chemo kicks off 20 May - any good buddies?

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1261

Heya Ladies.

Well I think I’m fighting this cold and actually winning… who’d have thought it.

All this talk of victor meldrews is making me laugh because I have a friend in the village (who had BC 10 years ago) and her retired hubby meets up with his retired friends ever so often and she calls it the meeting of the meldrews, she got caught calling them that and now they use the name themselves!

Anyway sorry that hubbys have been infected with meldrewism… it can pass apparently but the medication varies on the man infected, some need a kick up the backside and others a nice meal :wink:

Lily… It makes sense that you’re crying at happy things. I became as excited as a child recently, just at feeling happy, we reckon that’s why I’m getting mistaken for a teenager, I’ve shed years of cynicism according to the OH and I think he might be right. But isn’t it great to be happy, even if there’s darkness in amongst it?

Anyway today the OH and I finish up the gallery and quitely open it just in time for tomorrow which is traditionally the day everyone starts christmas shopping… which reminds me what it happening with woolies… not woolies.

Angie

1262

Hi Ladies: Am going to try to do my usual Thursday catch – there is sooooo much.

First though, thanks for all your good wishes and yoo-hoos for my completing the poison, the champers, fireworks and sausages with honey and mustard were great. Didn’t have a hangover but did sleep like the proverbial log. Anyway, onwards and upwards.

Lily: Hope the SE’s have gone away now. You are always so full of life and fun even when dealing with nasties. Just read the bit about your lactose intolerance – friend of my sister had BC eight years ago, she is 7 years clear at the moment, she really was the awkward squad – gave up tam as it made her ill, had the rads before that, but then gave up everything. She avoids lactose like the plague as she says it aggravates the cancer cells, Dunnow about that – can’t find anything on the web.

Hope the graduation went well today (?) and you are all prepared for the op on Monday, one more thing over.

Angie: I have noticed my skin is really soft and smooth. So far as my face is concerned it may have something to do with piling in tons of Lancôme’s best and resting a lot that has made the difference. Who cares so long as it works!! I’ve also started using the acqeous cream as a shower gel - lovely finish - all shiny and smooth!!

Good luck with the Gallery opening

Nicky: when my mum was very ill – she had two heart attacks and died once but was brought back – they said high potassium could contribute to heart attacks so I guess low potassium is just the opposite??

Lisa: Oh what a terrible thing to happen to your aunt – how the hell did she escape from the hospital, don’t these people have any security??? That is something so terrible when you already have so much on your plate. Hope you and your family are feeling a bit better now. Glad you’ve got Arimidex – that’s what I want but I may have to fight – I’m good at that!!

Have early office Christmas lunch tomorrow and then quiet weekend, then it is December! Shall have to admit that it is going to be Christmas and get my act together.

Love and hugs to all – seems like the winter is coming back this weekend – wrap up warmly and take care of yourselves.

Love

Julia
XXXXX

1263

hi everyone

been doing ti chi today at our local hospital drop in, i feel so relaxed i dont wont to do anything after, (thats not like me) who am i trying to kid. was coming away from hospital and met someone who used to be a customer in the bookshop i ran, and he was carrying a book i wanted to read for ages, and he said i could borrow it, so im stuck in that now. so even less is getting done now. which will annoy victor my OH even more.

Lily 2000

glad you enjoyed the graduation, sorry you found it brought tears but tears of joy are good. it just feels so good to be around for these events, we realise how special these moments are. she s done so well. something to be proud of.
its a long time since i watched babe but its brilliant, i used to have a video called fourways farm and my elder kids loved it, all the animals talked on that, anyway heard of it?
hope everything runs smoothly at hospital when you go. my sister starts her chemo next wed, i shall go with her. my mother in law got 5 numbers on lottery so shes won £600, so thats a meal on her, she says. (bang goes the diet again) im out tommorow with the girls from church as well. i remembered you said you coloured your hair, what type of dye did you use.

nicky 08
hope everything ok, take care x

lisa
hope family are finding comfort from each other, take care.x

and everyone else im thinking of you, and hope there are many happy moments in tommorow. x

