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

[MaryAnnSingleton]

just in case we run out of space !

I am sure you know her and her health best, but from the picture Celeste looks as fit as a flea! Only rather more beautiful. Courtesy cars flirt with danger. Stay out of it as much as you can.

I think I mentioned we went to see Flawless on Friday. They were fantastic. And very, very ripped. The kids were whooping and we women were all just slack jawed, especially when the tops came off. Luckily for me I was right at the front. Men aren't built like that round our way. DD said the one guy winked at her, but I like to think he meant me

Dd has a fantastic pair of light-up white gloves as a souvenir (£12 a pop - mind you, they are awesome )

Quick post, as feeling rotten again....another bout of tonsillitis (sp? must learn hoe to spell it as I keep having to write it) Looks like those tonsils are going to have to come out, ridiculous at 39 years old.

Hope you are feeling a bit better today Kurri.

tonsilitis is horrid- poor sparkle - my friend had hers out as an adult-it was all fine and a relief as she was forever having bouts of tonsilitis.
Am feeling very bad as Celeste has a sore throat,probably due to her collar having got twisted and tightened - can't think how- no wonder she was spitting out her food-her poor little neck has sore bits from it rubbing- how dreadful that I hdn't noticed. She's had an injection of anti inflammatory and seems quite cheery.

Poor sparkles. You are rundown, that'll be it.

And poor little Celeste. animals don't make a fuss do they? Just keep going. If it was a kid you'd have known about it alright. You got her tot he vet's pronto: so nothing to reproach yourself for.

Tonsillitis is miserable Sparkle - I hope you feel better soon. Does anyone know the actual point of having tonsils - all they ever seem to do is cause problems!

Poor Celeste MAS - but don't blame yourself, it is easily done - I have often missed things on my dog before now. It's hard to see things through the fur sometimes. Hope she's better soon

aww,thanks - will make a special fuss of her
Take care sparkle

I've jut had a phone call from the medical centre to say they need to re do my thyroid function test as well as my fasting test - seems like my first lot of blood tests was complete waste of time. They weren't even testing the same lot of blood - how bizarre. Grrr.

Not sure why I was told things looked normal at the hospital and now everything's having to be re done.

Sorry - just needed to vent

Figgy - lovely to see you back. The waiting is the hardest part, you just want them to do something and quick when you are diagnosed. Kurri is right about ECGs being quite standard, as a baseline check - it's a sign they are taking good care of you! I haven't been offered one (yet) but small details of treatment do vary from one hospital to another.

Oh Kurri that is a complete pain about your blood tests, I am on your behalf. You really are having a rotten time of it at the moment. Hope you are feeling better today at least. Thanks so much for the link to that leaflet - it's more informative (and comforting) than the one they gave me. The more I read about it, the more I think I'll go for it.

MAS Glad Celeste's problem is not internal and should be easily sorted - I was going to suggest furball - silly her for spitting out her food instead of scratching at the collar: getting you all worried but not giving you any useful clues!

Cakes - I didn't know who Flawless were so had to Google and WOW! And of course he was winking at you! Here: Bring back memories?

Getting seroma drained again tomorrow. Can't wait - getting pretty sore and swollen again. Wonder if I can beat last week's record? BCN poo-poohed my effort saying she'd seen half a litre come out before, so that's setting the bar quite high

O dear, most of you seem to be having a rough time. KK - I do hope you feel better soon, and Sparkel, too, and MAS, and the Kitten and anyone else feeling low.

Cakes I don't know Flawless but glad you enjoyed yourself!

I returned to work to find one of my team off with Shingles so am mad busy to help cover. Will try to find out about my profile and photos etc when I can though.

