Dizzy, so glad to hear you sounding chilled and comfortable. You must be so glad that that is all behind you now. It’s a pity we don’t all live closer because when you are healed we could all meet up in some fancy bra shop somewhere and choose wildly inappropriate bras to celebrate. Did they say how long the healing process will take? I seem to remember after the lumpectomy I was pretty comfortable again after 2 weeks. Although I have had to throw a couple of my old nighties away because they seemed to rub the scar round the nipple, ouch.
Hi Jak, your holiday sounds lovely, I’m glad you’re going to be able to go still. You can’t beat a holiday in the British countryside, especially if you have the weather. Finger crossed. I could never take any morphine because it made me feel awful, perhaps then it’s down to our dodgy brain chemicals. In some ways you need to feel it a bit so you protect the knee properly, but I hope you are not actually in pain? I know what you mean about feeling a bit of a liabiliy, when I had this recent episode I was thinking surely it’s not my turn again this is embarrassing. Alan said he hoped I wasn’t thinking it should be his turn because he wasn’t up for that. As you two know there is a lot to be said for a supportive partner it must be doubley hard if you are on your own.
Well we had a lovely afternoon and evening at the wedding yesterday. There were about 170 people there, lovely old flint church in the grounds of the manor and a short stagger across the field to the marquee in the garden. I’ve never been to a do like that before, no expense spared. The girls all looked lovely and Lizzy’s aussie boyfriend Mitch turned up in a cream suit and a bush hat so he was a bit of a babe too. They had to bundle me into a cab at the end still clutching a champange glass and then it turned out one of our house guests had taken one as well. So now I have a pair! Really you can’t take me anywhere.
I hope you are having a lovely Sunday ladies, I was a bit bleary to start with but I’m coming round now.
The fritter recipe is on thebuckwheatadventure.com , beetroot, courgette and feta fritters, I used chedder instead of feta and it worked ok. I also put in one of Alans fresh chillis instead of chilli powder, because we’ve grown them they are a bit of an unknown quantity, but we like living dangerously! Yum.
Your wedding sounded lovely Gill, I haven’t been to a wedding in years. Decades I think…all my children are resolutely single so I’m definitely not likely to be a grandma either.
Well, I have safely left the house for two excursions now, yesterday we went for a bit of a stroll along the cliffs and today we went to the pictures to watch Dunkirk. When I got back, one of the BCNs rang to check up on me, she was worried she’d woken me up when she rang in the morning…but at least now I know I’m okay to have a shower, I was worried about getting the dressings wet, though they seem to have a shrink-wrap layer over the top, I’m feeling more like a sausage than anything.
Jak, I don’t get any effect from morphine or codeine, apparently there’s a big variation in how people react to it. Luckily I havent needed any painkillers, I took some ibuprofen yesterday to see if it would help the swelling since I’ve gone up like a balloon. So dainty bras seem a long way off.
Dizzy, your recent excursions just go to show you can’t keep a good woman down. Is the operation more extensive than the ones you had last year? When it’s flesh wounds of course everything gets very inflamed and tender. Don’t forget to rest lots.
Offended Jak… of course not. We were there with a couple of guys who are in a relationship, and when I said it reminded me of 4 Weddings and a Funeral they said they hoped not. If you remember at the Scottish wedding one of the gay couple drops dead. Oops, but we did have a laugh!
Very slow start here today, yesterday we were down the field all day putting up 2 owl boxes. Alan won’t go up ladders and I didn’t want to, so the owl box man Tony did all the climbing. He is ex SAS and nearly 80 so a bit arthritic now, and Alan said it was really stressful holding the ladder for him. I couldn’t look.
Thanks for the hangover advice Helena. I tried a banana, three glasses of water and an extra hour in bed, I didn’t make it to church.
Dizzy, I hope you are feeling a little less wobbly now. I managed to do something similar after my hysterectomy. My 2 daughters and Jon, Judi’s partner came home for the weekend after a week to ‘look after’ me, but still expected me to cook and feed them, by late Sunday I was so exhausted I had to go to bed, but I crawled up the stairs with Alan behind me because I really thought I would faint. Such a horrible feeling.
Jak, I meant to tell you I bought Nigel Strong’s anxiety recording and now have it on my phone, it’s really good. I would recommend it to anyone, it’s really soothing. Thanks for the heads-up. I do find hypnotherapy very useful for anxiety. I’m glad you’ve seen the specialist and know what’s going on. I’m loving the thought of you clumping the specialist with your crutch, great way to relieve feelings. It may make you a bit unpopular though.
Dizzy - I know it’s hard but you must put yourself first! Have you taken the plastic dressing off yet? That’s what I had; it’s weird isn’t it and actually by the time it came off wasn’t covering the wound at all.
Gillie - Nigel will be thrilled that I’ve passed him on so to speak! I’m still ‘owed’ 4 sessions, must sort that out.
