Wish I could find a half-naked man in my garden, especially a doctor - he’d never be seen again! Think I have read somewhere about the grapefruit juice, we’d best leave it alone - my favourite too. Can’t stop long, have to toddle off to doc’s for my back dressing again. Nurse thinks it’s got even bigger and reckons it could take 3/4 months yet to heal, what a joke!I could always become a prop for a magician to ‘saw the lady in half’, not much effort needed on his part! x Jacq x
Hi Jackie,
Hope all went well with the dressings today? your back sounds really uncomfortable.
As regards the half naked man in the garden, it could really only happen to this particualr friend - everytime i see her she has another hilarious story for me!
Well, i think it’s time for me to wave by bye to my hair! I started shedding loads this morning, not just a few odd hairs - it’s everywhere! Thomas gave me his woolley hat earlier when i went to get some petrol, cos he thought i might need it - bless him x
Take care all, be back later, the dogs busy burying bloody biscuits in Thomas’ bed again!
Lou xxx
Hi All and welcome Nicky. So you’ve done the Moonwalk, I think it’s such a great event and one of my colleagues did it a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, saying the atmosphere was fantastic. I must say I’m not one for much exercise but I do like to walk. I have asthma (which doesn’t bother me really) and bronchiectasis (which does!) and tend to get chest infections more frequently than I’d like. But I know that exercise and anything that works on the cardio-vascular in particular is very good both for my lung condition and BC. All those endorphins that get released lift the mood and I think that’s def what I need. I see my onc on Monday (3rd FEC next Thursday) and will ask her advice about starting some ‘proper’ exercise.
Lou, so the old barnet is going, what a bummer. Have you seen the pictures of Jade Goody - her bald head looks magnificent whereas mine is patchy, wisps here and there and not really very attractive. Never mind, I’ve gotten used to it and that was a big hurdle for me. Do you live in WSM? I was born in Somerset and have family there. I really love parts of Dorset, too. In fact the whole of the west country! Me and OH would like to retire down that way eventually, but have to put up with London for a few years yet, I hope! It’s so true about nosy people and yes, EVERYONE has said to me that I look really well. I spose some people don’t know what else to say, and it’s better than having people turn round and walk the other way when they see you coming - that’s happened to me a couple of times. And I was the one who ended up feeling bad at having made them feel uncomfortable! Oh well, onwards and upwards! My daughter had a wisom tooth out today, poor love was meant to have the two bottom ones removed but the first one was so problematic - consultant had to be called and tooth eventually gotten out in 5 bits! - they’re gonna remove the other one at beginning of March, this time under sedation. She’s been so brave, and we are hopeful that the removal with help her ongoing vertigo problem so fingers crossed! I too have heard about honey being good for helping bloods - there’s something called maluka honey from Oz or NZ and it’s ‘live’ so has very good antibacterial properties. It’s very expensive tho so am gonna speak to onc or chemo nurse for advice as it may turn out that normal honey is just as good so no good spending upwards of £20 a jar. Well, my son is cooking us some pasta - yes I have him very well trained! so hope all have had a good day. Will check in later, love and hugs, Pat x
Hi Pat, Lou, Jacq and all! Just lost a whole post…gggrrrhhhh!
Jacq, hope your back improves soon-sounds really uncomfortable.
Pat, you can get really nice manuka honey for £5 a jar in a very well known sm which has “This is not…” as it’s ad! Even without it’s therapeutic properties it tastes really nice on toast! The hair thing is the bit I am dreading most but am getting mine cropped tomorrow to lessen the impact and also to avoid having to use a hairdryer, as at the mo I couldn’t survive without a hairdryer!! Got a bit of positive news today from the nurse on the chemo ward who said I should be able to keep swimming on weeks 1 and 3. I had thought I wouldn’t be able to for risk of infection and I rely on it 3-4 times a week to keep the swelling down in my legs from the lymphoedema from the previous cancer surgery, so hopefully I will feel like it when the time comes.
Lou, glad to see you are managing a vino-you need some pleasure in life!
Well better go get food on the table-both daughters home tonight so it’s all go-until they start bickering…!!
Love and hugz,
Lyn xx
Hi all,
Been to see the ONC today in preparation for 2nd chemo on Monday, she’s now prescribed me tablets for constipation instead of movicol also some tablets for indigestion. Also discussed dental treatment… can’t have problem wisdom tooth out till end of treatment, or I can postpone the treatment for 2 months have tooth out then resume treatment. She said carry on with pain killers and antibiotics should keep infections away.