1264

Hi,
well had a nice tea and cakes and chat with my lovely local BC friends this morning before an afternoon babysitting the little chap again. That was my spoil myself day before the next item on the agenda tomorrow. Will be an early start as I have to be there before 9, a busy time on a Friday especially. I am so looking forward to my ‘date’ with Dr Pratt, me starkers he/her with a big felt pen and needle to tattoo me - can’t wait! Still it makes it feel like I am rolling at breakneck speed towards the big finish so it is water off a duck’s back unitl I hit Monday for the op. Putting that on hold. I am excited to hear what day the rads stop and I am officially basted, stuffed and pot poasted!!! The Christmas shopping is well advanced for once so I am really looking forward to this holiday season and everyone home and the house full. I have asked everyone to stay assuming they won’t all say yes!!!
Angie how exciting, lots of luck with big sales and that it will be a great success for you. Special congrats to Tommy of course and I guess you will be happy crying too. Julia well done again. The SE are decreasing every day but still have stomach cramps and careful eating, all mangeable but annoying now. I am in the freezing stage and my nose is as cold as the dog’s! My face is still very smooth, almost plastic in feeling. It was the epi that did that to me, just waiting to see if the wrinkles pop back out when the steroid face wears off. Did your face widen with the double doses on CMF? People have thought I looked much worse on this half because of the fat flat face and I go very pale too. Enjoy your lunch tomorrow. Do you keep forgetting you have finished? I realised I still have my book at the ready to go for the next dose!!
Lorraine, you old bookworm, don’t forget to apply for the job, if you can’t put that book down! Mrs Meldrew senior was lucky wasn’t she? Great timing for a nice meal out and how nice to share it. Just rads planning tomorrow then the op Monday but they say it is very fast. I bought my hair dye from Sainsbury because I had been told they had a suitable organic range that had no ammonium or peroxide to worry about. They are about £6.20 with a choice of about 7 colours. Take care as my hairdresser did mine and said they are very runny and I would have got it everywhere. I believe a lot of the health shops do some too but have not been in to look yet. I had the copper one and was very pleased with it. Enough in the pack for 2 more goes with so little hair! Lisa I hope things are going as well as they can in the circumstances. Big hugs.
Take care everyone
Lily x

1265

Hi Ladies
A very quick catch up as I’m back to feeling like post chemo sh*t! Felt OK after 2nd rads on Weds then OK yesterday, except for heart (again!) However last night I had the worst night in months. Up to the loo all night, feeling nauseous plus my palpitations didn’t stop so not much sleep. Last rads today but not expecting a brilliant weekend if last night was anything to go by :frowning: Anyway have GP appt this afternoon to try to sort some medication out and at long last I see a cardiologist a week Monday - obviously a rare breed as I was meant to be referred 6 weeks ago after my day on the cardio ward! I’m sure I’d slipped through the system as this appt has miraculously appeared after I visited the consultants secretary on Monday. My moan over.
Lily - glad graduation was a happy tear event, I’m dreadful like that, a big softie at heart but like to give a different outside appearance! Rads planning will be a breeze, just remember they are doing the top part not the bottom part like me so keep your knickers on my girl! Hope all goes well on Monday and a lovely neat little (emphasis on Little) scar is left.
Lorraine - good news about the job, fingers crossed you get it. Also it’s good to lose yourself in a good book, escape all the other problems and forget Victor for a while!
Julia - well done, bet you’re so glad. We’ll now have to start a post chemo thread as we are all over the finish line now.
Angie - good luck with gallery, hope you get lots of happy, spending customers.
Lisa - hope things aren’t too bad at the moment but I don’t suppose things will get any easier for a while. Look after yourself and I assume it’s one of your parents sisters that died so I expect you are having to help them as well.
Must go, have a good weekend, may not post for a few days if I feel as bad as I have been.
Nicky xx

1266

Nicky.

Nux worked nicely on me on the 2 days when I felt sick during rads. Don’t know if it was the rads that caused it as it shouldn’t have done but I think the exhaustion from them was making me feel too weak. So give it a go, nowt to lose.

Hope you all have a fun weekend and if that isn’t possible (Lisa and Nicky) I hope it’s at least restful .

We went to meet the new landlady and landlord of the next door pub last night who are really nice, which means that she who liked to take the pi** out of everyone has now left the village :slight_smile:

lots of love

Angie

1267

Hi Lily: Yes I keep thinking - Oh another two weeks and have to go back - but I don’t - Hurray. I also have a cold nose, think I need a nose cosy. I think the CMF decided to have one more shot at making me feel like c**p - not only cold nose but raw inside and itchy eyes - feels like I have sand under my eyelids and it takes me ages to focus properly when I wake up and I am still very tired, hopefully by next week things will improve. My face hasn’t filled out as much as I thought, in fact I have dips below my cheek bones (they are in there somewhere) which I emphasise with good old blusher.