For those waiting for chemo - I agree with the comments of others - the waiting to start is a difficult time. It does feel better once you get on the track. I felt it was a bit grim but you knew you had to get through it so each treatment was one more done, which was progress. I had several weeks wait as well. In fact about 8 weeks I think - try to use the time to build up your strength, enjoy yourself, go for walks, stock up the pantry and freezer! And buy some nice head-=gear - I liked HeadCovers. They're based in the US but have a great choice of styles.

Seem to recall I kept clearing out drawers in some sort of frenzy too Haven't done any recently - must be a response to feeling threatened and needing to get things in order.

I did use the check-list on BCCC web-site - the list called top tips for surviving chemo or something like that. Don't be terrified by it though - I terrified myself and it wasn't as bad as I'd feared! I did find some useful tips on there but if you do read those threads remember that is mainly ladies who have bad experiences who post on there.

I did join a thread direct;ly relevant to my own drug regime which I found supportive (although not like as fun as this one!)

Drat - I just lost a post. O well, I'll just send best wishes to all feeling poorly or waiting to start chemo, as this seems to be most of you at the mo. Get well soon. All my ohter pearls of wisdom will have to wait as can't face typing all again

I've put some photos in the area for 'my mates' ie your dear selves! Hope you know how to find them- I wouldn't

Oh, my pearls of wisdom have miraculously re-appeared. Think I need to go to bed....

I didn't know what Flawless was either !
How really pissy to have to do the tests again KK - grrr
And LJ - hope the seroma-draining is a huge relief
SR - where are your pictures ? how can we see them ?(if we click on your name it doesn't go to your profile)

On facebook there is a breast cancer group which seems to stem from the forum on the BCC website as I know 2 people on there and recognise several others- you have to be allowed to join by the person who started it and you must have had a bc diagnosis and no one else can join - I have joined it (was approved !) but find it a bit annoying -I suppose I feel it's not the same as our special thread on here -and the 'rules' are a bit off putting. I can't unjoin as my 2 friends might think I'm dissing them -I just don't contribute to it !

I don't like the sound of that forum MAS - as if we need more rules in our lives!

I am very sorry about your blood tests and continued poorliness, KK. I hope it gets sorted soon.

LJ - glad you liked what you saw when you googled Flawless [ grin] I realise my post about them made me sound like a right lusty old crone, but genuinely, the ripped-ness of them just makes it even more fun. The energy and the music, and the amazing moves just make for a really great evening for kids and adults. Dd likes the one with the dreadlocks the best, he is apparently called 'Steady'. Which is also, funnily enough, what I had to say to one of my friends when one of the guys stripped down to the basics.

SR - I'll see if i can locate your pics later - but don't hold out a lot of hope, I think MS is more computer savvy than me....

No, I can't get it into SR's profile either.

Yeah come on SR - you're teasing us! We want photos! Where have you put them?

Gah Smee - what have you done woman, mentioning the Camping word to me!! Now I'm all obsessed and wistful, have even been posting on the Camping threads! Long after I should have been in bed last night I found myself eyeing up pop-up Quechas and wondering (foolishly I know) if I could manage a couple of days mid-chemo if I got one of those. Also discovered a new campsite (which allows fires ) which opened last summer less than 20 miles from me. It's all your fault

MAS That's awkward re the Facebook site, and the reason why I've been steadfastly ignoring all the 'friend' requests I keep getting - I only signed up so I could have a good snoop around, like you do. Thought I had deregistered but obviously not! Have looked on the BCC forums but apart from printing off the pre-chemo checklist (as mentioned in SR's pearls of wisdom) didn't find any thread that made me feel as at home as with you lovely lot

I also want to know where SR's photo's have gone - where has she posted them?

I'm not sure I like a BC patients only club either. I like the fact that our little group is open to anyone with a breast worry or family members of patients as well.

I find some sites can get a bit heavy and depressing as well - I'd rather ramble on about cake

Have been in bed most of today. Still got a temperature and can't really eat. Very frustrating.

