Forgot to say that I’m still getting what I can only describe as lightweight flu like symptoms, eg achy all over, shivers, heavy legs, sneezing etc but it’s like it’s getting distant. It occurred to me today that the achy legs thing might be the bone marrow working away at making a whole new funky immune system.
I don’t feel terrible like I’ve got the flu, more like I had it a month ago if that makes sense.
hi everyone
oh dear lily, you are going through the mill, so to speak. make sure you are really kind to yourself, and totally selfish for a while,you deserve it. i thought i would have to have loads of treatment, because like your onc mine said he was going to through everything at it! but i dont know why he changed his mind ( i hope hes made right decision) but like you said we just have to put our trust in them.
i hope you dont mind but im going to pray for you each night until your next treatment because you could do with some help from somewhere. and yes you must keep having a grumble ;at us, thats what were here for. (but make sure you give them nurses what for! ) hope you sleep better tonight. god bless x
nicky hi!
and everyone else hope things are improved this coming week. take care
lorraine
Hi,
Lorraine, I am touched that you are praying for me thank you. Interestingly a trial tracked prayer on cancer victims and those prayed for did significantly better even though they were not aware of the prayers. Pretty thought provoking stuff eh. The project was in the mid 1990s and was on 18 children with leukemia. Families from a distant protestant church were given names of 10 of the children and asked to pray for them without their knowledge. 15 months later 7 out of 10 were still alive, but only 2 out of the 8 in the control group were still alive. Makes you think. I have a number of people praying for me of different religions and think it is probably one of the greatest kindnesses that you can do for anyone, so thank you my friend. By the way I am of course doing the eat cake healer too!!
Angie glad you are sorted to start on Monday , gives you a little time off as well. What is the latest on hormones? I was told I would start them the same time as rads, but no news of what they will be giving me and no menopause test yet to see which side of the fence I am. Lynda thanks for your help and I have posted elsewhere that I am freezing too. My temp goes down to 35.6 on CMF in the first week or so and worse when the double joins in. I am now sleeping in winter PJs, socks, a bobble hat and a blanket folded 4 times over the duvet !! Not sure what I will do if it gets colder, probably keep the central heating on all night. No aches so far so hope I don’t share those with you. thanks I am looking forward to the end but still seems a way off just yet. Hope you are getting on well now and keep doing so. Julia and Joanne, my comrades, we just need to keep sight of how far we have gone so far. Joanne have not heard from you, do you need a big nag to get you in there again?? Hope all is ok. Talk to me I worry about you. Julia we are side by side on this, hope your veins hold up for the last few. How are you coping with the tablets? I know I would struggle as my cesspit of a stomach is growling all the time and the acid is horible. Back on ranitidine as it seems to suit me best. Nicky how is your hand, hope all is improving in your weeks off and are you back at work. I enjo your calming posts as usual.
Bevy are you feeling better yet, just keep hanging in there with us, even if it feels like it is only by the fingernails at times. Kirsty glad to hear you more cheerful but keep an eye on the horrid abscesses. Hope they sort them out for you soon, you want them to pop really.
I felt good today but the fuzzy eyes are coming in so trying not to go out much. The drippy eye is just starting too so look like i am booing constantly. LOL . The acid is in, so ranitidine is my bedside friend. What fun we have. someone tell me this will all go!!
take care everyone. wish we could all meet one day.
Lily x
hiya all
Carriane grasmere b and b sounds nice, dont live very far away need to take more intrest in whats around.
Angie thank god, my legs, tummy and back been aching for week as if been sitting too long and so achy so hopefully its just our system fighting back
KIrsty, Nicky, Lily and all, chin up tomorrow friday, my first days holiday after working 9 hours today, might actually be able to catch up on posts tomorrow
xxx
Lily have you tried licorice, I snacked on a single piece of the soft eating stuff once every hour and a friend said that licorice tea works too if you want to keep of the sugar. Turns out it’s good at perking you up too so might work for you too. It allowed me to halve the number of ranitidine I was taking but urgh I do NOT miss that one bit, I promise that effect left me after just a week roughly. I had a big rich dinner tonight and aren’t paying for it and it’s only been 4 weeks since my last dose so things do get better pretty fast honest.
Have you got a nice fluffy covered hot water bottle, first thing my mum asks for when she’s goes to bed up here (cold old stone house here) and nothing beats toastie feet 
Hope you sleep well, I have such an image of the bobble hat sorry but you sound so cute, but I know it’s not fun being cold at night hence our stupidly heavy 13 tog down duvet.
