Anyone due to start chemo April 14??

[jos]

Less on the grumpy step tonight!

I saw the nurse about my seroma.  They want to wait and see if it goes away in a few weeks.  They would rather not aspirate unless it gets worse.  The nurse took time to explain things and talk about other concerns so it was a worthwhile visit.  The counselling session was helpful and then I spent the afternoon in the pub for a colleague's leaving do!  Just what I needed and it was nice to see everyone prior to my return to work - it will make it easier.

I hope you all sleep well and have good weekends.  I am going to spend the time doing some nice things with my sister as she'll be leaving soon.

x

[Lovewine]

Joan, it seems then most of us feel the same regarding the stress we are feeling now, glad it wasn't just me! I think we are expected to feel " better" now that chemo is finished!
Strangely, it was my husband that recommended joining this forum , after a particularly awful day when i was in despair not long after diagnosis, must say it has been a massive comfort and support to me. I am not into Facebook or similar things but have found this thread to be invaluable-thanks ladies!!

[joan47]

Lovewine, glad your retail therapy helped to get you off the grumpy step a bit. I am with you about the post traumatic stress effect. I surprised myself by not being more upset and anxious about the diagnosis and although the chemo was challenging and the prognosis in terms of further surgery worrying on the whole I coped better than I would have anticipated. Now it's nearly over it seems to be hitting me and I feel worse than before. I have decided to go back to the cancer care centre I went to earlier to try and get on more of an even keel. Hope youngest your results on Monday and the news is positive.

Rosie, happy birthday.mgreat news about your dad. Hope you are enjoying your weekend and that the surgeon is right that it will feel easier.

EAM. Good to hear from you and great that you are done. A pity that your husband didn't think bring on this forum was good for you. Mine was rather hostile to it at the start, but came round to it and now recognises how much of a lifeline it has been. I suspect he thought that since I had his support I shouldn't need anything else.

Jos, hope your counselling appt was helpful. You have had such a lot to cope with without the seroma reappearing.

Wildpurl, hope you enjoyed Petworth. We had hoped to get there when we had our few days in Sussex in August but ran out of time. Enjoy your new bed,

[rosie14]

Arrived safely in the north in a wifi area having dinner with a glass of wine. Wildpurl,glad your bed arrived ok and it is safely assembled I do hope it will be comfortable!
The surgeon listened and said it will get better as we put more in so in I went for another inflation . I screech when he puts that needle in my side! I have got pain killers with me incase I can't stand it. Next inflation next Friday!'
Jos sorry you are on the grumpy step! You have been through a lot and surgery is depressing and looking back after all we have come through and that yet to come. Try to take a day at a time that's what I do know because it's just too steep a hill to climb otherwise.
Lovewine sorry that you and Jos have seroma I had it aspirated several times before it went,
I can understand how fed up you ladies are of wearing your wigs as I can't wait to rip mine off when I have been out for the night, I just wear a light head scarf in the day. Thank you for all my birthday wishes. When we crossed the boarder tonight the passport control guy shook my hand and started humming happy birthday!

[Lovewine]

Eam, how lovely to hear from you, I have thought about you many times in last few weeks and hoped you were getting on with life and doing well! I quite understand your hubby wants to move forward now, it does all seem surreal which we were mentioning earlier. Last radio on Monday- well done!! Hope you had a nice holiday too!! X

[EAM28]

Hello all! Sorry I haven't been on since last chemo.  Hubby didn't think it was healthy for me & wants me to move on now that the worst is over.  Have my last radio on Mon 15th!!:). Hope you are all doing well.  I will scan over the last few posts & see what you have all been up to xxx

[Lovewine]

Evening everyone, Wildpurl hope you managed your sorting out and tidying up! You will be looking forward to some good nights of restful sleep! Enjoy petworth house and time with your daughter.
I went to our local town this afternoon and after buying the boring stuff I looked around the more interesting ones! Most have 25% sales on at the moment too! also went into the cancer research charity shop and found a brand new , very pricey pair of joules jeans ( still had label on them for £65.00) and I paid £7.00! So that went a good way to lifting my grumpy mood!!
Hope you are all doing ok, have good weekends whatever you are all doing!
Rosie, hope you got some answers today at your appointment? Enjoy your birthday weekend and right now I hope you are being spoilt and lolling around with a glass of something interesting in your hand!!🍷

[Wildpurl]

Well, the old bed is moved to the spare room and the new one is assembled and made up in our room, it looks very nice :). We might get some new bedding but do have enough for both rooms at the moment so will probably look out for something we like in the sales.

