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

[MaryAnnSingleton]

just in case we run out of space !

Well done LJ! Sounds like you are doing great! And Ondansetron really is fab - but it does make everything race a bit. Haven't had the Emend (as an NHS patient here).

All this talk of swimming is making me want to go, think I will, later. I haven't been for a while as the GP said my runny and intermittently sore eye was a chlorine allergy, but I don't think that can be so as it is now nearly 2 weeks since I went in, and it is still going. I think I'll swim anyway, and visit the optician, they seem better with eyes.

Glad you are feeling better, KK. I am not surprised you and your Mum aren't going to the funeral, it's so far from where you are. Her family will get a lot of support anyway, and that's the main thing.

Strokes and cuddles to Celeste - she'll be fine. Bless her though, I hate to see animals with stitches. Their shaved skiin always looks so vulnerable

did you get your goggles for swimming Cakes ?

have a nice swim anyway !
Celeste is now at the vets- I got there before it opened ! She was very good about not having any breakfast bless her.

LJ, I'd say the Emend is what's making your eyelids droop. I had a ridiculous run on anti-sickness drugs. They warned me Emend would knock me out. Didn't actually, I just had a horrendous reaction to it. Don't let that put you off - it's a 1 in 1000 reaction so I was just unlucky. For most women Emend's the one that works. Are you having Tax for the last three? If so, that makes you far less sick - I did have a bit of nausea on that, but it was nothing like on FEC.

Cold cap is a bit yuk isn't it. Someone told me to take paracetemol half an hour before you put it on, which did seem to take the edge off it. Sorry I didn't remember that before.

at your DS's prowess at diving. Olympics in 2020 then - I'll book my seat. Mine needs half an hour of counselling to even jump in.

MAS, I remember how stressed when it was our kitten's turn. Be fine though, am sure. Does that mean you can let her out a bit more soon?? How exciting for Celeste.

Cakes you up for a swimming pact? Think I'm going to go later too, though have been slowly talking myself out of it. I must do some work first..

OK smee, you work, I'll work, and then we'll swim. (No, forgot to get the goggles - I'll swim like Nessie, with my neck arched out of the water)

But before I do, this is how I have spent my morning thus far. Take a look at these 2 links:

www.islaypictures.com/index.php?showimage=190
www.islay.org.uk/index.php?showimage=431

I have just booked a holiday, right on this beach. Very excited!!!!! INDEED!!!!!

Oooh Cakes, that looks astounding. When are you going then? Have you booked a cottage by the beach then?

Must be something in the air, as I'm stupidly excited too. Think I mentioned before we're having a big post chemo treat holiday, so 10 days in Morocco. I booked us two few nights at this place last night.
www.kasbahdutoubkal.com/kasbah/

Ooh that looks absolutely, jaw-droppingly stunning! I can just see you there, on that lovely balcony. What a way to say goodbye to chemo!

We're going as soon as the schools break up in July (or maybe a day or two before, it looks a bit of a schlep to the ferry). When are you off? Soon? Are you all going or is it a romantic trip? (We don't do those).

Yep, we have booked a cottage by the beach, with a nice view. Dd was mad to go back to Arran, but I think she'll like this.

Cakes and Smee - both those places look amazing, and very relaxing. How very exciting to have a holiday planned :)

LJ - well done for getting through the first lot of chemo. Sounds like all is ok today? I just took my drugs as instructed and didn't have too many side effects. Just a bit of nausea, like early pregnancy as you said. My red wee only lasted until the end of the first day. The next day it was clear!

Figgy - I hope you are ok? Please update us when you can?

I am fine, and feel ok :) I keep touching my hair and think it feels wirey. It also seems to look lanky, quicker? It has been lovely having no medical appointments this week...the first 3 weeks were awful (appointment after appointment) and this week I have felt normal and done a full weeks work too :)

Can't believe your DD won't be thrilled, Cakes. Looks like a fantastic place. It is one hell of a drive though.

We don't manage to do romantic trips either and I doubt DS would ever forgive us if we went somewhere that special without him. We're going in Easter holidays, so soon. Apparently you can't get close to it in a car, so they meet you with mules to carry your luggage and you have to climb up there.

x-posted LGF. Glad to hear you're feeling okay. I found it easier once I'd started chemo too. I think my hair started to go on about day 14. I kept enough to keep going with the cold cap, but still lost lots. It is hard, but strangely I found it a relief once it had started iyswim. Maybe get a drain blocker to catch the hairs? A plumbing problem is the last thing you need.

Oh wow, and a mule trek to boot, how wonderful. And the weather should be lovely at Easter - hot but not too hot, and all fresh. Lovely.

LGF bloody well done. Let's take this as a good sign that you will fare pretty well on chemo. I did, too. For many people these days the SEs are pretty manageable. Enjoy your appointment-free days, and make sure you relax when you need to.

From what I remember my hair felt a bit 'dead' and looked lank for a couple of days and then started dropping big-time. It's then that you'll appreciate having a shorter cut.

Its the hair thing that I'm worried about at the mo. I have a mobile hair dressers number to hand who will come round once this starts happening, and shave it off for me. I don't want to see it coming out :( She will also finish off my wig, and check it looks ok!

Its DS1's birthday and party tomorrow. I just wanted it to last until then for photos and stuff, and it has..phew! Unless it all falls out tonight

PS just had a NHS letter drop on my mat. Anything with NHS on it gives me palpitations at the moment! Anyway, I open it and its the resuts of my smear test. They are normal hurra! At least somethings normal

Fantastic! A weight off your mind LGF. Great news.

