*TAMOXIFEN* the 5th

[MaryAnnSingleton]

in case we forget and find ourselves at 1000 - here's a fresh new thread !

thanks RWU - will do that, and ring her this evening -she screens calls,so can not answer if she prefers.
Yay for house moving !!

Fab news about the house RWU - good luck with it all, and with next round of chemo.

Poor friend MAS - I also think that an email and then a call in a day or so will help. Flowers always nice too. Sometimes people don't want to stay on the line for long, or even take the call at all in the early days - but it is still nice to know that people are trying.

Your ds is a star, I hope he enjoyed his treats.

KK - freezer. Ooh yuk.

Have alovely holiday SR, I will be hoping for good weather for you.

We are dog sitting again for a fortnight - since the last time a few weeks ago the couple concerned have decided to split up, but they are still going away for the sake of the family. Both lovely people: so sad. We'll be taking the dog all over - there's a street theatre festival in Warwick this weekend - yay!!!

MAS - so sorry about your friend's sister. I'm sure that she'll feel supported if you call. She'll be numb with shock of course, but a few brief words if she picks up the phone would be nice fore her.

Hi to everyone else- I am in a rush as DS has just set off on his camping trip and now I need to get my stuff together while hoping District Hurse will appear to flush out Lennie and also then I'm going out twice today. Could be overambitious...

Bye for now.

So sorry to hear about your friends sister MAS - how sad. I'm sure she will appreciate your support, and even if she doesn't want to talk for long on the phone, knowing you are thinking of her will help.

RWU it sounds as if things are really moving (excuse pun) with the house, good luck and with the chemo next week.

Dog sitting will be fun Cakes - what kind of dog? On holiday we house/dog sat for my sister (she lives very close to mum) and we had a lab cross (A bit of an eyeore character, he was born old!)and a huge lurcher type hound thing, who was just the lovliest dog and very soppy.

Hope you have a good weekend SR - sounds hectic but enjoyable, - don't overdo things.

We had a surprise flying visit from DS last night which was nice, he and DD sat up most of the night shooting the breeze.

Does anyone have any miracle solutions to very achy legs? - mine are driving me potty, I've tried body shop gel which helps a bit, but have given my bottle to Dad who has v. swollen feet. If you know a product which will make me feel like running a mile instead of lying in a grumbling old heap, let me know

I have that leg thing, and also swollen fingers on both hands (you can't see it, it's just my rings don't fit). I think it is all water retention from the tamoxifen. I'm not sure what the answer is, but it is making my tendency to carpal tunnel problems much worse, am sitting here with wrist braces on (not easy to type, but it's my job, so no choice). ANYWAY, to answer the question - no solution currently, but am thinking of asking the doctor if i can take one of those things that reduce water retention. I'll let you know.

The dog is a bearded collie, and no trouble at all. She is even clipped - hooray for that!

We had a big soppy lurcher for years. They are the BEST (along with JRs, of course

poor legs KK - I suppose some nice warming massage oil might soothe - dh uses one from our health shop for his knee - it smells very nice (Absolute aromas - massage oil -bergamot,camomile,lavender,pettigrain and ylang ylang ) am sure the action of rubbing in and massaging is the thing that soothes.
Have a good time SR -hope it isn't rainy.
Dog sitting sounds fun - ds's piano teacher was dog sitting a giant poodle a few months ago- I shared a sofa with it while he had his lesson -lovely soft coat..
3rd session of therapy today - not having any more until towards then end of August owing to holidays...i have lots to think about.
Tamoxifen side effect which has made me spend a lot of money on new glasses - my eyes have been so sore and irritated that i'm taking my contact lenses out quite often and wearing my specs instead, only my prescription has changed so I need new vari focals anyway- I wince at the amount of dosh - they are v v nice frames though-I shall look like a librarian (in not a frumpish way i hope)

Thanks so much for advice about friend -will call her later just to say hello and will choose a card when I take ds to dentist later.

Glasses are a serious expenses, and not fun to buy - a bit like anything to do with cars.

Poodles are nice - no hair dropping all over the place.

