SURGERY APRIL 2018

Hi Sally, Gill, Feenix and Fairy Dust
So sorry poopy days for some of you- they are awful.
Feenix - please let us know when you can re results. Hugs to you.
Sally - how was the sea? Bras are a nightmare- I ditched my Eastern European shotputter one and went back to regular ones. Might be worth a call to Nicola Jane Bras- they were really good for me. See below re chemo- as I only found out yesterday it was today didn’t have op to worry about it for v long and that was too long! Thinking if you.
Gill thanks for popping onto May thread- not as friendly as here! How was your day today?
Fairy Dust keep healing.
Well cycle 1 of chemo done. The cold cap was cold- as everyone says 1st 15 mins the worst. Hubbie did amazing job of distracting and timer on iPad helped. In a bizarre way the pain/discomfort from cold cap distracted my thoughts from the drugs. Sally would recommend having chat with your dr about PICC line- was easy with drugs, not too nice having it put in but not much different from a canular- only need it once. Nurses were amazing, stayed with me the whole time. As able to go to private hospital the first thing to do this morning was ordering lunch. Didn’t factor in the strap from the cold cap- trying to eat panini was hilarious - think of a tortoise trying to eat and you’re about there! Helped to laugh.
Home now had a sleep- I have about 3 months of sleep to catch up on so guess this week will be mainly ?- last few weeks functioned on 3-4 hours a night. Feeling a little nauseous but not too bad.
Take care all love J xx

Hello my lovely people. We will keep this thread going!! Jem glad it all went ok yesterday and you managed to have a smile. Brain feeeze. Ouch. Food yum yum. Really hope you don’t feel to poopy over the coming days. Catch up on your sleep as that will give you more strength. Have you made a play list? So can listen whilst treatment is taking place. Just having thoughts on what my play list would be like. Bit of cheese, bit of the charts, bit of Bryan Adams plenty of dance songs.

Angel. When is your results day

Feenix. Hope all went ok with yours yesterday will keep looking for an update

Sally. I hope you do heal soon. You must have sensitvie skin. Can’t help with the bras I’m afraid. Cockeyed boobs could be the new fashion! Enjoy the sea and the rest of your hols. You must be feeling so frustrated and can fully understand your last sentence but think hard mrs and hopefully today you are thinking different.

Take care all and speak later

Feenix so sorry after all this wait the results weren’t as good as we had all hoped for. It’s realky hard when they say it’s up to you. I was there after wle and the need for further surgery- if it helps I am (in a strange way) pleased I went ahead with further surgery as the results from this were better. But the thought of going through it again aren’t good. Can you be proactive and ask this time for a date for results before you go for surgery.
I’m ok today- still nauseous, currently at hospital for injection and more anti sickness meds. Even went for short walk today.
Sally - hope today is a better day.
Jem xx

Feenix -new meds have meant I have eaten dinner ?I was told clearly not to suffer with any side effects but ring - so pleased I didn’t try to muddle through.

Hi Sally

 How are you doing? 

Xhugx

Hi Feenix
Feeling much better today- breakfast and lunch without a problem ?. Just keep feeling like is this the calm before the storm?? If not I’m doing really good.
How are you doing today - been a difficult week for us both. Has hubbies research helped at all?
Take care Jem xx

Oh Feenix how frustrating they have cancelled ?. Sorry.
Once you made the decision, if you’re like me, you just need to get on with it.
Hugs Jem xx

What an emotional rollercoaster of a day Feenix. Hope you relax this evening.
What date is your op? Sorry to ask if you’ve already posted it. Xx

Hi ladies

Holiday still going well and today for the first time in over 7 weeks since my second op, I’ve not had to wear a dressing on the wound. It’s finally healing it seems.

It’s a bummer you need a second op Feenix. I hope your recovery is more straightforward than mine when you have it!

Sally

Great news Sally - you must feel you have made a step forward ?. You’ve had fab weather for your hols.
Feenix - everything crossed for Thursday.
Gill - hope you’re ok today.
Fairy Dust - how are you?
I had my heart echo today - all was well with my ?- great news. Had terrible heartburn today ?lesson learnt - slower eating. Otherwise been a good day.
Enjoy hank holiday weekend - anything exciting planned?
Jem xx

Hi Feenix, ladies.

Still enjoying Cornwall. Weather has been brilliant, swam in the sea the other day with an air temperature of 15c and water 11c. That was bracing. No wetsuit! Not looking forward to chemo next week but looking forward to going back to work

Hi all. All good here. Gearing up ready for start of rads next week Been into work which felt strange but was good for me. Keep having the odd really flat moment but manage to shake it off. Sally hope your still healing well? Can imagine that you are not looking forward to chemo next week. That sea must of been feeezing lol specially with no wet suit but invigorating I am sure. Brrrrrr. Feenix hope all
Goes well with your appointment and of course your surgery.
Jem how’s it going? Not feeling to yummy ?.
Fairdust hope all is going well with you.
We are all still hanging on to this April thread ?
So we have Sally moving out next week I will be moving out next week. Jem already moves but just can’t keep away from us ?. Feenix surgery for you still to happen so will keep be back to see how you are getting on. Take care all and speak again soon. Xx

Jem that should have said yucky not yummy. Tut

Hi all, what amazing weather this weekend☀️. I’ve been doing amazingly well- felt better since before surgery- how was all that anxiety only 6 weeks ago???
Sally - chemo has been ok so far, which drugs are you having? I’m FEC-T. Lots of people on the forums commented that the worry before worst than it is- I was really sceptical! However after a few days of nausea I’m doing ok, fatigued for first 5 days and needed a little afternoon sleep. I asked the nurse to talk me through the whole thing - almost minute by minute which helped me. I’m not saying it’s great but enjoyable. Had appt for wig today- again I never thought I’d have such a conversation but lady was very lovely - just hoping the cold cap works and I don’t need.
Today not great- at picc line flush nurse noticed me not moving arm, painful. Spent an awful 3 1/2 hours at a and e- had to sit outside as everyone was ill and I’m low immunity this week. Only then to be told the person I needed to see went home at 5- pointed out I arrived at 4!!
Feenix - thinking of you for Thursday - how are you doing? What time? We just want to hear the words ‘ clear and margins’ together.
How was car hunting?
Gill- you’re going to be our resident expert on rads- will be looking for advice.
Take care all, I’ll keep popping back?

