Good morning. Happy birthday, Sal. Hope you have a great day and enjoy the meal out this evening.
Thanks, Di. Yes, I’m coping with the heat, although it does seem to make the hot flushes a bit worse. I carry a small towel around with me! I think your living in a bubble image sums it all up very well. I’m actually much less weepy now, if that is an encouragement to you.
Carole and Ros, take good care of yourselves. How are you today?
Good to hear you and Helen had such a great meeting, Lizzie. November should be an amazing time and thanks for the work you are doing on it, Carole.
Hello Val! Sounds like you’re nearly there.
Hope today goes well for everyone - especially the chemo babes and those with appointments.
My eyes are very blurry and sore. I went to rads yesterday and as i was in so much agony, they got the doctor there to look at it who got me a referral to eye clinic there. After an hour or so wait, saw a doctor there who after poking and prodding said that i have scratched my cornea. He gave me a prescription for antibiotic cream, false tears and anaesthetic eye wash. Unfortunately it was late and by that time only boots and morrisons open and both only had the antibiotic cream. Morrisons is not sure they can get the stuff either but they will ring me today.
My eye is half shut today and blurry, relying on left eye and i have my reading glasses on. I have already typed all this once but pressed wrong key and got one of my favourites up. Face skin is tight and sore where so much salt water has run down it.
Yesterday, left early for rads and went to Nicola Jane, the mastectomy specialist which is near barts (stopping every fifty yards to wipe bad eye) i bought a been a boob. It looks like a flat pancake but when you put it in your bra it moulds to shape of cup. Not as heavy as prosthesis but doesnt roam around as much as softie. Someone recommended it to me. Wore it about all day yesterday and must say i was impressed. A lot cheaper too!!! 28.00 pounds and something. Apparently designed by a lady who had a mastectomy.
I am trying out mld today and tomorrow have to have a CT for the rads, apparently helps them line them up properly. Must say they were really lovely at rads clinic, especially as i messed them around with the dates. They had tried to change them to suit me but i had already planned with the ones they gave me. Anyway we sorted it out.
Happy birthday Sal enjoy your day.
I was going to say enjoy the weather, but it is a little bit more difficult for us BC ladies. See you later
Ouch, poor you Linda. Glad you got a referal while there. I’ve had a scratched cornea too, so I understand the pain you’re in, and it’s so hard not to keep rubbing it. Flashing pains when you move your eye, and gritty soreness all the time. Ooo, nasty. One of the risks when the eyelashes are gone too.
But great news about your new boob. That sounds ideal! Do they do wee inserts, like to fill a gappy bra for those of us that have just lost bits of boob? I was wondering about something like that to fill the top part of my cups when wearing something that shows the rumpled cup top - had even got round to thinking how to design one myself, but if I could just buy a wee insert…
Linda - hope you manage to get all the things for your eye today and that the MLD goes well…
Lizzie - it sounds like you had a great meet up yesterday…
Happy Birthday Sal…
I think one of the things i am finding hard is that my side effects are continuing and are likely for along time yet / life… My ears still feel weird 24/7 and i’m not sure if i have mentioned but as well as feeling “blocked” i also have some tinnitus (sure i have spelt that wrong - but you know what i mean…) and the breathlessness and of course my arm seem to be here to stay…
I wasn’t sure if i should mention this as i know those of you on chemo are so looking forward to it finishing… but i really get the impression now that oncs tend to down play the chances that chemo is going to leave you with long term “reminders”… It is no where near as bad as being on chemo… but they are there 24/7…
MLd specialist has just rang, she has a cold and has given me choice to reschedule. In view of my eye and not wanting it to get any worse, i have changed to next thursday. Gives me a chance to rest it thoroughly today. I have my sleeve now and already see and feel an improvement in arm,(wore sleeve all day yesterday).
I dont think there is any point getting newspaper today as i can barely read what is on here, all looks like it is smudged. going to have to take it easy again ho hum…
Thanks Linda, I’ll take a look. Unlikely, but I’m hoping - has the antibiotic cream soothed the eye at all yet?
Interesting what you say about the long term effects Theresa. I asked my onc last week about that. He started to downplay, but when I re-iterated that I know there are longterms because I’ve researched it, he opened up. However, he confirmed yes, there is a list, but the top handful are the ones most commonly experienced and usually pass within 2-3 months, basically, feeling down and emotional, aches, tiredness and lack of energy, and niggly bits and pieces like lack of taste. I guess we have to fall back on the classic “it affects everybody differently”. Dear Onc, WE KNOW!!!
Hugs to Di, Carole & Ros with the chemo effects and you too Linda. I scratched my cornea once and it was very painful.
