I’m just watching Lipstick as well (on ITV3 +1). I was diagnosed last Thursday with BC and had a WLE on Monday - back to consultant on Wednesday to find out what’s next.
Struggling to take everything in, so thought Lipstick might be quite helpful!
She xx
Welcome She, Hi again Caron,
Yes I watched Lipstick the other day, as it’s a true story it gives you a bit of hope, especially those who’d like kids.
Don’t know what we’re doing today, might just take it easy, although youngest Ant and girlfriend/fiancee?are supposed to be popping in today. They’re off for a short break tomorrow to Barcelona and need lifts to and from the airport. Good old dad!! I can’t drive, still in pain from rads although it is easing.
She,you’re probably still in shock from your dianosis. I hope its good news for you on Wednesday. The waiting is awful, but we’ve all been in your position and will give lots of support. We’re a light hearted friendly lot and you’ll get a few laughs along the way as well.
Love Kathy
Thanks Kathy - yes, I do feel as though I’m in shock. Don’t really know what I should be doing or saying or feeling.
Hubby is fab, but just keeps telling me that everything will probably be fine. He told me that before I went to have my lump checked, and I believed him : ( Poor soul, he is having to look after our 9 month old baby as I am struggling to even lift him at the moment. I know how lucky I am to have them both to keep me going!
I think I am going to be on these forums a lot over the next wee while. Thanks again
She xx
DETAILS FOR OUR LONDON TEA NEXT SATURDAY 13 JUNE
Just to confirm that we are meeting at 2pm at the Grosvenor Hotel London, 101 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0SJ.
I have booked us a table for afteroon tea in the GROSVENOR LOUNGE - the booking is under “Victoria White”.
I have checked with the hotel and they have an a la carte menu so you do not have to have a full tea if it is too much - but simply chose a cake or or scone and a drink. They serve lots of teas, and have a variety of cold drinks too… thinking of those with flushes…
The hotel is right next to Victoria mainline and underground station and there is even an entrance from the station concourse.
Looking forward to meeting you all!!!
PM me if you wish to have my mobile number…
Victoria x
Dear all,
Well I am out today under licence and I feel like a tagged prisoner who must return to the establishment before the bell tolls tonight at 7pm… and some five hours earlier than Cinderella losing her glass slippers and gilded coach when the witching hour calls. So I will be back in the Ward of King’s College Hospital on time so that I do not end up pushing a giant pumpkin and wearing Cinder’s rags.
It was good to leave the hospital this morning and was home by 9 am, after my morning injection of antibiotic just half an hour earlier. It was a grey and rainy on the way here by taxi. But I didn’t care. Everywhere looked fresh and new somehow, from the Saturday morning market, just a few stalls really in West Norwood High Street, to the cafes by the railway station serving breakfasts to local families who like a change from routine at the weekend. Ruskin Park and Brockwell Park were such verdant spaces among the urban terrain - and at one point I wanted to get out of the taxi and walk on the grass. But I am being sensible…
…So here I am enjoying the comforts of home until the early evening curfew. And I hope to do the same tomorrow until my final discharge on Monday providing my blood continues to improve by way of infection level going down and my temperature remains stable.
The change of scene certainly makes the hospital more bearable. I will go back to my single room that overlooks the hospital yard - where the porters trundle goods from first light through to dusk - and from where I can see the tops of the trees in Ruskin Park when I lie on the bed. But at least I can close the door and simply watch the shapes of the nursing staff going about their duty through the frosted glass. I have more privacy than the blue ward curtains provide…
I do everything I can to keep my temperature down, the ready indicator about the the state of my infection. It needs to remain below 35 for all the time it is measured. At night I keep a cold fan on maximum strength in case I wake up warm from the night and do not have a chance to cool down before morning observations.
It has been a trying time. The first three days I was on a course of antibiotics that were doing a partial job of killing the bacterial infection. Then the one they switched me to a more targeted one towards’Staph negative coagualise’ but itgave me an allergic reaction - so that my skin itched and turned bright red. To the one I am on now, which is working - and also happens to be newer and far more expensive… Having the hickman line out turned out to be scarier in the imagining than in the reality. It took a while but did not hurt, and still doesn’t. No pain killers - and stitch out in nine days.
I do thank you all for your good wishes and thoughts. They have helped to get me through the dark days.
Hope your skin is not so sore Kathy.
