Morning ladies, yes Rosie you are right about being interested in hadrians wall course and liking history! Good for you Wildpurl keeping your mind as active as the body and very interesting too!
It’s pouring with rain here this morning and got soaked on my morning dog walk, but found it strangely uplifting walking in the rain. Am off to work this morning, hope you get on ok driving home Rosie, maybe you will gain your confidence back and venture further afield.
Have a good day ladies whatever your plans!
It rained here all day Rosie, so even I got fed up with it, hope you came home germ free today, you don’t want another bad cold! We have our wood burner going full on this evening so it’s very cosy although a reminder of dark winter nights to come!
Jackie, hope you are ok, thinking of you.
Wildpurl, how’s the blanket , have you finished it now, ?
Hi ladies, yes Lisa my appts are at 4.10 every day this week! Hoping for a quick getaway, am rather nervous about it! Good that you are finding some normality and not long for your holiday now!
Rosie, yes indeed it was a quite day on here yesterday, hopefully other ladies are doing well and are busy, good you have your ct planning appt, hopefully not long for you to start now too!
Off to work now and then hospital later!
Evening everyone, my appointment was very efficient and didn’t even sit down in waiting room- was called straight in, they seem very prompt. Because I am on clinical trial I had some blood taken, but all very straightforward!
Update on son and G/F situation: they have agreed to part amicably and stay " friends" , he is very sad but I think now there has been a definite split now , he seems to have come to terms with it better than I thought! Hope it’s not the calm before the storm!!
My O/H has the week off from work this week, booked off months ago and we should be down in fowey, Cornwall on our annual trip down there, so am feeling pretty fed up that we are not there, I think this week I have hit a bit of a low point, maybe the start of herceptin and radiotherapy all of which really hits home when you are at the hospital every day!!
Wildpurl, how are you getting on this week? Hope you managed to sort out your garden for the winter! You will have more time for knitting now during these months when not so busy in the garden!
Rosie, must be nice to be still enjoying nice, warm weather, hope you are not too uncomfortable this week, at least last one this week!
Rosie, know what you mean about being in limbo, I felt a little bit like that too- seems we are always waiting for something else to start on the treatment front, I think when you are at this stage we are at now it’s beginning to really get tiring and tedious! Also I think being on your own all day is hard, my O/H works strange hours and I spend many evenings alone, which I find can be very lonely.
T
Morning Ladies,
Rosie sorry to hear you are feeling lonely I guess its the isolation. that this horrible disease brings on, hopefully when your car is fixed and you have your family around you and you are feeling a little better things will improve its just a long hard slog, I know.
Wilpurl you always sound so industrious with your knitting, I have made so many things in the past but I have lost interest at the moment I am more of a sporadic knitter making serveral items then nothing for a couple of years, I have knitted a couple of blankets and in my teens crocheted one, it is very rewarding,
I am still havibg trouble sleeping which is a real pain, my CT guided aspiration from my thyroid went OK on Monday and I will just have to be a patient, patient and wait for the results now, it all seemed very relaxed , so fingers crossed. My boob is just recovering from the radiotherapy, still a bit burned looking but no longer sore.
I understand what you all feel about being in limbo, although I have been back at work for some time now I have not taken holiday leave because I fell guilty about all the time I have taken off for sick leave this year and I also I cannot bring myself to book a holiday abroad anywhere until I feel this horrible journey is over, which it may never be, who knows, it seems one thing after another.
Enough with the moaning for me today…
The weather does not help either its still completely dark outside and pouring with rain
Morning everyone, cassie, hope all goes well with your thyroid results, fingers crossed you can get results quickly to ease the stress of waiting too long, know what you mean about not wanting to book holidays abroad, I feel exactly the same! Can’t think any further than next week right now- went into argos yesterday to buy a new steam generator iron and assistant asked if I wanted to take out the 3 year breakdown cover on top of yearly standard guarantee and found myself thinking no it will be a waste of £60.00 as might not be around !! O/H gets quite cross and tells me off for being defeatist and pessimistic, but I feel like that at the moment and definitely joining you Rosie on the " feeling low and fed up " step! I am really tired of everyone telling me that I should be happy chemo and surgery are over and back to normal we can all go now!!! Don’t quite think so.
Anyway, going to walk dogs now so maybe exercise and fresh air will kick in and lift my spirits somewhat!!
Wildpurl, are you going to knit something else when blanket is finished?- it is very rewarding finishing something like a blanket which takes so long to knit. Know what you mean about focusing on people losing the battle on various sites like FBI etc, I only come on this forum as find it more uplifting and positive!! Yesterday I found it very sad watching lynda Bellingham promoting her book and knowing she is terminally ill, am tempted to read her book but not sure it might make me feel worse!
Rosie, hope you have a not too bad day today, not long until your daughter and grandchildren visit and by then you will be feeling much better I am sure!
