Morning all. Insomnia is back with a vengeance over last few nights. Embolorry, I know what you mean with the fog, my head is fuzzy, feels like not really here but going through actions and so so tired even doing the slightest of things. Body aches and just listless. How did the tattoo’s go? I have none and my rads ones will be my first. Dots weren’t exactly my first choice, would prefer a rose ?. Keep asking the O/H and he says you will be fine. Reddi, thank you so much for sharing your story, although the children aren’t biologically mine and we only have them at weekends I still worry on their experience of all this. They love me and I know it but I feel guilty exposing them to this and bringing it into their lives. And yes I know I didn’t ask for it either and through choice would have passed on the whole experience. Sounds horrendous but I have to admit that have in my moments told the other half he has an out, that he and the kids don’t have to go through this ? he says they do and he has no choice as he belongs by my side. Wouldn’t want him anywhere else but have to give him the option to protect himself and the kids. Does that make sense? Thank for the comfort in the decisions front, I just feel after the rollercoaster since March I can’t rush into anything mentally, as treatment and shock still clouds my judgement. God knows we have all here had so many ups and downs that we need to cling onto and damn well enjoy the positives. The little things and the big things, the cake, the ice cream, the cuddles, the kisses, the love and feeling loved. The joys of being human. The hand is better than it was still swollen and cracked and a little tingly, chemo bruise still there. Moisturiser on tap for it massaging in throughout the day. Everything feels so dry. Georgie, I hope you are doing better my lovely, and will be let out soon to enjoy your home comforts. Unusual blood work does sound scary, fingers crossed ?? for you xx
Kip, how you doing after your final T? Did you do a dace and breathe a sigh oh relief (just for that moment that that part of the journey is done) hope the s/e are manageable and you pick up soon ? thinking of you. KTK, I have the tablet stuck in throat feeling, and heartburn too. Feels sort of like a big burp wanting to release but doesn’t go away and the first mouthful of anything is usually sore even water. Had it on T1 too but more pronounced on T2. Warm liquid to sooth feels best for me, and saucy stuff. Gagging on anything too dry. My staple atm chicken noodle soup ?, can taste the flavor ? and it help my throat. google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1869/chicken-noodle-soup%3famp
On a good note though, one of my gorgeous friends has decided to hold a Macmillan coffee evening in my honor, so will be ?? off for a night surrounded by my friends and loved ones on Saturday if feeling ok. Coffee evening, I hear you say ?. Well, I doubt there will be much coffee 
more like wine ? beer ? ? for them and tea for me (may be a small rose ?) we quite often have family days/nights where we all get together but they have been neglected as of late. I really looking forward to good company and some laughter. Might even wear my pink wig that I brought for October breast cancer awareness, although I think I may look like Stephanie off Lazy Town ???. Xx
Thanks Lisa. Feeling better today so I think I’ll have a go at the soup. Said to OH last night that I would ring chemo unit today, which is a guaranteed cure. Really should have rung on Sunday but was scared they would tell me to come in!! It sounds like your OH and stepchildren love you very much. How lucky are you to have them in your life!! Kxx
Y’all are so lovely. But I’m not brave to share – it’s just my life. My hesitation about sharing was my uncertainty about whether sharing would give a little bit of comfort and ease – or instead set off different emotions. Comfort and ease were my intention, but human emotions aren’t entirely predictable.
@Kip I have the lines on my nails starting from FEC. A friend whose father had chemo mentioned that he’d had them, so I have been on the lookout. I believe mine are Mees lines – white bands without apparent ridges; Beau lines have ridges, too. I find them fascinating, a little badge of what my body’s going through, and one far more decorative than my pale scalp!
Morning all,
The doctors came to my bedside with aprons on yesterday and told me that the mystery blood causing the query, has tested positive for MRSA.
This is of course means that for the moment at least, I need to settle in and call my isolation room home.
I was really tearful yesterday but coming coming to terms with it today. The antibiotics for the sepsis were not covering the MRSA, hence the extra one, which is pumped in IV by the nurses once a day, like some of the chemo drugs are. They think it may be in my mouth / throat / downwards… may have some tests.
