Hi Helen, Sal, Lisa, Td, Liz and Debs
Read your entries - what a lot going on out there…
Lisa - good luck with the interview (although I’m sure I read somewhere that you wouldn’t want to be made perm - something to do with your HOD?) And even better luck with the chemo at 11 - do tell us all how you get on.
I am seeing the onc on Friday this week - so will know what pleasures await me for the future - there will be a few of us starting around the same time.
Helen - your onc sounds a blast - just the type of character you need in a situation like this - don’t want anyone who delivers doom and gloom - can manufacture that meself - by the bucket load if was of a mind - but I’m not of a mind - I am very positive about this - and with the massive boost that this forum gives me - I have recommended it to a l,ovely girl - 38 - who had a mastectomy the day before me. She isn’t cpoing too well at the mo - her cousin has recently gone through the op, chemo and so on.
I was over the moon when I went to see the consultannt and bcn last week - the girl I was in hospital with wanted the bcn to give me her phone number - so I rang her - and we are getting on really well - she is 38 and I’m an owldy at 54 - but still have a great sense of humour and like to be up beat about things.
Off now - but will be in touch soon
Lots of love to all
Pam
xxxxxx
Hi Ladies,
How are you all? 2nd chemo tomorrow.I wonder if the hair will survive another session.
Lisa-Good Luck tomorrow.I will find you again you know! You can’t run forever!
Helen-Your onc sounds fab.The guy I have is also very nice and down to earth.
Pam-I’ve managed to"mother" a couple of girls I met in hospital.I think it helps if you share what you’ve learned at this time.I’m amazed at how knowledgeable we all become very quickly.It’s a pity we can’t get a degree at the end of it all eh?
Tricia
Evening girls-
good luck tomorrow lisa - hope the chemo is better than the interview and that both are fine.!
re being sick - I think that on the whole, it seems to me, that if you take all the drugs they give you it REALLY HELPS! Also, DO drink the 2-3 litres of water - it is difficult - keep a bottle in the fridge, add squash if you need to and ICE ICE ICE!
Sorbet has also been brill…
It’s now day5 post first TAC and I’m doing ok still - got a day with baby girl (3) tomorrow so hoping to still be feeling ok - not banking on it though so have friends roped in too…
Also, feeling a bit ungrateful because I’d really like to have a few LESS visitors… I’m not bored or lonely, yet - but the phone goes constantly and the bell rings often… still, better than the other way around!!
Keep the love up!
Td xxx
Evening Ladies,
Good luck tomorrow Tricia for your 2nd session. We will get together at some point.
Td - glad you are feeling better. Good luck with the little one tomorrow.
Pam - thanks for the kind thoughts, yeah I don’t want to go back but beggers can’t be choosers and we aren’t in the position financially for me to be out of work. I pay all the big bills, mortgage, insurance etc, OH pays the groceries and day to day living stuff.
Helen - my onc is a bit like yours but maybe not as funny as yours sounds. Hope all goes well between now and 11th July.
Hello everyone else.
Thank you all for your kind words, Tricia and I will be feeling rubbish together after tomorrow but I am sure I will manage to come on and tell you how it went.
Mind you after the nurse taking 2 attempts to get blood today my veins are already giving up before it even starts.
Love and Hugs
Lisa
xoxo
lisa hope all gos well 2mor x
sal
Right ladies it is now 08:30 I am about to hit the shower.
Leaving the house at 9ish to go for my interview, then home, changed and back to almost where I have my interview.
The joys, fingers crosse I get started today.
Talk to you all later
Love and hugs
Lisa
Dear all
Hope everyone is ok.
I havent been on here for a few days as really have been taking things easy trying to get that silver nitrate paint to do its wonders with my wound. Went to see my BCN yesterday with the idea that I would be cancelling my chemo appt for tomorrow but she said there has been huge improvement. There is only a very very small hole which should seal over the next couple of days and adviced me to phone the city hospital where I will be having the chemo and ask what to do. I phoned them yesterday thinking they would postpone it but said ‘come along’ and they will get one of the doctors to assess me as to whether I’m allowed the chemo or not. My stomach keeps going over.
