hugs, please?

[delly]

I'll have to keep an eye open for "Free Guy". Anything for a good giggle  xXx

[bookish]

@delly Yes, I still work - I'm only 40-ish, after all! I like my job, but it's been the hardest thing, getting back to that. Brain fog, skill fade, can't cope with stress - argh! I'll get there, but it's tough.

I *adore* the cinema, and movies. I used to have a cinema pass, one that let you see as many movies as you liked for a monthly fee, so I would go see tons of things. Covid and lockdowns put paid to that, so yes, now I'm all aboard the Netflix/Prime/etc train instead. A friend has asked if want to go see Free Guy (trailers are so funny, as Ryan Reynolds always is!) so that might be the first cinema trip in about 18 months? Wow.

[delly]

Hi again, Bookish

Re. elective surgery - The boob lipo "titti-vating" << sorry couldn't resist!! A word my very first breast consultant/surgeon so appropriately used when discussing possible immed implant recon of 1st boob and a possible future need for t'other to have certain surgical "adjustments" to match it up, once the recon implant one had settled. Immed recon didn't happen anyway. His use of the word still makes me CHUCKLE🤗

I hope you still get your next month date for it, despite your recent unexpected blood Potassium complications, as you've built yourself up for and to it, haven't you. Otherwise, if not, you're now saying you'd rather leave it longer. Can so understand that too, espesh as how you've been feeling lately.

Films - I say I tend to avoid anything upsetting, but. . . . I went to see The Father. Brilliant. Yes the subject - Alzheimers - very serious, and many aspects of the film upsetting, but educating. It was also unexpectedly very funny in parts. Anthony Hopkins was outstanding. I'd like to see Supernova too - Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci. Again about Dementia affecting one of a gay couple in their older years. Also went to see Dream Horse - very good, again very amusing in parts. I'd like to see Jungle Cruise - looks really good fun. Off The Rails looks good fun too. 

Do you subscribe to Netflix or similar?? I'm very old fashioned - still love to go out to a cinema/the flicks or flea-pit as they were called. Feel you get that much more engrossed in it all with a big screen and surround sound system etc.. The one, 20 mins away, hardly a flea-pit! An old closed down one of many years one, that was re-vamped and re-opened a few years ago. Now very plush indeedy - even have arm rests with an incorporated drinks rest area that has a little low ornate fence around it to prevent your drink slipping. Whether that be a beverage or an alcofrolic one from the bar!! 🥂 Yey! how civilised 😆

Do you still work, Bookish??  xx🤗xx 

[bookish]

Probably a little too much violence for you, Delly, as I watched Boss Level (a guy stuck in a time loop being hunted by assassins and it turning into a real-life video game thing - funnier than it sounds) and Suicide Squad. Jungle Cruise (the new Disney live action) was better than I expected. And Abominable, an animation about a yeti, was super cute.

Waiting to hear if recent news about my health board putting elective surgeries on hold affects me - I'd assume so, the lipofill is far from important - but the news is unclear as to whether it means all electives or just new ones. Tbh, I think I'd rather they said "Right, it'll be next April" rather than another pushing off by a month limbo.

[delly]

Yeh Bookish

Good to hear you're more rested and a bit more "Up". Hope it continues. "Daft films"?? What did you watch? I'm always up for a good entertaining film. I avoid anything sad or violent these days. Don't watch the news much either, for the same reason. Treat yourself to a bunch of Sunflowers - instant cheerful sunshine to look at. Most of the supermarkets have them in at the mo', and not expensive either. "YOU'RE WORTH IT" 🌻 

I recently mentioned on "Word Games", that I've managed to grow one "accidentally". One of my pots started sprouting a tall beanstalk that I left out of interest, to see what it is, and that's what it's turned out to be. Only a small flower headed one, but a lovely UNexpected surprise.  I've only ever been a flowering shrub and evergreens gardener. Have never bothered with pots of bedding plants, or planting bulbs/seeds. This is the first year I've ever had a couple of flowering pots.  One of the seeds I feed the birds must have got into the pot when I was planting it up. So to grow something other than weeds, albeit unexpectedly, is a first.

The ironical thing is, I'd bought some plant pots to try and grow some Sunflowers this year, but didn't get around to it.  🌻🌞🌻

Hope you and everyone have a lovely weekend. X ❤️ X 

[Eglis]

Dear Bookish

Good to hear your ‘me’ time helped. I hope you continue to feel a little better as each day passes.  

[bookish]

Thank you all for the lovely messages, and all the hugs. They helped immensely! Apologies for going a bit quiet - I spent a few days mostly offline. It helped: that and some naps and some daft movies, just to get over the feeling achy and rubbish. Still weary today, but thankfully on the mend physically and emotionally.

[delly]

Hi Bookish

Just checking on you to say and give a "Hugging" Hi, that's all, sweetpea. Am guessing you're still not so good, as you're quiet, which is okay. Perhaps you're wanting and needing a break from the Forum. Hopefully you have, or can find something helpful to plug into and "recharge" yourself with. If not, and you're struggling, any time you want a good MOAN, or rant, and some support, please don't think you'll be bringing us down. You've bolstered MANY of us up, lovely lady, which was why I made a point of including the link to that post of yours - and that was just one of sooo many!!! Allow us to help you back, if we can, hey?? 