Eldest daughter has just managed to cook spag bol, think she’s creeping as we bought her a car yesterday, then found out she’d run up a large bill on her mobile!!!,
Youngest one, aged 10 and with special needs, has managed to lock her phone completely, she’d had it 25 days, cost to get unlocked officially £45, only cost £48 to start with!!!
Anyway just as I said I hadn’t lost any hair it’s started to come out in small amounts and as of yet not noticeable, will carry on with cold cap on monday and see what happens, in the meantime am going with mother in law to have wig fitting tomorrow. Friday taken up with doctors and bloods, then going in to school to meet the new head, if she’s in.
Best wishes to all
Alison
Hi All, Lyn thanks for the tip about the honey, I’ll def give it a go. That’s great that you can keep swimming, my onc said days 10 to 14 are when the immune system is at it’s lowest (counting day of chemo as day 1) so that sounds good for you. Is the pool near you? I don’t know if I’d have the energy, although I realise that to cope with the fatigue I should exercise so it all makes sense. Alison, hope wig-fitting went well. I get mine next Thursday after 3rd chemo and am quite looking forward to it. Up to now have managed perfectly well with hats, but it may make me change my mind and give the wig a go, I just feel like I might feel self-concious although to be fair I felt that about wearing the hats and I don’t give it a second thought now. Sorry about the big mobile bill!! and has your other daughter’s phone been unlocked yet? Hope eldest daughters spag bol was suitably delicious! I too have had a bit of toothache but have been brushing rand rinsing religiously and hopefully it’s calmed down. I sympathise with the wisdom tooth pain as that isn’t funny. My daughter had one removed yesterday and she and my son has had problems with his, too. They tend to flare up for a few days and then the pain stops but because my daughter’s were impacted and causing swelling they had to go. Hope onc appt and bloods go okay. Is cold cap very uncomfortable?
Does everyone know about the free prescriptions thing? I didn’t so last month bought a yearly ticket but hopefully I can get it refunded. Apparently you get the form from gp who countersigns it and then fill in form and send off. Will do mine next week, at least that’ll be one less thing to worry about. Can’t see why it wasn’t done years ago, still better late than never. Well, best go and do something - not sure what! - love and hugs to all, Pat x
Hi all! I too am going for wig fitting tomorrow, taking elder daughter with me to get an honest opinion-OH would say it was “Fine”,without even looking at it…!
Well the peace lasted about an hour after my last post and by the end of our meal both daughters shouting at one another (over nothing!?), me in tears and OH sat in stunned silence…Oh the joys! However give him his due he spoke to them both later about how we should all be pulling together and got it sorted out-bless him!
Tomorrow goung to be busy with scan,visit to ward, blood tests and wig fitting-not looking forward to it. Has anyone else had a Muga scan,what’s involved and what does it show?
Daughter making risotto tonight -smells lovely-think she’s trying to make up for last night so I will enjoy it while the goings good!
Pat, my pool is 2 minutes drive or 10 mins walk from us-very handy!
Love and hugz,
Lyn xx
Lyn, good luck for tomorrow - I don’t know what the muga scan is but I’m sure someone on here will know. Enjoy risotto - and the peace! love Pat x
Evening everyone,
Not posted today, feeling very fed up as my hair has now really decided it’s going to depart. It started coming out in handfuls yesterday but today it’s going for it big time.I’ve finally managed to get a couple of hats that i’m happy with, so have been ‘practising’ wearing them - i suddenly feel very self conscious, more so than when i had the mastectomy? Is that normal??? does anyone else feel the same or am i having a ‘poor me’ day? I have been trying to find a lighter side to this but not doing very well. Poor Oh and Thomas have had it in the neck tonight, was trying to help Thomas learn spellings for a test tomorrow and ended up yelling instead, bless his heart, he just said - it’s ok mum, it will grow back, you can shout if it makes you feel better, i don’t mind - poor little chap, he’s only 8! feel like a real misery now. OH is very quiet - keeping his head down i think scared it’ll be off his neck if he says the wrong thing!!!
Sorry for moaning.
