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

[MaryAnnSingleton]

just in case we run out of space !

Hello everyone. Sorry I've been AWOL. I went to work Monday and Tuesday mornings but woke up feeling really tired on Wednesday so stayed at home. At bedtime, as I got into bed, I noticed a niggling pain in my left side but by 2am it was horrendous so DH took me to A&E.

We got there at 3 and eventually seen at 5 - they let us wait away from all the other patients because of germs, which was thoughtful. They took bloods, did obs and my white count had gone from 0.3 on Monday back up to 3 so it's rising. They thought it might have been akidney stone so booked me in for a ct scan at 9 so had to wait till then. I was seen pretty promptly and the scan was clear. So back in A&E they were convinced I had a urinary tract infection (even though the pain was on the left) and sent me home with antibees and painkillers. Then in the afternoon my temp rose to 38.8. So rang the chemo nurse for advice. She got a doctor to look at the scan and they've found what look like diverticulitis type pockets in the bowel which might be causing the pain if they're inflamed or infected. She recommended the painkillers to bring the temp down and assured me my blood count was raising and it wouldn't go down again.

So I'm on antibees for an infection I might not have and probably need something else for the diverticulitis. I've spent all day in bed and feel a bit yukky still. I've no appetite but am drinking lots of water which is making me wee. I need to go to the loo but cant see able to - maybe I need a sennocot tablet.

hey figgy- am sorry to hear about all this,but glad you are being sorted -what a fright though Hope you feel better very soon

hooray for Orlando- can't wait to see him
Celeste is rattling about,being tetchy -am worried in case she can't drink. Am sure she can,but the water gets flicked about in the collar and she fusses about getting wet...
skin tags....will look.

Oh Figgy, I am so sorry you are having such a miserable time. I hope the painkillers work and you are move comfortable today.

MAS Celete should be able manage to drink, but you can always put something (like a bowl turned upside down) under her water bowl, just to lift it slightly it can make it a bit easier to negotitate with the collar.

thanks sparkle- we've tried different combinations of water bowl - it might be that she doesn't want much water as she's eating moist food at the moment (usually only has dry so drinks a lot) -she can get her head down to it but seems to want to flick it around rather than drink.

Fiigy for you - and hope you'll feel better soon.

Busy with orlando now - will take a pic when I can. We're just settling him in ie DS is playing with him and string etc.

I'm sorry you've been having problems Figgy, - just wanted to say that I found sennacot too strong in its action, I took movicol which is gentler (doesn't give you stomach cramps), so something like that might be worth asking for (lactulose also similar I believe) - but if sennacot suits you, of course ignore me - just thought I'd mention it in case its of use. Also hot water with a squeeze of lemon juice in it in the morning is supposed to help with constipation. I hope you feel better soon - its good your blood count is going up now.

Can't wait to see pictures of Orlando SR

I'm, going to see DS's production of 'Under Milk Wood' tonight - so need to have a bath and search for something vaguely respectable to wear

Figgy, that all sounds scary. Such a sod to have to go through all that - especially on your first cycle. Great to hear your bloods are zooming back up though, that at least is good news. I ate Medjool Dates rather than take any tablets - worked for me, but I haven't a clue if that's normal or not.

LJ, really glad to hear the sickness has abated. Sorry to go on about my holiday - tactless of me. I did think about not mentioning it, but then remembered enjoying reading about everyone's holidays when I was in chemo. Helped to remind me it's not forever in lots of ways. Your DH's idea for a cottage sounds like a great idea. Small treats are definitely a good way through, so get on and book it. You need things to look forward to.

SR, how brilliant Orlando has landed. Yes we want pictures. I'd bet he's beautiful.

MAS, how long does Celeste have to keep the collar on for? They are a pain, aren't they. Not surprised she's being a bit grouchy about it all.

Kurri, am hoping you found something respectable to wear. Be a challenge in this house. Have a good night.

Pure trivia, but does anyone remember Scritti Politti? Green Gartside was in the pub we went to last night. Once we'd worked out why we recognised him, it took me right back.

Wood Beez smee ! my best friend loved Green !
Very much looking forward to seeing Orlando too.
Celeste has to keep collar on until stitches come out,so until Monday week

Oh Smee (you Sweetest Girl ) now I am that you were about talking about your holiday - don't be daft, it was just a joke, also laziness re the links, I am delighted for you and I am so sorry you felt bad, of course we all want to know about your lovely well-deserved hols!

Figgy no wonder you weren't around, knew something must be up. What a horrible time for you, hope you are feeling better now, and getting sorted out now you know what it is.

I had a bad night on Friday. Only managed about 3 hours' sleep, spent a lot of the rest thinking of all manner of old bad/sad things and crying. Heart thumping etc. Suspect the steroids, Dexamethasone(?) 4mg twice a day. Totally wired, even taking them by 2pm. Rang the chemo nurse on Sat morning and she agreed as I'm no longer feeling nauseous I could cut down. I also got her OK to take half one of my old Zopiclones (just in date this month) so had a better night last night. Feel not too bad but not great today, still bit shaky. All the extra drugs are finished now, so should have less side effects from them until next time.

Hope the play was fun Kurri. Can hear Richard Burton in my head now!

Off to bed now. Love to all xx

you poor thing LJ - hope you feel much better tomorrow.
I used to sing the little song in Under Milk Wood to ds when he was little- Johnny Crack and Flossy Snail...

I am absolutely certain all that stuff is the steroids LJ, so you should be better from here on in. And poor old Figgy! Huge sympathies from me, I hope you can start to feel a bit better now, and have a relaxing time for a bit.

The long w/e in a Welsh cottage sounds just perfect - long w/ends kept us going throughout the summer when i was on chemo, we had several and it really kept us all going. And then you can have a nice proper holiday as soon as you are finished and feeling more energised.