Hope therapy went well: it'll be good to have a bit of a break and a think for a few weeks. let's hope for a sunshiney August for everyone to enjoy.

thanks Cakes - will try to do what counsellor suggested (writing letters/poems/drawing) to put my feelings down in order to put them away,or out of the way. Was thinking that drawing them might be good (and part of me thinks- ahh a new idea for a project -one truly from the heart) (though might be a bit painful)
I'll be in Suffolk from end of next week so will sit by the sea and breathe sea air and think ! (there's wi-fi in the cottage so will take dh's iPod touch to keep in contact,if I can)
Spoke to my friend yesterday and she said I'd made her laugh which is good -I hope our other friends have been in touch too -I let them know. She doesn't know if her ds will come back from Australia - she thinks he should- but she won't pressure him to-will see what he decides- I know she really wants him to though..
Her sis was a real trouper and no one,apart from Juliet knew how very ill she was as she always put on a good act (she was a singer)

Poor friend, MAS Good that you chatted to her.

We had a call in the middle of the night on Friday/Saturday - dh's Dad has had ANOTHER big stroke. Poor dh- now commuting between home and his Mum's and the hospital, trying to fit in work and to put a brave face on it all. prognosis is pretty poor, I think. I think we are probably looking at 24 hour specialist care from here on in - and dh's mother is not great on her own.... I predict trouble for some time to come....

Sorry to put a gloomy damper on things: I hope you are all doing OK and having a nice weekend. Mine and dd's has been quite good apart from the obvious - for which I feel a bit guilty xx

Fab about your house RWU. Sounds brilliant and also like it might happen fast.

• MAS, really so sorry to hear about your friend's sister. I'm sure she knows you're there for her. I'd say call too. Even if it's to leave a message. Hope she's got lots of support.

• Cakes, that sounds hard. Your poor DH and his mother. Hope your DD isn't too upset, or maybe she doesn't quite get what's going on. Hope you get some clarity on how he is soon.

Just quickly posting to give you Eyebrow info. I don't know what this woman does (so best call to check), but apparently she's amazing. Her names's Shavata, at the Urban Retreat at Harrods. You have to book an appointment, and the woman who recommended her said make sure you ask for her especially, as there's a team there, but she's the best. Hope it's of some use!

Sorry it's taken me some time to post the info. Chemo's made me ridiculously sick this time. Don't think I've ever thrown up as much. To top it all, DS finally succumbed to Chicken Pox - am amazed he's never had it up until now as he's been exposed so many times. He's got it so badly we ended up calling NHS Direct, who sent us straight to hospital. poor thing's got a raging temperature, with the pox in his mouth and eyes, so they've given us antibiotics. Feel so sorry for him - he came down with it on the first day of the holidays!

Cakes - so sorry to hear about dh's father - it must be extremely difficult and worrying for you all
And poor smee being so sick and smee's ds with chicken pox - having it in the eyes must be awful for him.
Eyebrow lady sounds brilliant !
I will call my friend again this week -see how she is doing - sadly she is pretty much alone,family-wise,being divorced and her son so far away...however,her nephew has been great and am hoping our friends nearby will be there for her,though as I say,she is always very self contained and private.

Oh cakes, poor dh, I know how you feel re the guilt over a good weekend- when MIL was bad I felt the same. Look after dh, make sure he takes time for himself, the last thing he needs is to wear himself out!

Smee, akk, sickness...... Bleughhhh! I shall join you soon, have chemo tomorrow and tues so shall be closely aquainted with 'the bucket' until Thursday eve, have you found anything that helps? Nettle tea seemed to help a bit for me last time ( I never thought I'd see the day that I drank hot water with flipping twigs in it lol!) poor ds too, not really what you needed, hopefully the pox shall pass, just make sure he doesn't scratch too much- ds3 has a pox mark on his nose from over- eager itching!

Cakes so sorry to hear about your FIL, poor DH, and all of you, I hope you get some more positive news soon. Do your PILs live very far away?

I'm glad you were able to talk to your friend MAS - it will be a comfort knowing you are there for her.