This afternoon I have cleaning to do as we have to clear up after the delivery and all the boxes and polystyrene everywhere. I have a waxing appointment later and then tomorrow we are off to Petworth for the day with my daughter, who is staying over, and on Sunday I will be gardening.

So a typical Wildpurl relaxing weekend 😉

Lovewine, I'm fed up with wearing my wig to work, too, but my real hair, although improving, is not yet looking OK enough for work. I think maybe another couple of months, but we'll see.

Jos, either of your two difficult experiences would be hard to come to terms with and live through, and both together is a lot to cope with. I could imagine that it would be hard to disentangle which is causing what feelings which I am sure a counsellor will be able to help you with. Sending some cyber hugs your way.
ETA I started Pilates again 4 weeks after my surgery, but as I had an implant I did not have any surgery on my back, which might lengthen the time you would need to heal?

[Lovewine]

Morning jos, yes I feel really fed up today too! My seroma has not drained away yet either! Am fretting now about results and possible surgery too, yes as we have been saying and Wildpurl too, I think it does seem surreal all the chemo etc and maybe it starts to hit us now! You certainly have had a lot going on too with your personal life, how difficult on top of everything else, hope you can offload on counsellor today! My nails look like they are nicotine stained too, and I am bloody fed up with wearing a wig! Definitely joining you in the rant !!

WIldpurl, hope you have a good day, enjoy your new bed! Have you bought new bedding for it!? Sounds like you are going to be busy again! Do you have anything planned for the weekend?

[jos]

Morning All

I am definitely on the grumpy step this morning.

Lovewine - I totally understand what you are saying about the delayed reaction.  I can't quite believe what has happened this year when I look back and it feels overwhelming.  Meet wonderful new partner, get diagnosed with cancer two months later, embark on treatment, partner amazingly supportive, partner gets ill (you can probably put two and two together following my previous comments about "someone very close" and depression), partner becomes ex-partner, treatment rumbles on.  It seems neverending and yet the thought of going back to work, Tamoxifen, radiotherapy all still to come.....  I can't even imagine the point where I put all this behind me and just get on with life and even then it's not going to be the life I was imagining for myself earlier this year.  I have an appointment with my counsellor today thank goodness - maybe she can help me get some perspective.

To add to it (sorry for the rant!) my seroma has reappeared.  Having thought I'd seen the last of hospital for a few weeks I have to go in this morning for the nurse to have a look.  They don't want to drain it so looks like I will have to live with it for a while and see if it reabsorbs.  It's very uncomfortable as it rubs under my arm when I'm walking.  Other than that all looks ok after the surgery.  I didn't have any dressings on afterwards so have had little choice but to look!  Will have big scar on my back but it will fade in time.  Won't know how the two boobs compare until after it has settled and i've seen the effects of the rads.  Hope all goes well with the results on Monday Lovewine and I hope you are happy with the outcome of the surgery once settled.  You too Joan.

Gosh what a lot of nails going.  I don't feel in the clear with that then.  Mine look like I'm smoking 20 a day but no signs on coming off yet.  Will reapply nail varnish today and ignore them.

Rosie - good luck today.  Hope you have a lovely weekend and a happy birthday.  Glad to hear that your dad has stabilised.

TLJ - I hope your son settles well.  I'm glad you feel your fitness levels are recovering.  I am desperate to get back to more activity.  I have walked almost every day throughout all this which has helped enormously.  I was quite pleased that I walked my daughter to school and then did a bit further 48 hours after surgery!  Looking forward to the 12 week point though when I can start doing more.

Wildpurl - your energy levels seem impressive as always!  How long after surgery did you get back to pilates?

Have a good day everyone.

x

[Wildpurl]

Good morning,
Yesterday was a busy day for me, The bed and mattress were delivered early although the driver had the usual difficulty finding the house! The mattress was vacuum packed in a roll so easy to carry upstairs, when we opened the roll it was like a live thing unrolling! Very clever.packaging. Then I drove to work, then in the evening to Sainsburys to do the shopping, I was exhausted after all that. The dining room is covered in bits of bed and packaging at the moment, after my Pilates class today's task is to move the old bed and install the new one. And then clean up!