I am waiting for pics or Orlando with bated breath. very excited.

Poor Celeste, MAS . A whole 10 days in a collar. Yikes! Is she drinking better yet?

Dd and her friends did their own little sponsored run for Comic Relief on Saturday - so I am a bit footsore as well, as we decided we had better follow (not running, obviously). She has huge blisters and is now talking of doing something for Japan. I am trying to persuade her that this time we can just send some cash to the Red Cross, without over-exerting ourselves

oh bless dd Cakes
Celeste seems a bit more cheery,but not herself- am hoping she is drinking better- can't really tell,but she doesn't seem listless or dehydrated

What a shame, it's probably the collar rather than the surgery itself by now. Can she take it off when you are about and able to watch her? It might give a bit of relief, it's got to be heavy to carry about and unnerving as she can't get into her usual places. Poor little thing.

DD's run sounds good, Cakes. Is she being brave about the blisters? DS is dressing up for Comic Relief on Friday. His outfit changes daily. I predict trauma before breakfast..

How was the play Kurri? And where are the pics of Orlando then, SR?? Am still looking forward to them.

LJ, sorry to hear the drugs are hitting you so hard. Hopefully by cycle 2, you'll have sorted what to take and what not to take. Next time will be easier, if only because you've done it before. Start plotting treats and holidays for next year now. Something very life affirming about it somehow.

Glad to hear Celeste's bouncing back, MAS. The collar will be off before you know it.

Figgy, and LGF, am hoping you're okay this week. You should be through the worst of cycle one. Fingers crossed that you are.

Have just called the hospital to try and alter my mammogram appointment. The woman I spoke to hadn't a clue what a mammogram was - she asked if she could put me through to the chest x-ray, as she'd never heard of it. G'ah!

@ hospital woman smee !

I have taken collar off but she soon starts worrying the satitches,so on it goes again

Good luck catching Celeste then, MAS.

Coincidentally-just had an appointment letter for my mammogram!

I am just waiting for mine - it should be this month. I can't believe the woman had never heard of a mammogram!

Stitch worrying isn't good, then, MAS. Our dog was a calm old chap and could be relied on not to do that, so he had to have very minimal collar-wearing (probably as well because they always make me cackle, not sure why).

Dd is being brave about the blisters, smee - unusually for her as she is such a drama queen normally What's ds planning to wear at the moment, then? dd just has to wear red, which gives us a lot of scope really, we can do top to toe red, no bother.

My tax refund has just come through. Yippee! I was convinced I'd overpaid (again) but didn't hear anything so I looked onto the HMRC website and there was a little note, saying I'd overpaid, and would I like a refund. Eh?

Mammograms for lots of us then. It's my first one since diagnosis - was a year ago next week. My how time flies when you're having fun.

Yeay for Cakes though. A tax refund on a Monday is excellent news. Am mighty impressed by your DD's stoicism. I had to talk DS out from the corner of the nurse's room at the surgery on Friday - he got hysterical a jab for our holiday.

Have to say, Red Nose day is proving a bit fraught here. Yesterday DS wanted to be an Chameleon. . But then this morning, he said a knight made sense. Yippee thinks me, as a Knight I can do, but then I vetoed him taking his wooden broadsword, so he huffed all the way to school, then tried to scale me down to pirate with a cutlass. Am thinking a red chameleon with assorted weaponry could well be where we're heading, so I predict tears - probably mine.

Sounds a challenge! Dd has got a very bendy and harmless cutlass if you need me to mail it to you. The most you can do with it is slap someone lightly with the flat of the blade (I know, I've tried).

Woo hoo for being a year post diagnosis, smee - time really has flown, it seems like yesterday.

Thanks Cakes. A year is quite something, isn't it. You must be two?

We have a bendy cutlass here, thanks. Don't suppose you have a chameleon costume lurking somewhere instead, do you?!

Alas, no.

Yes, I am two years post diagnosis, not sure of the dates, I seem to have erased it all from my mind, but i think my op was the start of April.

If you are having your jabs, the holiday must seem very close and exciting.

I thought you were about a year ahead of me. Two years is very good going. I think I'm going to vaguely count the years from when I finished treatment, as that's what the Oncs seem to go by. So that's not until December..

Holiday's in April. Can't wait.

Sorry you are having a hard time LJ - like Cakes I'm sure it is the steroids - I found they really affected my mood, so I was alternately grumpy or tearful, but it passes. As Smee says next time you will know on which days you are going to feel a bit fragile, so at least you are expecting it.

Under Milkwood was very good, they did it all dressed in black, standing in front of mics - no set or anything. Just voices. And everyone took lots of parts. DS was acting as well as directing which was nice. I love it, the language is so wonderful. (DH got a hard poke in the leg for yawning though, and afterwards he said 'What was it about?' )

I managed to faint in Sainsbury's yesterday , I ended up being carted off in a wheelchair by a first aider, and made to lie down in a rest room. I made such an exhibition of myself - I don't think I can go back and shop there unless I wear a disguise. I am phoning the GP tomorrow - I want to know how long I have to put up with this for.

Poor Celeste MAS - they hate those collars don't they?
Do you think she might still have a bit of GA in her system if she's not quite right yet.

Well done to your DD Cakes - she's very aware of others less fortunate isn't she? Which is brilliant, she sounds a lovely little girl.

Smee - loving the idea of a chameleon costume with assorted weaponry
at the hospital woman! - Does everyone have yearly mammograms? - I've only had one, two years after DX (I will be 3 years from DX this June). Is that normal or should I get them more often? - Maybe its because I had a mastectomy.

I hope everyone else is having a good day, and Figgy and LGF are feeling better.