Since Monday I have felt pretty much normal. So nice to wake up without feeling as if I’m hungover, get through the day doing normal stuff without having to have a nap or a rest. Very nice feeling I must say, I hope it lasts a bit longer! I’ve got 2 more weeks until my next dose so I hope I’ll get a few more good days out of that. *touches wood frantically!*
I went to a Cancer Information Day yesterday, run by the hospital. Basically a get together for people to get loads of info about the disease and also services in the area (precious few it seems compared to the things many of you get in other areas). It was nice to meet up with other people going through the same thing, compare notes etc. I would say about 75% of the people there had breast cancer, the others were bowel & 1 prostate. Makes you think. There was one woman who was just 3 weeks past her last dose of CMF and she had a proper head of hair. Very very short a la Dame Judi, but a definite hairstyle and she looked great I must say.
Right, another hot one here today and I’ve got 2 weeks worth of laundry to sort out - I’ve not been up to doing it of late really and sadly, in this house, if I don’t do it it don’t get done. At least it’s a good drying day!
Train the mice - wee mini remote control to switch on the washer, ickle ladders so they can haul the stuff in and out, little trolley for dragging it round to the drying green (in the best tradition of Bagpuss - heeeaave, heeeaave) with attachable extending ladders this time, or maybe a pulley system to haul it up, and high wire bars to help them balance out to pinning point. Of course getting the dog to help with the heavy stuff would be useful. The possibilities are endless…
Thanks all for the birthday wishes. Going to a very local restaurant tonight (about 400 yards away). They do really nice European food, mainly locally sourced. Sensible portions so I can manage 3 courses, which I usually can’t. Going with daughter, son, his girlfriend and a couple of friends.
Sorry your eye is so bad Linda, but I’m glad you’ve seen someone and they were able to give you something for it.
Glad you’re sounding better Carole. And you too Gennie. You’ll get that washing dry in no time today. I’ve been outside and it’s scorching already. Funny, it was really hot like this exactly 3 years ago on my 50th.
Sounds like a really good meet up with Helen, Lizzie. I spoke to her last week and I agree, she’s lovely.
Good vibes for you for tomorrow Rosie - your last chemo. Hoorah!
(((hugs))) for you Di. It’s tough, this bc thing. As if the SEs aren’t bad enough, it messes with your head too. It would be nice to have a day when we don’t think of it at all, but that daily dose of tamoxifen reminds me every time. Hey ho. Got to get used to it.
I’m off to build a cage around my brassicas to stop the cabbage whites laying eggs on them. Last year the pesky caterpillars kept eating them. I picked off hundreds of them. Yukky job.
Bagpuss! That brings back memories of watching it with my kids when they were little. (showing my age now)
Agree on the caterpillar thing. Awful job. Poor caterpillars are just doing their caterpillar thing, but we need our green leafy veg! Thankfully I’m not planting brassicas this year - OH finds putting up a rabbit proof fence just too much for him, and the brassicas are just yummy to the rabbits, and I haven’t had the energy yet. However, have decided to take own life in hands and forget about all the jobs OH has said he’ll do and never done, and do them myself. So next year, cabbage city!
Get the feeling I might be procrastinating a tad about the work sitting in front of me at the moment…
gen - I’m with you on the washing - must have 4 loads here - think it breeds in the washing basket…Linda - so sorry your eye has been so sore - hopefully when you get all the stuff it’ll settle quick - Sal - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! have a great one and enjoy your meal out - yorkshire girls - glad you had a great get together and yes november will be brill!!
sheila - still reading!!! Rest those eyes girl!! Ros, hope you’re feeling less sicky now - you’re getting there and will soon be a bit perkier kid…Di, re the blubbing, it comes and goes and then sneaks up now and then doesn’t it - take care and Carole - don’t od on the soleros tempting as it may be - I love them too, we’l leave a supply in the cave eh…thats a good tip re the towel eliza - another one to add to my list! Val - you’re getting there - steady on now…mary x
Good idea, I’ll just get these bluebirds who are hanging around my shoulder and the tame woodland animals who throng about me every time I go outside to help. I fear the meeces have left the building - or are more probably going manky in some corner of my loft.
Ahhh Bagpuss. I did love that programme.
2 loads of washing hanging outside already, another one spinning nicely. 1 load put away from yesterday. Online Sainsburys order done. Kitchen tidied. Sitting room next then I’ve got to go to collect Maddie from school - she’s having an afternoon at her new Middle School today, lunch and everything. My baby is growing up.
Work schmork. I should be doing some today but you know what - I’m not gonna. Today I’m just going to appreciate feeling well and please myself. So ner.
Happy birthday Sal,have a lovely meal out.