FWIW I think you are quite right to shave it off upfront. I cut mine very short as soon as it started to go, and put the scarf straight on, but it is still horrid to find lots of short hairs in your scarf, and on your pillow, in the bath etc. Biting the bullet and shaving it all off will probably save you some gloomy moments.

I was the same as smee - 14 days in, it started to go.

But remember, it comes back. And much sooner than you might think. x

Forgot to say - enjoy the party. Don't worry about it all falling out tonight - the strong wind (here, at least) has fallen away to nothing [ grin]

Happy bday to LGF's ds - have a lovely party...and hooray for clear smear !!
Am very of holidays in such idyllic places - brilliant after chemo treat smee. We can't really afford a hol this year,so it'll be trips to see MIL and days out I guess- never mind- we need to save for the NY trip and ds also will have a history trip to Berlin and Geog. to Italy - lordy !
No word yet from vet- will ring in half an hour if they haven't.

Phew, LGF - that's fantastic.

MAS, teenagers are so expensive, aren't they? DS's trips for now involve £1 optional contributions. Can see I won't get away with that forever. Hope you hear from vet's soon.

Fingers' crossed for good news from vet and a speedy return for Celeste. DS certainly is turning out expensive: I have it all to come!

Strictly speaking I am not sure we can afford a holiday either, but I just tend to book and worry later - not a strategy I'd recommend to anyone else.

Those holiday destinations look beautiful It is nice to hear talk of holidays though - makes summer feel nearer We can't really afford anything major - but we've very conveniently got family in nice areas of the country - NE Scotland, and Dorset - so we will invite ourselves to stay with them

I hope Celeste is home soon MAS - is always a worry when they have anything done, I missed your post where you said what the op is - I'm guessing you're having her spayed?

It's great you are doing well LGF - let's hope it does mean you are avoiding some of the SE's - well done on working this week by the way

I went to keep fit today - and actually managed to keep going for the whole hour without falling in a heap. I also made all the teas and coffees so am feeling quite full of myself

Speaking of cats - as we drove home this lunch time, we saw a cat lying, completely still, in the middle of the road. DH stopped and said 'it must have been hit we'll have to get it to a vet'.
Then the cat rolls onto its back, waving its legs about, and then gets up, gives us a haughty look and marches off. It had been sunbathing, in the middle of the road! - daft animal. I'm not sure how long it's going to survive if it keeps doing that

Hope everyone is feeling OK today, and that everyone has a good weekend

Poor cat is surely doomed!

I am glad you are so much perkier today KK. Have a good weekend.

Celeste is home !! (she was spayed & microchipped KK) - she has a huge shaved area and a collar to wear which I hope I've fitted correctly-it makes an awful noise as she bashes it about-hope it doesn't come off and that she can eat & drink ok. Eating seems ok actually,though much is spread about the kitchen floor as she's not used to the collar. She probably hates me !

MAS - she will be fine and she doesn't hate you, she hates the vets, but she was always going to do that anyway. Watching them with one of those buster collars is like watching an aircraft carrier negotiate, but she will only need it for a few days. It is amazing how quickly they recover though, our Poppy was leaping across the furniture less than 24 hours after being spayed, quite amazing. Give her a gentle rub on the chin from me.

Talk of holidays is wonderfully therapeutic, we won't be able to have one this year, but I shall live through yours.

LJ and LGF you both sound to be doing really well. Hope you have a good fe days over the weekend. Figgy I hope you are ok too.

Wonder if SR's kitten is there yet? Can't wait to hear about him/her and see some piccies now that SR is au fait with the process! And delighted that Celeste is fit and well. The awkward collar won't be for long.

Thanks for your advice about the Emend Smee - in fact every SE I've had so far could be put down to the 'helpful' drugs rather than the chemo! The nausea seems to have ababted now, just the 'dropping tired' feeling, but then I didn't manage to get a proper rest this afternoon as planned.

Still only the one red wee, yesterday. Very disappointing, there has to be some fun as a trade-off.

Have not looked at your holiday links as I would just be too but DH has suggested we all run away to a cottage in Wales for the Royal Wedding long weekend and the chemo nurse confirmed that if all goes to plan, that would be a 'good' weekend for me.

Kurri am so pleased you sound so much better today - don't overdo it though!

Figgy we are all thinking of you xx

"DS2 does kind of sit-ups at karate which helps. Another exercise given to him by physio was to play (eg doing jigsaw puzzle) raised up on hands and knees, back as straight as possible, not sagging. Another to lie on back with knees up, then raise bottom to form straight line if poss from knees to back. I used to have to drive many toy cars through the tunnel he created to encourage him!"

Heh LJ the third of these is one of ds' physio exercises, designed to improve his dreadful core muscle strength. What does the sit up thing look like?

Well done LimeJelly, being one chemo down! I remember Ondansetron - is that the steroid?? Certainly seemed to help me along the road. I couldn't sleep the first night after it though, each cycle - got used to this and just retsed usually.

Hair does start to feel funny - mine actually came out just about at day 21 I think. But sore scalp for a while beforehand.

KITTEN update - inspector happy with house this am. So we'll colleect Orlando tomorrow morning, all being well! Will post pix asap. Thank-you for your excitement.

Hope everyone is OK - saw achievements in swimming and Celeste has had an op - hope she's recovering well.

KK - glad you're feeling improved and up to keep fit.

Hugs.

OMG you should read the thread about skin tags for a laugh.... included the linked bit called 'classic'....