Hi,
I have a 13.5 tog duvet but the low body temp is hard to settle. I am under a blanket just watching tv with the central heating on, so when I am still and asleep it is harder. I feel really silly putting my hat on but fortunately only the neareat and dearest see it!! In silver lamee with glitter what a hoot. The only one lose enough for my big head so it didn’t annoy me.LOL. I get the runs really easily on CMF and am I right in thinking licorice makes you go? Glad to hear the acid will go. I read a horrid article about JennyMurray the radio journalist having to have both hips replaced as a side effect of chemo for Bc. Not very pleased to read that one.
Going to bed now as shaking with the cold already. Lisa have you asked for that new chair yet? Enjoy your day off , don’t know how you managed to keep going, this slug couldn’t!!
Take care and going to find Walter hot water bottle as I used to tell the kids when they were little
Lily x x
You know I’m not sure whether licorice tea would or wouldn’t but yes it does ease constipation so maybe not the thing to try right now. Sorry.
Don’t tell my Mum about the hips thing she’ll wig, as will I… la la la la I didn’t read that!
Right I’d best try and sleep, 4 motnh check up tomorrow so trying to pretend it’s just an MOT for the car and forget about the later bit LOL.
Lots of love and sleep tight (and warm)
Hi
Angie hope all goes well with the car but most importantly you, let us knoe how you get on. Is that with the onc? Slept fine and woke up roasting when the central heating burst into life about 6 am and still in full survival suit and duvet and pile of blam]nkets on top. LOl
Speak later
Lily x
Hi all: Nice cold autumn morning here in Leamington Spa.
Nicky: Thanks for comments about Tamoxifen, guess I will be starting that or whatever in January, I just don’t want to go through all the bloody menopause stuff again, But will have chat with onc – appointment put back one week to 27 Oct, Hope your hand is better.
Angie: Interesting you mention liquorice – I suddenly had a sweet tooth moment in Sainsburys on Wed – most unusual for me - and not being a chocolate person devoured a bag of Bassetts liquorice all sorts – divine! Not having any tummy probs but I can imagine can’t I? Hope you try Stonegarth – the bit that was edited was me implying that Attilio talked a load of rubbish – I guess you can imagine what I said!
Might track down Homeopathic doctor if she is still practising – couldn’t do me any harm.
Good luck with your rads on Monday.
Lily: I read the piece about Jenny Murray – bloody scary what? Hope you are feeling warmer – I always run at a low body temperature and now my nose hairs are growing don’t seem to have the freezing nose problem. Yes, I am really looking forward to Tuesday – Not! Have big bruises where they tried three times last week, but have been chomping on arnica pills and will probably get some arnica cream as well. I’m getting to the point where I will try anything to boost my poor old body. Tablets are OK except I have to work out when to take them – on empty stomach or two hours after food.
Bet you look really sexy in your bobble hat!!
As we can’t take Vit C pills have taken to eating fruit for breakfast rather than the scrambled eggs and bacon – doesn’t hit the spot but seem to be losing a bit of bloat. My sister suggested that (the one with lupus) as she medicates herself with all sorts of things. Have made the chicken stock, Angie, and turned it into Gordon Ramsay’s roasted tomato soup – fantastic.
Had supper with girlfriends last night and scared them by taking off wig – they said I looked great with just black fuzz but I 'm not convinced. Not going to treat the general public to that but can’t wait to have enough not to wear this although it does keep me warm on these cold mornings.
Weekend coming – am in the office doing my two days – and it is a domestic one, going to make quince jelly and probably apple pies to go in freezer.
Hope everyone is OK and coping with whatever is thrown at us. Let’s hope the weather stays sunny – it does cheer you up doesn’t it?
LOL
Julia
XXXXX
Nicky, re the tamoxifen and the aramotose inhibitors as far as I have been told the tamoxifen works on blocking the oestrogen from the overaries so would appear to be more effective if a person isn’t post menopausal, once post men. the oestrogen comes from our adrenal glands and the aramotose inhibitors block the oestrogen from those areas intead, I think that is correct but I must admit it is very confusing as each piece of literature you pick up seems to contradicate this. I am only repeating what I have been told by my oncologist. Hope that makes sense. As I am probably peri men. I am going to be put on Tamoxifen for 3 years and then have blood test to check that I have become post men. and then I will be switched to an aramotose inhibitor.
