Hi all,. Thanks for your nice thoughts, think I’m feeling better today went for a walk with a lovely friend who cheered me up. Much cooler night’s sleep, even had to get up and find a hat as head was cold, we have a big window over our bed and it was chilly so now have stiff neck, oh well something else to think about, I miss my long hair round my neck I think. Raining here today which is very refreshing!
Feenix I’m glad you are on the road to recovery and dressing change went well, did you sneak a peak, I was amazed how tidy everything looked. Interestingly I find my scar gets red and sore in places in middle of chemo cycle so perhaps thats what you feel Cdc? Enjoy time with your mum.
Regarding bike Feenix maybe you will need more of an off road type, but definitely a comfy saddle that’s a must, mine is lush!
My friend bought me a lovely card which said “Remember… a storm never lasts forever!”… So I’m trying to use that as s my mantra for T next week.
Thanks for the advise on the exercises Jean. I am feeling quite prepared now but I’m sure the nerves will kick in next week. The plan is to keep myself busy, we’ll see. How are you feeling? Have you had a good weekend? I hope your seroma hasn’t reappeared and that your appointment on Monday goes well. It’s so good to hear how well you are coping, you are a real support even when you don’t know you’re doing it!
I have been out for a couple of runs but haven’t improved much. Although on the whole I don’t feel too battered from chemo when I run I really struggle and notice the difference in my fitness. But I can work on that!
Good luck with chemo next week Kip, good to hear you are enjoying the times you feel good with a jig around! I think it is the only way with chemo.
CDC, reminding yourself of how long you feel bad for and that a good week is just around the corner is a good idea. I found making plans for my good week to have dinner with friends or go out on a day trip helped aswell as it gave me something to focus on and broke up the time .
You’re both doing great! You will soon be closer to the end than the start! X
Hi Feenix sounds like you are doing well and !uch relieved to be over the surgery part. I’ve just been.out for 5 mile walk and Sunday lunch which was really nice. Making the most of taste buds whilst I have some!! Had a melt down again this morning, j think I am scared of tomorrow and it’s taking more toll on me today. Had row with OH again, said I am always negative and need to get !ore positivity as he can’t cope with my black moods! Somehow I think it cleared the air a bit and m said I would try to be more positive if he meets me half way and understands it’s not always possible.
Michelle don’t with about the surgery you’ve done chemo camp this is the easy bit, but I know it’s worrying I was a bag of nerves but was much easier than I thought. Deep breaths.
Thanks for the good wishes. The break away certainly has done me good. So much so that my OH and I decided to book another couple of nights away on the Kent, Sussex before we head to the hotel in Surrey. Thankfully my appetite has returned too Kip. Glad you enjoyed your Sunday lunch. Sounds like you deserved it. I’m sure it was hard having words but it’s good that you and your OH are working out how to get through this and support each other . My OH is being very supportive now but I wish we hadn’t had to have a b*****y great row before he realised I needed him to ‘up the ante’ in regards to helping me. Oh well Getting away is helping us reconnect and I think he’s glad to get away from his job for a bit as it’s been very stressful. I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow and hope you get a good nights sleep. Take care
Hi Michelle Must be frustrating when you feel you can’t run as you used to but I’m so impressed that you’re running at all during chemo. It’s brilliant!! I’m hoping i’ll be able to remind myself there will be good weeks when I have my 4th chemo on the 21st. I think your idea of planning some things is a good one. Will try and arrange some meet ups with friends and family. Hope you are feeling ok
about the surgery. I also think it’s understandable to be nervous before an op but I too have found it the easier part of my treatment so far. I had to stay in for a couple of days after my first surgery and found it surprisingly relaxing!!! Hope it all goes really well.
Hi Jean
Sorry to hear your still having issues with your seroma. Hope it gets sorted soon. Good to hear you’ve been out and about. also that you’re reading again. I’m currently reading a book with a lots of twists and turns in the plot. I’m loving it and it’s a great distraction. I must try and get into cooking a bit more. We’ve been eating out an awful lot but I just can’t face the cooking preparation when making meals at home especially during the first week and a half after chemo when I have no appetite and feel most nauseous. I’ve lost a bit of weight but I’m sure I’ll put it on again now we’re on holiday and my appetite has returned with a vengeance !! Oh well. I’m trying to eat breakfast later and make sure I leave 12 hours between eating in the evening and then in the morning as the nutritionist advised.
Will see if it has any effect!
Take care everyone and sending hugs and my best wishes for next week.
Sorry to hear the seroma needs sorting again Jean. What a blow, hope it’s sorted for good tom. Thanks for the low own of what happens when I get to hospital, I think it is just going into the unknown. I also have to get wire locators put in based on my first scans so they know where the tumours were. I just hope the pathology result is as good as the scan results but I guess we all want that.
I’m with you on losing a few lbs, another reason to get back to running. Whatever I go through in life I seem to eat my way through. Apart from the initial weeks after diagnosis when I lost about 4lb I’ve put on most weeks since!
Good luck for tom Kip I hope it all runs smoothly for you. My taste buds didn’t go on my first T but got worse on each cycle. I’m still waiting for them to return to normal. But not even this stops me from eating!
