Glad you got seen Peachez, even if you feel no wiser! Hopefully onc will be more decisive tom. Good luck for chemo.
Hiya All,
Wow, I go away from the woods for a couple of days and we’ve got the circus from Moscow recruiting and we’re now knitting beards!?
I’m hoping Donna brought the bringiton fairy back with her and left the SE gremlin at the hospital today.
The caravan sounds a really good idea and I’m now seriously wondering what the full moon last week has done to all our male kids. Yep, my DS has been having serious visits from pushmumsbuttons gremlin and letsbesasselfishaspossible monster whilst I’ve had a visit from the I’mknackeredafterwork witch for the last few days.
However, there is a plus in DD is being letshelpmum fairy in compensation.
Peachez - I did have very red/angry surgery scars after my 1st FEC but thought it was normal (oops), so maybe I need to mention to ONC on Monday.
Anyway hope to see some, if not all of you down the JM later, we’ll put some cushions in the quiet corner for those who’ve had treatment this week. 
lots of love
XXHXX
I will be donning the giant sunglasses and Audrey Hepburn headscarf tomorrow as I’m heading back off to the media tent in the morning.
Tomorrow is the day not only for my wig fitting, but for my lovely daughter’s haircut, and after speaking to the local radio station about it their newsroom phoned me up to ask if we’d be up for an interview for their news bulletins tomorrow! Oh, the fame is quite going to my head!
I think a calming bottle of Crabbies a the Jingling Merkin is most definitely the order of the day.
I think I can risk a nightcap tonight, then straight to the duvet. It’ll be another night or so before I’m partying, though. Has anyone found a bloodpressurefairy who keeps things on an even keel? I suppose I should be glad mine goes down and not up.
Cheryl
My hair was everywhere so visited my lovely hairdresser and he gave me a no1 with bald patches, but I’ve always liked polka dots.
Had a good cry last night- which I never do - angry with myself for being so vain at my age- but guess what ? It’s nowhere near as bad as I imagined but then nothing ever is.Came home and asked family if they wanted to see it, didn’t fancy locking doors behind me , and even the ten year old wanted to see it. No one laughed, no one cried
what was I worrying about?
So whoever sent the Bringiton fairy Thanks very much!See you all at the JM later for a Moscow Mule. Fit for patrole tonight ! So beware gremlins!
Cold symptoms settled so going to try to enjoy rest of week before fec 2 on Monday.
Hope everybody else feeling better as well
X X XMargaret
Margaret well done on getting number one done. Cromer Sarah glad hair is coming back, I’ll look out for the eyebrows xx
Well done Margaret - it’s a big step to take, but I’m sure that making the decision is the tough part… living with the lack of hair is just something we have to get on with! Not that I am all that thrilled when I catch sight of myself in the mirror…lol. A friend of ours popped round today to check on some wiring (we’re putting in a new shower), and he stuck his head around the door and declared ‘bloody hell, I’ve got more hair than you!’… and as he’s very receding, that was a bit of a shocker for him!!! Made me laugh though…
Sophie xxx
Well done Margaret - it’s a big step I know. For me it was actually worse having it cut short. I got my husband to clipper my tufts off about 10 days ago and now I’m completely bald.
I went commando in our village pub this evening and a very good friend of mine, a 6’ 2", heavily muscled and tattooed builder who regularly gets into fights and often has his head shaved, came up to me and gave me a hug and kissed me on my head. He’s lovely and a total pussycat with me, despite his reputation and appearance, and has decided to shave his head again so we can have our photo taken together. He’s one of the movers behind the concert we’re putting on in a few weeks to raise money for cancer charities (including BCC). You’d never believe from looking at him that he’s heavily into am dram!!!
I might even go commando in work tomorrow - I’ve worn headscarves for a couple of days but they make my ears ache after a while and I don’t see why I should be uncomfortable!
I’m bald and proud, and I’m the one morris dancing right in the middle of the JM tonight - pull me another pint!
Jane xxx
In some ways no hair looks better than messy, patchy hair, Margaret. My head still gets cold a lot of the time, so until the weather warms up or I get enough regrowth to keep it warm, whichever comes first, I’m wearing scarves or cotton caps around the house.
There ought to be a nice Olde Englande cap that you could wear, Jane, to go with the folksinging and morris dancing.
Cheryl
I got a couple of caps from Suburban turban - they call them sleep and gym caps, but I wear them all the time in the house and out sometimes. I go au naturel at home if I feel warm enough - not often, the head gets cold quickly.
I’ll be in the JM, garland dancing with Jane. Do we have any musicians?
Stella
Good morning ladies,
well i had fec 2 yesterday and all went well, (2 attemts for venflon) but alls well, hubby decribes it as a day out!!! thats only because each room has a tv with sky so he could watch the cricket…
anyway i feel fine, no woozy head like last time, ive been up since 4,15 and done housework, im dressed with face on, will probally crash later but if i can do it myself i do
Margaret well done on the hair front, big hug,
Troymaiden ---- yes i bought the bringitonfairy back with me and im sending her back to the woods to with chocolates and cakes for you all to shares,
good luck to everyone
love and hugs
Donna
xx
Well done Margaret, another big hurdle leapt over!