Lily you poor love what a terrible experience you have really been through it just hope it all starts getting better for you and thanks for being concerned for me. The arm is still giving my problems but this seems to happen with each chemo and as I only have one more to get through being the 29th Oct I am just hoping that things will improve after that period. I am keeping up with the exercises and thankfully today my head has cleared of the chemo fuzz so from now one I should be feeling a bit better each day.
Angie good luck with your MOT!
Julia yes the bald head certainly makes one feel even colder at the present time I have decided to try to wear my wig more whilst at home as it maybe a bit warmer than the little head scarves I have as I am fed up with being cold.
Good luck everyone and wishing you all a peaceful weekend.
Bev x
Hi Ladies
God its goonna tske ot of carvhing up on here feel as if ive been away for ages excuse the spe;ling my screen on laptop is cracked and have yo use tv as a monotor which is not to clear on small writing.
Any way as you know i had my second dose of cmf three weeks ago, and bot did it hit me hard first of all i had spotainious vomiting would be just sitting no warning and whoosh
even swollowing my own saliva set it pff then sever runs which caused my stomach to go into spasms temp went through the roof but i wouldnt call hospital i hate them but different story 2 weeks later when i was praying i wouldnt wake up couldnt stand it any more and called doc, Now apparently i have an ulcer but god i thought it couldnt get worse so in total i have been in my bed for three week out of four Il need to taslk to onc before next one see if there is anything he can do as I couldnt go through that again
On a brighter n9te iam back at work all be its only 4 hoiurs on 2 days on the checkouts iam normally the delivery driver but ni=ot up to it yet get tired reall easy and works been fantrastic allowing me breaks as and when i need them and I miseed the girls i worked with think that was the main reason i went back and hopefully when onc sotrs chemo out i can do more.
Hope you all can understsnd this and have a glousious weekend my Oh is back for the weekend and I feel great so gonna party hard make up for lost time if you get my meaning I miss him so much when hes not here.
Joanne
Joanne: What a terrible reaction. I think they must be giving me placebos as I don’t (SO FAR) have anything like the problems some of you gals are having. I just hope to God that it continues this way.
Bevy: That was my understaning of the difference between Tamoxifen and Arimidex - as I keep saying, I have had one bloody menopause, don’t want another. Can see me having some interesting (!) conversations with my onc. I get sick of people who have not done the menopause saying they uderstand it can be difficult - when you have done it, you can talk about it. Like a male gyny saying he understands giving birth can be a bit painful - you do it, ,you talk!!!
Julia
Joanne… God that is bad… You party hard my love (not too hard though 
And if the onc says that’s it no more I’d go with it, you’re on the E-cmf regime aren’t you?
TO ALL BALDIES (and those who’s hair is thinning a bit) I keep forgetting you’re not all outdoorsy people. Part of the reason I’m not getting a cold head is all my beanies etc are made with windstopper polartec. It’s brilliant stuff and not expensive. You can get a good polartec beanie for around £15, or a tenner if you’re going through keswick (needle sports). I always have one on when I go walking. I was put off going out up mountains for years because the slightest bit of cold wind and I get earache so bad I am physically sick, until one day someone convinced me to try this windstopper stuff and you know what it actually stops wind and you don’t get cold (or wet or sweaty!)
Sorry to sound like a sales person but they gave me a new lease of life 5 years ago and I keep forgetting that not everyone knows about these things.
Anyone wants any recommendations let me know, but if you see any of the pics of me on tommy’s flickr photostream you’ll see my lovely extremities beanie. I love my beanie. It’s better than hair
OK world you ***ing win.
The car has passed the MOT… woo hoo. But OH has migraine and I’m not sure I trust going to carlisle on my own right now as to be honest I can barely lift myself let alone manage that handbrake (there’s a hell of a hill start on one spot) so what with the car, my OH’s head and my general weakness there will be no check up this afternoon. I have officially had enough. Picture grown woman jumping up and down on the spot screaming F OFF and you’ve got the right image roughly. I’m now going to try and do some programming and forget about treatment until next week as that’s evidently the plan the fates have in mind. Still can’t say I exactly wanted to go to Carlisle again. But you can’t finish what you haven’t managed to start can you 
Sorry to moan, it’s not like I’m having a tough time like so many of you. It’s just that I can handle pain and nausea. But patience… god no.