Rosie, a happy birthday to you and hope you have a lovely weekend. I do hope the surgeon listens to your concerns about how uncomfortable you are, it really isn't right. What lovely words from your daughter in your birthday card, and she is quite right, too.

Lovewine, I was thinking about what you said about a sort of post traumatic stress. I don't know if it's the same as you are feeling, but now things are getting more back to normal I have started to feel that the chemo period is unreal, and I can't quite believe I went through it. At the same time I also feel that I can't quite believe in the normality, because will anything really be normal again?

Thank you so much by the way for your suggestions of nice things to see and do in Snowdonia. I've not been there before so am more than happy to have recommendations, lots of ideas there. We love castles and have already planned to visit a couple during the week.

Sorry to all those who have been on the sulky step, I hope the things that are bothering you clear up quickly. Right I had better go and get showered and dressed as I need to be off to the gym in half an hour!

[Lovewine]

That sounds much more positive Rosie, at least he can be home, but have help too if he needs it.

[rosie14]

Many thanks Lovewine!
Dad is stabilised at the moment and they are going to try and get him home next week! The occupational therapist is going to meet my sister at his apartment and see what can be done to make things easier for him. My sister is going to get some help to get him up and to bed also! He has pull cords in every room linked to Care line if he has problem!

[Lovewine]

Rosie, of course , you are off straight after your appt for your weekend treat! Have a lovely weekend and a very happy birthday! I hope it won't be spoiled too much by all this discomfort and uncertainty, your daughter is right with her lovely words- not many people would have been able to deal with what you have had thrown at you this year! So try and relax if possible and enjoy doing nothing!
Hope your dad is doing ok too and stabilised.
A very happy birthday 🍷x

[rosie14]

Thanks Lovewine I am not looking forward to it I need him to understand that while I am awake I am constantly feeling the heavy pressure and extreme tightness. I bet he just blows me up again and expects me to cope!
Will be thinking of you on Monday and hope the results will be back and it will be positive!
Shopping for bird seed and cleaning products, wow! We don't have to feed the birds here as there is plenty of food all year round for them! We used to have a bird feeder when we lived in Devon and the squirrels used to come and and devour it!
Just read the message in my daughter's birthday card stating" To the strongest, bravest, and most inspirational Mum and Grandma!",I had better get of the grumpy step and get on with it!!!!!'
Hope you all have a relaxing weekend!

[Lovewine]

Morning everyone, good to enjoy a glass or two of wine finally Rosie! Will be thinking of you today and your inflations!
I see surgeon on Monday, but results may not be back then, I really am hoping they won't need to operate further! And yes hoping for a lull in proceedings until girlfriend returns next week!!
Working this morning and then a little shopping this afternoon, bird seed and cleaning products!!

[rosie14]

That's 3 on the grumpy step then, anyone else want to join us? !!'

[rosie14]

Lovewine glad all is quiet on the western front regarding son and his girlfriend for now! I did have some wine tonight with the meal. The evening wasn't too bad even though it was work related' Glad you enjoyed your coffee with your friend.
When in look back on the last 6 months I can't believe what I have been through but Imknow it's not over yet!
When will you gets your pathology results back? I do hope that's you won't need any further surgery!

[Lovewine]

Joan and Rosie, grumpy step too for me - my big toe nail is very painful and about to fall off too, finger nails are dreadful, look brown still and have what looks like water blisters at the top of nail- yuck

[Lovewine]