Sympathetic ‘ouch’ for the sore eye Linda - I had it once when something got behind my contact lens and it is evil!
Carole - love the idea of trained mice doing the washing - hmmm, think I’ll try and teach the cat how to use the hoover later…
Had my rads planning yesterday - so much for a break betwen chemo and rads, the first one is on 20th July, ie only 18 days after final chemo! Still, the sooner they start, the sooner they’ll finish and life can return to what passes for normal…
No sign of free aqueous, or any other kind of cream from the hospital but will use E45 as its on the shelf already. Can the existing rads chicks advise whether I will be okay to drive to and from the hospital each day - its only 25mins but a friend has suggested I’ll probably feel too groggy to do the return trip… comments welcome!
Morning Ladies and a very happy birthday to Sal. I hope the sun is shining for you. Just think, next birthday you should be all back to normal…
I wish I was as good as you all at remembering all the details of each other’s posts and sending individual messages, maybe I will start writing things down… Anyway, lots of love to those struggling or suffering today.
Anyway, must read pgs 25-30 before I get another cup of tea… busy, busy, busy… Sheila xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
sheila - I only remember by scrolling back - head is like a sieve at the best of times!! Rosie - shrewsbury recommend aqueous cream but think others use e45 - think the lanolin in it can make some people sore but not sure?? I was told I’d be ok to drive for rads -mine is about 25 mins each way - I start on thurs 9th, week tomorrow - how many are you having - I’m due 15 to boob and 8 boosters to scar - 4.5 wks all in all…
Gen - thats a better idea than work…! mary x
Sheila, I’ve bumped the original thread under Newly Diagnosed for you. It’s called Another Newly Devastated Bury St Edmonds. By the time you’ve finished all this reading, you’ll be more ahead on sending messages to us all than the rest of us. I agree, scroll back is a wonder tool!
Mary/Rosie, I think Sandra got on great with a £1.99 tub of aqueous from Boots or somesuch. I’ve read too that lanolin isn’t the best idea.
An 18 day break doesn’t sound much Rosie, but as you say, all the sooner back to Normality. I’ve got a 27 day break I think, it would have been only 21 but they clashed appointments. I’ve got 15 days plus 5 days booster. Wow, I actually get to talk about rads now.
Cats using the hoover… More like cats sitting reclining on the hoover having a snooze - best of luck with that one.
Aww, babies do have an annoying tendency to do that growing up thing. Wipe away that little tear of pride and carry on going ner, ner, ner to your workload.
Starlings are very good at doing impressions. Perhaps you could ask the blue tits to ask the starlings to do an impression of industrious meeces.
I wasn’t given my aqueous cream until the first day of rads and at planning was told to use the Dove I already had until then, so I’m sure the E45 will be fine. I think Mary is right about the E45 once you’ve started as we were told specifically not to use it then, but different hospitals say different things - which isn’t overly helpful! But as Carole says the aqueous can be bought in a nice large, cheap tub. I’m still using it.
I was fine driving myself to and from rads, which was a journey of one and a half hours when doing it from home in the mornings. I did find that if it was a day when I’d had aromatherapy at the support centre after rads I preferred to wait a bit before driving back, but that was more to do with the state of relaxation and wanting it to continue for a bit! I’m fairly sure that Sal drove herself every day too and Sandra some days.
I bought a big tub of aqueous cream from sainsburys for £1.99 and have been using it twice a day to get me in the habit, Carole - yours sounds the same as me then only I have 8 boosts - it does seem odd to be talking about the next stage really doesn’t it?..mary x
It’s surpringly odd. I think I’ve been thinking chemo for so long and it never seemed to have an end in sight, that the next stage is almost, wow, a new thing! It’s like starting cancer treatment from scratch because the chemo’s been starting to get to be a way of life. Does that make sense? Not really.
I have been lying down with my eyes shut in back room which is naturally dark. Eye feels a bit better but dreading having to go out in daylight. I hung the washing out earlier wearing sunglasses and tissue taped across the eye and could still feel it. Will not be venturing out. When Morrisons ring, will wait for hubby to take me there about 6/7 when it has cooled down a bit. I have not had the urgent to rub it which is a good thing.
I didnt get anything at my planning (rads start 27.7) I have bought some radiance cream from Penny Brohn which was recommended on the rads page a while back. It was expensive but apparently worth it. It smells really nice so we shall see how it works. i wash with aqeuous cream which is fine but cant use it as a cream as it is too thick, i get a kind of prickly heat. So will have to suck it and see. Intend to take co enzyme q10 throughout as it is meant to keep your energy levels up and apparently one hospital is testing it in conjunction with rads.
Nt wearing sleeve at moment as i am not doing anything but it does seem a lot thinner so it is working hurrah!!!