Have a great weekend ladies… the sun’s trying to break through here.
Hi all
Angie - what a pain in the @rse - not you obviously but everything that is stopping you doing what you need to. Very frustrating but as there’s nothing you can do I guess it’s best to call it a day and do something else - like you’re doing. Take it as an impromptu week off and start again on Monday!
Joanne - all that sounds awful you poor thing. Hope you are feeling better now - which I guess you are as you’ve gone back to work. So glad they’ve been able to sort something out for you and I’ve found it really helps (if you can do it) to go to work ,even if it’s part time, but I know not all jobs can accommodate that. Bet you’re glad OH is back - take it easy - you don’t want to get worn out
Re Tamoxifen - it blocks the oestrogen receptors in the BC cells rather than affecting the ovaries - they still keep pumping away if you’re pre-men! By blocking the receptors it prevents any oestrogen bonding and therefore stops the cells growing. I have a lovely diagram from a recent secondaries talk about this but I can’t duplicate it here! It brought back all those lovely memories of Human Biology! With regards to when you’re prescribed it (Lily) After my 1st dx I had it after surgery and before rads - I didn’t have chemo. But I think they tend to prescribe it 3 weeks after chemo has finished (certainly in our area) but I have read on here about not getting it until after rads. I guess as it’s a continuation treatment it can be given after all 1st line treatment has finished. When I had it I didn’t get any noticeable menopausal symptoms but for all I know it didn’t work anyway (it certainly stopped working at some point). However my Mum, who was menopausal when she had BC 15 odd years ago did have terrible hot sweats with it. In fact she was treated at The Marsden and they eventually gave her HRT to help and she had no further problems with either menopause or BC.
Thanks for asking about my hand. It’s gradually getting better however if you press down you still get a lovely indentation so still some oedema, nice chubby fingers as well! I’m smoothing on Vitamin E oil each night - which is great for scar healing by the way - and the 3 marks where it almost blistered are looking much better. Who knows, by Christmas I may be able to get my wedding ring back on - well, once it’s welded together again!
I am starting on the hot flushes having gone 2 weeks into my next menopause - I’m just hoping Angie was right and it won’t be as bad this time round. So far they’re not as bad but I don’t want to tempt fate - look what happened with my hair! So for me I’m quite happy to whip off my head covers indoors when I get too warm - it cools me down quicker than when I had hair! Not sure what will happen though when my hair is thicker and I’ve still got a wig on top - that will be hot - and I’m not looking forward to that in-betweeny stage.
Hi to all on here who I’ve not mentioned, have a great weekend. It’s hubby’s birthday today so aim to have a nice weekend and spoil him a bit as he’s looked after me so well over the past chemo months (as he always does) and he needs some TLC as well.
Take care
Nicky xx
Just a realy quickie… something bothering me…
Hmm Tamoxifen must block more than just cancer cells from getting the hormones or what would be causing the hot flushes etc?
Happy Birthday Nicky’s hubby.
have a great night (everyone)
Angie
hi girls
have a good weekend, not a lot to say at moment, but just want to let you know im thinking of you.
lorraine x
Hi,
another shivery night in the bobble hat i think, although it was a lovely sunny day. Taking it very easy as eyes are going in different directions and unable to focus well. Got my car back before it started thankfully, Angie hope yours comes home in one piece too. It would have been a £1000 plus bill for me if it had not all happened just before the warranty ended so someone was looking after me! I feel like a slug today so giving in to it and doing nothing. very very sleepy and I can’t think that it would just be from dropping one steroid each day. I saw another GP today as mine has gone for 6 months without even telling me. Perhaps I expected too much! Anyway I think I will be better off as he said he would be absolutely delighted to see me for anything and was happy to sign any certificate I wanted for claims, etc. He spent ages reading up about the flu vaccine for this year to make sure it was inactivated, so not live and had advised me to have it. He says my high neuts will probably stop me from getting pneumonia but won’t stop me from catching it in the first place. As OH works in London he is more likely to bring it home, as travelling on public transport. Chemo unit told me to have it right at the end of the next cycle or after the final one, but as far away as poss from the last dose.
