TAMOXIFEN thread number 8 ********

[MaryAnnSingleton]

just in case we run out of space !

oh yes- go for it RWU
Hello phil- lovely to see you- am very impressed by Big Ben !

RWU, blimey - go for it, though you'll need another new handbag at least. Global domination next.

Phil, I'm impressed by Big Ben too. Also breathing a sigh of relief as DS's school are dressing up for Red Nose Day instead. Phew..

Hiya Phil. Big Ben sounds very, very ambitious. Seriously impressed.

Have a nice girly weekend, KK - because you're worth it, as Chezza would say

Hi Ladies,

Well I'm back. I feel a little spaced out (like I've had a few too many vinos) and can see how it could lead to full blown nausea! However, just about to have something to eat and take one of the anti-sickness tablets I was given.

I had the treatment done at a local Health Centre so was really quiet...a maximum of 3 of us in the room with 2 nurses. Not everyone was having chemo. The nurse was lovely and she explained what I could be feeling after each drug was given. She did mess up a little bit when putting the cannula (sp?) in and it really hurt. I hope they do a better job next time :(

The funniest thing was when (before any treatment had been given) I suddenly felt the top of my head go really hot! I really did panic for a second until the nurse realised that she had put the heat blanket (used to go round my arm) on the top of the chair . Ha ha, shows how paranoid I am about every little thing they do!

I have managed to come home, pick children up from school, sort out costumes for World Book Day tomorrow and I am not sitting on the sofa while DP is cooking me some tea. He really is good, especially at holding feet :)

Yeay for LGF!! Glad it was mostly okay. One down now, so closer to the end, which is always good.

Wanted to quickly say, yes take the anti-sickness, as if you're unlucky enough to be one of the people it hits that way, its far harder to stop sickness once it's started. The pills can often keep a lid on it (unfortunate turn of phrase emoticon!).

RWU That is amazing and wonderful, you must be a very good speaker. I too am in awe and absolutely delighted for you. Cheers to your success! Am slightly worried how many horses you may buy with the extra money though

Phil A burning Big Ben sounds pretty amazing and wonderful too! Have heard no mention of World Book Day costumes and am too afraid to ask at this hour!

Kurri I am very pleased for you, what a lovely surprise

LGF Hope everything went well today and you are feeling OK.

I went and tried some wigs on today. None of them looked particularly 'heavy metal', otherwise I would have suggested we form a band! Deirdre from Corrie did come to mind (well Deirdre from several years ago, last time I watched it).

Aha cross-posted LGF, that's great news, and at the hot head symptoms!

Well done LGF - one down for you now - Did they warm our hands up in hot water before putting the canula in - that can help sometimes. And as Smee says - good idea to take the sickness tablets - I was told to try to pre-empt the sickness so assume it will come and take something in advance Anyway have a good rest tonight and take things easy

DD is home - I have used this as an excuse to make coffee cake She is providing the musical entertainment as I type

LGF - did you choose a wig today or are you still looking?

Kurri Did you mean me? No, I did find 3 I thought 'not too bad'. The one I like the most is, of course, the most expensive - nearly £200, and was warned it won't last too long if worn a lot as the ends will go frizzy (hey what's new, that's my hair anyway) because it's long. Just dropped in on impulse as I was passing. Need to return with an honest friend, or DS1. Also need to find out if I can in fact get an NHS voucher as I'm having my chemo private.

Is your DD playing an instrument or singing? DS1 is learning the clarinet and it's beginning to sound quite nice now

KK - yes she did warm my hands first and obviously made a mistake putting the cannula in. They happen but it does put you off going in again. She was lovely though :)

Have just managed to eat some food, taken anti-sickeness tabet and now sipping ginger cordial.

I ordered a wig which matches my hair colour well but is much too long. I lovely lady who has cut wigs many times is coming over next week to style it . I have also looked at the hat website that you posted. They look really good. I will probably order a few for the house. I can't see me going outside without a wig but you never know, my attitude may change :)

LJB - you made me chuckle. Deirdre Barlow has never been a good look. They put a fair few horrors on my head too.

Hmm you have got me rethinking now LGF. The place I went to is very local, and was recommended, but they only had one long wig and that was the one I liked best. If the ends went frizzy surely I could just have them trimmed off, then it would last longer but just be shorter. Think I need to shop around. Saw this place recommended on BCC website.

I did mean you LJ - just having a slight failure in the brain department.

I'm sure you would be able to have the wig trimmed if it went frizzy. And you might be able to get the NHS voucher - you ought to be able to, you've paid your dues to the NHS so should be as entitled as anyone even if you are having private treatment.

My DD is playing the piano (she's a music student) it's very relaxing listening to her, I miss it when she's not here.

Ouch -it's painful when they make a bit of a mess of it isn't it LGF? - ginger cordial sounds lovely though though

LGF my ds can sympathise with you today. He spent nearly all day 9.00 until 2.30 in hospital today, appointments plus tests, including blood tests. It took a hour to calm himdown to even do the blood tests, but i think they did a better job than the nurse fitting your cannula.

