On a scale of it will be fine to totally fucked how bad it this?

[fortifiedwithtea]

I am 55 years old. I have been complaining of pain for years. But 18 months ago the pain suddenly got worse as in more widespread. I felt ill. The doctor did some blood tests. Nothing came of it.

I continued as I was until Davina McCall did that programme on the menopause. That’s me I thought. Had another phone gp call. But the go said he wanted to rule out arthritis before recommending HRT.

I delayed the blood test until I could get a blood test done with my daughter. We both have disability so kill 2 birds with one stone.

Daughter’s gp rang her last Monday, And advised her course of treatment. As thursday I rang for my results confident nothing heard meant negative. Well Who ever I spoke to told me apart from low Vit D and pain markers up no problem. Great I thought have my holiday and arrange for HRT appoints when I get back.

However , today is our first full day of our holiday and I got a call from a gp at our surgery.

Things are definitely not fine. Blood test shows a protein which indicates bone cancer. I may have to fly back early. Its really urgent. Doctor thinks I will need a bone marrow biopsy and bone scans.

Oh fuck!

@fortifiedwithtea
Read your original post and updates, stay strong.
Sending you best wishes ❤️

Can anyone pop home and check for mail? Sorry this is happening OP.

I am so very sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with you. Waiting is the worst bit. Stay strong! X

I believe that an oncologist/heamatologist was the specialist who looked after my Dad.

I hope today has been a better day for you tea

I hope you can manage to make the most of your Sunday and that your journey home Monday is hassle free.

🌻 x

@SheldonesqueTheBstard thanks. We had an idyllic day. We all swam in the sea.. paying for it now though. Hip too uncomfortable to sleep. Been awake last couple of hours.

I’m sorry you are paying for your sea swim but I truly wish it was exhilarating for you at the time. I’ve not done it for a wee while but it always makes me feel good with the world.

With any luck you are sleeping now and getting a wee bit of respite.

I’m sorry you are sore. May you be fortified with your morning brew and because you are on holiday and it is Sunday, I hope a spanking breakfast is in the mix somewhere.

May you be lifted today by the love of your family and the best wishes of all here.

And if we could kick the colours out of your pain so that you could sleep, we would x

Glad you managed a swim, sorry about the pain afterwards.

Hope you can enjoy the last bit of your trip.

Remember, the result of treatment will be to reduce your pain (if it’s MM), so hold onto that x

I hope you can enjoy the last few days of your holiday before having to face hospitals and treatment and whatever they throw at you

I'm so sorry you are going through this. There are some really remarkable treatments now that would have been science fiction a generation ago.

I don't know where in the UK you are, but if you're anywhere near the North West, The Christie is a centre of excellence for the region in cancer care. They were incredible with my Mum during her treatment.

Sending you love fortified

This will be the most difficult time of all. Once you either have a diagnosis, or a ruled-out diagnosis, a plan will be put in to place. My DDad had cancer which needed daily treatment at hospital for 6 weeks. Somehow that was far easier to cope with than the awful 2-3 weeks between diagnosis and the treatment plan being put in to place. You will soon know where you are headed and you should have a good, solid support network at hospital.

I hope you are able to squeeze some fun and enjoyable time in before you leave Jersey.

I am glad that you have had a swim and that you don't feel like you have missed out on the dolphin trip as it would have been cancelled anyway. I hope that the news is good when you get home.

Traveling today. Yesterday was really strange. I was tired, uncomfortable and wanted to be with DD1, it was her birthday and not being with her was a wrench. Last year we travelled home on her birthday so at least we saw her on the day. This year it was FaceTime calls. We went for a very nice lunch at a very nice restaurant in St Aubine. A little walk on the beach. A drive to a few beauty spots on the North West part of Jersey. Then back to the hotel. We buy picnic bits from Morrisons and ate in our room. I fell asleep fully clothed on top of the bed. Whoops . Slept through until 5.00am result.

Its going to be a long day . Flying in the afternoon, will be home about 8.00pm

Face the music tomorrow

I’m glad you got your sleep, even though you didn’t quite make it into traditional night attire!

So what though? You’ve been sore needing a decent kip and that, along with a tea, will see you through the day.

Your dd1 will worry not that you were only face timing. All we ask is that our loved ones think of us on the day and owt else is a bonus. Her mam was with her thanks to technology. Back in the day she’d have had a note on a pidge. 😁

When you face the music tomorrow, know that you will have the mn band right behind you. I am tunefree and tone deaf so I’ll be the one miming 🌻 x

Oh gosh you poor thing. I am pleased you didnt have to cut the trip short. Hope all goes as well as can be over the next few days x

Hope the travelling home goes smoothly.

And you get another good nights sleep in your own bed - I’m always better in my own bed. Maybe even under the duvet!

Good luck for tomorrow 💐

Thinking of you today x

Me as well.

Hoping above hope that they gave you enough hope to float on x

Sending strength amd warm thoughts X

Thinking of you too!

Thinking of you on route. Wishing you strength and calm as you make your way home. Tough times but look at how you just carry on. You should be proud of yourself. Stay positive.

I was diagnosed with blood cancer (myeloma) earlier this year. Also told over the phone thanks to Covid. It came out of the blue and I was really scared - although it is rare, my brother had the same thing - but that was 15 years ago. However treatments have improved out of all recognition over the past few years. If the tests show that it is myeloma there are various options depending on your individual results. Don't despair, I am on my sixth monthly treatment and all my blood results going in the right direction. Don't Google it! Too much out of date and misleading info out there. IF you are diagnosed Myeloma UK is a good source. The NHS has been marvellous for me and I trust my medical team to look after me. Good luck xx

Thinking of you @fortifiedwithtea 🌸

Thinking of you, I hope you have some answers today, I have everything crossed that they are positive, but if the worst is true knowing means you can get help to fight it. Take care

Frankly feeling bewildered and drained.

The letter was waiting for me when I got home. It said if nothing heard by 29th July call . Rang hospital Call centre for booking outpatient apts,. I was told haematology still had a week to contact me. Ignore the letter , wait for an available apt from the Haematology dept.

Rang our doctors surgery . The receptionist was unbelievable, very abrupt. Told me I was no longer urgent. Ring in the morning to make a routing gp apt for someone to explain why. That is an abridged version. But basically I got the impression this is not cancer and The last week has been a horrible stress for nothing.

So had about an hour of feeling like I’d got my life back.

But then the gp that contacted me on holiday rang. Haematology want to test for MGUS first. Which leaves me in this situation if negative for MGUS then I am being referred back to Haematology as its likely to be Myeloma.

Blood test tomorrow at gp surgery. Gp will phone Friday once he has the results.

Sorry I didn’t take receptionists name as gp would like to have a word with her

Not off the hook yet