Lyn glad the peace has resumed in your house, fuses get very short and it’s hard for all, unfortunately we take it out on each other.I think we just forget sometimes and end up at each others throats instead of pulling together. As long as we understand that, the tough stuff we can deal with xxx ( says she who had psycho stamped all over her earlier!)
Hope you enjoyed the risotto, sounds lovely xxx
Pat, kids are great aren’t they? hope you got the bill sorted xx
Anyway lovely ladies, gonna try to sleep, could have slept thru anything earlier, now i’m wide a bloody wake!!!
sorry to winge, maybe feel better tomorrow? only another week and on for 2nd FEC,that’s come round sooooo fast!
Catch up again 2morrow,
Luv to all,
Lou xxxx
Pat!!! sorry confused - not your daughter with the big phone bill but Alison! DOH!!! chemo brain again, anyway, hope it’s sorted Alison???
Goodluck with the scan on Friday Lyn, don’t know anything about a muga scan i’m afraid xxx
going now before i cause even more confusion,
Lou xxxx
Hi All, Hope everyone’s doing okay today. Weather was awful this morning so poked head out the door and that was me for the day! Lou, I feel the same, my emotions are all over the place and I could quite easily jump down people’s throats for the least little thing sometimes. I’m recognising a pattern though as, the third week after chemo, when I feel pretty normal the prospect of the next one looms. But at least I know what to expect, just wondering how the second lot of 3 x Taxotare will be compared with the FEC. Trying not to look too far ahead and just deal with the day ahead. How did appts go for people that had them today - all went well I hope. Will catch up later, going to do some online shopping for daughters birthday. Love and hugs, Pat x
Thanx ever so much for that Pat, still feel fiery today! some chap from a window company parked right in front of our house and the i watched as he proceeded to walk across the lawn to get to next door! mmmm, he got the ‘dont mess with the lady on chemo’ speech an all!
It’s nothing really, spo’se life is too short to get bothered by such small things but i go from 0-60 in seconds these days!
I’ve had a bed stripping, washing cleaning thing going today in readiness for next dose of FEC next friday. I’m hoping that i might feel better than the first one but iff i’m prepared for the worst - i’ve had a request from the family for another mountain of chilli in readiness!
Well hope the online shopping went well Pat? It’s our wedding anniversary next week so i have got a really lovely card for OH, i think he deserves a medal for putting up with me!
When is your next treament Pat - how did you find the FEC???
anyway, off to ‘empty’ my new hat of my hair!!! i seem to be competing with the dog at the mo!
Hope everyones having a good day?
Hugz to all,
Lou xx
Lou, I have my 3rd FEC next Thursday, then I’ll be half way thru! I must admit I personally found the 2nd one better in terms of nausea - had the cyclizine then, but worse as in sore more, horrible taste and generally felt like poo! But I do have an anxiety problem which reared it’s ugly head just before 2nd chemo so I believe that had a lot to do with it. You’ve got the right attitude, just be prepared for anything and then nothings too bad. I too had a burst of energy earlier so did quite a bit of housework, but my arm/hand starts to swell when I use it for more than a few minutes at a time so I’ll just have to put the ironing off for another day! Just bought lovely daughter some stuff from amazon, I usually love going to West End and browsing for stuff but can’t face it at the mo so onlines the next best thing. I did virtually all my xmas shop online including the food and I’d recommend it to anyone. How many years marriage will you be celebrating? I have 2 biggies this summer, my 30th wedding anniv and my 50th. I agree, my OH deserves a medal too, and it’s so hard for him to see me like this and not be able to ‘fix’ me, that’s what they feel they should do, isn’t it? Still it certainly pulls you together and you also find out who your friends are. So the hairs coming out a bit now? My head is feeling quite cold now! but I’ve stopped wearing hats indoors so I must be comfortable with it now. And just think, it’ll soon all come back and probably a different colour/texture than before. Let’s just think of it as something to look forward to! While on amazon, I bought myself a dance/fitness dvd - I love dancing and think a bit of cardio might do me good, plus lift the mood. Will let you know how it goes - if I make it thru the first session! Bet your chillis lovely, haven’t had that in years. Hope everyone else is doing well and looking forward to their weekend. Looking forward to BB final tonight - I love Verne but would also like to see Ulrika win. Well, I can smell spag bol that my son’s cooking so must away to eat! Love and big hugs to everyone, Pat x
Hi all, was sitting in Bart’s clinic today for 3 sodding hours, then in there to see oncologist - who said that I was made of strong stuff re: having had hardly any side effects. I said, I know … I don’t know what I’m doing here really. Then I tossed my hair and smothered the poor sod! Got about 10 hairs and a nit left! Last day today without a wig. Got to have a practice for the rest of the night, as am going out with my 2 daughters tomorrow, and if it’s not just right … well, you know what they’re like. They said that back wound has got bigger, what the … ? but will leave it for now (i.e. til end of chemo - 18 weeks!) and then prob do the skin graft at the same time as they do the surgery to remove the rest of lymph nodes. Great, only about another 90 daily trips to the docs for dressings! Know what you mean about losing it, I really just can’t be near people - full stop, at the moment. God knows what me and my youngest with be like tomorrow, we clash at the best of times. If you hear of a major disturbance in Lakeside tomorrow, you know what’s occurred! Think Valium … close eyes …hummmmmmm. x love to all x Jacq.
