So much for my return to work - Day 3 and didnt go in … Shingles too sore and painful… there’s so many open wounds/blisters now it’s incredibly painful wearing clothes… thought I’d cracked it, but haven’t been taking the strong pain killers at work cos they knock me out - and now I’m paying for it. Boost your immune systems ladies … you dont want to get this!!!
Poor Angie - knicks off now, my girl, and get rested.
The 100 wasp stings in my arm are really doing my head in!!
Forgot to say, the good news is, one of the drugs I’ve been given for shinglies, to take at bedtime, has done away with the night sweats! Amitriptyline. Its an antidepressant so guess I can’t keep taking it long term.
Low dose Amitriptyline was one of the experimental drugs I tried for FMS many years ago. It left me unable to construct a sentence in daytime!
It does knock you out! Am taking 2 x 10mg tabs at bedtime only x
thanks for the reminder about immune system Angie… I took honey propolis tablets through chemo for precisely that - got cocky and haven’t bothered for weeks/months now… probably should…
anyone having/had a flu jab? Cause I’ll be encouraged to have one when I go back to work…
Flu jabs - been having them for years due to other health complications. Will be having one this year once I’m invited.
Sorry you are struggling angielav and thankyou for the reminder re immune system.
Does anyone know how long your immune system is compromised for after chemo and bc generally?? Or is it a very individual thing?
Wandyx
I BELIEVE it’s compromised for about a year… but others may be more knowledgeable than I… J
HI ladies Im back!!! Finally have internet at new house!
I have missed soooooo much and cant catch up with it all but am slowly making way through posts.
Had last chemo on Sept 22nd hurrah but it was a shocker and floored me completly! saw oncy last week and he upset me alot with his nonchalance and his oh its all over whats yer prob…lem attitude!! i just wanted to ask lots of questions and wondering how the chemo worked etc. anyway have Herceptin starting this week and really want my groshan line out as im as big as house and NEED to start swimming but they say not yet!!! also starting Tamoxifen this week joy- im already suffering with huge amounts of hot flushes daily and they affect my sleep so god only knows how i will react to tamox!
not really feeling myself- was bday yesterday and although had lovely time with my ma and sis and baba Jude felt bit odd??? so much has happened since last year- (i was preggers last bday!)and hubby was rubbish and did not spoil me at al hummmph!!!
off on a weeks hols to cotswold on sat which will be nice. does anyone know about flying with groshan line in- do they let you and where is best to get travel insurance???
HUgs to those who have ha dsurgery- i had mx before chemo and had massive seromas ewwww and my arm is still numb 
im hoping to have recon next eyuar but who knows as i never seem to get any answers!!!
been trying to exercise but struggling alot- went to wedding last sat and danced all night as was v pissed and could hardly move next day- not sometjhing im used to- even walking with baba is hard work. been cycling about 15 mins a day and killing me! I used to train 2 hours daily before!! oh well need to try and not look at my old self and be jealous
oooh dioes anyone know how to stop a nine month old screeeching!!! not crying just screeching at top of lungs when he does not get what he wants!! advice welcome haha!!!
hope everyone is ok and i have missed being on here xx
Here is the fuzz… I’m way behind most of you… but at least it’s SOMETHING… and at least the chemo’s over… DD took side views, but I look SOOO like my grandmother, I couldn’t bear it! Off to the Woods for several drinks round the bonfire!
Hi all,
Not posting much. As my energy is returning, I am getting stuck into the housework and gardening (AKA the weed beds). So far, no side effects from the rads just a bit pink.
Wecome back PP. I don’t know how you could have managed without internet for so long. My youngest daughter was a screamer. She did grow out of it - eventually.
Angie, sorry to hear that the shinglies are giving you such a bad time. Hope they clear up soon.
Ninja, I have serious hair envy. You have loads more than me.
Rach, How’s your Dad doing?
Hugs to all.
I was told that it takes a year for your immune system to recover. Am having the flu jab on Saturday. Just as well as I am going back to school after half term and will be amongst whole class of five year olds again. Have arranged to go back part time at first but will get paid as if I am full time. I love it! Going back full time after a while. Going to school tomorrow to sort out details.
My arms are recovering gradually but my chest feels tight as if I’ve been stitched up too tight. Can’t believe how neat the scars are though. Iam suffering terribly with hot flushes and find it hard to sleep. I have always been a cold person and this is so weird. Like you, Angie, i’m wondering how on earth I will get on with tamoxifen.
Great to hear from all of you again.
Lots of love Rach x
Evening folks.
SeromaWatch (like SpringWatch but with fewer sheep)
It’s still incredibly tender and any clothing makes it SO sore.
Arm still feels like 100 wasps/cheese grater. It’s a bit swollen and that and the axillary seroma (separate to the boob one), therefore chafe together.
