TAMOXIFEN 9 *********

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Starts here !

loverly ? lovely

Hooray for lovely weekend, topsy.

Kazza, I am sorry you are here, but welcome from me, too. Post away, we can maybe help, and probably distract a bit too. It's all good.

Just dashing through for now - love to all x

Topsy, of course you cried. Just reading about it nearly made me cry and I'm an atheist. How lovely though. Glad you had such an uplifting time. I'll be thinking of you on Thursday too.

I have a frisbee injury. Did an energetic leap and cricked my neck...

MAS 'loverly' makes you sound like the Cadbury's Caramel Bunny.

@ smee !
I have just been out to coffee (well this morning, got back about half an hour ago) - met up with my friend who I 'met' on the BCC forum -have met up with her quite a few times-she was treated by the same team at hospital- she is allergic to practically everything,including the chemo drugs and tamoxifen -she had to stop the chemo after 1 cycle I think. Anyway, we had a really nice chat and I gave her my design for a postcard I'm having done for a local charity which provides counselling/massage and spa things/hair care for local people diagnosed with bc (she knows them) It'll be my contribution instead of another strawberry tea.
Ds is making lasagne at school tomorrow and then doing his RS GCSE in the afternoon,so I've got him a krispy kreme doughnut as a treat !

I'm glad your weekend was fun, Topsy. I would have cried too. Only natural, on special occasions.

Oh dear, Smee, a frisbee injury? That'll teach you . Have you got a neck support?

MAS, your postcard will be a lovely contribution, I'm sure. The local charity sounds fab, I wish we had something like that here. Actually, maybe we have and I haven't heard of it yet.

Well, I've actually been to work this morning (first time in weeks). I'm an LSA in a primary school and, as my class has been covered by another LSA while I've been away and she's there till the end of term, I spent the entire morning in the photocopy room helping with copying and laminating (oh, and having a little chat with passing peeps ). It suited me down to the ground - easy work and not being too close to the children and their germs. Now I've got all the "how are you?" questions out of the way it will be easier when I go in for the rest of the week. We will all talk about 'normal' stuff (I hope).

Silly question coming up - has anyone else suffered with a sore nose/nostrils during chemo? The inside of my nose is sooooo sore and every now and then, when I blow it, it bleeds a little. Unfortunately I'm blowing it a bit more than usual, not because I have a cold but because it keeps running.

Back from weekend away with dh - it was lovely!
Figgy, yes, same thing with the sore nose. Think vaseline helps a bit, as does those balsam tissues rather than the rough ones.
Will attempt to catch up with everyone's news...

hello all - Figgy I had a sore bleeding nose, - it is basically because anything with a mucus membrane comes in for a hard time on chemo. Mention it at your next appoitment, but I think it is fine unless obviously you had any heavy bleeding. I also found the constantly dripping nose lasted for some time after chemo (very irritating). Well done for going into work - excellent progress

Topsy I'm glad your DD's Communion went well - what a lovely occasion, like Smee I am not a religious person, but can fully appreciate how emotional it is to see your children go through these sort of landmark events.

Pasta sounds great SR, and the seedlings.

Smee - frisbee injury???? - were you being silly?
I remember playing cricket in the garden with the children once, - DD kept shouting 'I want to be the vampire' (umpire ) and DS hurled bowled a ball which flew through the air without touching the ground and hit me square in the face, breaking my glasses. Children's games are fraught with danger.

MAS - I am imagining you dressed as a cockernee flower girl singing 'Woouldn't iit be luvverley'
I hope DS's RS exam went well - he deserves a doughnut!

I have yoga'd this morning, and been reading through the next chapter of DD's dissertation this afternoon. Oh and the dog got a big tick on her face just beside her eye, so I had the joy of removing that [yuk]

GP has just rung to say that my thyroid is still reading as over active, so he wants to stop the thyroxine completely and retest in 8 weeks. He said my thyroid seems to be functioning again - how odd?? - I thought once it had gone wrong that was it

But good news if it has recovered

oh I do hope it has recovered KK
Well done figgy- back to work sounds good, am sure they'll soon get back to talking about regular stuff !