Debs - hope you are feeling ok. How are things going now.
Lisa - good luck today. I will be thinking of you.
Take care everyone.
Claire x
claire
im glad that your scare is heeling now …and i bet your tummy is going over , i start next tue and mine is like a roller coaster…
but you go girl best to get on with it then you will finish sooner …
you take care
sal
Hi Sal
Im ready to go for it tomorrow but am being realistic at the fact that they might say ‘still not ready’. I’ll probably being hyperventilating if they say yes its ok. Im not the bravest patient by far!!
Let me know how you get on on Tuesday. I’ll be thinking of you.
Take care
Claire x
Hello everyone,
just thought I’d pop on and report how I am feeling.
The day got off to an OK start, had my interview and there were only 7 on the panel so not too bad, will know tomorrow but not holding out much hope.
Then rushed back home changed dropped the little lady off at my mum’s and then up to the hospital.
Got called about 11.15 to do height and weight so they could mix the cocktail right, I have put on 6kg since my first op on 23rd April.
Then went to the hairdresser but not sure the wig is me, my mum is coming next week when I am going to get it so she can have her say.
Then they hadn’t got my notes so had to wait for them to be sent.
Saw the Dr, not onc, who went over all the side effects again and then I signed my life away.
They gave us a bit of lunch and then about 1ish I was eventually taken down to the chair, lol.
I got out about 2.30.
They had to have 2 attempts at getting the butterfly in but once in felt nothing going in until the last one.
Had about 8 syringes in total, 5 anti cancer and then the steroids and anti sickness and saline flush.
Then let go.
Came home and slept but the nausea has been building up since, I’ve taken an anti sickness tablet but didn’t help, been sick once and can feel it coming again.
But other than that feeling fine.
So on the note I will love and leave.
Clare - glad they are going to give you a go tomorrow, good luck honey.
Love and hugs
Lisa
xoxo
Hi lisa
glad you seem to be ok … bet your glad it is finaly starting …
but no to glad of the sickness …
hope the wig will be ok and look nice …
sal
Afternoon Ladies,
Thanks for the kind thoughts Sally.
Well what a night, yuck.
I spoke on the big white telephone 4 times last night, no sooner had I tried to eat something than it came back up, including anti-sickness tablet.
Needless to say I didn’t get much sleep, think it was around 4 when I was eventually getting into a deep sleep. I had moved to the sofa as I just couldn’t get comfy in bed.
It was very strange got this real tingly sensation all over my body which wouldn’t let me sleep, must have been the steroids me thinks.
Abby came in at 8ish after searching the bungalow for me, she eventually found me in the living room, bless. I tried to get back to sleep but no doing.
On a brighter note I feel much better this morning. I have had pineapple, a small bowl of Irish stew and some minstrels and so far so good.
I just feel like I have a tuch of the flu, no temp so think just my body getting kicked from the inside.
The red pee has susided so the water is working.
I am now ready to get my long brown hair chopped off, although I think my mum isn’t so keen.
I got 2 bouquets of flowers today, 1 from the 3 kids (courtesy of MiL) and 1 from the boys, who are in Spain (think my mum did those ones).
Oh and I didn’t get my job either, cried a bit at that but I wasn’t really wanting it any way. Just scared now how we are going to cope with the finances, but I will cross that bridge in a few days.
There is a job in Belfast Zoo going I think I’d fit in there better lol.
I am beginning to seriously think that someone up there doesn’t like me. Just need to figure out what to do next.
Anyway, loads better today.
Hope all you lovely ladies are doing OK.
Love and Hugs Lisa
xoxo
Lisa. Sorry you’re having such a mean day, sickness and not getting a job, that is someone being cruel in my book. Or maybe there’s a better one around the corner when you’re a bit more ready for it. Do talk to you BC nurse about finances etc as they know all the bits. It is hard when you don’t have a regular or fixed income I know
I’ve been self employed for 10 years, in fact it’s the anniversary of starting the business about 3 days after my 3rd fec, now that’s how to party… NOT 
You’ll get through just deal with today today. I’ve found it helped to make a list of things to do and plan my days a bit so I can at least feel like I’ve made some headway.
