Jak, oh dear, hope the knee recovers quickly or maybe you won’t make it in for the last day tomorrow! We just came back from North Wales a couple of weeks ago, we had some wonderful weather and there’s so much to see. I really enjoyed going to Bodnant, one of the National Trust gardens, with a very nice craft shop as well, I spent far too much in there.
This operation is going to be different because I won’t be worrying about the pathology report…much! I had a mammogram and ultrasound about a month ago, so hopefully there won’t be any nasty shocks this time, no margins to worry about. It’s odd that I’ll have more scarring this time, you’d think that it would be easier to make a smaller incision now they have a completely free hand so to speak. Last time the only incision was in a circle round the areola, this time it’s the same but with a line from the nipple downwards, they called it a keyhole scar.
Gillie Ann, enjoy your day with the granddaughter, I’m sure it’s lovely and exhausting in equal measures!
Oh Jak really? I so hope it’s a bit more comfortable this morning. Did you get to school?
Thanks Dizzy we did have a lovely day with Evie, she is very sweet, is begining to have lots of words and is occasionally a bit naughty, so can’t be left on her own at all. Phew. It took us ages to get home tho because the A12 was closed due to an accident, so I had lots of thinking time which I could do without right now.
My strategy for today is to carry on as usual but to sit down and read my book if I start thinking too hard, I’ll let you know if it helps.
Have a good day everyone. I’m with you in spirit Jak!
That sounds really nasty Jak, sending you lots of hugs and hope the pain eases up soon.
The only time I tried anything hypnotherapyish was when I bought a Paul McKenna Think Yourself Thin book and CD. Needless to say it didn’t work, sadly…, the only thing that got thinner was my wallet. But hey ho, you can always hope!
Hi Jak, I hope you had a better night??? I’m glad you have managed to have your xray so quickly, it will move things forward. I’ve been trying to think of metaphors for progress that don’t have something to do with walking. You know … the first step … over the first hurdle …step in the right direction. Any ideas? And how are you today?
We were due to have a day in London today to see the Hokusai exhibition at the British Museum but I get more uncomfortable ‘down below’ the more I walk so I didn’t think I could manage it right now. Pretty disappointed as I think a day out would have distracted me. I really wanted to walk through to Liberty’s, I love a bit of Arts and Crafts - but there will be other opportunities.
Thanks for the suggestion about hypno tapes, I do use a hypnotherapist from time to time and I think if you’ve got a good one they are really good. So I do have a stress reduction tape I use when life gets tough. Trouble is at times like this I get pretty bored with it, so yes I will have a look on that site.
Hi Dizzy, Sue and Hi Helena, I’ve passed the tough pants on, but I’m not sure I can really spare them, do you have a spare old pair.
Gill, is the ‘down below’ problem yet one more side effect of the hormone treatment? I think the aromatase inhibitors like Anastrazole are known to cause it, lack of oestrogen to the right places… I’m on Tamoxifen which has the opposite effect, starves the breast cells but increases oestrogen everywhere else.
I don’t know why I’m getting jittery about this operation, I really didn’t find the other two too bad, in terms of pain. I think it’s just bringing back memories of the complete wreck I was emotionally. And adjusting to the idea of being flatter chested, you spend a lot of your life with what you have, and I’m wondering if my clothes will look the same. The trouble is, there’s no way to try on a bra on only one side, so I have no idea what cup size I’ll be at the end of this. But no more going to the ‘voluptuous’ range, I think.
It’s good to talk to you. Don’t be down on yourself for being jittery about your op. Just because you’ve had a few doesn’t make it any easier, once you get over the op and being sore you will feel so much better. This bit while you are waiting is always the difficult bit. As for the reduced bust that will take some adjusting to but you will probably love it. Do you have a Rigby & Peller near you? They do all sorts of shapes and sizes and will have ladies to advise, I think you should plan to treat yourself when you are ready… your’e worth it! I’ve been promising myself a girly trip to the one at Bluewater with my girls when Judi gets back to normal after breast feeding, it’s been a bit delayed but surely that little moppet will be weaned soon, they both absolutely love feeding tho… and she is such a happy little thing. Actually, Judi is a maid of honour at her sister-in-laws wedding in a couple of weeks and then she is thinking of going for another baby so I could be waiting for a bit. Perhaps I’ll just go with Lizzy.
Your wrestles with the falsie always make me smile, just think how fab it will be not to have to live with that anymore.
Yes I’m convinced I’ve had a prolapse, I have all the symptoms and I’ve had a hysterectomy and have no ovaries, which as my Doc says is one less thing to worry about, and having had that surgery makes a prolapse more likely apparently. But I’ve found going through the diagnostic process again really hard and I think it is the devastation I felt when I was told I had BC last year and the look on Alan’s face… Well onwards and upwards - now I’ve only got to wait until tomorrow.
