*TAMOXIFEN* the 5th

[MaryAnnSingleton]

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

hello SR - nice to have a virtual postcard Hope the infection clears up fast.
Enjoy the shoe shopping KK- sorry about poss. hernia
The trip to hospital with my friend was fine though I had to wait for a few hours -I'd not brought anything to read so ended up borrowing a man's Sunday times mag and read a vile thing called Pick Me Up and the hospital yearly report. She said it was horrible when I went to find her in the Discharge Lounge (the name makes me feel queasy)-the consultant was rather brusque and Sarah said she felt very wimpy, but who wouldn't -think she should've opted for sedation !

Cakes - aaaargh indeed. At least I was wearing reasonable knickers, - not that I imagine Doctors notice such things, but one likes to be appropriate in the underwear department on these occasions.

Good pants will take you a long way in this life, I think.

Discharge Lounge ??!! God the mind boggles. I'm surprised you could go in.

Sorry to hear about infection SR, but glad to get a virtual postcard. here's to a happy holiday and a quick recovery.

MBT shoes (if it is they that you are talking about - Masai Barefoot Technology) are weird but good. I have a pair. They are touted as shaping your tummy and legs up. I think that may be overselling (or I may just be a hopeless case), but they are certainly good when you are striding out (no good at all for just slopping about).

Hello all, back from lovely Norway now. had a fab break, ate oodles of fish and slept lots.
Sorry to hear that some of you have been unwell - SR with infection, KK with legs and RWU and Smee with sickness. Sending a virtual hug to you all and also to those who are having a rough time with friends, family and in-laws.

I had an appt with oncologist today - very nice and very good looking young man. KK's comment made me chuckle - I was trying to count how many strange men have fondled my (mis-shapen) boobs in the last year! Should that be or ? Anyway, he was sympathetic about ongoing probs with Tamoxifen and tail end of chemo SEs but very up beat about possible recurrence - 1-2% he said. Invites for "alive and kicking" party are being designed as I speak.

Did anyone see the bit about Xmas shopping on the news this morning? Confession to make (please don't shout at me) - I was making Xmas decorations for school Fete this morning when that came on (couldn't sleep).

Lovely to see you back Haggis - sounds a great holiday, glad you had a fab time. And great you had such a positive appointment with the onc. - onwards and upwards

Christmas Decorations?

great to have you back after a lovely holiday haggis - glad too that the onc. visit was good.

Very quick post as have to get up in 4 hrs to catch flight to London- def purple, KK, in fact anything but black. Nude colour would be good too. Black too heavy. You will be lovely!

Depressed as got new diagnosis today to explain why wound never healed and in fact has got worse n worse. Pyoderma gangrenosum. Every bit as unlovely as it sounds. V hard to clear upand needs heavy duty drugs. Am really fed up. Even 3 creme eggs didn't help. Tho pup does a bit, she is beautiful.

Sorry to add to the woes..

oh cupcaked,that does sound really horrid

Cupcaked that sounds awful. Sorry - but at least now there is a diagnosis, hopefully the end is in sight. Keep focused on the pup.

Holiday sounds fab haggis - good to have you back. And great news as well. Hooray!

No news either way with our traumas, so we are just trucking on, as you do. We did a new business pitch today so fingers crossed!

oh CC - how horrible for you, I am sorry. It sounds very painful, and set backs are always disheartening, but hopefully now they know what it is they can get the drugs kicking in and get you sorted.

Didn't find any purple shoes today (apart from ones with six inch stilettos, and styled for a dominatrix - and even those weren't in my size !) so will have to have another trip.

DH and I have been looking through the holiday photos - he likes to take wildlife pictures, and this one made us laugh, Smiling Dragonfly thought it might cheer everyone up

Nice photo

Purple shoes - bound to be plenty at the dominatrix end of the market. It's a challenge, alright!

the wings are lovely KK - v good photo.
Am sure there must be purple shoes about - hope you find some soon.
My new specs are here and I'm feeling very bookish in them

MAS - I look and feel bookish in mine too. my face was definitely not made for specs.