Thanks honey.
Yeah I just need to get some sleep, feeling tired but don’t want to sleep now and not sleep later.
Congratulations on the business, I think teaching is just not for me I have so many hurdles to cross to get here and now this just makes me think nah, time to move on.
Not sure what to though but I am sure something will come up, fingers crossed.
Love
Lisa
xoxo
hI LISA
WELL DID YOU SLEEP BETTER ???
Hope so …crap when every thing is turned upside down …
sal x
Surprisingly Sally I didn’t.
I was up till about 1 then Abby woke me up again at about 8. I tried to get her dad up but he fell asleep straight away.
I’ll let him sleep till about 11 and then go back to bed.
How are you honey?
Im ok …thanks for asking
getting abit wobbly if you know what i mean…
thining iv only got 4 days left befor my life changes for 4 month’s
been buying hats scarves and all the bite’s that you need like toothpast creams and will get some other stuff on the weekend …you know you cheno list …
well hope you get some sleep around 11ish
chat soon
sal x
Thanks honey I’ll try.
Listen the thing about this whole experience is that everyone is different, we all react differently to the drugs.
I met a colleague and his wife at the hospital, she told me to only have tea and toast for dinner, which I did have but it was the wotsits and ice lolly I had before that!!
You will be fine, it is scary and it is invasive especially when we go in to the hospital feeling fine and then a few hours later could be unwell.
I will say to them the next time and hopefully they will adjust the anti-sickness medication.
I have most of the stuff I need but still feeling “normal” what ever that is so am trying to do the same day to day stuff as always, but it’s all there for when I need it.
You take care and try not to worry too much, I know it is easier said than done.
Loads of love and huge big hugs (((((((((((((((((((Sal)))))))))))))))))))
Lisa
xoxo
Hi all
Hope everyone is ok.
Have just returned to the land of the living after spending the night beside my sick bowl like you, Lisa. My onc looked at my scar and said yes to getting started on the chemo so off I went. Wasnt too nervous until they had trouble getting the line in as my veins had gone into hiding. It was ok after that though and all the chemo went in very quickly. All the staff were so lovely to me. I just cant praise them enough.
I felt fine until about 6.00 when I started to feel ill, sicky and headache. Was very sick all through night and phoned hospital twice and they changed the dosage of the tablets. They were fantastic and very supportive. I think my night sounded very much like yours, Lisa. I felt funny heavy down my legs and had an uncomfortable feeling across my stomach. Horrid taste in my mouth. Feel much better today.
Sorry you didnt get the job, Lisa. Something good will happen soon. Keep your chin up. The job at Belfast Zoo sounds interesting. Absolutely love animals. My employer tried to make me redundant 1 week before I was diagnosed and I know that I will need to get a new job too soon. Dont think I could go back even if I was well as I really dont want to be there anymore and want a new little job. Next year has got to be better than this one.
Sal - Ill be thinking of you next week. Like Lisa says everyone reacts differently to the drugs. I have always been a very sicky person, had really bad morning sickness, sea sickness, etc.
Take care everyone.
Love Claire x
Afternoon all!
Everyone sounds so poorly today. I’m on day 7 now of first cycle and it’s getting better…
Don’t worry Sal - everyone says that word ‘doable’ and it is. I didn’t buy the chemo list, and I haven’t needed it either, but it is nice to have an idea of what is going to happen.
this first cycle has been ok - I’ve had a lot of gastric problems - minor nausea, not going to the toilet (can’t say constipated as such as it’s not been ‘hard’ to not go, just didn’t go!) followed by diarrhoea (or maybe that’s just ‘loose’) nasty taste in mouth, sides of mouth going white (not thrush, just white, like the cells died. They probably did!), ulcers, and HEARTBURN like I’ve not had since being pregnant! Bit achy, not much. Slept ok til yesterday, tired for 2 out of the 7 days…
I do feel that I’ve got off lightly, but it will probably get worse… Also expecting to loose my hair next week…
Hope things are improving for you Claire & Lisa! And love to everyone as always
Td xx