Evening everyone, tij, sounds hard having your son at boarding school but sounds like he is settling well, you seem to be recovering your energy levels too , glad you enjoying your electric bike, I had problems too posting on the forum last night and gave up in the end.
Joan, chocolate and orange pot- how nice!! Am a firm believer in having a little of what you fancy- but indulging ourselves now I think a lot of what we fancy is needed more! I have taken off my dressings etc and looked at my wound and my boob has been moved and nipple repositioned and stitched back on! It looks better than I thought, but not breathing a sigh of relief just yet as may need further surgery when pathology results back, do you think surgeon will offer next year to give a better cosmetic appearance, that's what my surgeon suggested.
Rosie, good luck tomorrow for further inflations, feel so sorry for you having such discomfort and problems, doesn't seem to be getting much easier, surely doctors can do something about the inflations and associated problems? How frustrating. Hope your meal out was enjoyable and not too tedious if work related!
I am relieved to say my son appears to be a little less distraught today, no further contact with girlfriend which he is taking as good as at least she hasn't ended their relationship, I really hope when she returns to the u.k next week she can see doctor and resume medication, but I can't see it happening , so this rollercoaster will continue with their relationship! Wildpurl, think you have a point in saying family etc think we are stronger now to cope with their problems, must say I feel very drained after yesterday! It is much harder to comfort them as adults as you say Joan, I am surprised my bottom lip isn't red raw from biting it shut yesterday !
Apart from that, have had a fairly quiet day, met friend for coffee which was nice as hadn't seen her for ages and she loved my wig!!
Incidentally, have any of you had almost " post traumatic shock syndrome" now chemo is over? I have found that now the merry go round of 3 weekly bloods, onc appts and chemo I seem to look back on it all and feel very panicky at all that's happened, almost as if when going through it my brain seemed to block it all out( along with most things!) and now seem to be having a delayed reaction .
,

[rosie14]

Tlj which Island do you live on I have been to Guernsey and Jersey.
Hope you hear from your son and he enjoyed his sporting experience!
Joan my friend came round this afternoon to do my nails and she said I have one lifting which I hadn't noticed. It doesn't seem right 2 months after final chemo!
I will join you on the grumpy step!
If you went for a 20 min walk you definitely needed the orange and chocolate pot!
It maybe worth having a word with the surgeon to see if he can level you up I am sure you shouldn't be left like that!

[joan47]

TiJ, it is so frustrating when a post disappears into the ether and somehow it always seems to be the longer ones. You must must be so relieved that he has settled into his new school. How are you coping without him?
Glad that you are recovering your fitness levels. I have just been out for a brisk 20 minute walk and come back feeling very wobbly though virtuous. I don't suppose it has made much inroads into the rather nice lunch I had with friends though. Did I really have to have the chocolate and orange pot? I need to get back some will power.

Rosie, hope you have enjoyed your lazy day. Good luck with the inflation tomorrow, it seems so unfair that it is making you so uncomfortable after everything else you have gone through.

Lovewine, when your children are young it seems such hard work and you worry about them constantly but when they are distressed you can usually comfort them. What I hadn't anticipated was that the worry would go on as they got older but the comforting becomes harder. All you can do is offer a sympathetic ear but be sparing about the advice unless asked for. It's a positive sign though that your son felt able to go into work. Hopefully once she is back in England things will be easier.
Jos, glad the op went well.m Hope you can keep the pain under control with painkillers. It sounds as if you will have a very good cosmetic result. As the swelling has gone down on my boob I am becoming very aware that it is now considerably smaller than the other one and the nipple is about an inch higher and retracted. The oncologist has also warned me that it may get smaller with the radiotherapy. I know it could have been a lot worse and I am lucky still to have both boobs but still. I wasn't offered reconstruction at the time or soon after the op. I think the surgeon had to take more tissue than originally thought which is probably why.

Another grouse, about to lose the index fingernail on my right hand now to add to the two nails gone on the left and big toenail also loose. And I thought once chemo was over things would get better. Somehow it seems wrong to be grumpy at this stage but I am. Sorry.

[Tlj63]

We live in the Channel Islands, so only a 30 min plane ride to the mainland. His school is close to the airport, so he can come home for exeats, half terms and holidays. His first assignment was to write an essay entitled 'my life in books'. That would have filled me with dread, but he seemed to enjoy it. I'm hoping he rings tonight as he was representing the school in a sports team this afternoon which, for my son is a real bonus as he is not a natural sportsman. Hope it went well.

[rosie14]

Hi Tlj glad you are doing ok and that your son seems to have settled well. The first few days are the hardest and he seems to have got through these so hopefully he will be ok! Where do you live by the way? I am sure that your bike will help your fitness levels in time!

