Hard to exercise when it hurts to do so, but so important. It seems like this goes on for ever one way or another. I never thought I’d get full movement back at about your stages post surgery, but I have. Just left with some numbness, which I didn’t expect, but can live with.
Definitely a day for knickers - So windy here. Hope you can tolerate them Angie. The onc said to use nail varnish for a year Or nails would flake off. Been good with hands, just clear varnish now. Less bothered about feet - not in and out of water So much etc. The other day I. caught big toe nail on oven door and it came off. Fragile nail underneath. We’re away - no nail varnish. In The shower this morning The new nail began to flake/lift! Every touch brings a bit more off. Going out shopping this morning for varnish!! Gentle hugs all round…
Just read your post joanie. Who’s problem is it if others are uncomfortable, and why Are they making it yours?! Completely out Or order. Document the conversation. ALL conversations… Stinks. Big hug for You, not a gentle one…
Re: exercise, my physio said take pain meds 20 mins before you do them as this allegedly helps!
I still have my pencil marks on my wall from the ‘climbing the wall’ exercise and found that marking it did help me to see progress - sometimes hardly any, sometimes several cm - over a couple of weeks. (NB do not start this one early!) I still do it daily, and it still tugs a bit… I was told to do it for 2 years!!!
Ninja - it looks like hair for sure, hope it gets colour soon. Assume the owrd you were alluding to is ‘rowlocks’ ;o)
Joannie that’s ridiculous! Definitely discrimination and they should be ashamed of themselves. They’d better be paying you… and if you can face talking to HR to complain then do so, and soon.
Jane, sorry about your nails, hope they get better soon.
Gentle hugs all round for all of you… sorry to keep crashing your thread but most of you aren’t playing in the woods much now and I’m just a nosey cow!
You’re not the only one RevCat!
My chemo started in April - no thread for that - and I only found this site half way through chemo, so I stalk both the March and May threads!
I’m a friendly stalker though… No bunny boiling here!
Hugs to all
Dx
Joannie, that is outrageous, take a deep breath, these people aren’t worth wasting any of your positive energy today - bliddin cheek of 'em… totally understand why you are effed off with the whole thing.
I’m not sure what your circumstances with work are, or what you do but i assume you have an agreed return to work plan and when it was anticipated that the ‘temp’ will hand your job back over to you - not sure if temp is on fixed term contract or weekly/monthly contract?
The temp may have issues with you coming back to work, whether earlier than agreed or not, and maybe attempting to undermine you to your manager. Don’t let the temp drag you into any games with your manager…
I would ask to see your manager to resolve issues around you ‘making other people feel uncomfortable’ comment, was it just today or generally - I would want to know in what way specifically I was making people ‘uncomfortable’ and what happens next with your job and how you move forward so that you can get back to your job.
Hope tomorrow is better for you x
Thread crashers - stalk and nosey away - good to have your jovial company and advice as always x
Dear Joannie,
I thought the BCC publication “Employ” may be useful for you. I have attached the link
www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/financial-practical-support/employ-charter-bcc167
You can also order a paper copy from the website.
I hope this helps
Very best wishes
Janet
BCC Facilitator
Hi all … yes too windy for no knickers… so put some on to meet a friend for coffee … oh and other clothes too! Home now, and off they come!! Pain is not as bad today… very sore and pain unbearable when meds are due but I can cope with this. The rash/blisters look awful.
Joannie - can’t believe how you’re being treated … certainly discrimination and if you say that word they’ll panic! Do you know that having had cancer we are classed as disabled. I know none of us feel like that, but your employer has to be seen to make your return as easy as possible for you. Think you need a long chat with HR.
Hope everyone’s ok … exercising like mad … stretch Ninja!!
xxx
Anjie-you could design some super comfie shinglie pants-sure to be a market for them! Glad it’s more bearable for you, and really hope you feel much better soon.
Jane-you are very wise and I took comfort from knowing that you felt the same pain initially and that it is now much better.
Joannie-appalled like everyone. You have a right to return to work and for considerations to be made to help you back to work.