Julia if you feel like me, you don’t want Tuesday to arrive. Sorry to hear about your arms, the chest does not really bruise but all my scars go bright red again so are obviously annoyed by it. At least we will be down to the final dynamic duo after Tues, so I might start to get cheery about that, once the next is in and done. Jenny Murray article was one I would have preferred not to have been given to read. My hair is so fluffy and just sits on top of my head with no movement downwards at all. thought I might get it dyed in a fortnight to cover the grey and warm it up a bit as it is jet black with grey and quite severe. Will consult the hairdresser and see if she is brave enough to take me on!! How is your hair? The cooking sounds great, you must be much less slug like than I am tonight. Good for you. Bevy glad to hear the arm improves at times and wow you will be finished long before me too. I really took a wrong turn somewhere on this journey of ours. I can’t believe how cold my head gets, starting to realise why older, bald men always wear hats. LOL Joanne oh no not more problems. I wish you had posted we would have bullied you to the doc before you got so desperate!! I know that I don’t want to wake up feeling, had that on epi. So I am sending you big hugs for that. Hope they get you sorted for next week. I have just had 7a as my nurse calls it and get 7b next week when you should start dose 7. Good luck with that. Glad to hear that you can work and that it will make you feel more like normal. Have fun with your partner!!! Angie sorry to hear all your plans were off again, frustrating or what! Here’s hoping it all sails along next week for you and you can go through before the Christmas crowds get on the roads. Good luck with the appointments and results. Nicky I think my onc likes you to start tablets as soon as you have rads, seems to be the current thinking in our area. I have to see him before too long so will read all your info again and be ready. I think I need a blood test though as nothing since last Nov! Hope you enjoy the birthday celebrations and glad your hand is improving. I use vit E on my scars and it seems to help. I guess you need to wait to have your ring mended until you know what size to make it.
Does anyone know why I have different blood forms for the next 2, which will be my last double? These say ‘blood sciences’ and have lots of self adhesive labels and instructions on them. Any idea?
have fun if you can
Lily x
hi ladies
hope you dont mind me popping back. I often log on and see how you all doin. Thought i,d let you know how my jilly’s doing. Its been up and down for me, mainly down. We have recently had visit to the onc. First one for us and he,s chucking the works at jill. I know, i can here you say, thats a positive thing. I,d rather him say , your ok now jill. Go home. 18 Weeks of cemo, radiotherapy, hormone treatment, and that drug that was head line news not long ago. Cant remember prononciation.
She still struggling with recovery after surgery. Sneezing last night, as she also suffers with hay fever, must of upset something as every breath now hurts and i think she has some swelling at pain area. No help when you need it. Do you sometimes feel your kicked out the door, which is fine if theres no probs.
Anyway, Ang. me ole fruit, how are you. Whats this about beanies. What are they? We mentally preparing our selves for Jill inevitable hair lose. What do wigs cost and what they like
. Can you wash them.
Had liver and bone scan so hope there ok. Be nice if that’s tests out way.
OK that’s it from me. I,ll say good bye for now. My thoughts are with you all for a speedy recovery.
Lee
Heya Siggo…
So she’s getting the full works too, blurgh, doesn’t matter if it’s good for you, doesn’t make you want to do it does it
I think the wonder drug you’re talking about may be herceptin? Has she maybe talked to her GP about the pain when sneezing etc as they might be able to help with pain and or the sneezing. But yeah in the early months every little sudden jolt seems to pull at something after surgery. I rarely get that now I’m pleased to say but every so often I jump up to grab something or lift a stupidly heavy thing and twang sensations again, they pass quicly though now.
Anyway a beanies just a form of a simple hat, think of a winter hat with a bauble on the top, well it’s like that but without the bauble It’s the windproof and polartec bit that makes all the difference as it stop cold winds chilling the old head and keeps the warmth in.
Can’t help on wigs I’m afraid as I decided not to bother as I’d never convince anyone it was real anyway as I’m a get up and go girl, never did wear makeup or style hair and having breast cancer wasn’t going to change that at least.
Anyway hope the scans come back all clear and give Jill a boost in her recovery, it does seem to take forever, its only when you take time to think of the things you couldn’t do a month ago that you realise how far you’ve come, sadly chemo seems to put that on hold too so during that stage it’s just counting them off… speaking of which
Hope you girls are all having a great weekend rather than laid up in bed. OH is getting over one of the worst migraines he’s had in ages and let just say my time of the month really is making up for a years worth of shock… never been so heavy in my life!
The sofa beckons.
Lots of love
Angie