[Tlj63]

Hello everyone. I wrote a long thread last night and just as I posted it the website crashed, so lost it. Anyway, I hope everyone is fine and enjoying the sunshine still.
We have returned from the UK, having left our son at his new boarding school. He has phoned every night and seems to be settling in ok. I'm so relieved, I couldn't bear it if he was unhappy. I'm sure he will have a wobble at some time in the next few weeks, but so far so good.
I had my 5th herceptin yesterday and am on to my 3rd week of tamoxifen. The hot flushes have definitely started, particularly at night. It will be interesting how it feels when the weather gets colder. You never know, I might be able to turn the central heating down which will please my husband. My hair is growing, but not very fast, so I think it will be at least another month before I can go out without something on my head. Otherwise, I seem to be recovering my fitness levels although still a long way to go on that front. Really enjoying my electric bike.

[rosie14]

Lovewine good to hear that your son has gone into work and that you are having coffee with a friend.
I am having a lazy day today my friend is coming round this afternoon to do my nails! Have to go out to dinner tonight with a visitor from a university in the UK. Tomorrow we will be encounter to the North via the dreaded surgeon who is doing another inflation! I fear now that Im going to put up,with this ghastly pressure until I can have the operation to exchange tissue expanders for implants. Sadly I can't see this happening this year so I will just have to continue knocking my head against a brick wall. I feel like a balloon that will explode and I have barely started yet!
Wildpurl,how exciting your new bed is arriving hope it arrives on time!
I am just in awe of the owners of the villa opposite the other side of the ravine. They arrived from Ireland last night and at 10.55 am their shutters are still firmly closed and there is no sound! They both have loud voices and they carry! They are at least as old as us possible he is older. Even if I arrived in on an early flight I would still be around by 7am latest!

[Wildpurl]

Good morning all,
I am glad to hear your surgery went well jos.
Lovewine, sorry to hear about your son's problems, I too have been through similar things with both my son and my daughter, it is so hard to see them unhappy but agree they have to work through it themselves.
I think that many people will have been worried about us during treatment and not said anything, now we seem to be recovering it will feel as if we can cope with hearing about their concerns, which we probably can, but it is all very draining!
Rosie totally agree that it is Mums who listen and support with these emotional things, Dads just get grumpy and think they should pull themselves together.

Tulamo good luck today with no. 5

I am at home this morning, about to start work, as the new bed and mattress are to be delivered. Very exciting and the delivery driver has just phoned to say they will be here in half an hour!

[Lovewine]

Morning everyone, thanks Rosie and jos for the support, son is going in to work today after not being able to yesterday- all he did was pace around the house, blaming himself! I have found it quite a shock seeing him so upset as he is generally a happy, no nonsense person- good advice not to interfere Rosie , as hard as it is not too! Jos, you are right it does drag you down dealing with it!
Anyway, jos, hope you heal well and not in too much discomfort today, I too have childhood memories of my dad driving our Morris marina onto blackrock sands and me and my sister being delighted at thought we would be carried away out to sea! It hasn't changed that much at all. Also remember on the same holiday going up snowdon on the train and it breaking down halfway up and being stranded in the mist for hours( well seemed hours when you were 7 years old!)
Am visiting a friend for coffee this morning and having s hopefully easier day- but aren't they famous last words!!
Rosie, enjoy your day , you seem to be getting stronger in last week?
Hello to everyone else too!

[rosie14]

Good morning Everyone!
Jos glad all went well with your surgery at least you are home. Keep taking the painkillers hope you had a restful night!
Lovewine all you can do is support your son through this it's no good trying to advise them it's deemed as interference they have to make their own mistakes at this age and we have to be there to pick up,the pieces. I was very distressed when my son was going through this as he was in France and I was in England. All phone calls were about how awful then situation with her was and Jos is right is does drag you down! At least she is not away for too much longer. I think you will find eventually if this continues he may move on to new pastures! But of course you can't suggest this you can only secretly hope! I think my eldest son was 23 when he was tied up in this relationship, I seem to remember it was around the time of our daughters wedding 10 years ago when they were both staying in our house when I realised how bad it was. They would argue and shout there would be door banging and they argued in French outside on the patio so the neighbours could hear!!' It was shortly after they had returned to France that she was sectioned and our son could no longer stand the strain!
Hope you manage to have a better day! Its very hard being a mum the dad's tend to sweep it under the carpet say how ridiculous and get on with their day!!!!