The knee is slowly improving but other bits join in due to strain. Still have rad fatigue anyway so holiday was never going to be as physical.
Morning all! Jak, I expect you’re busy today packing and generally getting ready, hope you take it easy to let that knee recover.
Well, I’ve seen the surgeon and got all the shrink-wrap removed, it was itching like crazy. I still have various steristrips and bits of gauze, so I still can’t see what’s where. So the only appointment left will be to get the pathology results in a couple of weeks, which should be just a formality since I had a clear mammogram about two months ago. Touch wood!
I hope all is good with everyone. I’m sorry I missed wishing Jak a happy holiday, but I’m sure she will manage quite well without. It’s really nice to get away and have a change of scenery.
We have a pretty quiet week coming up, which will be lovely because it has been a bit mad for the last few days with doing coffee mornings at the church, the Mind shop, dementia cafe, U3A poetry group and all the freezing and preserving you have to do this time of year. Plus, I have a new book (from the Mind shop) to read.
<li-spoiler>:smileyhappy: Glad to hear you are coming on well Dizzy.<br><br>What are you up to Helena?<br><br>Gillx<br> </li-spoiler>
I think it is very sensible to take it easy, you have had major surgery and if you try to do the superwoman thing you will just make the healing process harder. No wonder you are sore when you think about what you have had done. It’s all got to settle down and knit together. Have you got a good book to read? Always feel that helps.
I had only just retired when I was diagnosed so all the things I do were pretty new to me, I think I would find work truly irrelevant now. The truth is though, I don’t really enjoy being as busy as I was last week because it makes me feel tired and strained. So a day like today, where the weather is too bad to do anything is really quite nice. Alan is out in the annex playing on the other PC so it’s pretty quiet here, I’m enjoying my own company and my own space. Lovely.
So, to update you on my situation. I went to see one of our GPs yesterday, my own is on holiday and I was supposed to wait until he gets back to discuss the blood test result now the Ultrasound has come through. But to be honest waiting and worrying was doing my head in, we have a wedding to go to this weekend where my daughter and little granddaughter are maid of honour and flower girl, which was pushing me back in my mind to Evie’s christening last year which I sort of catered, it was between my biopsy and diagnosis and … well it was very hard.
So, the GP was very patient, he said the CEA test doesn’t relate to BC and they are not concerned about that. What they are looking at is tummy issues. Inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, coeliac disease and of course any lumps and bumps, but since I have just had a good ultrasound that is less of a worry. Not that any of this sounds much fun but I do feel better for having moved the whole thing on. So now, more blood tests, a poo test and possibly a colonoscopy (spelling?). I am a hypocondriac anyway so this is pretty hard, but I just want to feel well. So onwards and upwards…
It’s still raining here, the pond is over-flowing on to the lawn and any minute now I am expecting the chickens to float by in their ark. They don’t seem to mind the rain and don’t much look for shelter, although being soaking they are now half their usual fluffy size.
You are so right Dizzy about replacing bad memories with good ones. I actually have a really good memory for trivia and sometimes I think that it can be unhelpful when dealing with difficult things, although like everyone else I sometimes walk into a room and wonder why I am there!
So, Dizzy, are you in a position to assess your new declatage yet? Happy, unhappy? Undecided?
Helena, sorry you are having a disappointing season. But are you pleased with the new windows and blinds?
Jak, bless you, I didn’t realise you’re still on crutches, that must make it so tiring just getting around. I’m glad you still managed to enjoy your holiday, I hope the long car journey wasn’t too uncomfortable. Though it maybe isn’t as far for you, everywhere is a long way from Dorset!
I didn’t find the mammogram any more painful than normal ones, the only difference was they also did an ultrasound. But I thought it was quite reassuring to know that nothing nasty was brewing.
I’m fairly resigned to having this second operation, I now have the scars so they might as well do the job properly this time, and get it done with. I suppose if I have less breast tissue there’s fewer places anything that shouldn’t be there can take root! I laughed at your table leg joke, that’s exactly what this feels like.
I am just having a rare quiet moment and I just thought … you know what I haven’t done for ages. How is it all going?
Dizzy, I feel devastated for you. I know it can never be as upsetting as being told about having breast cancer in the first place, but when you found out you must have just wanted to scream! What a pain. From the sound of it you seem to be taking it philosophically, but it is really hard to be faced with another operation. Poor you.
Jak, I’m so glad you had a nice holiday, but sorry to hear you are still on crutches, which I imagine must be really tiring. It always amazes me how much better I feel when I am on holiday, especially when I was working but even now when theoretically I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to. Take it steady when you get back to work, and if it is all too much then take a break. I know it isn’t easy but people will understand.
Hi Helena and Sue! Big hugs. Hope everything is going well for you.