Ninja-keep stretching 
My left arm is okay as no nodes taken but right arm very sore after clearance. Biggest problem is getting comfy as i hate lying on my back and there is no other option really. Can’t believe how quickly I have got used to being flat chested. Went for tiny walk with Mum and the dog today and didn’t wear softies as I still have compression bandage until tomorrow. i didn’t feel conspicuous at all. The dressings are coming off tomorrow and will try a bra after that, but have bought a cape style coat that is a brilliant disguise, so not too worried if i can’t wear one yet. Have bought lovely new one for when I can wear proper prosthesis, in a cup size smaller than i was before-so cool being able to choose your size!
Wishing everyone a lovely evening and no major SEs or shinglie pains
Rach xxx
Hi Guys!
I have also been out today, been driven in the car to a nearby small town where we could park up very near a cafe. I took my walking stick which gave me some confidence. We had the worst cup of coffee that either of us have had for many years and I felt old, weak and stooped but it was good to get out.
Looking forward to seeing the shinglie pants!
I’m actually test-driving a prototype bra for a well-known store. I have to wear it for at least 50 hours and launder it several times and then return it with an appraisal. In theory I’d like to keep it as the fabric lining is SO soft, but the sizing is out and so it doesn’t fit properly. I showed it to one of the nurses and a BC pal while in Stalagluft 2. The nurse was complaining that she needs sexy, nice-coloured full briefs - she has an ostomy bag. But all the full briefs in M&S were old-lady patterns and didn’t match any of her bras.
Rach - I *am* stretching - are you? I’m trying hard to be good about my exercises. I think that I’d rather be flat than so lop-sided; I’m forced to wear an undergarment as my RH side is concave and compared to my other generous banger, it’s way too conspicuous and distresses me. So a strap rubbing on my drain cut is better for me than looking like a freak.
Just going for a relaxing 5cm bath.
Stay safe and serene, everyone.
Thanks everyone. Can’t understand why some people just want to make this awful situation even worse for us. xx
Ninja-I am trying to be a good girl with exercises too. Can’t get away with it either as one of my friends is a physio and she keeps reminding me how important they are. I look like my 11 year old self now (just fatter) with flat chest and sparse lady garden.
I shaved my legs last night-little things please little minds.
AND-my hair is coming in all the baldy patches at last and it’s dark now too. Doesn’t look as though it’s going to curl, which i find astonishing. As long as it comes I don’t care!
Dressings coming off today. I feel much better this morning too. Am really loving my Mum’s prolonged stay. She says she’s not going home until she thinks i am ready. It’s lovely being spoiled and not having to worry about anything. She is one in a million, and it’s also lovely being able to talk openly with her about fellings etc, as she has been through it all herself. She even recommended the company I used for my fab new bra and swimsuit!
Hope everyone is okay.
Love Rach x
My bath last night was lovely.
My oncy nurse really put the willies up me on Weds. She was getting ready to cannulate me and said, “sorry but my hands are really shaking, it’s just the meds I’m on”.
Jesus! Her hands WERE shaking. After one failed, VERY painful attempt at an insertion, I directed her to my best vein. She’d insisted at first on a less good one as it looked “straighter” for her shaky hands but it was agony so it had to be removed.
By this time I was feeling quite frightened, just out of surgery and all. Thankfully she must have seen the fear in my eyes and after the second insertion, asked Sister to attach the clip to the cannula and remove the trocar.
THEN she decided that she needed to check my BP.
OK: we now have one arm that cannot be used for BP or needles, and the other arm that’s being infused and if a NIBP cuff was attached mid-infusion, well, the mind boggles.
Certainly, after I had bloods taken pre-operatively, they said that they couldn’t put a cuff on that arm as it would just “spurt”.
Luckily, my BP had been checked at 6.00 on the ward so they used that one.
I don’t think that it was her day!
She certainly put the bejasus up me.
OMG Ninja- you shouldn’t be needing to monitor what the nurse is doing! Wrong way round.
I also had the BP fiasco in hosp last week. They were so determined that they tried my leg - that didn’t work either!
Ninja that’s awful … which one was it? Not H??
