Hi Angels I’m happy to go to premier inn if everyone else happy. How far away is spa from premier is it worth still going or could we do a bus tour or something ? I don’t know Manchester never been. Angie well done it feels great to catch yourself in a mirror and you see just you doesn’t it. Im still very stiff first thing in the morning too , and when been sitting too long. I started a 12 week excercise class last week run by McMillan and Glasgow City it was fab, felt good to be doing something. I’m also going to my sisters on Saturday for a few days hope you have a good time with yours. Hope your Herceptin goes ahead this week. It was my youngests birthday today he was 26 still my baby though. Remember it like it was yesterday. That was the last time I was organised for Christmas ahead if time. Not doing too bad this year as not been working. Take care all of you x
I think you’ve done extremely well Roz sounds great!
Woops…posted that too soon
Many thanks for all your searching and sorry you did not enjoy your yoga, don’t beat yourself up over that other booking. What will be will be - we all if nothing else have learned that over this past year. It’s fate that’s taken us somewhere else!
Lxx
Hi all
premier inn sounds great to me and the spa package. I will be either driving or train on Friday. Looking forward to meeting you all soooo much! Rozz do we need to pay you, or pay when we arrive?
Well done Angie for getting hair out. I’ve just had my new wig (six month freebie). My hair is very short and it’s very cold so I’m wearing it a lot now. I decided to get a grey/white wig as I will have to get my now white hair out at some time. Actually I think it really suits me- always knew I was an old lady at heart. will try to put a pic on, but haven’t managed this yet.
Saw onc last week. He said rash on breast was a chemo se, and was only affecting one breast because it was more susceptible due to rads.gave me hydrocortisone cream. Now the rash has gone but the itching is still there and driving me mad. Also still have indigestion/heartburn. i keep trying to give up the lansoprazole and having to take it again.
Philomena- I seem to be having more pain and stiffness in my surgery arm now than I did for months after op. I do the exercises but it doesn’t seem to make much difference. It feels like it’s slowly seizing up!
On the bright side surgeon has refered me to plastic surgeon to see what can be done about the hole I’ve been left with where the tumor was. And started counselling to help deal with my many issues!
I went to a bcc meeting about signs and symptoms of recurrence. It was very informative and felt quite uplifted to begin with, then felt a bit down thinking about the possibility of the cancer spreading. Don’t know if it was a good thing or not.
onc said not to expect to start feeling better for about another 3 weeks and I definitely don’t! follow up in 3 months if no problems- is this what everyone is having?
Sorry to be glum, but feeling sorry for myself tbh
love Mel xxx
Roz. Premier inn sounds great, and spa package. You have been great doing all the donkey work. I was thinking of coming by train had a look at prices it’s £75 return thought that was pricey well seen I don’t travel by train much. I will price flights might not be that much more.
Mel you only just finished your Chemo be patient with yourself some of us finished away back in August and are still not back to normal so just take it easy. Hope all you other Angels are good. Take care Lynn x
Just looked up flights from Glasgow 4th April returning sun 6th £79.94 return down side only one return flight is at 8 pm. Checked trains again tickets not on sale yet for April checked same date February £76 open return from my local station. I think I will probably go for this option. Will take about the same time to travel there including traveling and waiting time at airport. X
Morning Angels
Rozz, Lori is right don’t beat yourself up about the bookings at all. You really are doing fab for us all and you’ve stepped up to the plate. (Only a week ago I could be found in a corner of the bathroom, hugging my knees, and gently rocking from side to side with my thumb in my mouth). I think we all deserve this. So it’s a huge thank you from me too.
I’m going to book a double at the same Premier today for OH and I. Can you let me know which one it is Rozz. “Yaaaaaaaaaaay”. JUST CAN’T WAIT. It’s a two hour drive for us and I do feel for those who are having to train or fly or who have a much longer journey like Mel, Lynn, Amber, and Angie I think.
Philomena - Had a giggle over your bed head. All my aches have gone for now but I do have cording under my arm which Im doing the exercises for. I do feel the stretching and im sure it would get worse if I didn’t do them. As for getting better? Not so sure yet. My big toes nails are really painful again after the pool on holiday and the wick underneath is a pure white mixed with a little grey. Going to stick my head in the sand and paint them as I now have a pathological fear of hospitals and surgeries.
Mel - I’m glad youre back at work and all went well. Hope you get over that cold soon. Too cold for me yet to go hatless even though I have a nice covering now.
Amber - Hope your building work is going well and you get done what you want for Christmas. Were just doing the bathroom all new suite, tiles, carpet the works. Just finishing the decorating and it looks lovely.
Mel A - I too have felt quiet low during the past month. I really hope that you feel better soon. It is early days for us yet and we have had a lot thrown at us all at once. We are still healing in all ways.
Also to lift my spirits i did a little jewelry online shopping. (BC related of course, and a necessity as I nearly let the nurse have surgery side arm for blood pressure last week). I bought a beautiful medical bracelet from ID Band which has “Lympheodema risk No IV, BP or Needles to Right Arm” also ICE (in case of emergency) my telephone number just in case it’s not only the bathroom i’m found hugging my knees, rocking, and sucking my thumb.