Have just measured out all the ingredients for ds' lasagne tomorrow- really he should do it, but the chaos would be too much (I know I should try to tolerate it) Am off to try my new meditation which involves prostrating yourself on the floor to be in touch with the earth- I downloaded it from iTunes -it's what we did at the all day meditation and it's quite ritualistic which I like.

That's very good news, Kurri. Maybe you're rejuvenating for spring. + I will most definitely think of umpires as vampires from now on. Far more interesting. What's DD's dissertation on? Are you genuinely interested, or just pretending?

Figgy, I had an ever dripping nose too. Very sore at times. Someone told me it's because you've lost all the nasal hairs, so there's nothing to catch drops.[yuk!] Great you got back to work. Bet the kids were pleased to see you, though lurking in the photocopying room sounds mighty sensible.

SR, you definitely win the Gardening Crown. I had managed one measly sunflower - was stupidly proud of it, potted it out, but something ate it next day. What can I still try to grow? Is it all too late..? Send your DS down here when you're done with him. I like the sound of a son who can cook, so maybe he can teach mine.

MAS, am impressed by the meditation. I get horribly distracted if I try.I think I'll have to go to a course or something, as maybe then I'll be too embarrassed to stop iyswim. Is it DS's first GCSE? Bet he's nervous. Doughnuts sound very much in order.

Amber great you and DH enjoyed yourselves. (Waves cheery flag to alert Topsy and Kazza, as Amber's mid chemo and she's managed a weekend away!!) Hope the taste buds allowed you some delicious slices of cake, Amber.

Frisbee injury easing. Been munching anti-inflammatories..

I hope I'm rejuvenating Smee - that sounds good (maybe the rejuvenation could include some weight loss )

DD's dissertation is on 1960's protest songs against the Vietnam war, - but from a musical viewpoint rather than historical/political - so a lot of analysing the impact of music + lyrics etc. I am genuinely interested - not something I knew much about, but have been listening to the music she's been discussing - Phil Ochs, Fugs, Byrds, Pete Seeger, Country Joe and the Fish etc. - she's done stuff on humour, imagery, in music and lyrics, - I've learnt quite a lot

Hope the anti-inflamms work and you get a decent nights sleep.

sounds really interesting KK - mine was on pop culture,rather a meandering thesis - am sure I could have done better if I'd pushed myself.
Am glad frisbee injury is easing smee - did I miss that bit ?
The meditation is a bit odd as it's very badly recorded and hard to hear plus I really need more directions on how to do it (so should really buy the book)
-never mind - I'll persevere !
Ds is curiously casual about the exam - I guess that's probably a good think,rather than being in a panic- am hoping that the revision classes he went to will have helped !

How on earth did she get into that then, Kurri? I wouldn't know much, but it does sound fascinating. My DH would know a lot, am sure. He's a bit of a music geek.

MAS, glad DS is casual about the exam. Definitely the best way to be. Veggie lasagne sounds mmm... I must cook one again soon, had quite forgotten how lovely they are. Frisbee injury is pure trivia. Pleased to say, I caught it as I fell..

Kazza I am so sorry you are going through this, but glad you found the thread.
Hope amber, pink, figgy, lgf, lj, topsy and ruthie all right. I have forgotte someone.....so sorry.

and ouch at smee's athletic frisbee capabilities.

Sorry have been a bit rubbish at keeping up over the last few days. Note to self must try harder!

I feel the rising stress memory from dissertations and exams, funny how it never quite leaves you even 17 years on! What an interesting dissertation KK, I hope she does well in it. I always preferred course work to exams, but I got through Cambridge fine, so I am sure she will be fine too. Where are you going to stay over night, that nice hotel on Hill Road, or round the Backs near Browns? Ah my old stomping ground, hope my kids go there so I can be one these pushy parents reliving their uni days through the kids......just kidding! I would be grateful for being able to afford to send them at this point.

