Doh! Can I still blame chemo brain - or was just the late hour and two glasses of wine?
Dx
Hi all
Am visiting seroma swamp at the moment, or am possibly doing a dr who and regenerating lost boob!! Am hoping for poss drainage on wednesday when I go to get results. After this I intend to lounge by the lagoon for a bit. How is everyone today?
Morning all… I’ve discovered some more woods, next to the DDWs… WorkWoods… I found a few old friends in there when I peeped in… they send their love and wave… I’m going to tiptoe in to WW tomorrow… would someone keep an eye on Soddit for me? I love the thought of DrWho type activity… we could find ourselves the other side of where we are before we know where we are… or something…
spiced apple cobbler for pud today… Jane
Morning Woodies,
Alls quiet in The Woods, which I can only presume means all is well with everyone.
I’ve now got 4 rads to go. I’ll have finished active treatment (disregarding the 1764 pills) virtually to the day that I found my lump last year. The champagne is already in the fridge, the restaurant is booked and I’m having to admit to the fact that now I really can ( and really should) go on that diet.
I’m starting to make preparations to leave: I’ve patched up my tent and given it a good clean, I’ve collected my empties and put them in the bin, I’ve said my thanks to BringITOn and PositiveThinking (although PT was a bit haphazard in her support) and I’ve visited the office of CompetantCoping. CC has given me lots of advice and info about the potential traps and pitfalls awaiting in the Land of Ned but I feel because I know of them I’m in a better place to deal with them.
The Woodies have grown and changed over the year, with Campers moving on and others joining. It has kept me sane, both from the fears that crept up as Gremlins and the boredom that is being stuck on the sofa. I can’t thank you all enough really.
So, I’m hoisting the ‘2-fingered-salute’ in honour of all the Woodies that have passed thru’ this way already, for those who are in The Woods right now and those waiting to enter.
Xxxx
Hi Staycalmandcarryon
I’m moving in on Friday, is that tent of your comfortable? I’m doing it all back to front and getting chemo first then op, I’m off to find out what thats all about later today and should get first session on Friday all being well with bloods. I’ve been thinking it’s a bit quiet in the woods lately, but reading these posts have kept me sane these last couple of weeks (only 2 weeks, it seems a lifetime!) I’m looking forward to drinking in the bar and lounging in the lagoon (I think!) and all the cakes sound wonderful. Good luck on the other side of the woods, I look forward to catching up with you next year
Weme
Hi
Very best of luck SCCO and hope you have a lovely time in the land of NED. I,m in seroma swamp at the moment but am hoping to lie by the lagoon tomorrow in comfort!! Results day tomorrow so a bit jittery today, will by visiting JM for a large one to celebrate your NED. M
SSCO… thanks for introducing us to the DDWs…which have been a life-saver. It seems to me, that NEDLAND is not too far away, because it is quite easy to pop back in for a quick snifter and chat… I had my first day back in WorkWoods yesterday, well, first morning, and I felt very woolly-brained, but I expect it’ll come back. In the meantime, if anyone finds a spare brain whilst looking for lost hair and eyebrows, that might be mine… Day off to recover today, before working the rest of the mornings… There is hope ladies… it DOES end… (sort of)… Now then, I’m needing a fresh coffee, so the pot’s on… any orders? Oh, sorry, (whispers) you’re all still asleep… I’ll tiptoe round… (even quieter) coffee’s still on…
Dear wood dwellers. I have been watching you from my nest in the yew tree, where I am devouring a bacon roll…yum yum. So pleased to see some are taking more than an odd trip out. Take care and don’t forget you have left lots of apprentices who will be here for some time if you need to come back in for a group hug and quick drink. No forget the quick …why hurry.
The seroma swamps will end for those trapped in them…bit like chemo…you will escape. We are now stalking around the rads rushes trying to skip the thoughts of the last couple of poisonings.
Still looking for my badger pelt …but this frog will turn into a Princess this afternoon at the Looking Good Session. I don’t know how they will do it but it’s worth a try…do you think they will find my eyebrows and lashes?
Take care in the big wild world don’t let anything bite you.
Cackles
Hello Woodies,
So pleased you are moving on SSCO and nearly through treatment.