Georgie Gee is not a happy bunny ?
Wow Reddi, I have the white lines without ridges and now know the names… you are so informative about all this stuff! It is incredible to have a visual guide as to how much chemo is going in isn’t it, its my new thing to bore my family with… after the fluffy head hair that is. Is anyone developing fluff on their face too… not a good look but I think I read it does go eventually, I just don’t want it giving my head hair a run for its money or I could be joining the Greatest Showman!
KTK - you sound so like me, I put off ringing the hotline in the fear they’ll call me in, then when I do ring I usually feel so much relief I wish I’d done it sooner… apart from the time they took me in… grrrr!
Lisa Marie - the Macmillan coffee evening sounds fab, my niece did one for me at the pub she works at, felt so honoured bless her! Enjoy that little bit of Rose, why not, as you said we deserve to enjoy the little things in life! I do think you are making the right decision to leave those big things to after treatment and then address them, too much to decide right now, need to get yourself feeling better, think of the wedding and then decide. And bought a tear to my eye to read about your stepchildren, they are very lucky to have you by the sounds of things! And as for giving OH and out… very brave too but I get that as well!
T 3 is ok so far, only day 2 though so usually get the tongue going awol about Friday, have just had to ring the GP to request Fluconazole as they forgot to give it to me at the hospital, I did ask and she said I would have it but then it didn’t turn up! I like to have “just in case” and started taking it as soon as the tongue got furry last time and it didn’t last half as long and no ulcers etc so daren’t risk not having in the house.
Also got to chase the ONC nurse again as they want to get my planning for RADS rolling so that these happen as soon as possible after surgery to try to ensure I can get it all done without Xmas getting in the middle… was told to ask at chemo but the nurses said they couldn’t do anything about it… so more chasing around today I think.
GeorgieGee - hope you are feeling ok today and may be getting out soon?
CDC - how are you feeling today?
And anyone else I’ve forgotten… have a good day, be strong… big hugs…
Kip
xx
OH dear Georgie, but at least you know what it is. Isolation room was better than ward I found though and had own bathroom. My antibiotics were pumped in by the nurses too, every 4 hours although they couldn;t find an infection! Did have a bad mouth/throat though.
Take care, I’m sure once the antib’s get in the system you’ll be home before you know it. Get some good books brought in. Do your visitors have to wear aprons and gloves now too? Mine did, so funny watching them threw the door trying to pot on an apron, they always seemd to get them on unfolded… Although my OH and kids didn;t have to wear any gloves or apron as they “had come from my home environment” which I couldn’t understand as they had walked through a car park and through a bloomin’ hospital to get to me! Weird.
Take care
Kip
xx
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Hello ladies
Does anyone have any tips on what I can use on my scalp - it’s quite dry at the moment. Wasn’t sure if to use face moisturiser or body moisturiser or if there is something out there more suitable? I’ve read about olive oil or almond oil - has anyone else used either of these?
Thanks in anticipation,
Sue
Sue, I’ve answered you on July thread ??
Shi xx
CDC ??A’s is oct17 ladies said to each other, we’ve got hold of each other’s gold hot pants on here as we were spinning around on chemo ???We were a proper dancing thread and had a tune a day that do Karana used to upload ???and by the 6th one it felt like we were doing the double Dutch like in the Malcolm mcclaren video, you just gotta keep going ???you are all strong and amazing, keep focused ???Shi xx
Hi Everyone, hope you are all hanging on in there.
Shi - I love the thought of gold hot pants… although don’t think I would be rocking the look but the thought made me smile, and as for the music, thats just great! I can’t even manage to type a response without having to edit it 100 times, let alone upload anything! You posts really do keep my going and all your little tips too.
CDC - Can’t believe you are still having to chase ONCS and appointments too, how frustrating but enjoy that extra SE free week. Hope you get it all sorted soon and can get the better hospital/ONCs etc.
KTK - how are you feeling now, any improvement with the swallowing?