Having been browsing other threads, it looks like I will actually have my own beard soon, and won’t have to knit one, if reports about the menopause and tamoxifen are to be believed. It’s not a good look at any age, and certainly not at 41. I intend therefore to wax mine into dreadlocks, and then shave it off and donate it to the troop for one of the more ‘alternative’ dwarves.
Tracey
X
Ps well done Donna, glad you are well after 2nd FEC x
Well done Donna on FEC2, it’s good that you feel welll but take it easy. I was the same and then crashed a week later - but of course it’s different for us all.
Jane, so pleased you whipped off the wig and went Commando, it’s so much more comfy and i’m not one for protecting other adult’s delicateness.
Feeling a bit woozy still from FEC3. Had plans to tidy the kitchen (Oh the giddy heights of my to the world) but have had to retire whilst my lovely mum does it for me.
Glad alls well in the woods, hopefully i’ll be in the JM tonight.
x
Margaret - it’s normal to have a good blurt every now and again, it creeps up on me when i’m least expecting it. I’m perky most of the time but think that if i was ALL of the time i wouldn’t be normal. It’s sh*t, It’s happening to us and occasionaly I will indulge in my emotions, be it anger, frustration or despair. This just shows that i am facing the reality and not in denial. As long as it’s not all encompassing i’m sure it does us good. On the hair front - Your allowed to be vain!! I have every intention of being vain until my dying day (which is another 52yrs by the way)and religiously wear full makeup, have false eye lashes ready and am contemplating false nails. xxx
Good Morning Campers,
hope all is well in the woods
Well so spoke to soon about the hair 
coming out at about 20 strands a second, its in the bath, dropping into food etc, etc so have secured it for the moment in a wide hairband so its at least not dropping everywhere.
Had a slight panic yesterday when for the entire day i believed i had kept hold of hair but was going blind instead but worry not, had just forgotten to put in contact lenses so not blind just stupid
How long did everyone else let hair drop till giving in & shaving ? I have no bald patches as is coming out in strands rather than clumps at the mo.
Love to all
Sarah.xxx
I shaved mine off about day 10, it was falling out in strands like yours and clumps when i straightened it! That was the point i thought enough was enough and rather than wait for the inevitable i’d do it myself.
It’s a big hurdle and not nice but once it’s done it’s quickly forgotten - especially if you don’t wear your lenses! x
Hair is clearly the theme of the day. I’m off to get my wig fitted today. Bringing 14-yr-old with me, as I have NO taste, or so she tells me. Peachez may or may not be there depending on the assorted tests, checks, pokes and prods she’s “looking forward” to today. Warm hugs across the ether to Peachez, which I hope I can deliver in person today.
Radio interview this morning, mainly with my lovely girlie but I couldn’t resist getting a word in. I’ll see if I can catch it on the radio later (anyone in Surrey, listen to the news on the drive time show) and will post a link.
Does anyone think I’m really naughty? 14-yr-old does, though we laughed like drains afterwards. I was in a camping shop looking at hats for keeping bald head warm and picked up a couple of really nice ones. Bloke at till said, “oh, nice, are they for a school ski trip?” and I blurted out, “no, they’re for chemo.” Poor bugger, I could see the cogs whirring as he tried to think of something to say! A commensurate professional, after half a heart-beat he replied, “not as exciting as a ski trip then.” Bless! We just whittered on about me probably preferring the apres ski and the likelihood of me breaking a leg getting off the plane, but we cracked up afterwards at how naughty I’d been. (Well, if we can’t have a little bit of fun playing the cancer card, there’s no point in having it in our hand, don’t you think? Apologies to the very nice man in the shop though, I will certainly go in and buy a green one and a black one to go with the red one and the blue one I’ve already bought.)
Just got a text from Peachez so should see her later today.
And it’s girlie’s haircut this afternoon. She’s getting a bit itchy about it!
Oh, and after the wig fitting, I’m seeing a chemo nurse about having a portacath fitted, so my research and determination appears to have paid off! Isn’t it strange that I can feel so happy about that? “The New Normal” strikes again.
Drinks on me at the Jingling Merkin this evening.
CM
x
Autographs provided for a fee… 
Dancing girl; musician here. Would you prefer fiddle or mandolin? I would offer piano but I can’t get in on the bus. see you all in the JM tonight.
Went to occ health doc today as a prelude to my returning to work,OH then took me to Italian restaurant for a nice nosh. Bliss!
Dancing Girl, do you like Show of Hands? one of my friends has a big thing for Steve Knightly. Something about his arms…
Hope everyone is coping with SEs. The vaseline up the nose has done wonders to stop the dried blood and bleeding nose thing. Oh the joy of it!!!
x sarah
Sarah, I can’t speak for Dancing Girl but I think fiddle would be better for melody lines. Wonder if we can admit my DH to the JM as an honourary member? He’s a really good box player in the style of John Kirkpatrick - accordian, melodeon or concertina - take your pick! He even has a hurdy gurdy that he made himself…
I really like Show of Hands but my favourite band has to be the Oyster Band playing their acoustic set. I first saw them on board the Old Profanity Showboat moored up in Bristol about 24 years ago. We’ve all aged a bit since then but I still think they’re brilliant!
By the way, I also have the drippy/slightly bleeding nose. So elegant… My platelet count is fine so that’s not the problem, it just seems to be chemo nose. I haven’t tried vaseline up the nose, but might give it a go based on your recommendation!
Jane xxx