I have fallen off my ‘lets be healthy and kick this BC’ wagon over the last couple of days…I know, it’s nice to think I have some control over it’s advance and will do me no harm… but a family size cadbury’s caramel and i didn’t even feel sick???
And this is me who had no appetite last week! lol, what a shame I still cannot face a wee glass of wine.
Wonder if we could have a wee cocktail bar in the woods and I could have a Scottish Mojito like they do in the Newsroom, Edinburgh? Yum!
Take care all, Carolyn x
Hi all, I’m so pleased you are coming to the end of active treatment Scaco, and am sure that we will all miss you loads when you finally venture out into the wide world.
Hello and welcome to the new woodies, I hope that you all get through all your treatments without too much hassle, and remember we are all here for each other.
As for myself, I’ve finished active treatment but am on tablets for at least another four years to will be back and forth until I get the all clear.
Besides I’d miss you all dearly if I left too soon.
Okies so whose for a drinky poo’s in the JM then ?
Eunice x
Mine’s a G&T, with extra ice to help with the hot flushes.
Jane xxx
Hi-de-hi campers,
SCACO - thanks so much for lighting the way through the DDW, a life saver for me too. It is great that active treatment is coming to an end for you as you move on into NedLand - wishing you all the very best that life can offer, I’ve enjoyed and will miss your wit and humour - I hope you pop by for a cheeky snifter sometime.
I have just left Rads Rushes last week and am stuck between Tamoxifen Towers and Herceptin Hollow, so I guess my ‘active’ treatment is done too (apart from the 3 weekly Herceptin Hit). I’m also going to leave my messy tent for NE to sort out. Please can you check the lighting on the way out of the woods for I think it may not be long before I need to follow you outta here - just not quite ready for a full-on moonlit flit just yet…
I would love to read all 657 pages of this thread but alas Im hoping I can come in at this point and catch up with the anagrams, and new words im seeing all over the place.
Hello everyone, can I join you on the odd occasion - I was recently diagnosed in September, a WLE & SLNB in Oct which showed 2 type of cancers in my right breast, both graded 2’s and also 2/3 nodes involved. I found the first lump myself but the 2nd was discovered via pathology - nothing showing on the mammo’s of the 2nd cancer which is frightening me.
anyway - I start Chemo on 9th Nov (4 FEC and 4 TAX), having a hickman line fitted next Friday. I am having an Mx after the chemo has finished, then Rads then 12 months later, if wanted a breast Recon.
So here I am standing outside the woods about to take my first tentative steps in and saying hello to everyone.
Hello Libralady
Welcome to the woods or DDW as they are sometimes referred to. Don’t stand on the outside - come on in and pitch yourself a tent by the lagoon. There are some empty ones that have been left by others who have now moved on to other parts, some to the mx marshes, some to the rad rushes and others to tamoxifen towers. Most people take their time to clear out the rubbish from their tents but you are best checking first to make sure no naughty gremlins or feral eyebrows have made a nest in there.
There is a JM Bar (Jingling Merkins) where free cocktails are served 2/47 - behind the bar is the stores tent where you can pick up a spare tent and flamethrower which is always handy to have when the negative gremlins start getting too close to the camp site.
You will soon feel right at home here - we don’t tend to talk about very serious matters in the DDW - it is more a place to relax.
I have been here since June - had 4 x EC and 2 x TAX - still 2 more TAX to do and then I shall be venturing forward through the woods down the path to MX Marshes.