Sally sorry should have have read - not great but doable!!!

Hi from a very rainy Cornwall where I am sitting in the car reading whilst husband fishes. I’m soaked through so am taking a break with a coffee. Good luck with the second surgery Feenix.
Jem, I’m having 4xEC every other week followed by 12 x Taxol weekly, so 20 weeks of chemo. Lovely. Got an appointment to have all my hair cut off tomorrow. Think Carol from the Walking Dead. it’ll be in better condition them to maybe survive the chemo, (going to try the cold cap but don’t know if I’ll be able to manage, I get brain freeze eating an ice lolly!). If not the it won’t be so drastic when it goes.

Sally

Good mprning all
Feenix - thinking if you today, hope all goes wonderfully smoothly. Xx
Sally - I had my hair cut short - everyone loves it- don’t like to say why I’ve had it done! Tips on cold cap- it isn’t great for first 15 mins- I set a timer, cup of tea, Hubbie on keeping me distracted duty- this time going to watch Car Share as found the final one hilarious!! After this it gets better- also distracted me from thinking of the drugs.
Quick update- another 3 1/2 hours in oncology last night- a much better experience than and a and e- but does it really need to take that long? It looks like I have a blood clot, having a scan today to confirm, if so I will have daily injections until gone?, my bloods really show my low immunity - scared me a little. Today we have friends coming to stay for 2 days and so looking forward to it- my friend is even bringing dinner for us all?. Eldest sons 12 birthday tomorrow so something good to end week.
Hugs to you all?

Just checking in on all of you to see how you are doing hsving gota back from a short break over the bank holiday. Have not had great internet access, but have kept off line on purpose to help me feel “normal” while I’ve been away. Can’t believe it, but I’ve had to have 1.2 litres of fluid removed from my jelly belly following the DIEP surgery. Told it may come back and need removing again, but that wasn’t a painful experience so no worries. I’d had to buy stronger hold in pants for the weight while I was away as it was a bit difficult walking with it swishing around, but I  still can’t believe the amount. All wounds healing really well and I’m amazed at how my new boobies feel and the sensation I have in them. The scars are already fading in colour! I do seem to have strange sensations with phantom nipples though! When I have a hot or cold drink I casn feel nipples I haven’t got! Back down to earth with a slump though, as I’ve come back to the letter with my results appointment for tomorrow 1st June. That’ll be another sleepless night tonight then! You’ve all been here before me and are now the otherside dealing with the #@% this thing has thrown at us. I hope I can be as strong as you all are.

 

Sally - good luck with the hair restyle today and glad to hear your wound is healing. Hope that is continuing. Can’t believe you sat in the car. I’d have been in the spa!

 

Feenix - good luck with your op today. Fingers crossed for clear margins this time. They kept finding new areas before they decided to operate with me and was the reason I went straight for the mastectomy. I knewI couldn’t have coped and needed it done with. Thinking about you today, but you’ve done this once and you can do it again x

 

Jem - you’re doing brilliantly. You and Sally are now dealing with my biggest fear. I know tomorrow is going to be traumatic because I’m scared they’ll tell me I need to have chemo 

 

Gill - good luck with radiotherapy next week.

 

Gill’s right,  we all keep coming back here, but I want to know how you are all doing. We’ve never met, but we’re all going through something together and I do care what is happening with you all. Please, even though we may all be going off in different directions with treatments, keep this thread informed with how you are doing. I seem to be bringing up the rear end of this and will let you know how I get on tomorrow. Depending on results though it may take me a bit to get my head around or I’ll be on here immediately having a meltdown!

 

Oh and have you noticed I’ve finally worked out (only took me 5 months of being on here) that I can open a different tab for my reply and keep looking back at you individual posts to be able to address each one of you. I’m such a Luddite. Another reason you need to post your progress on this thread as I’ll never be able to keep up with where you all are if you don’t (selfish, lazy reason really).

 

Love and hugs xxx

 

Morning all

Good luck today Feenix and for tomorrow Stardust. Husband caught loads yesterday but lost a rod which was taken into the middle of the lake by a carp. We were soaked to the skin but a nice hot shower, coffee and scones with clotted cream sorted that out. Haircut is good. Gone back to how I had it 30 years ago. So liberating to not have it halfway down my back. My youngest long haired son is placed to inherit all my hairbands!

Sally

Hi feenix. Glad all has gone welll for you and hope
Your recovery goes well with good results. Waiting carousel again?

Jem. New hair do! Hope the clot disappears soon and less hospital trips. Enjoy your weekend and birthday celebrations. Been my birthday today and had a lovely day with daughter and grand children at a local agricultural show and forgot everything if just for a few hours. Was lovely weather and a fun day.
Fairy dust good to hear from you and hope recovery is going well and hope no more seroma,s. Fingers crossed for results tomorrow.

Sally another one with new hair do. You and Jem will be supporting each other lots next weeks and hope it goes ok for you.

Can’t believe we are in June tomorrow where has March April and May gone?? Crazy it’s like three Months of your life gone by in a flash but so much happened in that time.

Hope everybody has a good weekend and we must revisit here to keep in touch. Take care all