Essex Girls!

Hi Sharon,
the op was on Monday and went fine. I was really glad that I am not phobic about medical things as it is seriously weird being awake on an operating table. Being there was ok, a bit weird when they cauterised the blood vessels and the smoke went up! I was disappointed that there was still quite a bit of teeth gritting as I expected to feel nothing after the injections -wrong! So strange to have the whole room resounding to my pulse, out loud too. Still no general meant no after effects and funny to see all the people in recovery like vegetables talking madly. It is sore but ok, might try driving tomorrow with a big cushion over the wound.
Thanks for asking and how are you. Lost the plot as to whether you and Tracey go this Friday or went last. My rads are all 9 am so driving through the rush hour every time! Still as Sheila said the parking is good at that time. I think a lot of my volunteers will back out now as during the school run time. I have rubbed one of my tattoos off- - woops. I just can’t find it. They are tiny at Colchester and dark so just look like moles. I had 2 but now have one and it is the size of the end of a fine pen, virtually invisible. Hope you are ok and when will you be up for another meet up?
Lily x

Hi Lily, glad to hear all went well on Monday - you are so brave and my inspiration. Tracey and I go on Friday so bloods and coffee tomorrow!!. When do you start your rads?

About meeting up - next week is most probably a no and then the following week we are having xmas dinner on the 18th so may have to wait until then.

Sheila if you are looking we are having dinner on the 18th at 7.30ish if you are around.

Love to everyone sharon xx

Hi Sharon,
now don’t go saying sweet things to me or I will be getting my hanky out. You are doing brilliantly and before you know it this part will be finished. Then off to the big fat fish fryer . Woops wasn’t calling you a big fat fish, just how I describe my trips there. Will be thinking of you and Tracey on Thursday for the blood test and Friday for the next public poisoning!!! Tracey hope the side effects are better again this time. Sharon I will have my fingers crossed that the veins behave themselves and they get in first go this time. I know how anxious you get when the last one did not go so well but another day often goes completely differently. Looking forward to the meal. I am waiting for Bev to call back as she is painting!! What is she like! I will tell her off nicely when she calls. I am fine today so hope it stays that way now. Had very odd pains last night where the tubes were. Still I will turn my back on that bit and look forward to being fried!!!
Big hugs for Friday and speak soon
Lily x

Hi everyone!

thought I would say a quick hello.Don’t tend to post on here as much anymore but dip in now and again.

Lily- glad to hear the op was ok.I’ve been thinking about you.I’ve finished all my rads now and compared with the chemo-it’s a doddle!!! Kept applying the aqueous cream which helps. I did suffer with indigestion’ish discomfort but it wasn’t painful.I only had 2 tattoo’s too but to be quite honest they seem to measure you each time you go anyway-so don’t worry!

Had Herceptin no2 yesterday no side effects-thank goodness just dozy with the Piriton they give first!

I’ve also had the Manual Lymphatic massage at Rochelle house- what a lovely place!!! I’ve got to go back in January each day for 2 weeks.They gave me a Bach flower remedy aswell as I am so nervy-I’ll try anything and this time of year is quite stressful anyway!

Feel like I’ve come such a long way now.The chemo seemed to last for ever but now it’s already a memory-I can say that as my hair is coming back quite nicely now!!!

good luck everyone Jen xxxx

Hi Jen,
so nice to hear from you and well done for finishing rads. I was pleased to hear they are ok as I start on Tuesday. Not looking forward to the rush hour on the A12 every day and roadworks along the route too. Glad the herceptin is ok and I know too well how tired the piriton makes you. I nearly slid out the chair within 5 minutes of it going in, really gets me and slept for an hour in the unit every time I had it. Rochelle house is a great asset but I have not used it myself. When I needed it I was too unreliable to drive myself and had blurred vision for the last 8. My brother is one of the therapists there. How is the lymphoedema? I was wondering if you feel more able to get out now or whether you still find it hard.
Yes so good to finish chemo and surgery done now too. Next stop rads for 15 days. I have started nolvadex d tablets, a brand of tamoxifen and anxiously await any odd side effects. I think I am on them for at least a year before changing to an aromatase inhibitor. I am so excited, my eldest daughter got engaged this week and what could more exiciting to look forward to than a wedding. It might not be till 2010 but hoping they will find a venue they like with a gap in the summer as she does not want cold weather. My hair is just like a short pixie cut but not full thickness yet so my head gets very cold and especially my ears. Othe people like it, but I don’t like short hair so takes some getting used to.
Take care and post when you will be at Rochelle house, if not back at work I might pop in for a coffee and say hi
Lily x

Hi Sharon/Lily

Thanks for remembering me. I can make the 18th for the dinner at the Fox and also a friend from the support group would also like to come. Do you need a deposit, if so let me know? Look forward to the evening. Hope Friday went ok, nearly finished now.