CDC it is a bit frustrating not being as fit as before, But I’m sure I will get back I just need to be patient. I’m glad you are having a nice break with your OH and reconnecting, we need all the support we can get going through this nightmare. Keep enjoying the good time
Hope everyone stays well xx
Kip I had heartburn on T it was caused by the steroids, they really irritated my oesophagus and made it very uncomfortable to eat. If you haven’t already get some tablets to help from your Onc. I’m out at the moment but will let you know what I was prescribed later.
Jean I had a ‘temporary’ tattoo when I was 30. It’s still there now 18 years later! A henna version might be a good place to start to make sure you like it! Re taking the lbs off I really wish I could lay off the chocolate I’m up to a bar of dairy milk a day, and not the small bar! X
Oh Jean I really just want to get on with it now! X
Kip it was lansoorazole 30mg. I started off just taking them when I had difficulty swallowing but that was too late. By cycle 5 or 6 I realised I was better off taking them throughout. X
Thanks Jean and Kip, really appreciate your support it helps knowing you have both been through it. Plan on going to bed later than normal in the hope i will sleep. Having said that my daughter will be up early checking for her results so I can’t see me getting much sleep!
Hope you are both ok xx
They let me have water after cut off as I am on tablets that dry my mouth out anyway if u ask the anesthetics and water was one of the first things I asked when awake as my mouth was so dry. Does doc prescribe dry mouth spray as I’ve just asked for some? Ta.
Hi op seems to have gone ok although was very painful last night. Feel better although very fragile this morning and being discharged later.
My daughter got into Southampton and got better grades than she hoped so really pleased about that! X
Well done Michelle, you’ll feel better to get home I am sure and relax in your own space. So pleased your daugther did well thats something less to worry about isn’t it. My son gets his GCSEs next week so will be in your position then. Take care and rest up…
Thanks everyone I do feel better for being home although i am feeling sore. Did you all get into a bra straight away? I haven’t put my bra on yet as the drain area is sore but am going to try for tonight. I am looking forward to being a week or two down the road of recovery.
Cos I didn’t have reconstruction I didn’t bother with a bra. I just wore a stretchy vest top. I did fingers sitting up from laying down quite difficult and painful so during the day I found it easier when I was tired to doze sitting up. I put a pillow over my shoulder to rest my head on and it helped.
Hi Michelle after my Mx I wore a front fastening Asda bra with my softie in as nurse said it would help to have a little bit of pressure on the scar to flatten it, I slept in it too. After week of two I swapped some nights to a vest just for a bit of freedom. Once the drain came out it was easier tho. I slept wedged in my v pillow which helped but getting sitting up took a few days and a big of rolling around!
Well s o far in T cycle things not too bad, sore tongue and mouth kicked in yesterday, white with teeth marked but no ulcers,and only very slight achy legs but still managing to get out and walk a few miles a day so mustn’t moan. Finished the steroids yesterday so waiting for slump… OH has been warned. If T stays this way I think its no worse than FEC so far oh and no sickness with this either but constipation!
Thanks for all of your bra comments, I’m a bit worried the bra will trap the drain and stop it draining! But I think I need to get a grip and get on with it, I won’t know until I try. Had a slightly broken but good nights sleep, I’m also wedged into my V pillow!
How are you feeling now Jean? It’s been what about 2 weeks since your op?
Great news about T se’s Kip, I had the opposite of constipation, for 12 weeks! I was also on Perjeta though and I think that’s what did it. I’m a bit constipated post op and it’s actually quite nice not to be going 4 times a day!
Thanks Claire,needless to say I’m a very proud mum at the moment!
I hope everyone is able to enjoy the weekend xx
Hi, May surgery gals! I am having chemo pre-surgery and trying to plan well ahead as my surgery is probably going to hit the week before Christmas – a busy time regardless, but I also have a big work project deadline for 31 Dec.
My question right is pretty prosaic: what exactly is the V pillow everyone is using? A wedge to prop up your pillows or the type that is like 2 pillows connected at a 90-degree angle?
Especially curious as I had quite the time getting out of bed in the week after my bilateral SLNB…
Hi feenix you sound busy! Thats the best thing to keep doing things isnt it. How are you healing? Michelle … How are you gettingon? And CDC sounds like you are getting out and about too . I finally got an appt to sse my onc on 29th Aug… I hsvent seen her since cycle 1 of Fec… havent seen anyone apart drom chemo nurses whixh seems odd but at least i will see her before cycle 5. Hopefilly ill have an idaa of time frsme for node clearance and ida of how many rads? Does anyone know their next steps yet?
Hi Jean, Claire and Kip and anyone else here!
All is going well although I feel so vulnerable. I had the drain out today which is good but now I’m worrying that fluid will collect elsewhere and cause problems. I had a bit of a wobble after the nurse took about the drain and said she wouldn’t be back until Sunday to take the clips out. I know lots of people don’t have a nurse come out to them but it did make me feel a little more secure and looked after. She offered to come on Thursday to check on me which I am pleased about. It does feel better with the drain out and I am following your advice Jean and staying on top of the pain killers.
I will be thinking of you on Wednesday Jean and hoping for good results for you. I also have lots of things in mind to get on with but seem to be doing very little. I’m sure we will in time.
Good that you are almost halfway through Claire, although I hadn’t realised you are having 8 cycles you poor thing. But still get over the halfway mark and you will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Keep planning for the good days.
Kip I saw my onc at every pre chemo appointment but not much was said or done that could have been done by a nurse. When is your 5th chemo? Assuming you are having 6 cycles you are nearing the end now. Not many more times to go through, I know you can do it.
Love to all xx