It was so lovely to see you all today and as promised, our new thread with new title and here’s to page 1 of our next journey where we have moved on from being the ‘Terrified’ ladies to new beginnings including reconstruction.
I have to say something about our dear Teacup/Tricia first though. We’ve had a very very sad and upsetting start to the year and I just wanted to post to say that although we have started a new thread, we will never forget our dear friend Teacup so here’s to you Teacup on our first page - we will never forget you - you were so special and so loved.
As you know, I had my pre-op assessment today before we met and am most likely to be called for my operation in April although I had a called from the hospital asking me if I could come in on 27th February - of course I said no!!! Skiing is much more important So I have two major surgeries coming up within the next few months -yikes! I had all kind of tests done, heart ECG, blood tests, lung function test, questions taken about my medical history etc etc plus weight and height - which seem to have levelled out now thankfully. So now just waiting…
Hope everybody got home safely. I ended up shopping for sweets and chocolate - my weakness in life in St. Pancras as it would have been rude not to especially with the Neuhaus chocolate shop which had been beckoning me from the moment I saw it! Cecelia and Karen you are a bad influence on me!
p.s. should I have opened this up under just living with breast cancer?
Yes it was great to see everyone yesterday and say a heartfelt goodbye and RIP to Teacup. And here we are with new beginnings. Quite exciting really. It will be interesting to see what 2010 throws at us next!
I have posted a message on “Terrified” letting everyone know that we have moved to the new thread and I really hope all the lovely ladies who dropped in and out of that thread will stay with us on this one.
It has indeed been a bad start to the year losing our dear Teacup and we are all still quite raw from that. Needless to say this new thread does not mean we’ll ever forget her and as Ruby says she should be with us here on the first page of New Beginnings.
Well done on your assessment ysterday Ruby, I know how hospitals make you nervous and worried, so great that you have all your tests out of the way and can get a date in for your op once you’ve come back from ski-ing.
Got home ok yesterday, absolutely drenched because I was wearing thin socks and pumps stupidly! My foot was quite painful the past few days so couldn’t wear my boots and got wet feet! Think the Aromasin is affecting my bones, but have a doctors appointment on Friday so will ask them about it. Perhaps I need an X Ray, (as if I haven’t had enough of those).
Anyway, chat soon, let’s make as much of a success of “New Beginnings” as “Terrified” turned out to be!
What are we on Recon!!!
Oh no thanks! I am fine as I am.
However as I mentioned I am on the list to have my man boob ( fatty lump below my armpit) removed in the next couple of months.
Great to see you all yesterday. Sorry you got drenched Cecelia, seems I travelled the furthest and stayed dry, never leaving the confines of British Rail.
Bad influence Ruby? I seem to remember we refused the chocolate!
Chat later
LTA
Kx
Thank goodness you got back ok Karen! Remember thinking they were no longer saying that Paddington was closed as Jo and I went down into the underground.
Had a great day out again today having lunch in the Chinese restaurant with a work colleague. The weather could not have been different! It was just lovely today.
Off to see my step daughter and grandchildren tomorrow. Feeling tired but happy already!
Hi all
great to see you all yesterday.
It was indeed a very sad way to end the terrified thread but it feels like exactly the right thing to do.
Ruby we will be following your reconstruction experience very closely - looking and learning.
Much love to all
Jo
Have a safe trip Jo.
Had a day cleaning in anticipation of my prodigal cousin’s visit. Not seen him for 40+ years. Just to make the most of the spring cleaning I have invited some friends over on Sunday to stay for a few days!!!
Hope you are all well today.
Thick fog and pleanty of rain again.
Is there snow on the way?
LTA
Kx
Aargh! My connection has gone mad. I was trying to say hi Karen! And that I had a lovely day yesterday with my stepdaughter and grand children. They are such a joy to me. Had I ever had a daughter she would be the one!
But help. I have to give this talk at the opening of the MacMillan implant in my hospital soon. Has anyone got any experience to relate? Any anecdotes about needing and not getting information?