Hi Jacq, it’s just so wrong that people wait 3 hours for an appt, I’ve been pretty lucky and I think the longest I’ve waited has been 20 mins but that was enough as the appts can be difficult. I’m sure wig will be fine, I tried on my ebay one today and had a laugh with my daughter - it looks fine with a hat over it! Long golden locks, quite pretty really but I look so strange with hair now. Have fun at Lakeside and just try the old ‘count to ten’ it usually works for me! I wonder where all the anger comes from but my fuse is so short lately. Sounds pretty rotten having to wait all that time re; your back wound. I guess chemo affects the healing process. Well, have a good evening and enjoy hitting the shops tomorrow. Take care, love and hugs to all, Pat x
Hi all,
I know what it’s like to wait,after my first appointment when I went back for results, they told me to bring a sleeping bag as it would probably be a long wait, appointment was 4.40 pm. You get there early, advised to go and have a cofee, went back at 5.30, finally called in at 6.45pm, came out and had chat with BC nurse, left hospital at 7.35pm, luckily they hadn’t checked the parking ticket. Finally arrived home after 8pm, it was also my daughters 17th birthday, certainly a day I’ll never forget. Since then most of the appointments have run to time or within half hour.
Anyway on a lighter note, I’m also having fun with the wig, got mine yesterday, but when I tried to put it on with the kids watching they just burst out laughing, every time I tried to brush it into place it brushed off backwards off my head, by the time OH came home and I tried to show him I was a laughing stock. Here’s hoping I don’t lose too much more hair. I shall persevere with the cold cap again on Monday, the 3 weeks seem to have flown by can’t believe I’ll soon be taking all those pills again, infact even more as I’ve got a laxative and indegestion one aswell.
Went in to school today to see new head, she didn’t even ask when I was likely to be back, and said I could go in whenever I felt like it and become like a parent helper. She didn’t even mention that our hours are going to be cut, but she can’t do anything to mine till I go back. Can’t complain It’s because my daughter finishes there that TA hours are being cut, she is the fully statemented and has one to one, they won’t be getting as much money in the budget once she has left.
Sitting here in a very quiet house with a large Bacardi and coke, OH at work till stupid o clock, says he’ll have to drive home, son staying at mates after football tonight, daughters one on MSN and attached to I pod, other watching her own tv, even the cat and dog have deserted me. Think I’ll get another drink and get me PJ’s. on. Busy day tomorrow, shopping, chauffeuring kids and ironing, OH on another late shift.
Nite all, will let you know how No 2 goes.
Alison
evening all!
Bless all of you that have beenin hospital for hours and hours today. I think we all realise that everyones appts are important but waiting is so dreadful. When I hadmy first appt. with the oncologist to discuss my chemo, the nurse came out and called everyone that was on the list and in the waiting room - guess what? I was last (i always am!!!) she ambled over, explained that all names before me were first - and i would i like to go to the restaurant for lunch beforehand? 2 1/2 hours later i was called! It’s not the having to wait but we are not sure of what were going to be told.
Hi Alison, peace reigns in your house tonite and enjoying a Bacardi and coke too - great!!! enjoy every mouthful!
I managed some vino again tonite - counting down til the taste buds go again end of next week.
The hair saga countinues, it has been deserting me big style for the last couple of days - today i could stand no more lumps falling away,OH attacked me with the clippers!!! it feels so much better now even though it’s bloomin short!