Feeling much better today - another 9 hours sleep - meds are brill.
Shinglie pants are a good idea - its basically knickers without seams or elasticated top part … luckily I’ve got a couple of pairs - think they were sold as NO VPL … anyway, they do the trick. Unfortunately got into the habit of no drawers now … and liking it!
How’s everyone else today … seems like winter is drawing in … did I mention I’m going to Oz in 2 months???
Angielav think you might of said you were going on hol to Aus in passing. Its alright I like the snow but i hope to finally get to Cyprus in 3 weeks after bone scan on 27th.
Ninja glad your sounding more like you but a shame you cant relax and have to be vigilant on homecare. Hope the next one goes better.
Rachel it must be strange to be able to choose your size but your coat sounds lovely.
I only have one more rad to go yah.
small se’s to all hope next week is brighter. Chris
Angie - no, I’ll PM you about who.
SeromaWatch (like SpringWatch but with fewer lambs)
I’ve now gone from a concave chest to a small A cup. Apparently, surgeon said to expect an A cup. It’s bliddy uncomfortable :o(
Ninja, You have to wonder what kind of drugs your nurse was on that caused tremors so bad she found doing the cannula a struggle. Hope the sister that had to help her out realised there was a problem and dealt with it.
It looks like a few people have holidays to look forward to soon.
I started rads last week. 40gy over 15 sessions then 3 boosters. All my appts are between 9 and 9:30. I am getting there really stressed as I have to fight my way through the morning traffic. Took me 40 minutes one morning and over an hour the next. By the time I get on the table I’m shaking. On the way home, traffic gone, it takes 20 to 25 mins. Just crazy.
Hello all,
Sorry haven’t been on for a few days. Went back to UK last Tues. Was at hosp for seroma drain and rads planning Weds and then flew back here on Thurs, then loads to catch up on. CO, I start my rads in 10 days and they have given me options on times and I can discuss changing them as and when, they are v. accommodating. Perhaps try chatting to your people to lessen the stress!
My rads planning was a tad stressful. When I was in the CT scanner they were trying out new positioning boards and my onc had 3 registrars in and there were 5 nurses. All poking and prodding and moving my bits around and drawing on them and nodding and so on. Wondered if the cleaners were coming in as well!!! the nurses were v. sweet as I lay there exposed with arms akimbo and apologised for the numbers in the room!! I did feel a smidge like a piece of meat but after all the other indignities this year it didn’t seem too unbearable in the great scheme of things!!
Hope the ‘op’ girls and all others are doing ok.
My hair on my heaqd is coming in v.grey but nothing showing anywhere else cept legs which are getting a bit prickly, bit worried that the old LG might never recover!!
'Grey and dismal day here today, but lovely weather expected this week. My last week in France for awhile as I come back for my rads.
OH going to stay with builders, dogs, cat, swan and ducks!!
Off to watch Downton repeat before the next episode tonight! Love it and Strictly, real escapist tv!!
Love and hugs to all
Wandyx
Good evening.
SeromaWatch (like Springwatch but with fewer sheep)
The seroma is like wearing walking boots and developing a big blister. Then you have no plasters for it and you still have 5 miles to walk home. It went down a wee bit yesterday and now it’s up again but seems to be on my side now, more than in my non-boob. My chest feels like I have mastitis.
Is it right that seromas can last for about a year?
The arm is still cheese-grater-ish on the outside.
Hope everyone else is OK
Oooh Ninja, the seroma sounds horrid.
I’ve had a quiet day feeling grotty from SEs. Did manage to go and see my Mum for an hour - first time she hasn’t said “you look great”.
Hello all …
Seroma sounds awful Ninja … hope you’re ok otherwise … its alot to deal with … Hope you’re doing ok too Rache.
Back to work tomoz … shinglies less painful so will do a couple of hours and see how it goes… they are very sore though .
Getting port removed in a couple of weeks … when that’s gone I really will feel that chemo is finished.
Hope everyone’s ok … Shinglies really are the pits - I pray none of you get them . Dreading the scarring which seems odd when I’ve had a boob sliced off!
xxx