**the 7th Tamoxifen Thread **

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we are...

Hello and thanks for kind words and excellent advice as ever Cakes and KK.

Had pretty bad night's sleep, to be expected, so bit tired today, slightly dissipated by anger on Sparkle's behalf!

So far only have appointment for the bone scan tomorrow - injection at 11.30am then pictures at 4pm. Need to chase BCN to see if she managed to get me in for CT scan tomorrow as well, hope so. Hospital is not the closest so would be good to get all done on one day.

Drink large volumes of liquid then be 'comfortable' with our bladders??

This 'injection' for the bone scan - I dread to think - tell me the worst - save me from Google...

Don't think the bone scan injection is too bad, if it is the one I am thinking of, but the others will know better than me.

Have to rush off for panic wee at thought of drinking large volumes of liquid.............

Oh Sparkle I wish my memory were better - I know there is a bastard bastard deadline for getting an appeal in but doesn't a request for a 'reconsideration' stop the clock somehow so gives you a bit of respite? I think so and that is why they try not to let you know you can ask for a reconsideration (no extra work required on your behalf - you basically just ask for someone more senior to re-read) rather than going straight for an appeal which is time-limited and requires effort. Sorry, I may be wrong about this, desperately trying to drag facts out of the lime jelly in my head for you! I found a couple of fab websites at the time (also help on MN - ask or search on SN - so many have gone through ridiculous unfair stressful bastard process).

Lime, so sorry that you haven't had more positive news, feel very for you, but having read more of other people's experiences and knowledge, and being clueless myself, it does seem that it might be better to let them be absolutely sure that they've got all the relevant bits. So glad that you've got this gang of ladies who've been through it to help you.
If it helps - bugger, bugger, bugger

Thanks Phil

Am not generally a very sweary person, but you know what? When the occasion merits it - and this certainly does - it really truly does seem to help! I did a LOT of MUCH WORSE swearing (in my head) yesterday. No better way of expressing extreme anger and fear IMHO

I have got to ring them again haven't I......may be I should just ask for a reconsideration without providing extra info and then wait to be turned down again to go for appeal with more info. God it is a quagmire, and I am so muddled at the moment. Think the limejelly in your head is doing very well under the circumstances, don't even have sparkles and rainbows in mine, named myself after my dd1 then obsession. Thank you for listening and helping me LJ x

See here Sparkles www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/BeginnersGuideToBenefits/DG_10013949
Under 'Deadlines' notice deliberate confusion between first and second bullet points - you have one month to instigate a reconsideration or appeal, but you have another month AFTER reconsideration to appeal. Also note info re late appeal - if major surgery doesn't count, what would?

Bloody hell Sparkles - they are total bastards aren't they. Hard to step back from it and re-group, but what LJ says makes sense. Dumb system though. G'ah to the lot of them.

• I agree with LJ - remembering back, I felt incredibly low afterwards. I'd psyched myself up for the op and not worked out how I might feel once I was home. Are you child free during the daytime? Can you just curl up with a box set of DVD's or something? That was the best distraction I found - not sure I was really watching, but it stopped me being manic, that's for sure.

LJ, am still mighty pissed off for you, but Cakes is right there is a way through. I was diagnosed only last March, and am back swimming, working and generally okay again. I think the others are right and you'll be offered chemo. You're in the 'young to have it' bracket and they do tend to chuck everything at it. I was 44 when diagnosed and that was definitely their tactic with me.
Cancer's a sod and a half and the treatment's a slog to be got through, but it is doable and you can live your life while you're going through it. You'll have a tricky year, that's for sure but then life goes on, so hold onto that.

Sorry - I managed to cross post with everyone due to very slow typing

LJ - I think you are allowed to go to the loo IIRC (I might be wrong, my memory's not all it should be!) The injection for the bone scan I don't remember as being particularly awful.

For one of the scans DH and I got sent of for an hour or so to have a coffee etc. while something took effect - that might have been the bone scan injection. (sorry -that's hopelessly vague - someone else will be able to remember better.)