Poor Thomas got very upset saying he didn’t want me to lose my hair, OH spent ages with him trying to explain - i think he’ll be ok.
Pat, we’ll have been married 8 years on 27th Jan - not long reallly ( i have been married before, but not for very long!) It seems that ever since we met, weve had crap thrown at us - the Monday after we got married, i had the letter from the hospital to say i had abnormal cells and cervical cancer, that was 2001 and here we are again!!! I celebrated my 40th in Nov last year in Hospital - i had my mastectomy the day before, i decided i would celebrate properly in Nov 2009 - after all, it’s only a Birthday!!!
Oh Jackie, what a day you’ve had xxx Oh kept saying to me yesyerday - stop, your pulling the hair out -NO I’M NOT!! it’s falling out by the handful - aaarrrrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! ggrrrrr, just made me so mad.Hopefully you will be able to enjoy the shopping tomorrow -the wig will be fine!!! I’m still with hats at the mo - still very unsure about wigs, maybe when i go back for the final fitting i will feel better about them.
well, think i may go off to bed now, i could have slept on a clothes line yesterday, then when i went to bed i couldn’t sleep! hopefully tonite will be different!
Sleep well everyone,
big hugz,
lou x
Hi all!
Well hospital appointments went well yesterday and compared with some of you from previous posts I must have been lucky, as we were taken on time for first, 45 mins early for second and 2 hours early for the 3rd!! Discovered muga scan is to give base line for heart perf for comparison during treatment-asked if I would get any feedback, to be told only if something was wrong! Didn’t hear thankfully!!
Fitted for wig and my lovely daughter said it looked just like my hair had done before I cropped it…it looked like a WIG…uuuuggghhh, and felt so unnatural, but I suppose if the choice is that or nothing I guess I will cover up!
Best of luck to all facing 2nd and 3rd sessions shortly, and being a good Scot, we are having haggis neeps and tatties tomorrow!!
love and hugz,
Lyn xx
Hi All, Lyn, glad appts went well, it’s lovely when you don’t have to hang around for ages. I did google muga scan and saw that it’s to check heart function, I think they do it if you’re having a particular chemo drug. Obviously all was well so that’s great. I know what you mean about the wig, I chose mine in December but don’t get it til Thursday when lady is available to cut it for me. Maybe we will get used to it - I felt very self-concious when I first wore a hat out (I’m not a hat person) but now I don’t even think about it. I think as along as it feels secure, it’s fine. I’ve just been to local shopping centre and I was all wrapped up as it’s so cold, but as soon as I got in there, I wanted to strip off, I wished I’d had the bottle to take the hat off, one day I think I will! But you can’t do that with a wig, can you!!! Happy Burns night for tomorrow! My daughter was due on 25th Jan (1984) but she held on til 28th!
Lou, hope you managed to sleep okay, that’s one thing that’s not been affected up to yet - touch wood. As long as I get at least 7-8 hours I feel human, well almost! Seems like you’ve had a bit of a time with your health, sorry if you’ve already said it in previous posts (blame chemo brain!) so what treatment did you have in 2001? You must be a very strong person Lou, and I’m sure birthday this year will be a good one for you. And that goes for all of us, love and hugs to everyone, Pat x
Hi Pat and Lyn,
well, woke this morning and OH was laughing, i’ve lost an eyebrow over night!!! - it does actually look quite funny, may shave the other one (?) lol!
Lyn, i didn’t have any treatment ( except hysterectomy and all lymph nodes removed) - they said at the time i didn’t need any chemo or radio. Obviuosly now i’m beginning to question wether i should have? i did ask the dr about that, and she said there was nothing on the notes that it was a spread from last time - and i was just unlucky.Then of course the consultant said, they can cure what i have but they can’t promise to cure me??? I’m thinking now that maybe this may occur again in the future? pessimistic i’spose but lots of questions that have gone unanswered.
Anyway, hope everyone is having a good sunday? i’m really chilly now that the hair is all but gone, but getting used to it - hats are the only thing for me - i feel very self conscious in a wig.
Were off out this aftey with sister and brother in law ect to watch a game of Rugby, then going out for some tea which will be nice.
Will post again later, have a good day, thinking of those of you that are having more treatment/ and or surgery this week,
Big hugz,
Lou xxx