[jos]

Hello All

Thank you for all the good wishes for my op yesterday.  It all seemed to go as well as could be expected.  I didn't even have to wait very long as I was moved up the list.  The surgeon said it went well and she seemed pleased with her handiwork which is encouraging!  I stayed in hospital last night but was home by lunchtime today.  It's pretty sore - a lot more so than the last op but under control so far.  The scar is on my side and back and quite long but the breast is untouched. 

Joan - sorry to hear about your picc line troubles but pleased that your oncologist meeting went well and you have stopped worrying so much.

Lovewine - sorry to hear about your son.  I have some (very recent) experience of someone very close to me suffering from clinical depression and cutting their meds.  It is extremely hard to deal with and very confusing and worrying.  It's difficult to know how to help and be understanding whilst trying not to get dragged down yourself.

Blackrock sands - that reminds me of my childhood.  I have memories of being in the family Ford Zephyr and driving the car on to the beach.  I'd love to go back and see how it compares to my memories!

x

[Lovewine]

Rosie, yes it's very difficult isn't it, she returns next week, she is still a student and has a lot of issues , I do feel sympathy but my poor son is like you said yours was, doesn't know what to do - she's up and down , goes for days in silence and then answers in one word replies for every question which can last for weeks!! He is very ground down with it all, but refuses to see any fault in her, so have to be very careful what I say!! It's difficult! Thankyou for your kind words, even when they are grown up we worry about them!!!!

[rosie14]

Lovewine I am very sorry that your son is having to go through this difficult time. I know how very upsetting it is for you to see them hurting! My eldest son had several broken relationships before settling down with his now fiancée 3 years ago when he was 30! He had a girlfriend who had depression and he found it very waring she ended in and out of hospital! Eventually he ended the relationship because he never knew where he stood.
How long has she gone to Morocco for they need to sort it out but better face to face. This is the one of the worst things about being a mum Lovewine you feel every emotion with them! I do hope this will get resolved soon. Thinking of you! X

[Lovewine]

Joan, hair on legs is signs of life in hair department! Mine still not appearing yet!
Rosie, hope you had a relaxing morning and fairly productive afternoon! Mine went pear shaped when faced with a very distraught 23 year old son who's girlfriend is doing charity work in Morocco , she decided to stop taking medication for her depression and has behaved badly towards my son by totally ignoring all calls, messages etc and worrying him literally sick , so have spent most of the day trying to comfort him as he is convinced she is going to end the relationship and is madly in love with her- obviously I really feel for him and want to give her a damn good slap( selfish little madam!) realise this is extremely uncharitable on my part, but I hate to see my children distraught as we all do. I know she is ill, but not sure why she has stopped medication, anyway feel totally drained now after listening and sympathising and using all my self control to not open my mouth and criticise her actions!! Makes it worse too that she is in another country.it also emerged just how stressed and worried he has been about me and all the ups and downs of treatment etc, he never really has shown his worries since my diagnosis.
Anyway tomorrow another day so hoping it will be resolved!! Don't think I can cope with the stress either!
Hope everyone is doing well.

[joan47]

Today I realised I needed to shave my legs. Progress at last! Now if only it would start coming back where I want it. But good to know that once it starts it grows quickly. It would be so good to have some hair for Barcelona.

Rosie, I know you suffered from numbness after your chemo. Has it now gone? I still have mine- fingers, feet, and often legs and back, especially in the morning. Good that your wound has now healed on the inside, hope it won't be too long healing completely.

Sorry can't reply to posts, my system is taking ages to get back to the board.

[rosie14]

Morning Lovewine yes I am supposed to book a heart echo for the oncologist so he can compare it to the last one to see if I can start herceptin. I must get round to do it but to be honest I really don't think I could cope with it at the moment so,I am secretly hoping that my heart has not yet repaired form the chemo! I know the nurse wasn't that impressed when she did a heart trace pre surgery!
Enjoy your afternoon I am doing it the other way round I am going in to the primary staff meeting this afternoon!

[Lovewine]

Morning everyone, yes Rosie, this summer was definitely a memorable one for all the wrong reasons! Must be easier for you in cooler temperatures now! Sorry if you have already said this : but are you about to start your herceptin? I know there was a delay for heart scan and you saw further doctor who wanted you on it ! I am worried because I havnt started it either and was supposed to with the chemo. Anyway, trying to be a patient patient but not succeeding! Have a good day, sounds like D/H is hopefully healing well too , and yes the wedding seems ages away now , what a superhuman effort from you both to have got there!
Am doing a couple of hours of work today, then relax this afternoon with a bit of gardening!