Have a good day everyone! X
Rosie my two courses have been with Future Learn. There is also an organisation called coursera which does them, both are online and can be found by googling.
I am the same about long term things at the moment, I feel I can’t take it for granted I will be around. Right now I am worrying both about possibly not having a job and being forced to retire early and about working and maybe not surviving long enough to retire. It’s doing my head in! So move over on that grumpy, feeling low step and make room for another!
I think I can post pictures in the gallery area of my profile, when the blanket is done I will see if I can post a picture of it.
Lovewine I have a sweater to knit next and also another blanket I am crocheting for my daughter to finish.
Think we will need a king size blanket for all of us now on the step!! Rosie, Linda’s book is available on kindle as have just added it to my wish list whist I decide to read it !! No rain this morning , but very autumnal!
Wildpurl, would love to see a picture of your blanket too! What a good idea of posting on the profile page, hadn’t thought of that!! Have a good day, sorry to hear of your worries at work, really hope they get resolved soon and you can have another position suitable for you.
Rosie, just a quick thought- to fill the days until you back at school, why not take up knitting now weather cooler!! Must say I find it quite relaxing, am not all that fast or proficient as havnt done it for many years, like you was very focused on job I didn’t have any spare time for hobbies etc.x
Morning ladies, sorry some of you have returned to the grumpy step. Maybe there is something in the atmosphere at the moment. I didn’t have a great day yesterday. Nothing to do with breast cancer thank God. My son had a wobble at his new school and the housemaster was really worried about him. It was such a shock as I had spoken to him the day before and he had seemed so happy. He’s not saying he wants to come home, I think he is just feeling a bit low. Then school nurse rang from my other son’s school to say he had hurt his finger in the playground. I think it may be broken and he is supposed to be auditioning for an orchestra in 2 weeks time.
Life certainly has it’s ups and downs. Rosie, you may be interested in a series on radio 4 called the educators. Can you download the podcast and have a listen. I would very curious to know your opinion as a teacher. The chap that set up Khan Academy was on the series which made me look up his website. It’s actually really interesting to see how he teaches.
It’s raining here today which doesn’t help lift the mood. I was hoping to go on a bike ride today but it’s too wet at the moment. So I will have to face the boring paperwork instead. I’ve got an enormous pile of paper to be filed!
Hope we can all get ourselves off the grumpy step by the end of the day.
Tij, sorry to hear your son had bit of a wobble, think it’s maybe quite understandable after the first excitement of being away has worn off, hope things settle down soon, and your other son too, hope it’s not as bad as you think, they are always a worry aren’t they- my youngest at 23 has given me a lot of concern over his break up with G/F.
Rosie, maybe buy a start up knitting kit online in something fairly easy to start with!! Hope you havnt had a too boring day today.
Had radiotherapy no 2 and again went in very promptly, so hoping it continues!!
Sounds like a busy couple of days Rosie, hopefully you can begin your herceptin soon and have another weapon in armoury !! An online course does sound very interesting too, must say I realise how much I was missing before cancer, I was working so hard I had no time for myself at all, now am working part time I am definitely going to focus on " me" for a change and do some hobbies if possible- might take up Pilates and badminton!
Morning Rosie, I know exactly what you mean about not being in control! It feels like your body doesn’t belong to you anymore and has somehow become part of the hospital system! I think it’s very difficult to get back into what was normal as it will never be “normal” now will it!! Once your car situation is resolved and also herceptin begins you will have a much better idea of appointment times to plan a little! I will have a year of herceptin every 3 weeks and sure yours is the same too. I must say though, am facing radio no 3 today and I am already fed up with the travelling and disruption to the day! Take care , have a rest today before the onslaught of tomorrow’s appointment! X
That sounds a great idea Rosie! A spot of clothes shopping always lifts the spirits! Maybe that’s the answer to spending good time with your family is to incorporate day trips with the radio, it only takes about 10 mins from start to finish including taking top half of clothes off and on, sounds like you are getting organised with some good ideas for days out, am with you on the camel ride! I think it’s really annoying when on holiday or entertaining when planning things without thinking in advance because everyone says " I don’t mind what we do!" And then end up doing nothing constructive at all! Wildpurl had best idea when in wales with planning days out and meals and then you know were you are!
I think marks and spencer deliver abroad and also have you looked at m&co, they are better now and not so frumpy!! I think they may deliver abroad too! If you find something you like I could order it and post on to you if they don’t deliver!
Anyway off to work now and then the delight of the hospital again! X
Hola from (very) sunny Barcelona. OH not too well (he suffers from labyrinthitis and walking down a spiral staircase with hundreds of steps in Sagrada Familia this morning unfortunately brought it on. ) So he’s in bed and I’m providing TLC, hopefully just for a few hours, more than that might be testing. So far had a wonderful time and stamina has held up better than expected -amazing what the prospect of a bit of culture and a few tapas and pastries will do! Fortunately when we get back I will have the excuse of radiotherapy induced fatigue to exempt me from too much housework!