PS - I agree with cupcaked - nude shoes would be a decent option if purple proves elusive/too high to be borne

yes,actually- nude shoes would be good !

Thanks for suggestions - nude is a good idea I'm going for another search tomorrow.

I had yoga this morning, and went for a swim afterwards, - I feel quite energised.

I got a whole lot of books from the library yesterday, a nice low GI vegetarian cookbook, a pilates book, and a dance DVD called Bollywood Burn - DD looked a bit alarmed when I showed her, but I'm going to force her to join in! I'm feeling I've got to make exercise an everyday part of my life, and really make an effort. I'm waiting for my mammogram appointment to come through (first since DX) - so think I have a lot of nervous energy to burn.

Hope everyone is OK at the moment, those on treatment. Hope you are feeling a bit better CC, and there's some improvement with your infection.

Any change with FIL Cakes, - or still much the same? - hope your DH isn't getting too worn out.

Good the specs have arrived MAS. What is your next book club read? (there's a good thread on adult fiction at the moment with lots of suggestions for holiday reading if anyone is interested)

like the sound of the Bollywood Burn one !
Have booked my mindfulness course - written a big cheque and posted it off- there was a medical form too.
Next book I think is called Breathing space by someone S African -chosen by S African bookgroup friend. I wanted to buy the Patrick Gale short stories to take on holiday but after specs and mindfulness expenses, plus accountants bill which should come soon, I felt I should go to the library instead and chose the next book after the tractors in uKRAINIAN - Marina L something, we liked the tractors book anyway.

FIL is mucht he same I think, thanks for asking.

He has opened his eyes briefly a couple of times which seems good, but he is also generally much quieter, which apparently is not. We just don't know, but i have to say that we'd all rather he didn't linger in this condition, which is of course very possible. DH seems to be bearing up OK: not so DD who always likes to make a drama out of a crisis.

I'd go for the nude shoes, then, if it is easier. Shopping can be such a bind when you can't find just what you want. I went shopping for new sheets yesterday and ended up with beige, which is really not my colour at all, in clothes or bedding, but it was the only colour our M&S had and I couldn't be fagged to make any more effort over something to lie on, in the dark

I've heard that tractors book is good. Always meant to read it.

horrid to think of him stuck like that I know - it happened to my lovely great aunt - she was having a G&T with mum and dad at their house and then had a stroke and was in hospital,then nursing home for several years -it was terribly sad as she was always so sparky and fun- one didn't know how much she was with us,or in her own world. I so hope that won't happen to your FIL - sorry to be gloomy for you.

Goodness I've only been away 5 days and such a lot seems to be happening here.

Cupcaked - I am really sorry about your new diagnosis which sounds truly horrid. I hardly dare say this as I do realise it is serious and need heavy drugs but did you notice it also sounds like something out of Harry Potter?! Can imagine Hermione cursing someone with it... Sorry if you're not in the mood for jokes though. Tell me to shut up.

Sorry also about KK's hernis - that just seems so unfair on top of everything else/

Haggis - Hoorray for that great prognosis and from a cool young Dr too!

Cakes - Just hope your FIL doesn't suffer while he's in this stage. I also recall a very difficult with my mother after numerous strokes.

I'd like to offer some good news and also a little rant if you can stand it.

Firstly my niece has had a healthy baby girl - wait for it - after SIX days in labour. Think I'm glad I didn;t know about this till it was all over. Its great news as she's had a lot of difficulties before this pregnancy.

Now the rantette- had a lovely few days away - we went to Caernarfon, had dinner with a friend (who treated us as he'd had a day sail with DH while I pottered about) then went round Lleyn peninsula which was lovely and we had a hour's coastal walk around a pretty headland, then 3 days in Borth. RWU - we went to see Chicage at the threatre in Aber - it was a great performance - have you seen it?

Anyway I decided to leave packing the car to DH and DS and all seemed to go well. Then after we got home I realised they had not put any of my THREE bags into the car!! One with clothes, one of stuff to wash and one with all my toiletires, wig, and lobely Helen Dunmore book I was enjoying!! Grr. O well DH has offered to drive all the way back (3.5 hours each way) at the w/e to get it all. Quite funny really isn't it! I was just rather cross when I discovered this oversight.