[rosie14]

Good morning all!
It's getting a bit cooler here now so,it's more comfortable 28- 32degrees. It has been a long hard difficult summer with no pool or beach allowed! Not a summer I ever wish to repeat! Our son's wedding all seems unreal now.
Lovewine you certainly seem to know the Snowdonia area of Wales well including the supermarket!
Today is the first day I haven't dressed DH remaining weak spot on his back. He also very carefully had to lift the new water refill onto the cooler. So far so good! We are just waiting for my wound to heal on the outside. It seems to have healed inside so just got to be a little more patient with the driving!
Jos hope all went well for you yesterday?
Wildpurl,its amazing how quickly the new hair seems to grow once it starts and once you start plucking and waxing again its a never ending task to get rid of unwanted hair again!
Hope everyone else is ok?

[Lovewine]

That's great news Joan, how lovely to hear those words! Holiday here you come!!
Wildpurl, not long until you go to wales then! Was thinking of places I enjoyed in snowdon you might like- Harlech castle, criccieth castle, Carmarthen castle and town is also pretty, borthy- gest has a nice beach and pretty village! Porthmadog is very pretty too and has a steam train you can take for various trips! Abersoch is very nice...Blackrock sands has a fabulous , long sandy beach, sorry if you know all these places already!!
P.s there is a very good tesco at Porthmadog and think also at phwelli.
Rosie, sounds like you are out and about more now, I think you will be driving very soon by the sound of it!
Jos, hope everything went well today.

[Wildpurl]

That is indeed a great thing to hear Joan.

[rosie14]

Joan that's fantastic news now you can really enjoy your holiday!

[joan47]

Glad my birthday camel has given you all a laugh. Sadly it wasn't an exotic present, just predictive text though why it should have turned cake into camel is beyond me, as are most of the helpful suggestions it comes up with.

Forgot to say yesterday, something the oncologist said was music to my ears. We were discussing how long I needed to stay on the blood thinning injections I have been on since April. He reckoned I could stop them just before we go on holiday because I would no longer have the risk factors: I was no longer having chemo, the PICC line would be out AND 'YOU DONT HAVE CANCER' . How good is that to hear.

[Wildpurl]

I'd forgotten about your weekend away Rosie, that will be lovely and probably just what you both need. I'm going to Wales the week after next, really looking forward to it.

I would have thought you would be fine to drive in three weeks if you have started healing on the side that was slower to heal. You will know when you feel ready though.
I had my legs waxed 5 weeks ago and have another appointment this Friday. Thought that I might not need it but I do!

[rosie14]

I am very annoyed just lost a long post so,this one will be short!
Wildpurl glad that your hair has grown enough to have a cut. Still the same pressure and discomfort I am afraid! So another 3 weeks and then I can drive? It's been 2 months since I drove so another 3 weeks is doable! When is it you go Wales?
We are going for a long weekend to Kyrenia on Friday as it is my birthday via the surgeon for another inflation! I will have another word with him about the extreme pressure and discomfort. I need Joan's sister to make me a camel cake with 2 humps!!!!
Tulamo the side effects seem to disappear more quickly after the final chemo and the get forgotten very quickly. I have had to start to shave my legs something I haven't had to do all summer I have just looked down at them and they need doing again!
Hope you all have a good day whether at work or home!

[tulamo]

Evening everyone,

Jos good luck for tomorrow, the plastic surgeons can do amazing things hope you're pleased with the outcome and discomfort is minimal.

As for the other stuff, what rotten timing, at least it wasnt acrimonious and if it feels right maybe you can get things back on track some time in the future .

Joan your picc removal sounds pretty horrid reminds me of my drain removal post mastectomy, district nurse didnt devac bottle properly so developed into a tug of war session very unpleasant. At least its done now

Hope your husband liked his surprise camel wish I'd got one but they're probably only available for big birthdays I suspect it was a delicious cake though !

Rosie I would be going totally stir crazy not driving for 2  months  though you've probably been so sore you've not been tempted hopefully things will improve for you soon and you can do more without any discomfort Ive had all kinds of issues with my left arm and chest muscle since my ANC surgery my recon often feels tight like its been strapped onto my chest so I have some understanding of what you're feeling just now 

Wildpurl  your holiday sounds good but a little too energetic for me at the moment and you are so organised planning menus etc they do say the key to everything is preparation so I am sure you'll all have a great time.

