ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Cognitive/Emotional Issues => Topic started by: cin605 on February 26, 2009, 12:32:49 pm
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Does anyone get increase in symptoms when stressed?such...balance decrese more than already is...headach..swelling at incision
sit....heavy head..fatiigue..nausea...vision problems?????
It seems when i am stressed every thing seems to magnify to extreme when i am worried or do to much & get stressed in general.
I am felling so awful.My head just wants to sheke back n forth my neck is constantly stiff.
Thanks cindy
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I too was in a stressful situation and all my symptons seemed to return, balance, dry mouth, dry eye and cognitive. When I asked my surgeon he said my nerves are permanently compromised and anytime I experience stress my weaknesses will increase. About the time I feel like a new person, something happens to remind me that I still have residual effects. Ninety five percent of the time I am doing great and feel really blessed to be alive and functioning pretty well! Blessings, Cath
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Zanybrainy, I love your sign-in name - or whatever you call it. We would make a good pair: Zanybrainy and Spacie Gracie.
Grace
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Hi, Cindy:
Unfortunately, many post-operative AN patients do experience an increase in symptoms when they're stressed. Your doctor may be able to prescribe something for stress. I know that many of our members have used alternative medicine and therapy, including acupuncture, to help relieve their stress-related symptoms. I trust some of them will post to this thread and offer some suggestions and/or advice.
Jim
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Cindy -
I notice symptoms both when I'm stressed and when I'm tired. Unfortunately these are usually two fairly constant characteristics of my life ::)
Seriously, my left (AN) eye tends to get dry and irritated, I experience dry mouth, and my balance starts to take on the drunken-sailor appearance. I also start to stumble over my words or use the wrong ones; my brain is thinking one word but my mouth says another.
Jan
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O.K.......Seems i better get used to this annoying factor.
I really am finding this "Journey" a little on the strange side ,like right out of the twigh light Zone!Every week its some new wierd discovery.
I think i am looking to vent!Just one really LOUD scream...so my neighbors will KNOW that i really did have brain surgery.
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Spacie Gracie, I love your name and am so glad to see so many people that look at this journey with a sense of humor. Originally I shared my name with some friends and got very mixed reactions. Some people are so serious about my roomate (partially removed AN) that I hesitate to share with them. God, humor and my great husband, definitely keep me going. Have a Spacie day, Cath :)
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Jan.....I too have dry eye.....use refresh many times a day. Stress results in balance issues,headache, pressure etc. Life gets very difficult. I am 4 years out from CK......my symptoms are worse than ever.
Judy
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I feel my symptoms more when I am stressed out. Dr. McKenna had told meto try to decrease this so I thought I would
1. quit my job.
2. stop taking care of my elderly parents.
3. stop paying my bills
and climb the highest mountain and start singing like Juie Andrews from the sound of music!!
Just Kidding!!!
My job is very stressful, my parents are sickly and elderly and of course I need my job to pay my bills. So instead of taking pills for the all of my symptoms, I bought a treadmill and have been walking!!
LisaP
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WHEW Lisa: I thought you lost your mind there ! ! Boy have you got it piled on !
Keep a peaceful heart.... Nancy
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stress or being tired both make any symptoms I have worse... from balance to headaches
doctor told me to reduce and remove stress from my life which would mean getting rid of my kids
and just can't bring myself to do that ...who is gonna look after me when I am old ?
really I have just had to adjust things to work better for the new me ... and the kids aren't to bad just
always there ...soemthing you can't take time off from like clocking out of work or taking vacation time ...
and they are getting more involved in more things like Saturday basketball league and photography club
with 4-H so having to readjust again to make sure I can get them to where they need to be and not
wear myself out doing it ...someone told me not to let them take part in things , but why should they
suffer for my illness?
we manage and husband takes up the reins when I stall out
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Yes, stress and fatigue, and oh yes, let's not forget the common cold which laid me out for a week. My nerve pain was worse, my head tightening (which was virtually gone) came back and I pretty much fell apart. And it is weird, changes every day so that I never quite get a handle on it.
