Good Stories to share

I am 51 years old and was diagnosed Nov 29, 2008 with a gbm in my right parietal lobe. It was small-maybe 2 inches. It was removed, then I did the radiation and temador. I had a break for a month or so and then resumed the temador which I still do now.
I have no deficits to speak of- just depression and anxiety. Before getting sick I worked part-time and I have resumed that schedule.
I feel good and all I do is wait for the ball to drop. I read these posts and get so depresssed. I feel for everyone here writing about wht they are going through. My MD says I am doing really well and I should go live my life one day at a time.
There is one spot in the line of radiation (not the original tumor bed- that remains clean). It is so small-they say- and will watch it closely with mri's every 2 months. MD told me" this is as good as it gets and they can do this" Does that sound more hopeful than usual for this type of tumor? If it wasn't for the depression and anxiety I feel well.
I need some support mentally. I feel I can't talk much anymore to my husband, sister or friends because I have overtalked. I feel when I may vent, I upset them. Don't get me wrong- they are great but I worry about their health and state of mind with all this stress. I see a therapist now and then but I can't see her everyday!!!!
I wake up every morning wondering how long I have left.
Any support will be so appreciated. It's almost a year and I should be better at this. I am on zoloft- 200 mg too!!

I have sent you a private reply.

Hope and hugs,
Sarah

You are doing great and enjoy it as best you can.  For me as the caregiver it was the hardest dealing with a husband who was physically and mentally off.  Listening to his real concerns about the future was not hard but he had to empathy for me.  I know this was the tumor and the treatment but it was hard.  It sounds as if you can make very real conversation and express your concerns but be empathetic to how this is effecting your family.  That is the best gift you can give your friends and family.

There are other drepresion anxiety medicines but I do not know how they interact with your  cancer meds.

Take care,

Peace,

JMB

This is good news!  Try not to get depressed here, b/c we often use this forum for encouragement and answers to immediate concerns.  When things are going well, we are often out enjoying life and not always on the site.  I would love to invite you to my hubby's Caring Bridge site.  We have enjoyed a pretty good response to treatment so far, and you can read about it there.

Take care.  All love,

janni (wife of Steve, 57, gbm iv dx11/07)

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevecalloway

On Oct 22, 2009 12:00 AM sun221 wrote:

I am 51 years old and was diagnosed Nov 29, 2008 with a gbm in my right parietal lobe. It was small-maybe 2 inches. It was removed, then I did the radiation and temador. I had a break for a month or so and then resumed the temador which I still do now.
I have no deficits to speak of- just depression and anxiety. Before getting sick I worked part-time and I have resumed that schedule.
I feel good and all I do is wait for the ball to drop. I read these posts and get so depresssed. I feel for everyone here writing about wht they are going through. My MD says I am doing really well and I should go live my life one day at a time.
There is one spot in the line of radiation (not the original tumor bed- that remains clean). It is so small-they say- and will watch it closely with mri's every 2 months. MD told me" this is as good as it gets and they can do this" Does that sound more hopeful than usual for this type of tumor? If it wasn't for the depression and anxiety I feel well.
I need some support mentally. I feel I can't talk much anymore to my husband, sister or friends because I have overtalked. I feel when I may vent, I upset them. Don't get me wrong- they are great but I worry about their health and state of mind with all this stress. I see a therapist now and then but I can't see her everyday!!!!
I wake up every morning wondering how long I have left.
Any support will be so appreciated. It's almost a year and I should be better at this. I am on zoloft- 200 mg too!!

Your life has gone through a major change -- don't be so hard on yourself. Also being 51 means that you are probably hormonal (oh those wonderful changes) which can add to the anxiety and depression.  Many, many people live a long time with GBMs. You are doing great --- yay, you!!!! Seeing a therapist is very important. These boards are important, too, but try not to let the messages of recurrences bring you down. We are all here to help each other -- the good, the bad and the ugly. I am so happy for you and can't wait to tell my husband how well you are doing nearly one year later. You give us all hope.

Holly

Husband dx GMB IV 2/09

Hi Sun, I was just reading your message after writing my profile and would like to share something I wrote about. My other half David was diagnosed the around the same time we fell in Love. We had been friends for 10 or 15 years then we had our businesses beside each other and began to share a coffee break everyday this went on for years also. Ok we were both very shy people. But one day I was sharing my excitement about this new church I found closer to home and he laghted as he told me that was his church. We started sitting together and he started going every week instead of when he felt like it. We fell in love at church, how blessed is that. After we became serios and just really started sharing our life he was diagnosed stage 4 prostate cancer. No I dont regret making the choice to continue, I'm sad that he has limited time here but I'm so thankful that I was given this time to share. Some days are truly a struggle but the worst days are the ones that he wont talk about his feelings good or bad, I see his pain and I feel it. It is much worse to know he is struggling mentally and feels he doesn't want to share, that he wants to spare me. It doesn't spare me it scares me, I am his rock his leaning post I need to be there it's all I can do. Unless they tell you they dont want to hear it hold them cry with them let them hold you up they need to.

God Bless And Prayers to you

Milly

 

Hi my name is Pat I was diagnosed in 8.05 GBM. The prognosis like many on this web sit was 6-18 months. I worried and cried and was so depressed could not get myself together. I finally gave in and started on Lexapro and this really helped. Ask your MD if you cannot try something different. Music helped me and getting back to work 3 days a week helped. This is an excellent web site it makes me see just how lucky I am when I get down. Get mad and dont let this ugly disease process take another day away from you. Also remember it is a process and you will find peace but it takes time. Good Luck

Pat

You are welcome just remember you are not alone contact me anytime you feel the need.

Hi Larry Glad this is working for you all we can do is keep going. Hang in there

Blessings to you

Pat GBM 8.05