However it has given me the opportunity to watch Colonel Gaddafi's rantings. The BBC referred to him as 'eccentric' (presumably they are not allowed to say 'completely and utterly insane) Poor people in Libya - I think this one is going to be a lot more bloody that Egypt

I'll have a search through our photo's later, - since we're all in a photo-ish mood

Hope everyone is having a good day. xx

Oh before I forget (and I will if I don't put it down) ladies soon to start chemo, make sure you have a good accurate thermometer, - as it's useful to be able to keep an eye on your temp.

O heck, I don't know why my photos are unfindable!! Bt too tired to investigate at the mo.

However good news is that I've lost 2.5 more lbs despite Spanish hols so I'm rather chuffed.

Will let you know if I rediscover the pix

OK, well I can see my photos when I log in and go into my photo gallery. Its says that from there I can upload them onto Mumsnet and let my mates see them. But I can't see how to upload them (sob)

oh well done on weight loss SR but sorry to hear that KK is still feeling crook.
No news yet about mum's move- went to see her this evening- she seemed ok-I did her hair again and dad and I investigated the hospital hairdresser-it'd be lovely for her to have it washed -hope we can sort that.
There's a lovely,lovely care assistant who was quite charming and endeared himself to me by saying how good looking ds was and how he'd be a star (we were talking about singing,as he sings in a group) Mum and the other lady like him a lot.
Took car back to garage to ask them to put new bulb in again as the replaced one didn't work-and good news- ds didn't need any new shoes -yay ! He bought himself a very extravagant lunch of duck wrap,Vietnamese vegetable crystal rolls with ginger miso sauce (he let me taste a bit-v lovely with those thread like noodles-glass noodles ?) and a Maison Blanc eclair. I made myself a cheese sandwich !

I like your ds's style MAS!

Sorry KK is still unwell -but that's sound advice from her about the thermometer, I had forgotten that. Go for a digital one and take your temperature if feeling even slightly ill. And if it is elevated, get thee to the hospital, pronto!

You have my major sympathies about the car, MAS - the door locks on mine have all packed up! It is central locking but you need the key, and all the barrels (except the ignition) have ceased to work. If you manage to get the key in, it doesn't turn. Gah! So it is locked - unlocked - in the garage until the Honda place can look at it on Friday. And no doubt charge me a fortune. We have a fab local, cheap independent garage but he says this is one for a main dealer. Sob.

LimeJelly - the seroma slowing down is great news. Things are looking up.

SR - I forgot to say bloody well done on the weight loss. It was probably jealousy - I really am

I hope you can get the hairdresser sorted out for your mum MAS - these little things can make such a difference when you are in hospital. - and great there is a nice care worker especially after the nasty nurse experience.

LJ it's good seroma is slowing down - I think there is something you can get called a compression bra which is supposed to help with seroma. But my knowledge is extremely vague - it might be completely unsuitable - but maybe worth looking up or asking BC nurse.

SR very well done on the weight loss - you are doing very well - great willpower

I'm feeling a bit better today - have got up and am sitting in a armchair/ pottering. Unfortunately I think it will be a few days before I can risk doing any housework

I'm going to try to put some photos up but restrict them to tamoxifen threaders - not quite sure how to do it. Watch this space......

Hope everyone's having a good day

What kind of thermometer would everyone recommend then?

Used to have a neat little digital one for use in mouth or armpit (or elsewhere if you could bear it ) but DH broke it by washing it!

Or should I get an ear one?

I just got a really basic digital one from Boots for about £8. It was suitable for under the tongue or under the arm. I think it was a kids one, actually, but it certainly worked fine for me - notified me to go to the hospital when it turned out that, in fact, I had swine flu .

Glad you are feeling better, KK. Housework is notoriously bad for recuperating people, so I'd give it several days to be on the safe side

I have just taken the momentous decision not to go to either of my keep fit classes today, after a no-show on Monday as well. I feel OK apart from a bad back that might well benefit, but I really can't be fagged this week.