Lily hope your rads go ok and the weather stays ok for your early morning journeys. At least you have the rest of the day to rest and do other things. The time will soon pass. See you at the Xmas dinner.

Flora or Sh… you know who!!

Hi,
well what a good meet up it will be, look forward to seeing you Flora. Sharon, just to confirm that Bev is coming too now we have moved it to Thursday 18th. Is it at 7.30? Hope you and Tracey are both ok from the last dose. How did you get on? I can meet this week too if you are both up to it. Bev has a bad chest and cold so is keeping away this week, as on antibiotics and still not well. I start rads on Tuesday but not really thinking about it as more than a bother travelling. Hope that turns out to be true. Thinking of you. Hi to everyone else and please shout if you would like to join us
Lily x

Hi Lily, Friday was not too bad as they got the cannula in first time - I did take my hot water bottle and drank plenty of water. Feel out of it this morning and hot flushes!
I have not booked a table but they said they could fit us in and we xould order from the xmas menu. I thought 7.30 was a good time.
I hope all goes well tomorrow Lily and look forward to hearing what it is like! I keep counting down the protein injections 13 to go !!! Give my best to Bev

Hope everyone else is ok
Hugs Sharon xx

Hi Sharon,
so glad to hear they did not dig to Australia to find a vein!! It just makes such a difference if that day goes better, don’t you think? Had my first rads today and well apart from leaping out my skin evry time the warning buzzer went off really loudly, it was a breeze. Hope it stays that way. The challenge on this part is the journey each day and parking the car!
Hope you and Tracey stay reasonably well this week and see you next Thursday evening if not before,
Take care and looking forward to our meal out
Lily x

testing

Hi all, got real probs with my pc, won’t let me post most of the time, cheek of the thing.

Am slowly coming out of the fog of fec 4, looking forward to next week.

Glad rads are okay Lily, catch up with you soon

Tracey x

Hi Tracey,
juat a thought check at the very top on the right that you are logged in. Mine sometimes logs me out and then you can read things but not post yourself. I had a nice chat to Sharon this evening and I am looking forward to our Christmas meal. Bev will be showing off her new wigless hair style apparently!!
Look forward to seeing you
Lily x

Hi,
see you tomorrow, will be wearing something loose to fit all the yummy food in.
Looking forward to seeing you all
Lily x

Hi I double checked with the pub they can fit us in and oorderf rom the xma s menu and all is ok. I also will be wearing loose clothing just becoz my tummy has got bigger since starting chemo!!!

See you at 7.30
Love sharon xx

Hi,
Sharon, Tracey, Sheila, Angela, Bev - thanks for a fab evening and hope to see you all again very soon
Happy Christmas (I hope) to everyone on here
Lily x

I really enjoyed the evening too. I had a good Xmas present from the prof yesterday stable/remission, the hormone pills are working. No more scans planned for now. My hair can be left to grow!!
Have a great Xmas and New Year.

Flora X

Hi it was a lovely evening and even if the food was not as good as usual the company was outstanding.

Good news Flora and now you can relax and enjoy your Christmas.

Happy Christmas and a healthier 2009 to everyone if I don’t manage to get on here before.

Hugs to everyone SHaron xx

Hi everyone,
Flora what fab news, so pleased for you that they are working. Bet the Prof thinks he’s a genius!!!
Have a lovely Christmas
Lily x

Hi,
hope you all had a happy Christmas and that no-one was too poorly to enjoy the 2 days. Tracey and Sharon I think you have probably had another dose this week so I will keep my fingers crossed for you, that this one is kind and not too horrible. When can we have a meet up? I am fast approaching my return to work again arggghhhh.
Only 2 rads left to go and then I am cooked!!!
Lily x

Hi Lily, have sent you an email but wot about meeting up the end of next week - I cannot remember when you go back to work?

Love sharon x