I’m off to the allotment now to help Alan net the brassicas, how is your horticultural summer going?
I have spent this morning making ratatouille to freeze. Our recipe contains green beans as well, otherwise we could never get through them all.
This afternoon I’m going to make jam, in order to shift some of the fruit out of the freezer so I can get the ratatouille in…the allotment has been in overdrive this year, we’ve had huge amounts of fruit and veg, and I hate wasting any. Except the gooseberries, I’ve left some because there’s only so many pounds you can use.
I’m not very good at sewing, but maybe I should try again.
Oh yes. I know what you mean about the freezer. Our courgettes are a bit slow, by that I mean we are keeping on top of them by eating, we have loads of tomatos though and wierdly the ones on the allotment are ahead of the ones in the greenhouse.
So it’s fritata with potatoes and courgette for tea with home grown salad. I’m also making more of the elderflower champagne. I do love this time of year!
Just got back from the hospital and everything is ok in the pelvis and abdomen. Such a relief. I was in such a state, due in part to the full bladder I had but also to my memories of last year. Maybe you never take anything for granted again after a cancer diagnosis. I still have to sort out the prolapse I know I have and find out about the blood test result, but one day at a time. The pinot is in the fridge and one of my daughters is due in on the 20:05 train from London. Things are looking up!
Ladies, you have all been such a support, thank-you. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Alan has been a patient angel, but you guys really ‘get it’ if you see what I mean. And Helena, those knickers are my lucky ones, I will never take them off again. Eeeeeew! You are such a star.
Dizzy, goodluck for tomorrow. You will be in my thoughts and prayers all day. Let us know how it goes.
Jak. I’m glad the hospital are on it. And don’t worry about sickleave, all that matters is you, ask anyone… I am a right one to say that of course, after sickleave for a hysterectomy, gall bladder and a bit of anxiety my HR manager was pretty pleased to see me retire. The retirement age thing is very hard, I don’t know how I would cope with full time work now.
Gill, I’m so pleased for you, that’s a huge relief. It sounds like it was a long day though.
Jak, hope the knee is feeling better. Maybe that replacement needs to be sooner rather than later. And don’t get me started on women’s retirement ages, last week it was a sign of progress that they announced a later retirement age and it didn’t affect me for once. Though as I don’t work anyway I suppose I shouldn’t complain, but I would like to collect my pension sometime.
I hope everything is good with everyone. Thankyou so much for all your good wishes. What are you all up to this weekend?
Dizzy if you are about… I hope you are sitting up comfortably in bed and everyone is making a huge fuss of you.
We are having a busy time here. Lizzy is bridesmaid at the wedding of an old school friend, she is already at the house, but we have a full house here tonight with all their London friends who are arriving this morning. Our minibus arrives at 1pm. Father of the bride is the local chicken magnate and they live in an old manor house up the road, there are a forest of marquees in the garden, it should be a good bash.
I will report back tomorrow, but in the meantime I am off to dab the blobs off my best party frock and fru-fru the lounge curtains.
Good to hear you sounding so chipper Gillie! Any courgettes are good!
Hope all went well Dizzy - get lots of rest!
I’ve stopped taking the morphine all together as it made me feel awful(+ still have rad fatigue at times). Pain is a lot less now but frightened to walk without crutches in case knee gives way.
Had an email from Coastal Cottages today re anything else they can help with for our holiday next week - may be have emergency services on red alert as I’m a bit of a liability!!!
Gilliann best wishes for the wedding today hope the weather holds fair for you.
jak - sounds sensible not risking walking with the sticks, dont need to tempt fate my dear
Well I have been out dropping cheques for the Bowls section off this morning but that is me done for the day I am just going to relax and do my tapestries
Well yesterday went fine, I was a bit more nervous than I was for the other two. Maybe it’s because before I was more focused on getting rid of the cancer. I got home about quarter past eight.
They’ve given me some NHS issue sports bra thingy which is really comfortable, I wish I’d had one last time.
The only thing that hurts at the moment is my sore throat, the boob is fine so I’m not taking anything, and sitting with my feet up on the settee being waited on hand and foot, bless my lovely husband.
Gill, sounds like a busy weekend, hope you enjoy it.
Jak, hope the knee is feeling a bit better now, the drive to Anglesey will be a bit of a test for it. Is it next Saturday that you go?
We stayed near Abergele a few weeks ago, driving up from Dorset. We stayed overnight not far from Telford, and did some sightseeing along the way, the Horseshoe Falls at Llangollen and a lovely trip on a canal boat across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which we’d seen on various TV programmes. It’s about 120 feet up and just wide enough for the narrowboat, it was breathtaking. We went to Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey, and also some gardens, forgotten the name…and took the train up Snowdon, that was a lovely trip, and very forgiving when you have a knackered knee! Mike had a knackered hip, so we couldn’t walk down, which we’ve done a couple of times.
