welcome back :)

 

[jackrabbitslimz]

I think it's great that you are going to be able to see a psych who has a specialization in oncology...

I have no idea if I'll be doing talk therapy. I'm open to it. Talk therapy is hard because unless you experienced it, you really don't have the ability to relate. I had to go see a talk therapist when I was allegedly terminal and that's the response I got from that series of interactions.

 

[Neverthesame]

Talk therapy is hard because unless you experienced it, you really don't have the ability to relate

Fair enough, though I recommend you keep an open mind. While it is true that if you hadn't been through it, you can't understand every detail. This psychiatrist should at least have a educated understanding of what sort of reaction you are likely to have from treatment.

With the specialty in oncology, they will also be (hopefully) be armed with treatment options that are successful in patients with your specific needs and likely complications. Such as chemo brain, for example.

I'm not trying to write off your concerns though. I do hear what you are saying. I have PTSD, but not from the same thing. I also believe that being this doctor is a psychiatrist, you won't be doing much therapy with them anyway, right?

Unless it's different in your state, psychiatrists are more for setting up medication regimens and symptom management. The actual therapy, is usually done with a psychologist. At least that's how it works here.

My Mum, has had two battles with cancer now. The first was about 20 years ago, stage 4 colorectal, that nearly killed her.

The other was only last year. Stage 1 breast cancer. Fortunately, she whooped cancers ass twice now.

While I was around to witness this. I know that I still have no idea what it actually felt like to be her. One thing I know she had to learn the hard way, was to not just accept what she was given from doctor's. More than once she's had to dig her heels in and make herself heard. If you don't find something helpful, make sure they try something different.

Best of luck to you. If you can beat cancer, you most certainly deserve to be able to enjoy the life you get to live.

 

[RussH]

The one thing I would suggest is finding out if the therapist/ psychiatrist has training in trauma therapy.

 

[The ANP]

I am also a cancer survivor. Cancer often gets excluded in PTSD trauma criteria as being a natural disease state or "normal expected life event". Having watched a loved one die from cancer treatment as a kid and going through it myself I can tell you there ain't nothing normal or expected about getting cut burned and poisened by medicine. Add in dying on the table, I can only imagine. Sorry you are going through this. As for finding a doctor specializing I trauma and oncology- if anybody can find one of those let me know.

 

[foreveralone2099]

hi OP.

I live thru 8 years of myalgic encephalomyeltitis, some of which was severe. never visited the hospital although i needed to be in assisted living; family abandoned me and i went without food or heat or medical treatment. i'm in remission and my life is normal now but i'm so f*cked in the head. experiencing the same problems finding appropriate psychotherapy due to the stigmatized nature of the illness as well as medical misunderstanding.

i'd love to start a PM relationship if you think there's some way we can help each other. i have to admit i'm a little jealous of you; at least you get some credit for your experience. with the exception of a few online friends who are still ill, i'm completely alone.