Sickness is very debilitating isn't it Smee, sounds as if you've had a rotten time with it - hope you're feeling a bit better soon.

And poor little DS, -chicken pox is a real lottery I think, some children seem to get it badly, covered in spots (my DS was like that) others, (like my DD) just have a few spots and hardly know they've got it. Hope your little chap is feeling better soon, - a bit of bicarbonate of soda in the bath is supposed to help with the itching IIRC. (But google it, don't take my word - my memory is very poor!)

MAS I agree def do call ur poor friend, even if just to say to leave msg as am sure she would find it hard to talk on phone but would really appreciate knowing u r there for her.

Cakes so sorry about ur FIL, that's v hard for u all on many levels.

Smee, is the sickness new or just much worse?? Are u taking odansetron? Thank u so much for eyebrow info, am off to London Tues / Wed so will ring tomoro.

Our cocker spaniel had pups (arranged marriage!) 9 weeks ago and we have kept one (this was the reason we bred her). The cutest sweetest pup in the world, even my grunting adolescent boys are melty when she lollops up all floppy ears and big brown eyes. Dogs are such good company, and very in tune with owner's mood. Our dog lived away for the last 9 weeks and have just got her and daughter back again ))) Time I got off my butt and started walking again. Got so lazy!

hope chemo isn't too awful today RWU and that smee is feeling less sick and poor ds less feverish. Dh had chicken pox as an adult and was completely covered in pox and was very ill indeed.
Am very envious of puppy !!!
I have found a mindfulness course locally which starts end of Sept...£190 or £170 if I book by end of this week- it sounds good -am dithering about it as I am not exactly flush after specs and not earning much at the mo..dh says it can be my birthday present..I think I should do it. It's 8 weeks, 2 hour sessions with one full day of practice in November. It would support my CBT I think and be something I can practice always,whenever any set back happens...

The mindfulness course sounds good MAS - I may look for something like that round us.

CC - am also jealous of your pup, they are so gorgeous.

I'm off to the doctor this afternoon, to see how my AD's are working (not very well in my opinion, but I think I have a lot of family stuff going on at the moment, so maybe not surprising.) Am also feeling low because I can't shift this thyroid weight, - I feel like an elephant. I'm going to ask him about the exercise referral scheme.

Finally can I have some fashion advice please?
I'm going to a wedding reception on Friday. I have my dress - its a mixture of two different shades of purple, turquoise and green - nearly maxi length, and straps at the top. Sounds busy, but I love the colours. Its a kind of hippyish style. similar to the one KM is wearing here, but different colours, and with a fatter Kate in it!

Anyway, to get to the point what colour shoes? - I'm wearing a purple bolero/shrug thing with it (To quote DH, it might be chilly, will you wear a jumper?). Purple shoes to match the bolero? (will have to buy some) or should they be black. I have no clue and will await your decision (I would ask in S&B - but they can be harsh over there!!,I trust you all far more

MAS - that does sound worth doing if you can find a way to manage it. It's an investment in future happiness and peace of mind, and that's priceless, really.

Thanks all for good wishes - he is in a coma and the prognosis is poor. The hospital is saying to expect six weeks in hospital and six months in rehab as a guideline. I don't imagine he'll ever be going home.

DH is commuting, it's about 50 miles, so punishing. he came home last night at midnight (depsite me tellling him to stay there) when I woke this morning at 6.15 he had gone. I heard absolutely nothing

Sorry you are feeling ill smee, and with poor little ds as well, deary me. Chicken pox spots in his eyes, poor little love.

Hope chemo is not too bad RWU, I was going to say chin up, but then I suppose you might miss the bucket so perhaps it's bad advice

Most intrigued to hear how the eyebrows go, and extremely envious about the puppy.

Having a quiet hour to myself - dd is doing a "Rookie Lifeguard" course, two hours every day. really, she is too tiny to rescue anyone, but it's good swimming practice and she learns first aid as well. And best of all she gets to keep the bloody whistle.

KK - My vote's for purple. Or maybe green - but not turquoise or black. Matching the purple bolero would be best, but somehow I also think green could work - turquoise would be a bit overly lively, and black a cop-out. (IMveryHO)

Very lovely dress by the way: and she looks way too skinny in it: much better with some curves in it.