There's a saying - "The strongest often fall the hardest".  NONE of us can be strong all the time, can we.

Another BIG hug and Lots of love to you,  Dellywelly xxXxx    Love to everyone else too xxXxx

[Tili]

Darling Bookish, it’s 5.30 in the morning having a bad night’s sleep, however thinking of you and sending lots of love and a very big hug, take one day at a time, hopefully today will be a better day for you.

Lots of good advise from the other ladies on this site, make yourself number one today and always. 

with love Tili 🤗🌈🙏👍

[Sandpiper]

Dear Bookish,

Sometimes it feels too much because it is too much. A hug from me as well.

Take special care of yourself. Hope all our hugs are helping you.

Sandpiper

x

[delly]

PS. - I meant to say, what lovely supportive and loving messages you've received from the other girls on here, and am sending Lots of Love to Everyone Else too xxXxx

PPS. - Sure you don't fancy summat a bit stronger than "tea", Bookish?? 😋! X

[delly]

Hey Bookish

Helloooo my Darlin' girl. Looong time, no squeeky. I've been off Forum for a while, so I'm reeeally sorry to hear how much you're struggling - at the moment, that is. I'm not surprised you've had a a bit of a "crash" (lets call it "wobble"), given all you've been through. You've had a loooooong, hard slog of it, flower. Bound to wear your previous strength down.  

I'd just like to point any other people looking on here, to a post you made last month - just ONE example that shows that strength of yours, and what an incredible positive support YOU have been, and are to so MANY others on the Forum. To me too, though not for my long since BC, more for my mental probs.      It's a reminder for you too, and I'm hoping you get back UP there again SOON, gal. 

https://forum.breastcancernow.org/t5/Surgery/Double-mastectomy/m-p/1370291#M65324

Mmmm, Potassium - Soooo very important for your heart health. BANANAS!!! No, I wasn't being rude or dismissive. Bananas being a common regular source of Potassium - You probably know that. Higher sources: Beetroots, Salmon, Prunes. Pumpkin Seeds high!! - I buy bags of them from Aldi. They're quite nice to munch on their own or with nuts, or to put on your cereal/oats/muesli in the morning. I don't have low Potassium, just like 'em. I snack on assorted nuts and seeds when my appetite's low - give me an immediate energy boost.

Think you need a period of some "self cosseting", some "recharging".  What would or do you consider a real treat??

Sending you a SPESH looong, tight but gentle, very loving Delly hug, sweetiepie xx 💖 xx  

[Shi]

Sending ✨✨✨✨✨👭👭👭✨✨✨✨bookish ❤️ No one is ever alone with BCN and the threads ❤️ Always love, always support, always kindness and always just a space for listening, understanding and compassion and always a space where we can reach out and everyone just gets it ❤️😘💕💕✨✨Shi xx

[Evie-S]

@bookish - I’d also like to echo @Eglis messages, you have indeed come to the right place. Sometimes it is all too much and we need a safe space to offload and get some hugs. Loads of hugs coming your way, and hoping the bloods don’t show anything that can’t be easily sorted. Can you have a really self indulgent afternoon just doing what you want with lots of treats? 🤗🤗 Evie xx

[Bernard_BCN]

Dear @bookish, I am sending out loads of warm thoughts and positive energy your way, hoping today is better than yesterday, and the day after better still.

You're a good space to find and receive support, and please remember our nursing team is here to chat things through, at your own pace, if you ever wished to pick up the phone and call us. We're on freephone 0808 800 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; Sat 9am-1pm). Our nurses are king, patient, and entirely non-judgmental, and anything people share is confidential.

Sending our love

Bernard

[Eglis]

Dear Bookish

the right place to come for support!

Can appreciate you feeling fed up.  Not sure what to say but sending you a big hug 🤗 

[Eglis]

 

[bookish]

Sorry, I'm just feeling sorry for myself and where better to reach out for a little support?

Background: spent 30 years fighting various cancers, had a mastectomy in January, and think it went about as well as it could have, and I'm not doing too badly liking the new perky look. I'm booked in for some lipofilling next month, although this has already been pushed back once and I wouldn't be surprised if it is again - which is fine, it's not important, although I would like it all to be over, I guess.

Yesterday was the 3rd of my 6, 6-monthly bisphosphonates adjuvant treatment. First one was awful, second not so bad, and this one seems to be going smoothly. I still had to try not to cry in the ward, though: it all just felt 'too much' all of a sudden. And on top of it all, my pre-bisphosph blood test showed low potassium, so they've sent me away with supplements. Sounds fine, but then it's all "you must make a blood test tomorrow, the GP will fast track it" - and oh-oh, it's like that, is it? I can't cope with yet another issue, something awful going wrong. I mean, if I stop freaking out about worse case scenarios, I know I'd battle through it (whatever it is) like I always have, but I'm so tired of it all, y'know? Can I not just have five minutes of no health problems, PLEASE?! 😞

So yeah. Just feeling a bit sorry for myself, so reaching out for some tea and sympathy please xx