Am going to post this now and will respond to as many of the latest postings as I can.
Joan, sounds like you are having a lovely time, hope your nursing skills are not called on for too long!! Afraid mine are pretty non existent. Enjoy rest of your holiday, good that you have the stamina to enjoy the sightseeing too.
Rosie, what a successful shopping morning, of course I forgot about your daughter visiting soon, even nicer laden with your goodies!! Yes I always feel surprisingly better when done some shopping too! You have done very well with your weight loss, how satisfying to have achieved to lose 3 stone last year, can understand you want to keep it off after all that effort!
Sorry to hear some of you have been on the grumpy step. Like the idea of Wildpurl knitting a blanket to keep you warm. Bit I suppose this forum acts as a sort of virtual blanket.
Wildpurl. Moons of the solar system. Sounds very advanced. I have signed up fir a day course intro to astronomy so hopefully will be a little better informed when I look at the sky. Sorry you are feeling doubly anxious about your future. Although just about everyone tries to reassure us about the good survival rates for breast cancer I guess in all our minds there is the nagging worry as to whether we will be among the small percentage who won’t be around in 10 years time. I hope your fears about forcible retirement prove unfounded; I think we have all admired your determination to carry on working through your treatment so it would seem particularly cruel. Is it just a fear or do you have reason to suspect it might happen? (Having reached some earlier posts I think that is probably the case, sorry.)
Lovewine, agree with pre cancer not making time for things other than work. Having attended a few courses to keep me sane during treatment I certainly don’t want to give that up. Glad radiotherapy going well. What have they suggested you use to protect your skin? It must be a great relief that your son and his girlfriend have agreed to part. No doubt he will need lots of support to cope with his loss but at lead the no longer has the terrible uncertainty. What a shame to be missing your week in Cornwall.
TiJ sorry to hear about your anxieties about your boys. I hope older ones Wobblies are very temporary and younger ones injury is not too bad.
Cassie. I’m a sporadic knitter too. I have knitted in the past but often got bored and ended up with half finished garments languishing in a cupboard. Got really enthusiastic when my daughter was expecting her first child. Felt I had to make a shawl , then started churning out small garments. Enthusiasm now faded, partly because they often got shrunk. Glad your skin is recovering from radiotherapy. Did you find anything to help? Sorry you are still finding it difficult to sleep. I thoroughly recommend a foreign holiday, especially somewhere sunny. feel it has really given me a boost.
Lisa, glad work going well, your radio appt time sounds very convenient. Unfortunately I had to,ask for morning appts so we can be free to collect granddaughter from school so they are at 10.50. Not going to be able to fit much else in and the car parking will be horrendous. Ah well. Minor complaints in the great scheme of things.
Rosie, glad you are feeling a bit more cheerful. I think I would share your irritation with your neighbour, especially when she doesn’t out herself out to visit you.
OH now woken up so must come off this and be sympathetic.
Good days to everyone.
Hello Ladies,
I hope you are all OK, I have just go back from a massage at the McMillan Centre which was very nice, it was the second one I have had there and a couple of weeks ago I had some reflexology which I enjoyed more than I expected, I don’t really like me feet being touched by anyone.
The therapist recommended that I should speak to the specialist nurse regarding the cording that I have been left with after chemo, but there was nobody available, I left a voicemail, so lets see if I get any response, if not I will try again on the 16th when I go for my post radiotherapy one month check up.
Joan the hospital gave me aqueous cream while I was having therapy, but I must admit I did not have any side effects at all from the radiotherapy not untill the targeted therapy in week 5 then the toasted boob look started and it was also sore underneath so they advised aloe vera gel, just like when you have severe sunburn I guess and the hospital gave me some foam pads to stick underneath the breast in the fold.
Thank god it all finished with now I just have a rather leathery brown oblong dry patch on my right side where the radiotherapy was targeted, honestly I can say the surgery and the radiotherapy for me were a piece of cake but the chemo was not good at all.
I was luckier than most no nails falling of, I used almond oil regularly, no polish at all, I did not loose all of my hair, about a third I would say, the mouth and taste was awful but this is par for the course I am told, my dentist last week said I was very lucky to have such healthy gums after chemo! I have put a stone in weight on though which I am not happy about but dare not diet just yet, I think my body still needs time to recover as I still get tired when walking for more than an hour or so and I have been working for most of the time through everything, just taking a few days of for each cycle then returning to work.
The weather is awful here in London intermittently peeing down and very windy, have a good evening all Cassie.
Evening ladies, cassie sounds good to have nice, relaxing therapy today, good also you are beginning to feel more normal, I found it helped to work through chemo/ radio etc, I quite like the routine and normality of it.
Regarding astronomy and solar system, just for something quick and interesting you can google -google sky maps and there are lots of free apps on iTunes for solar system etc.