Lisa Marie - hows things with you today? Hows the arms/hands doing, my thumbs are so dry at the moment, need lots of moisturising but the arm is ok so far, no pain from the chemo as yet.
GeorgieGee - big hi to you, hope you are bearing up in the old hospital!
Embolorry - hows the tats?
Anyone else I’ve missed off the list… have a good day!
Day 3 of chemo and still feeling ok, tired as the steroids are playing their usual game, but now back to 4 a day for 3 days and then off them - hopefully for ever more! I have the weirdest dreams when I do get a bit of sleep… last night dropped off then could see a large cruise ship (wishful thinking!) then it seemed like somebody called out “Jake”… which is weird because the only Jake I know is my old cat which died quite a few years ago… freaked me out a bit and woke me up… bloomin drugs. Mouth still ok today, just had a call from my GP who was asking why the hospital didn’t supply me with Fluconozole as their letter said they would be, I explained that had forgotten it and he didn’t seem surprised but is sorting it today for me, he also recommended sucking on Vit C tabs (the fizzy ones you disolve in water) as they help cut through the lardie mouth feeling and help with the thrush/ulcers.
Meant to mention the other day… my surgeon told me a tip for post surgery healing and scars under armpit area… she said roll up a clean pair of socks and keep them under your arm pit pressing down on the scar area as this helps with drainage and flattening the scar tissue too… if you have a small 
shape pillow you can use that and keep that pressed under the armpit area… I have the pillows but hadn’t thought about the socks, so might try that after node clearance. I wish all the professionals gave the same advice, I get different things everytime.
Love
Kip
xx
Hi Kip I am feeling loads better. Got up , went shopping, made chicken noodle soup ?, there! However, it is still a bit uncomfortable when I swallow and I can’t breathe deeply. And I have a bit of diarrhoea every day. 
I was given a Shaped pillow with the drain bags after surgery. It was really comfortable to put under my pit in bed. Interestingly, although I don’t think it applied pressure, the armpit scar is much neater and less visible than the breast ones.
Hope everyone is feeling ok today. Kxx
For anyone wanting a ? shaped pillow, there is a lovely group called Jen’s Friends that will provide them for the cost of postage. You can request a pillow or two via their Facebook page: facebook.com/jensfriendsmastectomypillow.
Mine are very pretty (no choice of color/pattern – but they sent me a matched pair), and they have been a godsend post SLNB; I know I will use them.bunches post surgery.
Indeed, I’m using them.now to prop myself in bed, as I hydrate and await 4th bout of diarrhea this morning before calling chemo hotline. I feel like crap (pun wasn’t intended, but there 'tis), but temp is 36.5 and there is a small chance it’s the lactulose prescribed for my “constipation.”
My chemo nurse said that my diarrhoea last time was due to constipation backup, but I knew it wasn’t. She then told me off for not ringing the hotline! Hope you are ok. Kx
No. 5 is the charm. Spending the afternoon at A&E.
Diarrhea. Now no. 7 of the day. Pretty much extreme end of Bristol Stool chart – and as I haven’t got an appetite, my lunch of arrowroot biscuits and Ryvita thins are not yet in the pipeline, so majority stomach acid right now.
Oh Reddi, I’m so sorry to hear that! Fingers crossed they sort you out quickly and don’t invite you for a sleepover.
I consider myself fortunate that despite the frequency of my bowel movements on T they in no way constitute diarrhoea otherwise I’d have barely been at home!
Day 14 of T2 here and mostly things are back to normal. Still can’t digest plain water or hard salad veg, but otherwise ok.
My big angst is my hair. It’s become apparent that I’ve had a couple of cycles recently where the cold cap hasn’t been fitted exactly and I’m getting some extreme thinning on the top of my head which is devastating me. Think old man combover. Going to the hairdresser tomorrow and hope she can work some magic, but I’m preparing myself for a pixie cut. Ho hum.
LJ
Hospital sleepover for me! Right now to replenish fluids; still waiting on results of bloodwork. Hopefully, the bloods will show no infection, and I’ll be home tomorrow.