Thank you for your best wishes on the bloods for tomorrow. Lets hope they work. Lv n Hugs everyone. Sandy. xxxxx
The medical bracelet sounds like a good idea Sandy. It’s also recommended that you store emergency contact numbers under ICE in your phones.
Mel be kind to yourself. Like the others have said it’s early days yet. I’m only doing a few mornings a week but really needing a sleep in the afternoons. Yesterday I wasn’t even in and I slept for 2 hours in the afternoon and went to bed at 9. I slept for 2 hours again after work today. I hope that doesn’t last!
Roz thanks for sorting us all out. Does everyone still want to do the comedy store or would you prefer something cheaper? I’ve not booked yet.
Thanks Angels for good advice as usual. I’ve decided to lower my expectations to get up before midday and go for a short walk. Sandy- curling up in a corner sounds quite enticing…I would need to complete the picture with a blanket over my head.
Mel A- take it easy if you can at work- hope you start to feel less tired soon.
comedy club is fine for me or just a meal, whatever everyone else wants to do.cheaper is best for me!
My finger nails have all peeled off very low now and are quite sore. I’m resorting to plasters on fingers- what must I look like!!
Tamoxifen seems to be going ok so far- not having any more hot flushes than I did on chemo, but still having them. wondering if poor sleep and indigestion is a side effect of tamoxifen? have lost the info sheet.
look after yourselves all, love Mel xxx
Mel, since I started taking Tamoxifen at teatime instead of the morning I have slept much better. I was waking up every hour before. I still get the hiccoughs a lot when I eat and drink and have done since starting chemo, before Tamoxifen, so I think that’s probably a chemo SE. The joys eh? Xx
Morning Angels,
Mel - Te He. Thanks for the blanket tip. LOL. Will pop one in the airing cupboard in readyness. I’m having to put plasters over my nails too. Im with you on the less is best with regard to finances and our meeting up.
Im worried that if we all head for spa’s, the comedy club, and meals in different places, we may miss each other and won’t have time to meet and talk to each other properly. When Philomena and I met, two hours felt like 5 mins.
Caz - It’s lovely to hear from you. I think your all very brave on the work front daunting as it may seem.
No Herceptin again due to another low count. The oncologist came to see me and told me my body is still recovering from the chemotherapy and surgery. I start radiotherapy on Monday and she assures me that RT shouldn’t the effect the blood count and so i’m to have another test on Wednesday. (Really don’t trust the word “shouldn’t” anymore the surgeon also said that RT shouldn’t effect the expander implant). Too many shouldn’ts for my liking. On a good note she had a look at my toe nails and said that ive picked up a fungal infection to the nail beds when they had just started to recover after chemo (must have been the pool), and this is happening to where the new nails are growing at the bottom of my now flapping, broken old ones, so we put curinail on it last night and they don’t seem so painful even though it took two paracetomel, one tramadol and OH to hold me down during the application.
Mel A - Im going to take the Tamoxifen at tea time too as I’m having broken sleep. Thanks for that tip. I wish I could help you with the tiredness. Have you had a blood test lately? Im sure my tiredness or broken sleep is due to low count and sleeping at weird times.
All the best angels. Lv n Hugs. Sandy. xxxx
Hi Ladies,
Sorry you’ve not got your herceptin again Sandy, fingers crossed for next time. You’ll be feeling a bit like ‘yeah whatever’ on hearing all these shouldn’t s hang in there it’ll come together for you.
I kind of agree with a few of your comments re meeting up. We’d prob appreciate the chat time during spa and over drinks and a nice meal. I am happy to go with majority and like most looking after the finances as on reduced/little pay and not sure when that will change.
Thanks for the tip re Tamoxifen at tea time I need to try that to see if I sleep any better…unfortunately I just swallowed todays while reading posts so I’ll start tomorrow!
Take care all and have a peaceful, restful weekend.
Love Lori xx
Hi everyone
Sandy I’m sorry to hear about the problems with your blood count again. How frustrating for you! I’ve felt less tired since Thursday so I’m hoping some of that was due to me having a cold. I know what you mean about having time to talk if we’re all busy. An alternative venue for a meal out could be the red hot world buffet. It costs £14.99 for all you can eat and they have food from around the world, so there is something for everyone. Drinks are extra. I’ve been a few times with the kids and really enjoy it, though it is quite a busy place. TOPS is a similar sort of restaurant, probably slightly less busy with less choice than red hot world buffet, but more biased towards Chinese, Indian and Thai food. We’ve been there a few times too and really enjoyed it. That is also £14.99 for all you can eat plus the cost of drinks. Let me know what you think or if you have any other ideas. I don’t really go to town much so I don’t know many restaurants there. I do believe there is a Jamie Oliver restaurant there, but I would expect that to be quite pricey. I’ve never been.
Roz look after yourself. Well done for recognising that your slipping into old habits and stepping back.
Take care Angels xx
Have a good time 
Hi all
I think it would be good to go for a meal where we can talk too. Rozz my son is at uni in Manchester too. He lives in Fallowfield. Is thaat near the hotel? what is oni thingy? does it help with the nails?