Good luck on Monday.

LIsa: still thinking about you and hoping you and your family are coping OK.

Nicky, Lorraine, Angie, Bevy plus anyone else I have forgotten (sorry) have a great weekend and lots of hugs.

J XXXXX

1268

hi all,

glad to hear you enjoyed the graduation Lily it is a wonderful event to be part of and good to feel the proud parent! (after all the years of nuturing you get something back!) I am so glad you were able to be there. Hope all goes well for you with the next part of the journey although I guess I have been luck with the rads (probably shouldn’t say that) and so far two weeks worth out of the way and feeling o.k. just tired but nowhere near as tired as when on the dreaded chemo.

well done Julia for signing offf on the poison!

Nicky hope the visit to the cardiologist sorts things out for you but take it easy

Angie glad the horrible villager has left, how convenient to have a pub so close could be dangerous but enjoy!

Lorriane I too have victor meldrew living with him (he must have been cloned!) although I think the poor guy needs to rant a bit after the months he has just experienced with me.

Although I said the rads are going well I have other problems that required a trip to the docs to discover that I have been overun by fungal infections. How attractive a fat, bald bird with black toe nails (fungal) a fungal infection of the mounth hence the disgusting taste I have been experiencing and fungal infections in other regions too! Honestly just when you think it is nearly all over along comes something else to drag you down. So I now have drops for one end and bullets to push up the other end. My body has had enough interference! Roll on next year please,

wishing you all a good weekend.

love bev xxx

1269

Bev… I’m still fighting fungal infections too. If it’s any consolation I now view it as proof that the chemo killed every single visitor to my body… friendly bacteria included. But hopefully any nasties too :slight_smile:

1270

Hi,
well went for rads planning today and I can;'t believe how sweet they all were and how gently they treat you. Are you able to raise your arm, let us help you sit up??? I felt like I had wandered out of prison and landed in a health spa so feeling positive about seeing them . guess when my last day is??? New Yeras Eve!!! Hoooray I should start the New Year done. The bad bit is that I have 9 am every time through the Christmas shoppers, Christmas Eve the lot. Still that early you can park right outside. Journey was busy and very bad conditions on the road. I drove to make sure I remember the route as I will have to direct anyone driving me. I might go on my own some days. I got my first prescription for nolvadex. I am a little puzzled as the prof said I would start from when I meet him but another onc said start now and wrote it out as it takes 3 weeks for the protective effect to start working, so start tomorrow. I decided I am not starting it before the op just in case. I think the worst thing about rads is the cold blasts of air coming out the CT scan on my bare flesh. The onc said that the effects will start a week after I finish, as 15 doses and told me it was possible to have rib pain, colour changes, etc for 18 months after as I am still blue from the SNB.
Nicky I am sorry to hear you are going through it with your rads. it will be worth it not to get those injections though in the long run (sorry bad choice of words) . Hope it does not get tooo much worse and at least you are finished today. Don’t forget all those chemo tips on the nausea and get the tablets in early if you can keep them down ok. So sorry and hope Monday comes round really quick for you and a better week. Well done for taking the initiative and visiting the secretary, guess she knew you were not to be meddled with after all this. Myself I want the weekend to be really long so Monday does not rush up on me. The onc has given me 5 days to heal my scar (her exact words)!!! Like I could make a difference to it. Angie and Bevvy I had thrush from mouth to the exit and it took 7 whole dose treatments to get rid of it. see the doc and get a long course and just feel how it improves each day and tries to creep back each night. I have 14 to fight off dose 12 and have taken 3 so far as I know it is gurgling like yeast brewing in my stomach. Hope you both see the bird off very soon. Bevy very reassuring to hear the next part is easier, thanks. Yes roll on 2009. Julia, sorry to hear you have side effects. It is so annoying and I am very impatient to be free of them. Still on a carbs diet as any digression is regretted later. I think it will be gone this week unless the op upsets it again. I would see the doc about your eyes as they were very keen to sort mine out quickly when they were gritty as you can get dry eyes and damage them.Don’t mean to worry you but don’t want that to happen either.I have no dips anywhere!!! Rads planning was actually very gentle, nothing to endure and really quite interesting, well what I could see from my spot. Lisa how are you? Lorraine well my Victor was left to get some soup tonight after us all eating out at lunchtime. He dropped the lot all over the floor and cooker. A real ‘I don’t believe it moment’ and we left him to clean it up!!! The kids were in absolute hysterics as it was all over him too.
Love
Lily x