Hot flushes from Tam OK - I’ve had much worse to contend with.
It’s the bliddy soreness!! ARGHH
Hello all
Just a quick hello as been doing work stuff, having visitors and getting up v v early for rads appts - and am cream crackered! All my own fault so looking forward to a quiet day on Friday (will try not to think about housework and have just given up on the weed beds …)
PP - great to hear from you again! We have 9 month old grand-daughter (and her parents) staying for the next few months - it’s fantastic but I had forgotten just how much work they are at that age. Sorry you didn’t get much joy from the onc - I am seeing mine on Tuesday and have plenty of questions, but I probably really want guarantees she can’t give me. Ninja and Rachel - glad you’re continuing to get better (apart from seromas, swollen arms, scars etc - wonderful, eh?) Angie - thanks for the reminder about flu jabs and hope pain goes down a bit.
Hypochondria watch - I got unexpected letter from hospital this morning and went into complete panic mode - turned out to be reminder about returning book I’d borrowed from the Mac unit!
Hope everyone has a good day tomorrow, love Jude
ps forgot to say I am now on day 14 of Tamoxifen and flushes/night sweats which have been awful since July seem a little bit better if anything - but who knows, it might all change. Am trying to go to a ‘Hot Flush’ workshop organised at Addenbrookes which apparently goes into ways to reduce symptoms eg dietary, homeopathy, and ear acupuncture - will let you know how I get on. J
Hello All
had internet problems for a while, now have new installed , so am back online. Been very busy decorating my daughters bedroom as she is staying home this year whilst still at Reading Uni. Her room is getting more like a bedroom instead of a storage area.
I am on the last few days of Radiotherapy, boost week they call it! apparently|!. MY right boob looks like its been on a nice sunny holiday next to the lily white breast next to it. Its been ok though and nurses have been lovely at the Churchill in Oxford. I started Tamoxifen and night flushes have been bad ever since i started chemo, don’t seem any worse. But i am like some of you sleepless nights are making me so tired , also end of Rads is quite tiring too.
Ninja And Rach glad your ops went well, i managed to read posts on my phone so was thinking of you both, just couldn’t post anything. Big hugs to you both, i had a bad seroma the size of half tennis ball under my arm, so painful. My Dr used ultra sound and managed to drain the fluid off with a needle at the same time, was painful the first time as no anesthetic was used, but the nurses who did it the 2nd time numbed the area first. Felt so much better after being drained.
Angie i hope the shingles doesn’t stay for too long. It does feel like we get everything on top of the crap we are going through. Big hug to you
I am off on my first proper holiday in Oct for 3 nights in Spain with the hubby, can’t wait! Its a short but well earned holiday. I am hoping to have my porta cath removed before i go. So that when i return from my holiday, it will be the start of my life after treatment. It feels quite scarey, that it all ends on Friday apart from taking Tamoxifen and regular mammograms and check ups for next 5 years. I am worried about how normal will be after all this, will it ever be the same as before?. I am already nervous about 1st mammogram which will be about Feb time apparently!
My Oncologist was lovely, she has seen me last 2 mondays and has been brilliant on reassuring me, but also explaining i will feel a little frightened when appointments stop. She followed that up with, “if you need to speak to me or would like an appointment, just ring my secretary for an appointment any time, i am just a phone call away”. That was like someone giving me a comfort blanket to hold.
Good luck to all of you having your Rads or ops at the moment, big hugs to you all.
Congratulations on all the hair that seems to be growing back!
Tricia x
Hello all,
Lovely to hear from you Trish and great that you are nearly at the end of treatment apart from tamox although it is a bit scary as well, but time for us all to ‘embrace life’ as someone else has said somewhere!
I’m also having a little mini break with OH straight after my last rads, to the Lakes. am really looking forward to it!
Quiet on here today, hope everyone in good form.
Wandyx
Lovely to hear from you Trish-glad you’re back on here x
Wandy-I love the Lakes and have booked to go next Easter.
Been on school trip today with my class. I enjoyed it but have mixed feelings about going back. It was such a big part of my life and I couldn’t wait to get back but now it’s close I’m actually scared! Sure I’ll feel different when I actually go back.
Rach x
Everybody seems to be doing some kind of watch or other … so I’ll do shingleswatch! When will it go away. I am so sore, the blisters have scabbed and it all looks truly revolting … worse when its bleeding! And now I have the runs … I was in better health during chemo! Probably cos I had the Neulasta jabs. Having surgery next friday to remove the port … hope I’m well enough…
Seems to be a lot of holiday planning going on - think we all need something to keep us going. Not working tomorrow so will get on with our spa break and ring the hotels …
love to all xxx