Am feeling very guilty as realised this evening that splinter dd1 got in her finger on Monday pm, which initially I told her was figment of her imagination, but by weds was infected, is now really infected, pus sac covering half of her finger tip. Am very, very bad mother.

RWU way to go !!!!!!

The wig woman seemed to think I may well not get the NHS voucher. Very unfair, I'm not choosing to go private on a whim. My onc recommended it so I could get the port and have Taxol (and yes probably advantagous to him too ). And the port could cost us quite a bit too, they didn't tell me the hospital that fits them is miles away (45 mins by car), and I'm not allowed to drive myself or take public transport. Haven't thought yet of anyone who would be free to take me. So that's probably nearly £100 there and back in a taxi .

well done LGF - one down !

Poor ds sparkle - I'd've been on the floor.
Am very disappointed that my friends on facebook are not keen on giving up chocolate for Lent- am hoping some of you might join me!!

poor dd too sparkle. My arm got infected following a scratch when I was about 8 and my mum was too embarrassed to go to the gp with it as she felt she'd been a bad mum- fortunately a friend was a nurse so she treated it for me.

Oh Sparkle you are having a crap day! Please don't feel guilty, splinters can make themselves quite invisible. I'm sure it can soon be sorted. If you couldn't see the splinter, what could you do about it? Speculative excavation? That would have hurt (both of you) a lot, and could still have got infected too, for nothing. to you.

Poor Sparkle - have you got the splinter out now?
I've never forgiven my mum for breaking 2 of my fingers by mistake -just to make you feel worse, this was about 50 years ago

MAS - really sorry to hear about your mum having Parkinsons. Its good this can be contorlled so much better these days though, so I hope she gets effective treatment now.

Smee - love ths tory about the different alphabet

LGF - well done on having one chemo out of the way. I do sympathise terribly with the cannula business as I had a bit of a rough time due to having crap veins and after 4 lots of chemo I had a Central line (PICC line) put in which saved me vast stress. If you have any more problems I really recommend getting a line.

KK - do you feel any better yet?

RWU - yay - good on you! Don't take on more of a commitment than you really want though. They sound v. keen so you could presumably negotiate the time you want to work? Good luck.

i've just woken up after falling asleep at 6.55pm after a nice warm bath... i think the stress got to me a bit

SR- yes i am planning on negotiating, however they are fully aware of the situation as one of my closest friends (one of the only ones who 'deals' with it iyswim) is a housing officer for them already. she was a bit when he asked me as she waited years to get the job with them!

MAS- its bittersweet i guess, but at least you know and can now deal with it now, sending love though- parents can cause so much heartache.

congrats to those who have got the first chemo over, and on the wigs i shall just give a i hate mine, but i fear it will get a fair few further outings!

hope sparkle's dd's finger is recovering- don't feel bad-ds makes an unholy fuss about splinters- he wants me to get them out for him,yet won't let me anywhere near him..
Are you ok KK ?
And chemo girls- hope you two are feeling ok today.
RWU - glad you've had a good rest- you must be whirling with adrenalin !
You are right-bittersweet-though better to know why she is so wobbly and hope that those affects can be helped. Weirdly she has been much cheerier in hospital than at home I hope she'll feel safe and secure back home.
I still ache despite having had a bit of a cold and got that out of my system.
I have to write individual numbers in each of my copies of Toast ! and my name and where I'm giving them from..so that they can be traced I suppose.

I know I shouldn't give it a moment of my precious time- but bastard DM online has a prevocatively titled article about a woman with ocd (along the lines of with what the poor husband has to put up with-would you leave your wife) It isn't helpful. Also in the article she says she read about a woman whose diagnosis of cancer was less awful to deal with than her ocd which I can understand.

MAS I am so sorry I missed your post about your mum. Does the dx explain a lot of things for you? I hope it progresses very slowly, so she has the greatest quality of lfe possible. I am sending lots of hugs, hope you are ok.

RWU You are in a great position to negotiate terms, so go for it

LJ it seems very wrong that you can not get a wig on the NHS. Can you not go to your gp and ask him/her to process the prescription for a voucher for you? Surely it doesn't matter what or where you get your treatment.

sparkle- thank you- I think it would explain her falls -so in a way is a relief to know what we're dealing with- am sure all will be well.

Morning ladies.

Hope LGF is feeling okay this morning after yesterday.

Oh dear, what a night, pains in everything below the waist - I suppose it's a good thing? Means everything's working like it should? I was sorely tempted to take some paracetamol but will definitely tonight if it's the same - will remember to take temp first though.

Definitely unfair about the wig, LJ, I hope you can get it sorted out. I'm still waiting for the wig lady to ring me back but suppose I ought to get my thick hair cut a lot shorter first otherwise I wont be able to try them on properly.

DH is off today so we will go out for some lunch later. I'm still experimenting with taste - can't seem to taste anything at the moment, not even pineapple juice - so am going more on texture. I really enjoyed some crunchy peas last night. Never thought I'd ever say that. :)