M
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It seems we think it's our "JOB" to make it all good for everybody.....but ourselves. I know I have been guilty of this my whole life....I am now 69, a widow, STILL a mom ( always will be) grandmother etc. Sometimes it's great fun to do my "JOB"......but now....I'm not in the back of the bus....I'm driving it! I ask for help when I need it."Super Mom & Nanny" doesn't fit anymore......I'm NOT super anything....just want to be me, take care of me....say no when need be (can't do it to good with grandkids) I can't run on empty, just like my car, gotta keep the tank full......make good choices for my best interests and then I can be the best I can be for others and "pay it forward" with pleasure. This affords me rewards to many to mention. "Down Days" are going to be there.....everyday is different...planning difficult....capabilities change....wantings not fulfilled....disappointments.....outlook grim and more. "Good Days" are here too.....thank God.....how blessed I am. I really have empathy for the young wives and mother's that come to this site.....their reponsibilities are HUGE....their concerns for their circumstances valid.....if I had to face them now it is doubtful I would be able to cope.....dealing with just me is demanding enough. Keep up the "good fight".....life is worth the living and doing as best you can.
Judy
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oh wow.
good to know we all feel kinda the same way when stressed. I realized my ear looses a bit of the hearing when I get really stressed, something that freaked me out since I don't really have any hearing loss...So I kept on thinking that maybe my tumor was swelling because of the radiation. :'(
In regards to acupuncture, I know it's VERY beneficial for the whole body. But I've heard that because it "opens" up the passage for the energy that is "stuck" in a particular place in the body (in our case the ears) it may increase the chances of the tumor "growing" since it gets more of the good energy flowing. I'm applying this theory to the AN but the person did not mention any tumors or anything in particular.
anyways, I'm also glad to know some of you get dry eyes. I thought I was getting them more often because I moved to SD where the air is already pretty dry... :o
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As my husband says "Life is stress." Gee thanks honey, now how do I deal with it? Yes, humor, faith and supporting spouse help, but sometimes you gotta remind the spouse to be supportive. >:( Chocolate, and naps work for me. And just say NO is good too. My tinnitus gets worse, and my balance gets worse if I over do it. I just have to pace myself. Good things my kids are older
I feel bad that I can't do stuff, like volunteer, but I'm just trying to survive and take care of myself now. I am number one in my life. I ignored symptoms for so many years (I'm a nurse by trade- that doesn't help). So that's sometimes what happens. Thank God I don't have headaches.
I love my eye pillow too. I tape my bad eye with paper tape and put a lightweight lightly scented pillow and BREEEEATHE. Ymmm. I'm also into the aromatherapy roll on oils. You can find em at Bath and Body Works or places like that. There is even a headache one. Has eucalyptus/peppermint in it. Roll it on your wrists, rub the wrists together and Breathe in....
They have em for everything- energy, headache, relaxation, sleep....
Maureen
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Oh Maueen,
I love saying NO. I use to always say YES, but not any more!!! I suffer from severe headache and facial pain and I wish there was a Bath and Body Works up here in Canada. I read some place that they are coming. There is one store near Toronto, I think my girlfriend and I are going to have to go on a road trip and find it. The scented pillow with lemon or lavender oil would help relieve stress immensely. Someone gave me a lavender linen spray last year and it is almost finished. I find lavender to be a very calming smell.
My husband never knew what stress was until four years ago when I broke my leg and was on complete bead rest. He had to do the laundry for all of us. We have four sons, make lunches, cook meals, help me shower....that was a major ordeal....I'm keeping it clean....clean bathrooms, the pots and pans, and work full time. He finally realized why our sons had certain chores and why as they got older they were expected to do more.
Enjoy your aromatherapy oils and think of me!
Anne Marie
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Anne Marie: I love Lavender ! ! I use it whenever I can, lavender soap, spray.... you're right, calming it is.
Always good thoughts, Nancy
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I practice a little bit of Tai chi most days, walk daily, and get in a nature walk weekly. That, and work with my mind to interpret things in ways that are less stressful (using some of the books on cognitive therapy for anxiety and depression). most of the time, my balance is quite good. When my balance is off kilter, it usually during times when my life in general is "out of balance". Times when I missed walking too many days in a row, or didn't allow myself time for the gift of a short drive to my favorite nature walk. Then my balance gets off, and my face even seems droopier. Kate
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Sorry, I too suffer from stress and depression. However, I have not figure it out yet on how to handle it all. So, I am just trying different things. But, I have not found anything yet that has worked. I am hoping that when the weather warms up a bit that I can take walks around the block to see if that helps me.
However, a tread mill might help too like one of the other post said.
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I get exactly those symptoms when stressed. Wow! I am not the only one. We need to figure out a way to keep stress at bay. How do we do that? I am two years out surgery and its worse thaN EVER, my emotions are going crazy too.
