Emotional aspects of illness

[Linda51]

Hi all,

For the conference we have Lynn Buell, a LICSW that going be taking questions a head of time and we will be using the entire group for this. Informal discussion with the audience the emotional aspects of illness is the topic.

Let me say this. This is a very important topic. After my 2nd surgery I had to have impatient therapy at the rehab. I was given a book on SCI which had a list of stages you may be going through. And these steps were right. I experience Shock, denial, mourning, depression, grief and sadness, anger and then acceptance. Acceptance came several years later. Everyone of us has went through some of these at one point in time or you may have been like me and have experience all of these. As I try to tell folks there is life after a spinal cord tumor.

In 1994, there was no SCTA and not much info on SCT. Never heard of a SCT until I got call in to see my Neurologist and my life change that moment in so many ways. But I did have a great support group of a loving family, church family, community, strangers and most of all my faith and prayers going up on my behalf and some role models that got me through this. I have been blessed in so many ways. I still have my moments I hate this and I am reminded everyday this is a different body from before but I wouldn't change a thing for the journey.

So for this part of the conference we want to be able to cover the emotional part of the illness. If you have a problem in this area and you have a question please send it to the [e-mail] We will do our best to get Lynn to answer it for you from a social worker point of view.

~Linda

[rob]

Linda, I am new to this wonderful website. Could you tell me of any upcoming conference that perhaps I might be able to attend? A quick review of my past current history;
On Feburary 20,2015 I had cervical spine surgery to remove a benign tumor under C3 and C4 in my neck. I was getting nerve burning and extreme pain in my left bicep. The surgeon removed part of each of those vertebra and did not replace the void with anything. I'm believing that what he did is standard operating procedure (no pun intended). It was a successful operation. Now after two months I'm taking 5mg Vicodin three times a day to help with burning neck pain.
Again I want to say how great this website is. At the very least I don't feel alone in some of my post operative unexpected experiences.
Thanks,
Rob

[redaquadeb]

Hi, Rob. Welcome to the SCTA. I have found this site to be incredibly helpful, and I hope that you do as well. I too have a cervical tumor: mine is an intramedullary ependymoma at C1 -C2, benign (they think) and slowly growing. I am in the "watchful waiting" mode. I went to the last conference in 2013, and it was awesome! From what I understand, the next one won't be until 2016. However, another SCTA member, Dawn, posted several weeks ago about MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX; they have a LOT of SCT resources online, and also have a yearly conference, which, I believe, is either in September or in August. I hope that some of this information helps, and I wish you the best of luck in your recovery!

[samuridude]

"Shock, denial, mourning, depression, grief and sadness, anger and then acceptance"

I went from shock, get it the hell out of me, then post Eye Of The Tiger. Unfortunately these emotions, mourning, depression, grief, sadness, anger, acceptance" are the most counterproductive for your health and recovery. Set yourself a time line for several positive goals post surgery. I had to check myself out of a rehab nursing facility several weeks early because they refused to accept my positive goals. My acceptance from the "professionals" was to be in a chair, or walker the remainder of my life. I literally flipped them the bird and proved them wrong. I try to inspire others too not give in the down word spiral of those emotions.

-Good Health        

[dawn]

Rob,
Here are the podcasts from the last SCT patient education conference in Houston
www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/cancer-information/cancer-types/spinal-tumors/videos-and-podcasts/index.html

The next one will be in Sept 2015.

[rob]

Dawn,
Thank you!
Rob

[Linda51]

Hi Rob, for the SCTA Conference it will take place in July of 2016. We have them now every 3 years. In the meantime as stated up above MD Anderson has yearly 1 day conference. The SCTA Conference is a meet n greet on a Thursday night and 2 day conference on Fri & Sat. Hope this helps.

~Linda

[Linda51]

Hi all,

When you read this thread it an old post when we were getting speakers for the 2011 conference. This has nothing to do with the next conference for 2016. There has been no planning yet for the 2016 conference.

~Linda