Hi everyone, (especially newbies!)
I grew up in the 60's and the comic magazine of the times was Mad magazine, remember? The main character's name was Alfred E. Newman (he seemed to represent everyman) . Did you note his initials (AN)? He seemed a happy-go-lucky kind of individual thrust into the middle of cold war scenarios. He seemed to have not a care in the world. Most of us, before our AN diagnosis would fit into that category surely. Now everyone worries (about our collective diagnoses) it seems!
Calm down, step back (extremely hard to do because how can you step back from something that is inside you growing), catch your breath and breathe normally. This forum is full of information that hopefully will restore our "sense of impirical balance" even if we must because of the symptoms, lose our real sense of balance one day and hopefully return us to that blissful state of mind that we all long for the sense of "what me worry?" There are much larger issues like world peace, global warming, economic survival, deforestation, losing the ozone layer, poverty, lack of adequate health care etc...etc....
Stop for a minute.....This is your bodies way of saying" hey, you out there! Pay attention to me too!" Now is your time to take time and pay attention to your bodies. It is a signal to slow down! Now is your chance, take a health break!
Most of you must be saying"Let me get back to my old normal it was more comfortable for me! " There will be time enough for the macro issues they can wait!
This site was created for all of us to help each other adjust to our "new normal" with less than we had before and some how come out better for it.
You newbies have found a wonderful support group here! This forum didn't exist (for me) until a short time ago. Before that, as far back as 1995, I was having symptoms that all started with falling out of the shower and breaking 3 ribs. I ignored this and many other symptoms.Even still, I had not come here with a worry until my rejoining with a regrowth issue in 2012 (I had already had had surgery in 2004 with Dr. Sisti).
Most unfortunately for me, (in 2004) I chose to panic and put my family into a turmoil that resulted in them becoming distant from me, as I searched high and low for a diagnosis that didn't lead to surgery. It took them quite a while to readjust to the new Mike that emerged. I still have quite a bit of cognitive issues but for the most part I know that I am stronger in having come through it.
Truly, the first time in 2004 (surgery)was quite enough, I am smart enough to know that I am back in 2012 for another reason than merely to defeat a mostly slow growing AN (by one shot radiation or GK), and that purpose is to encourage you all to achieve your highest possible level of healing or to coin an often used phrase to "pay it forward" and to encourage some of you to as well.
All of us are lucky to have found this Forum, it doesn't exist on mere words or encouragement alone, contribute if you can!
Please, I urge you, do not panic! You have the forum to discuss things! Make use of us, together we are strong, together we will help!
All of us have struggle to get back to simpler times of "What me Worry?"
Time to stumble off (but not fall) my soapbox!
Mike
