How do you think positive or put something out of your head?

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I know Compwalla mentioned on another thread not being afraid to ask for some chemical help - anti-anxiety meds - and I would urge you to step up and ask for those.

Is there a friend or family member who can stay with you this weekend? Take you out and distract you?

I'm so sorry. I honestly don't know how I would be able to put that out of my head, and I would probably be frozen to my core until the PET scan. I also don't think so soon after being given this news it is realistic for you to be able to do that. Having said that though, but I would try my hardest to focus on it being the best possible outcome.

The pains you're experiencing could very well be related to IBS, or (if you've had them in the past) they could be increased by the stress you're under right now. I'm sorry I don't have any magical words that will make this disappear for you, but I will be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way. Just try to get some rest, even if it's just lying down if you can't sleep. It helps more than you think.

I'm sorry - that is scary to deal with, especially the not knowing and the waiting to find out is horrible.

The only advice I have is one I have used myself...at this point whatever those lumps are...they already are, they are either benign or malignant. Worrying about it and making yourself sick over it, won't actually change anything at this point.
Just go through the process and have whatever tests you have to have and find out what the actual diagnosis is and then deal with it one step at a time. You can't play 'what if" and you can't run any realistic scenarios or make any realistic plans until you actually know something.
When you know what it is and if you'll need anything else done only then can you make any proper plans.

I had a lump last year and that's exactly how I got through it, whenever I was letting my brain run away with the me, I'd just deliberately stop and shut it down and think "this worrying won't change anything, when I know, then I'll think about it and deal with it"
That may or may not be possible for you, but it helped me and it's worth a shot. When you have those thoughts just think "I'll deal with that next week when I get the results, not thinking about it now"

I think the 'stay positive' is just something people say when they don't know what else to say and they think it's helpful...but I don't think it is for most people.
"stay neutral" is more realistic, try not to talk yourself into an overly positive or overly negative scenario, try to go on each day thinking "when I have a diagnosis, then I'll think about this more and take it one step at a time".

As a nurse I've seen so many different scenarios play out, things that looked really bad turn out not to be, things that seemed OK turned out worse, unexpected results, etc. Until any one person has gone through the tests and until there is a definite diagnosis there is no way to know what is going to happen.
You'll be in my thoughts for the best possible outcome.

(((Hugs)))

I second the suggestion to ask for anti-anxiety meds short term to get through this.

If you can, you might want to try things to distract yourself for periods of time, like going to the movies or watching one at home. Each time your mind tries to sidetrack you, tell yourself you can think about it after the movie, but you want to pay attention until then.

I'm so sorry that it is realistically such a tough time for you right now.

Your feelings are perfectly legit, so don't feel bad for feeling bad. Ativan is wonderful to take the edge of off of things. I took it during chemo as the steroids drove me out of my mind.

As far as staying positive:
1) Don't waste the good days now for what 'might come' later. Suppose your time on Earth is indeed limited; what are you going to do with THIS day, RIGHT NOW? Carpe diem!
2) Be grateful. Start whispering a prayer of thanksgiving. See how many things you can be thankful for and see how long you can go listing them off.

Sending you a prayer and a hug. They really do have you waiting a long time to find out. There are millions of people who have survived cancer. IF it is cancer, you could very well be one more to add to the list!

Oh Katy, I'm so sorry! Yes, the not knowing and the what-ifs are indeed one of the worst kinds of torture but I'll tell you this. The first day of being told this kind of thing without a resolution is the worst. After that your brain will calm itself down, your mind will numb itself and you'll cope better until you have answers. What you're feeling now is traumatic shock. For me, the go-to remedies when given potentially shocking news are homeopathic arnica and Bach Rescue Remedy. They don't interact with any medication and they don't leave any side effects. They just turn the emotional pain volume down.

Huge hugs. Keep us in the picture?

I don't know if its possible not to worry given what you fear. Maybe from could try some meditation to calm yourself a little inside....perhaps you tube would be a place to look. People say its a wonderful thing to do, if you can.

But I sympathise - I'd be very scared too ((hugs)) no doubt about that.

I don't really have any advice - just wanted to say that I am thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way.

I can't add to the advice that has already been given, but I want to say that you will be in my prayers. Sending hugs.

I'm sorry you are going through this, I  can't imagine how scary this must be for you.  I just want to remind you how many amazing, wonderful, miraculous things medical science can do today and tell you to try your best to trust in that right now.  I've had a few people very close to me diagnosed with stage 4 cancer come out healthy on the other end of treatment in very dire situations, nothing less than miraculous.  And I do think mindset, specifically positive thinking, has a lot to do with it. You won't be able to ever put your fear all the way out of your head, but you can nudge it out of the forefront. 

As far as how to clear your mind of negative thoughts, it takes conscious effort but you can do it.  The first step is to acknowledge all of that jumbling around in your head, visualize it.  Then visualize swiping it away, like windshield wipers.  I know it sounds silly, but it really works.  Try to replace the bad thoughts with a clear mind and then take a moment to focus on something around you, a cloud in the sky, a sound, etc.  You can intentionally switch the channels in your head. 

Hugs to you.  

Write , scribble, doodle, then crumble it up , toss it a pan and burn it.

Tossing and burning relieves a lot of anxiety.


Or buy a chicken. Can't be unhappy if you own chicken!

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I went through a similar waiting time in the winter and it was so hard. After 5 nights of nearly no sleep, I was offered sleeping pills and those things really helped me get through the very worst days. I found that trying to cope with the waiting with very little sleep was just too much. On days following a good nights sleep I felt so much better able to cope. The other thing that my doctor said to me is to stay off the internet (in terms of googling). She said that if she wasn't sure what was going on, I wasn't going to find out by googling and it would just freak me out. For the most part I took that advice.



I would echo this. Although, now in retrospect, visions of my mother standing outside the bathroom door do make me laugh.

Hang in there. I will be praying for you.

Emelle

I'm sending you lots of healing light and energy.

My advice:

Start saying some mantras.
Thank you for my healthy lungs and body.
Thank you for healing my lungs.
Thank you for taking this anxiety from me. It does not serve me.

Try to relax by doing some youtube meditations. Xanax also could help to relax you. Use visualization to send golden healing light throughout your body.

I'm sorry you are dealing with this. I'm sure it is very scary.

I can empathize. I know I've been told a couple times that "it" might be cancer, and when I had atypical gall bladder symptoms the doctor made a comment about my issues not being typical and being concerned about liver or pancreas being the problem. At 3 am after hearing that I had myself dead in six months. My husband talked me down from that by being calm and telling me not to worry about what hadn't happened yet. (It WAS gall bladder - one huge stone that stretched my gall bladder over to the left side.)

I think pJaye had great advice above.

I'll be thinking of you. Please let us know when you can and know that we are all here pulling for you!