@tessie86 I bought two cheap zip up hoodies from Asda and just washed/wore for the first 3 weeks bc apart from a couple of quite formal work blouses I don’t have any other front fastening tops. The hoodies were quite soft/cosy which was comforting.
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@tessie86 I had surgery Friday and I’m back in my normal jumper today, so just a couple of hoodies maybe? Slip on shoes is something I hadn’t thought of until my first surgery and this time it just made it so much easier!
Surgery really is fine, especially after chemo it’s much easier! It’s just the build up and the thought of it is stressful x
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I was too!
@loupy @nib32 Thank you! I guess it’s like everything else we have been through, the fear of the unknown!
But the thought that this time next week, in theory the tumor will be out of my body makes me feel very happy.
And after chemo this is going to be super easy to recover from!
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Thank you so much @dilly @nib32 @tessie86 @loupy , that’s very helpful and comforting. I would never have thought about the shoes, totally makes sense.
It seems that everyone agree in terms of chemo being the toughest part but I am still quite apprehensive. It’s such a long journey.
To lighten the subject, I saw my oncologist last week, she did not think she needed to examine me, she was a little taken back that I looked so disappointed. 
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@dilly flipping heck! Well you can’t accuse them of mucking about I suppose. x
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@loupy this is reassuring. thank you for sharing x
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@Jaygo when’s your surgery again? Sorry if you’ve said… just saw on November you said it’s next week, I’ve lost track of when everyone is facing their next hurdles!
@nib32 hows your neuropathy now? Hope it’s a bit easier x
@Mairead_49 I’m so sorry your chemo is cancelled again. It is truly shit.
Time off work sounds like a good idea to completely rest and recharge.
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@tessie86 @prisci @Jaygo and anyone else who has surgery coming up..
Just a tip that I found useful.
I ordered some Water Wipes from Amazon which ended up being a godsend in the first week when I couldn’t shower my top half. I actually got some coconut scented ones and they were lovely and refreshing. It just helped me feel a bit better being able to wipe myself down, under armpits, other boob, neck, back, etc.
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@loupy no don’t worry, it is next Thursday. I will be glad when it’s over. xxx
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@poptart oh thanks for this, really helpful. xxx
@Jaygo I found the last week went actually quite quickly as I tried to get bits done that I thought I wouldn’t be able to do after, turns out I can actually do most things and it was only the first two days I couldn’t do much!
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@Jaygo I found the pain worse in the second week, but then kept leaving it too long before I took pain meds so it got worse than it needed to be 
I had a full node clearance and was surprised just how completely numb I was, down to my elbow. But now I’m 5 weeks post op and it’s almost back to normal.
Everyone is different, but I was determined to look at my scar as soon as possible because I guess I wanted to sort of make friends with it? I asked a nurse who was checking the incision if I could have a peep and I was glad I did because it set my mind at rest that I had definitely made the right decision for me.
For all our October friends coming up to surgery, you got this! It’s massive, terrifying, the huge unknown…but we are stronger than we think! I found all the staff I encountered were so kind and compassionate. We are all here too, cheering you on from the sidelines and beaming out love xx
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Oh wow brilliant news @loupy this is really encouraging and is helping to take the dread factor out of it a little.
I do remember two days after my lumpectomy I walked myself in to town and back to have my hair washed as I was so desperate, so I will be fighting tooth and nail to get back to normal as soon as I can.
Won’t need to book a hair appointment this time though 
xxx
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@dilly thank you so much for sharing your experience as well. It is really helping to take the fear factor out of it for me. It also reinforces the nurse’s advice to keep on top of the pain with pain killers. Given that I am an absolute chicken sh!t when it comes to pain I won’t need asking twice to pop the pills.
I’m also massively encouraged that 5 weeks on you feel almost back to normal. We have booked to go to Worthing for four days exactly one month after the op. We’ve splashed out a bit extra on a beach front property with spectacular beach views so we can enjoy watching the sunset, hopefully with a glass of wine in hand.
Oh, and then that is where the much craved seafood lunch will be happening.
Lot’s to look forward to, and I will hang on to that. You’ve reduced my worry that we’d booked it too soon after the op.
We all know what an incredible army of support we are surrounded by, not least from the wonderful medical professionals who are working tirelessly to get us through this. But, I wouldn’t have wanted to do this without all you lovely women in my corner.
Thank you all for being you. xxx
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Oooh @Jaygo what a fab getaway to look forward to, just what the doctor ordered!
My first Kadcyla has been reinstated to 27th March so I guess I’m ready to go 
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@dilly gosh, all systems go then. I will be with you all the way.
Meanwhile, here is the sea view I will have in Worthing. Not too shabby.
xxx
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@dilly thank you! I’m so glad you said that you had full node clearance and you were numb to your elbow as I was starting to worry that it was a bad sign!
@Jaygo glad you’re feeling a bit better about surgery - we can do this shit! When my drain was leaking on Sunday I thought to myself this time last year I would never have coped with this, now I’m much more laid back - oh it’s only a bit of blood 
The one good thing about surgery this time round was the not worrying about my hair and what it looked like - the benefits of the buzz cut look 
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