1271

hi everyone

sorry to hear some of you are still suffering, while going through rads etc but it will soon be over, and then you can CELEBRATE!

lily 2000
you made me laugh saying your hubby spilt the soup, no chance of that happening with mine, he doesnt venture into the kitchen, only on rare occasions. but i did feel i would have liked to pour some soup over his head at times (wicked or what)
thanks for info on dyes i will be on to that, soon. went out with some girl pals last night, another meal . oh my clothes are shrinking so much, sometimes i wish i was bulimic, ( only joking, sorry if anyone suffers with this.)

nicky 08
chin up, things can only get better.

love to everyone, take carex

1272

Hi,
well insomnia has set in tonight worrying about tomorrow’s op. I have to be up early to get in a light breakfast before 7 am but will not forgo my last meal. It is odd not seeing anyone to tell me how they will do it and whether I get anything to calm me down. I had to keep bathing in antibacterial soap last time, but no requests at all so wondering whether to or not. I don’t even know whether I should take anything with me. I have also managed to lose one of my tatoos already, no idea how. They are tiny and the colour of moles so not easy to spot. Rads start next Tuesday along with roadworks along the route and it is a very busy dual carriageway normally.
Nicky I hope you have not been too poorly over the weekend and hope you manage to esacpe the bathroom! Also hope your palpitations are calming a little. Julia hope you are starting to pick up. I feel better today but still not 100%, that might take a bit longer! Bevvy, Lorraine, Angie and Lisa hope you are all ok. Big hugs Lisa
Lily x x

1273

Good luck for today Lily - dont worry about loosing one of the tatoos, one of mine was sooo small that after 1 week of peering trying to find it I kep going cross eyed, eventually they decided to draw thincker line on my and a sticy see through plaster - which hey at least I havent got a visible tatoo in middle of chest!

Sorry havent had time to catch up on posts - love to all
x

1274

Hi all: am feeling OK but very tired - I think that having finished the poison I am no longer “fighting” the effects as I don’t have to worry about any more. About to take the dog out as it is a glorious winter day here if absolutely freezing.

Lily: I hope everything goes OK today, will hear from you later in the week. Lots of hugs.

Love to all - enjoy the sunny weather whilst we can.

J
XXXX

1275

Hi,
well they can’t keep an old dog down for long!!! Back safe and sound. It was not a pleasant experience as had to be totally awake for the whole thing, nothing to calm the nerves at all. Sat for over 3 hours till called and then had to change, do forms, etc at lightning pace as porter was there to collect me. I had skin expanders tunnelled in first which actually stung a lot. He told me he was disappointed as they should not have stung. They did. I thought they were the local jabs so arghh when he said he would do the jabs on op table next. Very strange being in there awake with covers all over your head. I could peep out one side where a nurse sat talking to me. Chatted to the anaesthetist too, all the way through it about chemo, my docs, etc which passed the time. They will probably gag the next awake person who goes in! It was uncomfortable for most and disappointed that they could not stop it hurting, but only for about 10 minutes. Still hurting in recovery and not given any pain relief at all until got back to the ward. It just feels like a bee sting all the time, so bearable but annoying. No showers before Saturday - wifff or what. Dressing check next week. Anyway all done so another thing ticked off my big list in the sky. Next stop rads start on Tuesday. Did you all start your advent calendars today? Roaring towards Christmas now. How are you all getting on with the shopping?
Thanks for telling me about the tattoos Lisa. It is really hard to see them and I went cross eyed too. How are things with you now? Keep us posted. Are you over your op yet or still a few twinges? Take care x. Julia keep your chin uo, I got very impatient with my final side effects. Not 100% yet but pretty good and at least i didn’t have the trots on the op day, a true blessing! Take it easy for a bit longer x.
Hi everyone else.
Lily x

1276

hi everyone

Been thinking of starting a new thread. i thought if we shared what wed eaten each day, in a thread called FOOD DIARY we would benefit, by either being so embarrased we wanted to improve, or else noticing that even people who eat healthier are still either gaining or keeping weight on. ANYONE interested. we need the skinnys as well to show us how its done! today my food diary is bad!
Cup of Tea
2 Toast with Jam, and Cappucino

sm cone of chips
choux bun
3 miniture bars choc
cup of tea

Roast Pork Dinner, with 1 scoop pot, 2 sm roasts, brocolli, coli, carrots, leeks.
banana.
cup of tea

told you it was a bad day, cant wait to impress you with a better report tommorow.