Sorry to hear things are not looking good for FIL Cakes, - that is an awful lot of commuting for your DH, hope he doesn't get too exhausted with it all, how is his mum coping? Good wishes to you all at a stressful time.

Thanks for the shoe advice, - I was thinking probably purple, but am never confident in my choices fashion wise. Thanks for your encouraging word about curves, KM is too thin isn't she? .
I don't know the wedding couple. Bride is a work colleague of DH's, so I'm a bit under confident about the whole thing.

I'm glad DD is enjoying her whistle - even if you aren't

another vote for purple here - dress will look fab I'm sure -I think KM is a rough old thing though !
So sorry that things are looking bleak for dh's father Cakes - dh must be exhausted poor thing.
You are right about the mindful;ness course being an investment - dh is very keen that I go for it.
Am taking a friend to hospital this afternoon for a gastroscopy - eeee- I have a feeling it's in the same place as the breast clinic.

Oh yikes, wouldn't want to go back in there - I went on a trial and was taken into a room where other triallees were all having bloods taken: looked for a moment like the chemo ward. My tummy went all funny...

Thanks for good wishes: dh has returned home and is not planning on going back until tomorrow, which seems more sensible. Doctors have told them to prepare for the worst. Whether that means he is going to die or just be absolutely out of it dh's family are not really clear. I hope he floats peacefully off...

KK - don't be under confident about the wedding: if you don't know them you are really free to just enjoy yourself. You will look gorgeous.

MAS - yes, I think KM is a rough old bird too (nice frock in that link though)

Hope you got on alright this afternoon MAS, and it didn't feel too strange going back. Hope your friends procedure went well - and they get her problem sorted out.

Thanks for the votes of confidence - I am shopping tomorrow for purple shoes

Dr's visit didn't quite go to plan, he asked if I had any worries or niggles, and I told him my stomach was a bit sore -I thought I'd pulled a muscle,. So after a great deal of prodding and poking, and making me cough, he said he's pretty sure I've got a hernia caused by abdominal surgery I've had in the past - oh the glamour!! Anyway he's sending me for a scan, to check, but says not to worry so I'm not. I was more worried about him seeing my wobbly tummy

Getting tum out. Aaaarghhh!

Focus past this - on shopping for yummy shoes.....

Hi, just popping briefly from sunny (not really) Borth. It seems there are quite a lot of troubles around for several of us, after my very quick review of posts. Sorry about your FIL Cakes, and sorry also about Smee being so sick and also KK's feet and legs.

I can add to this, but its minor in comparison. On Friday the District Nurses looked at my operated breast and sent me straight off to GP who gave me an emergency appt as I have an infection. Now on ABs though and its improving. Felt a bit silly as hadn't realised, so its good I mentioned it to the nurses. They were totally horrifeid when I confessed I'd put Germolene oin the nipple!! They clearly do NOT rate that stuff at all.

KK - some women in my family swear by these shoes that are sort of moulded and thick soles - eg Skechers Shape UPs. My SIL has the styles called Sleek Fit. My other SIL has the African inspired ones called something like MBTI (I know that's not right but its something like that) They're pricy but it occurs to me they might help your legs. I'm thinking of getting some as they apparantly make walking a dream of comfort and help your posture and back!

This Pc is small one that DH has brought on our little break so won't post much more- all going well despite grey weather - lovely to be by the sea - bought a cream trouser suit in a lovely soft sort of linen from a vintage shop today - a bargain! a style I wouldn't usually buy but rather nice- consider this a little post-card please, from my hols!

I hope the week improves for everyone. (Smee I found the sickness got worse on 3rd and 4th cycles, unfortunately. The weedkiller seems to build up in the system.)

Thanks for shoe tip SR - I will look those up they sound good. Come to think of it my DS always buy Sketchers shoes, and rates them highly.

Glad you are enjoying your break, but sorry about the infection, I hope its not too sore and clears up quickly now you've got ABs. Trouser suit sounds lovely