How did you cope with bad news about your health???

Question

I have been told I have a disease.
Im numb.
Im wondering if everyone else feels that way as well...

Answer 1

What you are feeling is completely normal.
Each person is different in how they react to this.
Usually, it starts out as a shock. The doctor tells
the patient they have a life threatening or serious
disease...and even though the patient hears the
words the doctor is saying to them, their mind doesn't
comprehend or believe it. This is especially true if
they have done nothing to have caused this disease.

They may be in denial that anything is wrong with
them...they may feel fine and think the doctor has
lied to them. They may become angry because they
feel an injustice has been done to them...and
it has. No one deserves this.

Some try to find miracle cures or think the doctor
hasn't covered all the territory on this disease and
the patient may turn to other sources, like herbs and
alternative methods. This can sometime be beneficial
and other times cause even more harm to the organ
involved.

It is okay to cry...tears helps us relieve the emotions
built up inside of us. The patient may eventually start
to realize that he has to rely on the doctor and this
profession to help them. They will start to work with
the doctor in trying to get the best treatment possible.
This is just the starting in coming to terms with the
disease. It still may not seem real to them, but
at least they are doing the best they can.

For example: A person was told they only had a very
short time to live if they did not have a transplant.
They went through all the steps above. None of this
seemed real to them. It wasn't until they got the
first call from the Transplant hospital that an organ
became available for them. It was a three hour
drive to the hospital. On the way down, they threw up,
they became so sick. When they got there, they were
told the organ wasn't good to use and they had to
return home without having the transplant. They were
sick for almost a year waiting to receive this call.
When did it become real to them...it became real
when they were sent home from the hospital after all
this time. Before it was just a bad dream they would
wake up from...the experience made it a reality.

A patient can become extremely depressed after this,
even to the point of giving up. This is the final step...
they either accept what has happened and learn to
come to terms with it, or they just totally give up with
no fight at all.

I know how hard this may be on you. It is very difficult
for you at this time. You need to have your loved ones
close to you, you need their support. You might find
out now who your real friends are. What if one of
your family came to you and said they would give one
of their organs so you could live? How would you feel...
that is true love. Life is so precious and each breath
you take now will be special. Go through the experience
with hope in your heart and let others take care of you,
the way you took care of them. You are very special...
there is no one else here like you. Relax. One more
peace of advice: don't become this disease...you
are so much more than that. Learn about your disease
and what may be done. However, if it is all you think about,
if it is all you talk about...you may lose yourself in the process.
You have a chance that others may not have had. Time
to put things in order, time to tell your loved ones how much
you love them, time to live whatever life you have left in
the best way you can.....so don't give up that time.

I do not know how serious your disease is. But, I wish
you the best and hope that things turn out well for you.
Take Care

Answer 2

I was 29 when I was told I had tested positive for the Rheumatoid Factor so had Rheumatoid Arthritis. I had only see a Physician about a red hot swollen toe, just one, not a foot full, just a single small toe? My first reaction was 'Poor man is overworked, has the wrong Patients medical file, Arthritis is a disease of old age'. That is numb, because I continued on as if the Physician was so wrong, wrong diagnosis, wrong file. Yes numb is the correct word and then denial, followed by anger.

Answer 3

Many, many people feel that way when they're given bad news, of any type, but health-related news can be some of the worst. What you're feeling is a perfectly normal reaction, not everyone gets angry, or cries, or yells and screams, or acts in any one predictable way on getting bad news - it's a very individual, very personal thing.