Lily 2000
you poor thing, why did you have to be awake. that would have so scared me. but im really glad its over for you. they couldnt have put your tatoo on very well, because i heard those things are pretty perminant. are you sure you not been using bleach in your bath, instead of anti-bacteria soap. well i hope you recover quickly, i cant believe theyre making you have rads so close, they really like to get things moving.

take care everyone else, of to watch im a celebrity.x

1277

Well done Lily… .I’d have fainted, I am such a wuss about things like ops.

It’s been lovely here but last night it got down and below to -8. Brrrr.

Still Tommy got a good run on taking pics yesterday which is good because driving me around all summer put a real dent in his mountain time so he’s happy.

I am feeling really shaky at the moment, just gone so far off food that I have now lost a kilo in 3 weeks, which is OK but need to be careful now, having a stinking cold probably has something to do with it though… must go attempt to eat now.

Hops you’re all doing OK. Nicky hope the rads effects are going down, Lisa hope you and the family are coping OK, Julia are your rads done now?

lots of love to you all,

Angie

1278

Hi all
A quick post from me before I dash to the loo AGAIN! Sorry I wasn’t more sympathetic when you were suffering, Lily. So apart from being nauseous for about 4 days and having the raging trots since last week I’m fine! Because the rads goes over the abdomen and therefore hits the bowel this is not to be unexpected. Somewhat different to another ladies experience on here of 2 days of the trots! I guess I’ve learnt by now that if it can be worse I’ll get it :frowning: Couldn’t even go out yesterday in the lovely crispness as they haven’t put portaloos up on my route!
Lily - glad that bits over and hope the healing goes well. Rads next week then? Should be OK, I really didn’t suffer with those type, even after 30, except some tiredness, so don’t overdo it especially near the end as you have Christmas to deal with. Get Santa’s little helpers to help you!
Lorraine - I hope you’re not beating yourself up over your food! My suggestion is to have your ovaries ablated by rads! That’s the best weight loss technique so far. Plus, with the heart palpitations (yes, still get them) I’m off the booze so I’m having a major pre-Christmas detox - something I really didn’t want! In fact I’ve decided for my New Year’s Resolution that I am to drink more next year not less! I’m just about teetotal and it should (is) the season to be merry - bah humbug!
So my food for yesterday was
Cup of tea
Bowl of fruit and fibre
Choc from Advent Calendar (fruit and not)

2 small biscuits and cup of tea mid morning

Jacket potato and beans, lunch.

Cup of tea and piece of cake mid afternoon

homemade burger and oven chips - evening,

All sounds bad to me and, before Lily tells me off, nothing seems to affect me one way or the other with the trots - they just ‘are’ at the moment! However not putting on any weight at the moment. Usually I walk 3-4 times a week for about 20-30 mins which helps but not doing that at the moment so maybe it will creep back on again?
Must go, don’t worry, the loo isn’t calling yet, I have to chase up some stupid engineer who came to fix our dishwasher on Friday only to bugger up something else to do with it so he’s due back today.
Take care all - Julia, Bev, Angie (how’s the hair?), Lisa - hope you are all well.
Nicky x

1279

Fruit and not? - that would just be ‘fruit’ then wouldn’t it?
Fruit and nut!
N

1280

Hi All,

brave Lily it sounds as it if was horrible.

Well my rads are nearly over with only three more days left and so far so good not sore just experiencing discomfort underarm and hand is puffy but I have had that all the way through chemo too. I shall make an appointment to see a lympodema specialist once I have finished all the rads. I have been using aloe vera at night and I guess that may have helped.

Still experiencing terrible problems with my mouth the taste is disgusting and has put me off food as it all tastes like cardboard. Any ideas ladies on how I can get rid of it I have medication from the GP nystal (I think that is what it is called) but not really doing much good only making me feel sick. It is such a bugger after finishing the chemo everyone (me included) thought thank goodness now I can try to become human again but not to be. Still the fat, bald bird with fungal infections as my son said I had better start working on my personality! such a lovely boy.

now for what I still managed to eat today:-

cuppa plus shortbread
poached egg and toast (tasted like cardboard)

bowl of homemade soup and toast with mackerel spread

fishcake plus oven chips and salad (if I can eat it)

and glasses of ribena in between.

I am so looking foward to enjoying a glass of wine but when I have tried a sip it tastes really horrible just hope that doesn’t last!!

hope you are all aswell as possible.

love Bev x