I am keen to get next treatment done now although I am only just starting to feel SE free from last one, just want to reach point where I dont have to go back again for more poisoning and the SEs will go for good, soooo fed up of the yukky mouth and sleeplessness.

Lovewine sounds like you're getting your strength back now and starting to do some nice things again will you be getting back to work soon I think you have your own business?

Apologies to those Ive missed need to post this before it disappears into cyberspace.

[Wildpurl]

Ouch Joan, that sounds painful.
I am also curious about the surprise birthday camel, maybe the word was cake? Just guessing though. Sounds as if you have had a nice time celebrating with family.

[Wildpurl]

Evening everyone,
Cassie you sound as though you are doing very well, and good for you getting your hair dyed and trimmed, bet it looks great. I'm really peed off with my hair at the moment, it has been growing really well and all the thin bits have thickened up, but it is now shapeless and uneven lengths so looks a mess. Due to be cut next week thank goodness, and I'm hoping a lot of the fluffiness will be cut off and it will look more like normal hair, albeit short. I still wear my wig to work but not anywhere else. I won't go to work with my real hair until I feel happy with it.

Rosie, you are doing really well too, I do hope you start to feel more comfortable though. I think you will be able to drive soon. I was told 3-4 weeks, so if your wound has just started healing then the same would apply from when it was allowed to heal.

Lovewine, thank you for the ideas for Wales. The Rivals sound good, we are all keen hill walkers, and the pub sounds great. We are planning days walking, a day at the coast somewhere and visiting castles and an aqueduct. I'm just looking forward to being away from it all, in beautiful countryside, with good company and good food.

Tulamo, I'm glad you had a lovely birthday and meal with your son. Good luck for this Thursday. It may be hard to believe now but you are so close to the end of the chemo journey and the remaining time will go quickly.

Jos, thinking of you tomorrow. After this procedure you can begin to heal.

[Lovewine]

Oh Joan, that sounds not very nice at all- poor you. Good news from oncologist , at least you have explanation of histology report, think it's great you can look forward to your holiday before radiotherapy begins- when do you go on holiday?
Also curious about the camel!

[rosie14]

Hi Joan what a rotten horrible thing to happen to your PICC line as you say I guess it was all over with quickly without having to have a local!!! Good news from the oncologist glad you have decided to stop worrying! Glad they are not starting radiotherapy until after your holiday!
Did your younger daughter really make a surprise camel for your husband's birthday or is it predictive text!?

[joan47]

Good luck with surgery tomorrow, jos. I hope that once it's over and the seroma is drained you will feel rather better in relation to the treatment issues at least.

Tulamo, glad your birthday meal went well. Your little boy obviously realised it was a special occasion and behaved accordingly.

Cassie, it's great you are nearly at the finishing post. And enough hair to be trimmed and dyed. Wow! I seem to be still losing my eyebrows and no sign of eyelashes.

Husband is having quite an extended birthday really. Saturday we went up to London to see eldest daughter and partner and had celebratory lunch. Sunday my younger daughter had made a surprise birthday camel next week family get together. Not sure he really wants to be repeatedly reminded he's 70 though!

Had PICC line out today. Hooray. The process was much more difficult than I had been told though. It took well over half an hour to extract the tube- apparently my vein went into spasm sonevery time they pulled a bit out it retracted. It began to feel a bit like a tug of war. Then the nurses couldn't get all the clip out. Eventually, after seeking advice they came back and said they would have to cut it out under a local. I was therefore rather taken aback when another more senior nurse came along and without any warning just yanked it out. Bloody painful. I guess it got it all over with quickly but so much for informed consent and trusting what they say. Apart from that, however, my appt with the oncologist went well, he was able to explain the histology report and reassure me, as far as anyone can, that it doesn't mean there are likely to be other cancerous areas which haven't been zapped. The two bits that are still cancerous after chemo appear to be bits on the edge of the main tumours. So I have resolved to stop worrying about them. Signed consent form for radiotherapy which won't start until we get back from holiday.

[Lovewine]

All the best jos for surgery!! X