Jo - so very sorry about the baby - there is nothing I can think of that can console what must be such sad thoughts, except that I hope your little girl has the best party ever…
Suzanne well done on finishing half your chemo
Andie - your positive experience of rads give me hope
Gail - good luck with the job interview preparation - you will be fine. You have a good brain…
Caron - thank you for your daily messages.
Love to everyone …
Victoria xxxxxxxx
Oh Victoria, what a time you’re having! And it gives me a real attack of nostaligia to read all those old familiar place-names. I worked at Kings not long after I left school, in the lung research lab, doing early stuff on emphysema and mesothelioma - fascinating!
Hello all well I did go to sleep for about 2 hours!
SHE… welcome I have pm you (private message).
Well went to some shops today I got the odd glare which I just ignore now I had my scarf on but I put some make up on first time in ages it must be a long time cos Jordan said " you look nice mum".
Steve took Jordan out in his car and Steve said he is good he will pick it up in no time.
Then Steve was a taxi again and took Jordan to his girlfriends then his girlfriends mum wanted a lift back to where we live!
Chloe got up at 7am this morning waiting for her friend to come as she was going to the caravan with her parents they said they were coming at 12 for her she was like a cat on a hot tin roof! they didn’t come till 4 pm in the end!!!
Steve is doing chinese flavour glaze stir fried beef with mushrooms peppers & onions (yum) we are having gammon tomorrow makes a change we hardly ever have it.
Well all take care love Caronxx
Bet your all wondering when I sleep?? (so am I !!).
OHH Marble Barble what have you been up to?
Marble was hiding behind a box she was transfixed to the spot so Steve was looking for whatever she was concentrating on anyway Steve moved the fridge but Marble went to the back of it near the motor so Steve turned fridge off as he didn’t want to fry her!
Still he could see nothing so he got a straw and ran down all the grills (thats at the back) and a bloody baby rat fell out !!!
I swear I have not got rats in my house!!!
I told you all ages ago Marble & Minstrel (Binny) know where the rat hole is and go on hunts together!!
Marble must have brought it in through the cat flap (she doesn’t normally).
Marble usually plays with them till they die but this one had got her mad for hiding! so she snatched it back with a big hard bite and went outside with it!
Second baby rat they have had now in 2 weeks (it’s rat season, no it’s duck season, rat season , duck, sorry it was a cartoon only it wasn’t rat!)
Anyway an now thinking I might have to ring BCN up about my swollen ankles it’s now gone into my legs and Ive read it can be dangerous if the water collets around the heart or chest, cos it’s not going and bigger than ever I may ring her on Monday, maybe they will give me some water tablets?.( it does ache)
Had a lovely tea which was half done by me and half by Steve.
Right I’m off again hopefully I will get some sleep tonight?
love to all love Caron xx
Caron, wish I wasn’t still up, then i wouldn’t have read your message, now i;ll never sleep, I’ve got a huge rat phobia!!! Night night! Jo X
I’ve had 2 nights’ sleep running!!
The weather is awful, thunder and lightning!
We’re going to my friend’s today, she has 1 grown up son with 2 children and 3 adopted children, she hates cooking and I love it.Every now and again I go and cook for them. SO its at least 11 for lunch today,
I don’t think i’m in your league though caron!
The bad burn is not hurting as much now. IT looks horrible, really scabby. Under my arm is now giving me trouble, fortunately the doctor gave me plenty of dressings. I look as if I’ve been on the battlefield.
I went shopping yesterday, and although I shouldn’t I bought a beautiful dress. It cost far too much money. What I’ve saved on haircuts since last July have paid for it.
As for the hair I hate it, it’s not growing back quickly enough for me. IT’s lovely and thick, soft and curly! If anyone else tells me how pretty it looks I’ll scream.
I’m not coping with it. After all I’ve had 58 years of it being straight.
I have howevr managed to retain my nails, the ridges are beginning to go, so I can’t complain too much!
Victoria,Have you got another ‘get out of jail free’ card for today.Do hope you’re not suffering too much.
She, been thinking of you. Ican’t imagine how you’re coping with a little one through this difficult time. Wednesday probably seems a long way off, but I think when you know what your coping with, it’s easier to face. We’ve all been thereand know what you’re going through, so don’t forget to use us.
Love Kathy
Hi ladies,
Here I am at home again today. Kathy we had the same storm here. It woke me up early this morning. The lightening and thunder seemed to occur within a fraction of a second of one another indicating the storm must have been directly overhead at that point. It was about half an hour or so before first observations, and wanting to do everything I could to keep my temeperature down - I was sitting up in bed with the window open and the fan on full blast. I was so cold that I was shivering. All was okay though - first reading of the day was 36.2 - after which I closed the window and put on a thick shawl. Just two more readings to get through now (hopefully): this evening; and tomorrow morning. The nurse took my cannula out this morning, as it was starting to leak fluids when saline went through, and skin supporting it was also becoming sore. So it is the first time in months that I have been appendage free… going to have final dose of antibiotic as an intramuscular injection. It may be painful but at least it will be over quickly.