I know it's not for everyone, but the GP gave me some mild sleeping tablets when I awaiting results and tests. In case you want something on hand for if you are really struggling to get off to sleep. Only mentioning in case you hadn't though of it, - I know lots of people don't like taking pills

Sparkle - they are bastards aren't they?, no wonder you are finding it all a bit much at the moment, actually I think it probably helps to have a bit of a cry every now and again - helps release the emotions. I would take heart from what LJ says about her application, but it is so awful that people who need help have to constantly jump through hoops to get it

I'm going to a talk this afternoon on healthy eating hopefully I can take any advice given on board and stop scoffing rubbish.

Don't worry too much about the Bone Scan injection. It's a small needle and with me they put it into a vein in the back of my hand. I didn't even realise they'd done it.

CT scan warning!! As the dye rushes round your system and you get a warm feeling, which feels like you've wet yourself. I was mortified, then ridiculously relieved to find I hadn't.

God more panic weeing need from sparkle.....

Thank you LJ will follow that link now,they are bastards for making to confusing aren't they!

Ooh thanks everyone re the bone scan injection - I was of course envisioning enormous lumbar puncture type thing!

And thanks also for the warm rush warning you have quite possibly saved me from public embrarrassment (won't stop me from checking my knickers if I get it tho, sorry!)

Sparkles - yes yes if things haven't changed since I did it I think a request for a reconsideration will at least buy you a bit more time. With me, it also turned a No into a Yes and I wish the same for you x

Smee's right, I should have said that life does not have to go on hold during treatment. You generally keep going, just in a slower and more tired sort of way The sympathetic looks are the hardest bit to swallow really.
A t-shirt with 'Sod Off' on it may be the way forward.

As regards the injection for the bone scan - sorry, can't help. I didn't have a bone scan. Others who have been there will be along....

Can I just ask, on a more flippant note - has anyone done exercise classes with flexibars? How do you get those bloody things moving in the right direction?

Also, our dance studio has windows that come down to about waist height and look onto the main gym. I can't get away from the thought that it must look to them as though we are all masturbating frantically....

Sorry, just seen that smee answered the injection question... ignore me.

Cakes you have made me laugh out loud with your masturbation exercise class! Thank you

Sorry no advice about flexibars tho!

And the Sod Off t-shirt

Sparkle - just to re-iterate, if I am right, you have up to ONE MONTH to ask for reconsideration, then another ONE MONTH to appeal, THEREFORE:

Do NOTHING today, or tomorrow, or next week even. Rest, look after yourself, recover.

And we all care about your lovely precious boy falling over, we really do, those others are just faceless bastards doing a bastard buggery job for money to live x

And your bra-buying DH makes me

And the one month to appeal doesn't even start until you get the result of the reconsideration, which may take another week or two, and may be a Yes anyway!

Good advice from LJ, sparkles.

And my heart bleeds for you and your lovely ds. But with you fighting for him, he will be fine. Can't fail

Can't fail, but can fall.... thanks everyone, especially LJ, you have helped my panic to subside.

Cakes!! . What on earth are flexi-bars though..?

LJ, a sod off t-shirt/ attitude is a must, as is a sense of humour, though you sound completely like you've got one of those. I had a complete reaction to all the pink and purple BC branding. Like cancer's something soft and fluffy or something. G'ah..

Just thought of another thing - someone told me to do this and it's been very useful - get a notebook which you take to all appointments. Write all your thoughts/ questions/ worries down as you go. It becomes invaluable, especially as treatment kicks in, as you can look back when the drugs make you feel a bit befuddled. Good for keeping all the dates and phone numbers of the hospitals and clinics in too.

My pleasure Sparkles, and a chance to give back a little of the good I have received here. You just put all that rubbish to one side for now!

Think my vehemence today is also fuelled by lack of sleep and my own turmoil!

I know, and I really appreciate the fact that you have taken time out from your own turmoil to help me with mine, you are a lovely person.

at Sod Off T shirt, gotta get me one of those!