Perfectly timed - my older son is on the train back from Uni at the moment.
Cultures have grown sufficiently to confirm that Flucloxacillin is the right antibiotic to go home with. I’ll come back on Tuesday to see the Breast team and I expect they’ll then remove the drain.
My own bed and less disturbances will be lovely.
I think I actually got 7-8 hours last night but so many disturbances:
Antibiotics at 01:00,
drip (eGFR level was low again) finished at 01:30,
obs at 05:00,
paracetamol at 06:00,
bloods at 07:00!
I’m eventually mastering going back to sleep after the morning disturbances. I only woke fully at 8.
Too many mornings here I’ve been up after the 5-5:30 obs/meds. That extra 2-3 hours today will make all the difference.
New opposite roommate, who joined us yesterday afternoon, is actually one of my neighbours at home!! She recognised me as the lady with the lively black dog who’s always walking past their house! They’ve only been in our road for a year, I didn’t recognise her or hubby!
Hi everyone, hope all had a lovely Easter weekend. @molly.m I hope you’re feeling a bit better Ailsa, the drugs you’re on sound brutal I’m so sorry you’re so achy and worried. Have you contacted anyone yet to chat through your symptoms? I’m so grateful for this forum, you’re all incredible women and I’m so honoured to be a part of what we’ve got here. Each day I look for glimmers, or at least I try to. I call them glimmers, I saw the term a few years back and they’re the opposite of triggers, little moments of joy to cherish, like the wind in the trees or a card from a friend… my hair looks very similar to yours Ailsa, it’s getting thicker and I love the earrings! Sending a big hug. @buggeringon mental rest really is as important as physical isn’t it, I’ve had a few cock eyed sympathy stares recently and they drive me nuts. The different stages of grief/loss/pain/recovery are exhausting and sometimes I just sleep to switch off the noise. It’s my daughter’s 21st tomorrow and we’re going to a Japanese restaurant in Cambridge tonight. I’m tired but determined to be ready for it by having a couple of hours down time now. @cathie2 ive had my radio confirmed, my CT planning scan is before my holiday to Bakewell on 17th then treatment starts on Monday 27th for 10 sessions, so that’ll be 7 weeks from surgery, which I’m glad about because my skin near my scars is sensitive, I guess it’s nerves. I just feel a bit more healing will be better for my poor boob. How are you doing? Drains still in? Any pain? And how’s your range of movement? @dizzy3 bet you’re happy to be home, are the antibiotics working and are you getting better sleep now?
I hear a lot of women have bone density scans after chemo for BC, anyone had this? I’m pretty stiff in the morning but it feels more like general aches from starting to be a lot more active rather than anything to worry about, I do feel like an old woman though! Also the hot sweats, when does that get better???!!!
It’s lovely to be home, spending time with my 2 sons & the dog.
This morning my mission was to get a clinic appt organised. Admin started by staying I have an appt next week and there are none available this week. I laid it on thick that I was discharged on the understanding I’d be back on for clinic, pointed out I have a drain that needs reviewing and probably removing and that I don’t want a 3rd infection!
By 2:30 I’d been allocated an appt at the end if morning clinic - I’m eking into their lunch break.
My boob feels so much better. There’s still quite a hard lump where the original seroma was but on the whole pretty good and mobility is much better. The CRP (infection marker) went from 199 back down to 8.8 during my week in hospital.
Let’s just hope I’m now rid of the infection for good!
I’m hoping the drain will be removed tomorrow.
Next stage radiotherapy and recommencing targeted therapy. Oncology appt is on Monday.
These last few days I’ve decided to eat some milk chocolate, balanced against me taking Co-codamol. Saves taking laxative or eating excessive amounts of fruit. Play the side effects to my advantage!
Haha I love this @dizzy3 - defo eat the milk chocolate! Also excellent work on getting the clinic appt. Next week my arse, so pleased the infection seems to have done one!
@story1 love the glimmers term. We use pearls - “gather your pearls” is a saying in our house to remind us to look for and appreciate those moments/things. Yes, the mental side of this journey is massive too. I like your sleep strategy. I hope you really enjoyed the meal yesterday and that you’re not too wiped out from it today. My sister (OT who used to work in a long Covid clinic describes energy in fatigue scenarios as being like a battery that you charge up with rest. She also described the six P’s - prioritise, plan, pleasure, posture(Some drain energy), pacing and permission ( to rest, put yourself first etc). A useful list that accurately describes the daily/hourly considerations before I do anything!