Hi libralady
Come join me in my tent by the lagoon, bring a bottle, sit down and relax, I’ve come out of the Mx marshes and been to seroma swamp for a few days. It’s lovely in here and quite fun at times. I.ve been here for a while now and had quite a few laughs along the way. Stop by the stores tent and pick up supplies and we’ll see you later. Look up in the yew tree Cackles will be up there in her nest. M
Welcome Libralady… I find I’m an Oldie now… joined the Woods in May, having been through Mx Marshes… walked through the dark wood looking for sleep fairies and fighting off gremlins (and laughing LOTS along the way at the antics)… then into Rads Rushes and out the other side into NEDland and Workwoods. I still pop back in to see how people are doing… there is also a patisserie Yurt which serves delicious calorie free cakes and pastries… bonfires at night… the great thing about these woods is that whatever you want can happen. often the more bizzare the better! There’s also a chapel, brought in by Mavis, for us to chill out in and light candles for each other (or anyone else we feel concerned for). So, grab an empty tent and a flame-thrower and make yourself at home. These are YOUR woods now…Jane
Hello Libralady . The natives are very friendly to other would be apprentice woodies such as poor me up here in my nest in the yew tree. ( second Tax chemo tomorrow so awake tonight on steroid high) . There are swamps, nests , tents , fairies Merkins - Mavis knows how to knit them— smelly thingsftom her pattern … Something to do with fish scales. Having said that Mavis is one of the August Ladies like myself…absolutely mad but a delight… She will lead you to the chapel if you get lost and there you can light a candle. I have a well for great neut fishing pre chemo and super trooper has the odd jar she will lend you sometimes. She has been a bit short of late herself poor thing. Gremlins are chased and seroma swamps cursed. Many of us have lost our hair so if you should stumble across a tatty badger pelt with blonde ends it is mine. Much loved but long gone. I did recover my eyebrows yesterday at a Looking Good Session in the depth of Oxford. Fantastic goodies to be shared. Back today to the bald frog rugby ball ahaped look. Such is life. Have a drink on me tonight, I am going to stick to the soft stuff in preparation for the grotty Tax. tomorrow.
I can’t find those d… Sleep fairies tonight. So a quick trip down to the lagoon a long chat with the ancient ones who are our leaders and fantastic Oracles sometimes. A nice drink of chocolate to help with the sleep ( would rather a Lamumba (rum and chocolate yum yum…Hic… Hic ) but skiing is in the past bo ho… As for now forget the drink there is something more important I AM HUNGRY cake please girls. Nead to do some baking after I get back from poisoning . Only one more to go after that… Whee !!! Felt like Lemon Drizzel last time I had chemo but fancy carrot cake tonight. Saw it on Good Food website while making Christmas chutney today.
Every now and then those that are now back out in the real world come back to help us like SSCO , saphy and Rev Cat etc. Etc etc +++ mines of info and sanity…
Hugs of welcome to all old and new.
Cackles xxxx
Hi Libralady, welcome to this mad mad place yes I am Mavis the good witch,but can knot merkins (it really is a skill the curly hair is knotted like rugmaking in miniature on fishskin, scales removed and dried)I too was like you lurking silently on a log wrapped in my Harry Potter invisible cloak and received such a welcome when I came out from under,a lovely funny fantasy place to be,the woodies are so quick witted I am always amazed,my fellow woodie Cackles believe me is a tad crazier than I!!
THE CHAPEL IS IN A CLEARING NR THE MX MARSHES A LOVELY PLACE FOR MEDITATION,YOU ARE FREE TO ENTER AND LIGHT A CANDLE.Look for Gratefulness.org search for group DDW many people light candles there it is nice to sit awhile.
Love and Light Mavis
Hi (whispered)
I’m sending the sleep fairy along Cackles. She said she’d had enough of listening to OH’s snores and deserted her post in my tent.
Come on Buggerit and Soddit I have a Gremlin to find. He sneaked out to the Unit with me yesterday and grabbed my Hickman, nearly tugging it out, so I have to go in again today to have it checked out. (didd’nt spot how far it had moved til I got home late last night.
NE I want you up out of your pit to beat the bushes to find him, and PB, I’ll even let you hum lullabies for the tent dwellers if you chase him out of the undergrowth, only hum mind I dont think lyrics are necessary.
Sleep soundly girls, I am on a mission and NO Gremlins will get past me this morning.
Love and <<<hugs><br>
June</hugs>
Right then Woodies, I’m off.
Although terrifying and menacing at the start, these Woods have become a place filled with kindness and support. There have been moments of total terror when Gremlins have been roaming and I have sat shaking in my tent with flamethrower at the ready, but also frivolity and laughter.
I hope that for as long as they’re needed The Woods continue to offer and give the amazing support that I’ve encountered. I’m sure I’ll pop back every now and again to shine the torch from the other side, or maybe collect some of the empties from the beer garden.
Best of luck everyone.
Xxxxxxxxx