Mary
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Well, I am still trying to "walk" my stress off. My symptoms continue to feel worse if I am tired or stressed and I am still W&W. I also quit smoking a year and a half ago (yeah for me), don't feel any better, glad I did for my health and the price. But smoking helped keep my stress level down, now since I can't sing, I guess I will keep walking.
And to NancyAnn, I lost my mind a long time ago but it keeps coming back!! ::)
LisaP ;D
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Hi everybody....I have been down the "bad" road this past week....stress,pain,headache.....tears. My primary doctor refussed to refill pain/muscle relaxer until I am evaluated at Pain Clinic on the 28th. I felt as if I had been pushed off of a cliff. After 6 days I was a gonner. Sunday I called my nieghbor an she came over and she gave me 1 of her anxiety pills and I quit crying,but pain was still so bad. I got an appointment with neurosurgeon for yesterday. She gave me an exam and said I have trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathy. Not much you can do but she did refill my meds. I SLEPT last night very well,relatively pain/anxiety free,also ordered an MRI. Soooooo much better today. Thank God for her. Today is a much brighter day. My balance is terrible but I am walking and looking forward to the day.....just being careful not to fall. The "body" pain, induced from stress on the joints and muscles to stay upright is debilitating if I don't take something for it. After 6 days it was awful. She admittedly said "they" really don't know what the "leftovers" are from radiation. HELLO!!!! Finally someone tells the truth. I have the Wii, Yoga,Tai Chi, 3 wheel bike etc. etc. Looking forward to pool warming up so I can use it. I think I'm on the right path again and will start all over with a positive outlook and press on. Thanks guys for your sharing of your issues and letting me know I am not alone. It's so great to have you all.
Judy
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Hi Judy-I know the stuff all to well...just trying to be upright is killing me!I am doing chiro...massage...physical therapy,vest.rehab,walking & nothing is helping these damn muscle spasms.I am taking amuscle relaxer,aniety med,alternating percocette,darvecett,tramadol...itry to limit pain killers to 1/2 a day & try not to take anything before 3pm so i can try to function
by 3:00 i have had it.I am also taking migrain meds as needed.We Will Get Through This!
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From what everybody is saying, this roller coaster ride we are on seems to be universal with AN patients! Now, if we can just remember that good days are intertwined with the bad days when we are on the downward ones ......... :-*
Hang in there ..... each month there are more good days and fewer bad days! (..... and it does not hurt to have a pity party on the bad ones!)
Clarice
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I started taking a B 50 vitamin complex in the evening about two weeks ago and can't believe the difference this past week. I have more energy, virtually no headaches and just feel calmer.....my hubby commented yesterday that I'm a new person :-)
Cecile
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Cin!!!! I see you have left side tongue problem......me too. Sometimes eat soft foods because it is easier to get down. My face burns.....like sunburn, gum lines sore/burning sensation....can't have toothache because they are implants. Muscle tightness, lower back issues from trying to stay upright is difficult and painful. The balance/headaches are my worst enemies right now. No matter what I do to relieve them I'm not having much luck. I have so much I want to do but just can't. That sounds "not good" but it's the simple truth and I am very frustrated and in an unusual funk. I can usually find something to do to make myself better......struggling to find it these days. Got any ideas?
Thanks a bunch...........
Judy
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I am w/ still searching...????
Today was a really crappy day!I had to go to a appoitment w/state to go over my medical coverage..since i have been approved for disability....They now gave me a spend down limit ...i have to spend so much per month then send them the reciept & they pay the rest..just what i needed more paper work to do monthly.They also cut my food card completely since i am a single mom.....i have an annuity that pays once a year not alot 1,200 they divided that by 12 & added that to my income also. :'( :'( so now i am over the
amount to get assisatnce for food.I am trying not to stress becouse i know what it will do to me.O.K i got it off my chest...
Its just all so over whelming.
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O.k. i broke out the Ben N Jerry's Chunky Mokey Icecream...i am feeling better.
Maybe you should try this Judy??
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Good idea Cin.....Heathbar Crunch is my fav!.....Pepperidge Farm cookies did it for me last night! ONLY 2 though!!!!!
Judy
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Cin605.........Haven't seen any posts from you lately. How are you doing now? I still have multiple issues going on but trying hard to work through them.
Judy
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Thanks for asking Judy,I have been kind o crappy lately dizzy,nausea shooting pain to incision area and earaches every mourn.
argh! ::)