OH is working feverishly to get the house ready for Caron’s visit. Normally almost every room has clutter - and we haven’t been able to get into the dining room or two spare bedrooms for years - as OH a) doesn’t like to throw anything away in case it will become useful one day and b) is a compulsive shopper - tools and gadgets especially. The dining room is almost clear now, and Caron’s bedclothes are washed at least - now that we can at least reach the bed… but there still seems to be a long way to go… and I’m not sure how much more he can store in the attic. I am so tempted to order a skip and put everything in it… but the trouble is, he’d put me in it too if I did that!
Never mind, I’ll content myself with reading and playing evocative songs from my past like Billy Joel’s Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. Reminds me of summer holidays from long ago in New York, spending time in the different neighbourhoods.
Keep well everyone.
Victoria x
Sat here trying to write my presentation for Tuesday. It’s no good - my brain has gone. I have no ideas, no interest and not energy!
Hubby being very good and taking monster away so i can concentrate. When he’s gone i read one of the crappy shopaholic books and play with the internet because I am naughty. Back is still hurting so am looking up things about bone mets to cheer myself up!
Rained here really badly last night, but sun is starting to come out. The boys are going out to jump in muddly puddles! Forgot I was on rads and got into a bubble bath with monster this morning. Oops! Have quickly applied creams!!!
Rads went Ok last week until Friday when it took ages. At the end of this week coming, I will be half way though and will try to think positively. Seeing my chiro this week too and she always makes me feel good.
We are trying to book relaxing holiday for the Summer which will be nice. Could do with change of scenery!!
Back to dull presentation … Love to all …
Gxx
Laughing at JO rat phobia!!!
Gail why can you not have a bubble bath???
well i am beginning to wonder if Shelly is alright???
Well i haven’t done nothing all day trying to rest my legs!!
My legs have gone down again now but when I start walking they will balloon again!
I hope I can sleep tonight? as slept so much last night didn’t wake up till 3pm ! thought I was over that.
love caron xxx
Hi,
Bubble Bath - not meant to use those sort of products on rads!!!
I’ve finished my presentation…hurrah!!! It’s crap…but I’ve done it! Feeling proud, but had to eat a massive bar of chocolate to get through it!!! Am eating like a pig at the moment…
Off to bed now…which means for me also …waking up lots and watching late night TV…
Love all,
Gxx
Good evening Ladies,
I’ve just got off the phone from speaking to Simon, Shelly’s husband, and she wanted me to update you all on her latest situation.
As you know, they did manage to get away to Egypt after poor Shell had spent the previous week in hospital with pneumonia. Unfortunately, part way thru the holiday, Shell’s breathing and coughing got worse. She then developed a continuous headache which has resulted in her loosing her sight in her left eye. She’s unable to walk very well as she has severe pain in her right hip and knee. She soldiered on, for the sake of the boys, and they came home on Fri and after a 5 hour flight she went straight back into hospital.
Unfortunately she has pneumonia again, so she’s back on IV antibiotics. She has low sats, low blood pressure and deflated left lung so she’s now on oxygen and she has MRSA again to. She’s now waiting for a full body mri scan and further tests to find out what’s going on with her eye sight etc.
Hopefully Simon will keep us updated until Shell comes home and can post on thread again! I’m sure you will all join me in wishing Shelly well and I’ll be sending her some flowers to let her know that she’s in all of our thoughts.
Jo XX
Oh no…Poor Shell. Please send her my love. This disease is so so cruel…it makes me so mad. Fingers crossed she feels better soon and will be chatting to us again very soon.
Gxx
Oh shelly shelly shelly, please get better soon xxxxxxxxxxxxx
caron
Dear Shelley, I have been thinking about you a lot, and hoping you were well enough to enjoy Egypt. So very sorry to find out that you are still poorly, and sending all the good thoughts I can that you will be feeling more comfortable soon. Lots of love victoria xxxx
Oh, Shell,
So sorry you’re poorly again. Ihave been thinking of you and your family and will continue to do so.
With love Kathy
Hi Shell
So sorry to hear the latest news, sending you all my love and hoping you can go home to your family soon
Andie