I haven’t had a bone density scan even though I’m on hormone therapy with calcium and vitamin d to offset chances of brittle bones because of it. Plus will be having the zolendronic acid too. It’s (scan) not a NICE recommendation from what I can tell. They’re mitigating the risk already, so I’m relatively relaxed about not having one.
Hot flushes - eased off for me a couple of months after dropping hrt cold turkey (am post menopausal). I’m getting them again now with the hormone therapy- am on month 3 now, they’re getting fewer now, so hopefully will be totally stopped in next couple of months.
Morning @dizzy3 well done getting you clinic appointment Glad your boob is feeling better. Enjoy guilt free chocolate!
FWIW my latest herceptin cycle has been a bit better, less pain for sure. I’ve done a fair bit of resting for social stuff this cycle, plus am that bit further away from chemo - not sure which is greater force on that reduction, but I’ll take it. One curious thing - pain has mostly moved from legs and feet to arm and hands. Hope your side effects are less than before too when you resume targeted therapy.
I’m drain free and the reg extended my antibiotics until next Wednesday when I see the consultant for my planned appt. She said the hard lump where the seroma was, will soften a bit but I’ll probably always have some scar tissue there.
I’m really looking forward to an unencumbered shower tonight. I’ll be a little longer before I can fully submerge I the bath or go swimming. The drain exit point isn’t stitched, it’s left to mend from inside out so I may get some oozing while it heals.
The only possible bad news is that due to 2 bank holidays they’re still waiting on histology results. Hopefully they’ll get them before Friday’s MDT and my subsequent appts next week!
When they ask you for prior addresses, make sure that you know the full address including postcode. I failed their id checks - chemo brain memory didn’t help (so be prepared). The caseworker wanted me to send original documents - drivers licence etc by post to verify and said that there was no in person option. Hmmm.
In comes the Maggies benefits advisor - she told me to take docs to local job centre and they could verify copies instead. Perfect. Did it this morning, all good. So should be able to progress claim now.
@emsd2025 congrats on finishing radiotherapy. Well done. Another huge milestone ticked off. Goo luck with the next appointment.
@buggeringon fabulous to hear you are starting to feel better. Small steps become bigger in time. Good luck with your PIP claim, hope it goes through smoothly.
@story1 glad you have your radiotherapy confirmed and you can get a short break in before you start. It’s so great to hear that you are starting to get more active. Hope you had a lovely time celebrating your daughters 21st I have had regular bone scans for a number of years due to the treatment (Zoladex and Arimidex) I had been on since 2005. I have had regular infusions of zoledronic acid over the past few years as I was subsequently dx with osteoporosis due to the past treatment. I think it is definitely a conversation you should have with your team as the chemo we have had can impact on bone density.
@dizzy3 Congrats on being drain free, what a relief. I can now say I know how that feels. So glad to hear your boob is feeling better. Hope the results are in before the next MDT and good luck for your appt on Monday, hope you get a clear plan forward.
I had my drains removed on Tuesday. Oh my word that was painful, was not prepared for it, I don’t know how it was for you @dizzy3 She did the right side, I had no idea it was coming as she was distracting me talking, sadly I knew what to expect for the left side Also had the dressings removed. I now have a lovely scar right across my chest. I am happy with it. Had my first proper shower today and it felt soooo great!! I can step up my exercises now the drains have been removed. I definitely feel I am getting more movement. Not had any painkillers so far today, will see how that goes later. It’s more tightness rather than a pain. I did a short walk (about 20 mins) yesterday and the same again today, and moving around in the house more. Results will be one week today – Thursday 16th. And then MDT the following Monday. I am trying to keep occupied over the next week, its just on the back of your mind all the time. Son is hear at the moment, he leaves Saturday and then youngest daughter arrives for next week. Kids are doing a good job keeping me distracted.
The sun has been lovely the last couple of days but it is currently tipping it down here, hopefully the sun will come back soon
Had gorgeous meal Tuesday night but late night and shattered yesterday. Took the opportunity to do loads of work, almost finished Kelly 14! My planning CT is confirmed for 17th then I can go to Peak District for the week knowing it’s all done x
xx
Also had the dressings removed. I now have a lovely scar right across my chest. I am happy with it. Had my first proper shower today and it felt soooo great!! I can step up my exercises now the drains have been removed. I definitely feel I am getting more movement. Not had any painkillers so far today, will see how that goes later. It’s more tightness rather than a pain. I did a short walk (about 20 mins) yesterday and the same again today, and moving around in the house more. Results will be one week today – Thursday 16th. And then MDT the following Monday. I am trying to keep occupied over the next week, its just on the back of your mind all the time. Son is hear at the moment, he leaves Saturday and then youngest daughter arrives for next week. Kids are doing a good job keeping me distracted.