Sandy - so sorry your blood count is low again and about sad loss of toe nails. It just goes on and on doesn’t it.
Last post I said it was all going well on Tamoxifen- well I’d like to change that to feeling crap on tamoxifen after 2 weeks now the side effects are kicking in! I feel nauseous, have hot flushes all night, and have felt increasingly depressed. Keep bursting into tears for no reason all very menopausal! I’m going to try taking it at teatime as well- have been taking it at night. Hope they settle down a bit or I think I’ll be in the 30% that give up. BCC helpline suggested splitting the dose taking half morning and half at night but the tablets don’t split. Have to ask for a different brand to try this.Onc said to give se’s about 12 weeks to settle so looks like I’ll be weeping my way through xmas. Has anyone tried a chillow pillow and do they help?
Caz- well done for going back to work, don’t over do it!
love and hugs to you all and have a cool night!
Mel xxx
philomena have a GREAT time!
Morning Angels
Well i’m into my 3rd day of Rads and all seems to be well apart from a little pain after where the implant port is and it itches. The only problem I have and need your advice with is that I have to attend a different hospital which is an 80 mile round trip. I feel fine at the moment driving there and back but lots of people tell me i may be too tired to do it in the last week. I remember one or two of you having to do the same. What do you think?
Also they have told me that E45 cream applied twice daily is just as good for the rad site as aqueous cream. Should I believe them i wonder,
Lori - I just wanted to ask. Do you have a blood test every time you have heceptin? Your so lucky being able to have the injection. Well done you must be ticking them off now.
Rozz - Thanks for the hotel address. Decided to stay with our Angels over the Saturday night so will book the double room for OH and I asap.
Philomena - My hair is coming back straight, thick and black (apart from the peppered grey). It used to be a strawberry brown and curly. No eyelashes yet thought. Enjoy your visit to see your relatives in Ireland. How exciting?
Mel - Im sorry you feel bad on Tamoxifen. Are you sleeping ok. I have found that if I take it at night I’m waking every 2 hours and that made me feel tired and upset. I now take it first thing. I do get the flushes during the day but my nights are mainly free from them and i sleep alot better which has improved how I feel. I do hope your feeling better soon.
Judy - Good to hear from you and that things have settled down and your feeling ok. Could I ask if your MX scar was ok during rads? My clothes are also tighter on my right arm too but then they have been since the op. I’m also feeling more confident that the cording will improve too after hearing that yours is getting better. Are you still doing the exercises? I’m struggling to find the time to do them now with all this travelling and with everything else to do. Ah well striding forwards, (mainly to Lincoln), just hoping the weather stays ok so i can get there and back. Take care Angels. Love Sandy. xxxx
Hi Sandy,
Sorry for delayed response but I’ve been out all day. Had psycoligist meeting and then went in to visit work for a few hours to see everyone. I’m shattered tonight after just talking so know I’m not ready for working yet!
My bloods were taken prior to 1st infusion of herceptin I’ve checked my book and they were as follows;
Hb: 122
WBC: 4.7
Plts: 261
Neuts: 3.3
That was 12th Aug which was 4 weeks after my last Chemo infusion. My next bloods were due prior to herceptin no.6 however as I had taken a bleed that day and felt quite faint and because I was changing to injection and the problems finding a vein my nurse took my bloods at the end of no.5. They must have been ok but she did not write them in my book so can’t tell you what those were (I’ll have to get them to enter this info when I go back in)
For sure the injection is less intrusive, its quicker and now my veins can start to recover. I hope its available to everyone soon. Good luck hope you get started on it soon.
Take care love Lx
Hi all
Judy- it’s so reassuring to hear your energy levels are back to normal!
and Sandy- I’m trying taking tamoxifen at teatime at the moment and I have slept a bit better- that’s WITH sleeping tablets, which I don’t really want to be taking every night. Maybe I’ll try morning next!
My hair is short grey and tufty so I’m wearing wig at the moment, which is fine until i have a hot flush then I have to whip it off! I’m feeling less tearful today, which is a relief, but don’t think it’s gone.
have a sleeping night all love Mel xx
Wow Lori - You have a book in which you keep all your stats? Seriously giong to have to demand more medical info from my hospital. All they have told me is that the wbc count is too low for me to go ahead. The other problem is that I need to be in one hospital for a blood test and for 6 hrs when I’m having radiotherapy at another hospital over an hour away in another direction.??? I left the chemo suite and oncologist in deep dicussion but it looks like herceptin will have to wait til the end of rads. I was just too worried and exhausted and had to get out. You really do sound well sorted though. I’m not going to worry about work at all. I do feel that us ladies on herceptin are going to continue to have some side effects. One of them stated is fatigue.
Mel - Really glad youre feeling a little better. It really is still early days for you yet.
Judy - Thanks for reasurring me. I’m just going to keep going and see how I get on. I have 3 weeks of rads. Is that how many you had? Do you know when they can reconstruct yet? When I got my date I was over the moon. I felt nervous for the op but at the same time it really lifted my spirits.
Lv & Hugs. Sandy. xxxxx