As for me… well I have an appointment at the N&N to discuss a colonoscopy on the basis of my bloodtest result. I don’t think my GP quite knows what to do with me because as he says I don’t have any symptoms and had a clear scan so usually they wouldn’t bother. The appointment is the day after I get back from 2 weeks holiday in about 3 weeks time. I think I will take Alan in with me because I always think 2 heads are better than one when it come to talking to Doctors.
In the meantime I haven’t chased up the prolapse issue because I want to get the colonoscopy over first. I am not too uncomfortable if I keep well moisturised. TMI? Sorry.
Today I did my regular monthly breast check soaped up and in the bath, all the usual lumps and bumps (nothing new) but I am a bit sore on the offending side. I did get head butted by my granddaughter a couple of times the other day and I had a good strimming session over the weekend so it may just be muscle pain. I just felt pretty disappointed that I didn’t feel reassured. Does anyone else still get sore?
Gill, yes, I still get various aches and pains occasionally, and the whole area is full of lumps and bumps which I’m told is scar tissue. I wouldn’t have a hope of recognising a new lump, so I’m relying on the mammograms to pick up anything new.
It was so lovely to log on this morning and find you all there sending reassurance. It actually feels better this morning, not so tender, which is reassuring. My Mum always says I shouldn’t do things that pull it about, but then I wouldn’t do anything I love, like gardening, or tickling Evie. She is very boisterous now and pretty heavy to carry about, and I do everything on the right handside.
Lovely to hear your news too. Helena, having a 2017 house is very admirable, I think mine may be stuck on the millenium cusp, but I have traditional tastes anyway so it mostly all blends ok. We have some pieces of family furniture too, nothing posh or valuable, just bits I couldn’t part with so we never seem to buy new furniture other than beds or suites. I don’t know if any of you watch the antiques show on TV but Gazes, the Diss auction rooms are just round the corner and it is very tempting to go there and buy lots of other old bits and pieces. I’m glad I have someone to come in and dust it all.
Yes Jak, take it steady, I know that if I get over tired I feel much lower and vulnerable. Gone are the days of my early 30s when as a working Mum I could just keep going, and going, and going … I always has an awful cold at Xmas, which tells you something.
Oh and we are off in our GoPod to potter round N Wales. 12 nights away, longest ever in the Pod. VIA Telford, Caarnarfon, the Lyn Penisular and finishing in Aberystwith. We are preparing for wind, rain and cold. But who knows we may get lucky.
The boob job has healed up pretty well, but definitely still very uneven. So in another month, I suppose I’ll try and see the surgeon again to discuss another go. Not what I was expecting but now I’ve gone down this road I suppose i might as weĺl carry on.
I hope you’re feeling better today, fatigue is a funny thing. I find mine is very unpredictable, sometimes I’m fine despite doing a lot of physical exertion, and other times I’m exhausted after not doing very much. And sometimes it seems a bit delayed, so it hits a day later than I’d expect. But I don’t know anyone who works full time who isn’t really struggling. So I think you’re amazing for doing what you do.
I didn’t find my first mammogram any problem, it probably helped that it was sprung on me without notice while I was seeing the surgeon, they just said I needed it so go now. And I got the result half an hour later, so no waiting and worrying. The only bit that threw me was after the mammogram they called for me to see the radiologist for an ultrasound, which they hadn’t told me about, so I had a quick panic, but it was just routine.
And it’s quite reassuring to know that everything is definitely okay.
How are you all? I hope everyone is getting on ok!
Longtime no login, I had to reset my password again. But here I am and I just wanted to let you know, if you are following my health stuff, that I’ve had my colonoscopy and everything was fine. Such a relief! I opted for all the sedatives because I had heard the it is a particularly unpleasant proceedure and I hardly noticed it. Fab. I had forgotten how good the gas and air is, I do remember however that Alan had to disconnect me from the gas bottle when I was in labour with one of the girls because I wouldn’t let go. I wasn’t amused at the time.
So now I have three gloriously worry free weeks before I have my first annual check-up. Doesn’t time fly when you local hospital has your number on speed dial!
Anyway, we had a lovely holiday in Wales. Changeable weather, but then you don’t go to Wales in September for the climate. I loved the Llyn, we had some great walks along the coast, managed to see both ends of Cardigan Bay through the mist and cloud and ate an awful lot of local produce, especially lamb. We also spent 13 nights in the Pod together very cosily so we are up for a big trip to the Outer Hebrides next year. Really looking forward to that.
But how are you all? Have you been back to the surgeon yet Dizzy? Jak, how are you going on? You really have my sympathy when it comes to fatigue, such a horrible feeling, and as Dizzy says so unpredicatable and I used to find it so frustrating. I really used to struggle in the last couple of years before I retired.
I volunteer at my local Mind shop in Diss and we have a new deputy manager who is just getting back in to work after 10 years at the age of 47, she has ME after a really nasty bout of flu years ago. It sounds like she has had a very hard time.