Sorry about the unintended pun! MacMillan are opening a new information place in my hospital. Honestly I think I was spoiled by having the breast nurses but can exactly see why it is brilliant for people with other cancers. Either way I seem to be the “patient” who volunteered to say something about how it felt. So I will. But honestly Cecelia it would have been great for you about benefits and work related problems? Or not? Any thoughts welcome!
Ho Dilys
A talk about MacMillan by Dilys - wow that sounds like it should have some fun in it for you. I went to the village panto last night but don’t think any of the jokes would be suitable.
You may joke but I am getting nervy! They are opening a dedicated cancer information centre at the hospital and I have been voted in as the patient to talk about my need for information, how much it will help etc etc. I come between the hospital’s Chief Executive and the Deputy Mayor of Newham. Eeek. Of course I was ok as we had the breast nurses but actually for other cancer patients I don’t think there is that luxury! I’ll think of something!
Well I did contact my breast nurse at Charing Cross when I was having difficulty paying bills and she nominated me for a grant and they sent me a cheque for my electricity bill. Also I asked them to intervene when I was being pressured to sign my redundancy termination of employment agreement. It was just after chemo and just before my operation and I couldn’t think about anything else. I contacted the Macmillan nurse and asked her to send an email explaining what was happening to me and why I should have an extension.
She was incredibly helpful and sent a graphic email explaining exactly what had happened and it worked!
Those are the only problems I had really but Macmillan were so very helpful. I’m so grateful to them
Dilys - public speaking hey! that’s great bet you’ll be fab.
Cecelia - like you, I am extremely grateful to Macmillan who helped me out too.
Been to gym today - funny thing happened though. Had just got onto a machine when I was conscious of somebody standing right by me - almost over me. I pretended to ignore him - it was obvious he was waiting for the machine I was using but I wasn’t going to be bullied off it. He then tried to get my attention (I had my music on) by clicking his fingers to which I sort of heard something along the lines of I want to use this machine…I said well I’m using it and he said can’t we share it…funny that - have you ever shared a machine at the gym with a complete stranger or more to the point have the cheek to behave in this intimidating way (this is the way he was behaving and the tone of his voice)! Anyway I purposely felt I had to stay on the machine for longer as a result of that which I did and he waited for ages (right over me) and then wandered off. Bloody cheek! Very strange behaviour.
Am off to a friend’s house for dinner tonight so looking forward to a nice chilled evening.
HI Dilys
When I hadn’t been working for quite a while, my car came up for tax MOT and insurance all at the same time. I asked for some help financially which provided and was so gratefully received. I remember very early on my sister getting in touch with them to ask what I was entitled to in terms of any benefits etc.
Been having a lovely weekend, gym yesterday then went out with a friend to see A Single Man last night, which is a lovely film. Could have got away with being a short, but was really great to look at and very moving. Then a couple of glasses of vino and home.
Today went to see my friend who had the baby, he’s 8 months old now and so very cute, very smiley and now trying to walk and being very active. Went for a walk, coffee, food shopping. Was really lovely.
Bracing myself for Jury Service tomorrow, Yikes! Looking forward to it really.
Sorry to hear about your gym experience Ruby. I’ve had people huffing and puffing beside me, waiting for whatever machine I’m on too. Blokes mostly, strangely enough. But like you I have completely ignored them and carried on with my regime, taking even longer! Some people are not very pleasant to say the least.
Glad we helped Dilys. Can’t stress enough how great the Macmillan nurses were with me. The email did the trick straight away and made people realise I didn’t just have a cold but was seriously ill!
Hope everyone else is OK this evening and hope you have all had great weekends. Jo in South Africa now, hope she’s having a good trip.
So I have two major surgeries coming up within the next few months -yikes! I had all kind of tests done, heart ECG, blood tests, lung function test, questions taken about my medical history etc etc plus weight and height - which seem to have levelled out now thankfully. So now just waiting…