Yes I liked the tractor book too by the way.

Bon courage to everyone - sounds as though its needed at the mo. Will go and take my last antibiotic pill of this course. Seems to have done the trick. Am wondering if I'm slightly reacting to the aqueous cream (rash)actually so perhaps its a good thing its left behind in Wales!!

Glad you had a lovely break SR, but how annoying about your bags (I won't be sexist and say 'typical bloody men' ) at least your DH is making amends and getting it at the W/E.

Reminds me of when my mum took us on holiday to Butlins, when we were little (3 girls). she got on the train and Dad put the bags in the luggage van - but it turned out that part of the train unjoined and stayed in the station, so it never came with us. God knows what mum did - I think I was in nappies at the time!

Congratulations to your niece, and to you on being a Great Aunty. Six days - poor girl must be absolutely exhausted, I hope she's recovering well. But how wonderful they have a little girl now after their difficulties.

Pleased that the AB's are working for you, love to everyone, hope things are improving CC, and that you're not feeling too yucky after chemo RWU

hooray for great niece SR but grrr about bags !

Thank-you. This is actually the 8th time I'm a Great Aunty! (I was the youngest of 4 children in my family and they were all quite a bit older) Its a pity they all live in the south and I hardly ever see them though. I hope to make a trip to see them all before I go back to work.

My operated and radiated boob looks much happier now after the ABs! Am hoping it will be Ok now as its 4 weeks since I finished rads now so I think the effect wears off now.

KK - you can get those Skecher shoes half price at the mo on Amazon but I think you'd need to find them somewhere to try on for size. This is what I have in mind myself. I am a bit depressed about my weight so if they help me to walk further that wd be good.

I hope everyone is coping OK today.

Blimey, such a lot going on.

Cakes, so sorry about your FIL, that's an awful prospect for all. Hope your DH is okay. Will you let your DD go and see him in hospital? Must be a hard decision.
On a more positive note, your comment about her whistle made me . Rings a lot of bells here - some idiot caring friend, gave DS one of those party hooters, so he could summon his servant mother from the sofa. He's a lot better today, which is a huge relief. He's lost so much weight not eating that his pants fell down when he got dressed this morning! Am prescribing ice cream and chips for tea.

MAS, I think your course sounds good too. A v.good friend is trying to get me energised into something similar for the Autumn, though we'll go together. She's been having a tough time this year too.

KK, sorry to hear about the hernia problems, but am loving that dress. I'm a bit of a fashion wuss - last wedding reception I resorted to a fifties dress that I got from a second hand shop when I was a student, and a pair of old DM's as my back was too woeful for heels. Apparently I looked trendy, but it most definitely wasn't by design. Hope you have a great time tomorrow - do we get to see pics of you in the dress then?! Hope so.

SR, all hail to your holiday, though what on earth were the men in your life thinking of! Not good to have an infection though, especially on holiday, but it's great your breast is getting back to somewhere near health again. And your poor Niece - how many days?! Glad it ended so well.

Haggis, shame on you for the Christmas decorations, or should that be shame on us. Big yeay though for the Onc's stats. That's fantastic. I don't know your 'journey' (hate that word!), but hooray for those odds. I like the sound of your party. I'm not as tasteful as you, as we're plotting a 'Wake for My Breast' once chemo's through. Friends are alternately alarmed and delighted by the idea, but am looking forward to it mightily.

Thanks to all for well wishes. Am not so sick now, hence long catch up post. They took me back into hospital in the end to infuse yet more drugs. Seemed to do the trick, so now just have the normal waves of nausea. SR, Onc told me it can build in your system too. I drink so much water, can't quite see where it's lurking, but hey it's got to be the reason.

RWU, am thinking of you - hope you're doing okay and not too bleurgh. Grim, especially in school holidays.

Cupcaked, hope seroma's back under control. How do they treat that then? Sounds far from desirable to me, so hope you're having lots of treats.

• Pennies, are you out there. Hope all's okay and summer holidays are doable.

phew.. v.long post. Hope I haven't missed anyone.