MAS ooh lasagne, got that for tonight too! Lots of meat in ours though.

Only read on if life a bit dull and want sparkle chicken sagas.
I have exciting chicken news......my bantum hatched out 3 of the 4 eggs I gacve her, we have two yellow chicks and one black/silver. Very cute. DH says I am not allowed to call them cute, as we will eat them later, but they are cute. I am very excited about being self sufficient in meat. ds and dd1 have announced they will not eat them though.....I agreed they could make a protest vote but dh and I still would. hen the bantum got off the nest there were 9 of her eggs under her, 6 viable ones so I have rigged a makeshift incubator in the kitchen and am I trying to hatch them, probably won't work as she left them to cool down, nbut exciting expereiment.

Love to all
x

Oo ds update, still in pain, back in school yesterday and today, think he is depressed poor lamb. Still no news about the school, or doctors. More dramas around current school but will bug you with that another time.

very exciting chicken news sparkle well done- I'd say they were cute too
poor,poor ds -I send a virtual hug to him x

I will deliver virtual hug later thank you

Poor DS Sparkle - my niece has a long term health problem (severe epilepsy) and she has been very depressed in the past, - she's had a lot of counselling/therapy/CBT which I think have helped, - would anything like that be available for your DS or is he too young atm? He had a tough time recently hasn't he - no wonder he's feeling fed up, sending lots of virtual hugs for him

The chicks do sound cute, and good luck with the ones in the incubator - keep us updated!

It is SR's DD who is at Cambridge, mine is at Sheffield, - I do love Cambridge though - DH and I sometimes go for our anniversary outing and walk round the backs, look round the colleges and generally wander about - its lovely.

DD's always been interested in 60's music Smee - she initially wanted to do something wider linking music and political and social change (she loves history too) but her tutor said that was too broad and would end up being a history diss. not a music one, - so she's narrowed it down!

Sorry all - I've done my usual trick of rambling on too much, I hope everyone is OK, especially the new ladies and people on treatment. Love to all.

Hmm , small rant time , please forgive me . Not looking for sympathy , just blowing off steam .

I had said earlier that the financial side of things was bothering me . I am a self employed childminder . I know if I dont work , I don't get paid .
Still it was a bit upsetting when I checked my online bank this morning to find I had been docked a days wages for my appointment with the surgeon this Thursday .

Now the parent that did this , has every right to do so . My contract clearly states no work , no fee . (she does know why I have the day off)
I just felt a bit sad .
Have worked for them for 2 years and never had a day off sick .
I suppose they must just feel that if they set a president now , Lord knows how much they would be liable for once the treatment kicks in .

As you were

topsy,that does seem a bit mean of them

That does seem a bit mean even if it is within their rights. Rather better if they had acrtually had a conversation with you first if they felt they had to do this.......may be?

Well I am sorry topsy, it doesn't feel very supportive does it.

Can I make you a to help you feel better?

I can fully understand there's no way they can or should be expected to financially support me through this .
It just really brought it home to me how it's going to be .

Do any of you have any insight as to what the benefit system can do for me ?
Have any of you been able to claim anything ?
I have had a brief google of the dla system . Don't know if I would be entitled to this at all . But from what I could work out I have to have been sick for at least 3 months before I can even put a claim in .

I have never claimed any benefits before , so am really not sure what to do .
I really should wait till after my appointment on Thursday before I start worrying about all this shouldn't I ?

horrid extra burden for you topsy- I can't advise on benefits I'm afraid. I agree too that it would have been nicer of your employers to talk to you first and just to cut you a bit of slack - gah - have some chocolate buttons with sparkle's

It does seem mean Topsy, or at least very tactless, - as Sparkle says they could have spoken to you first.

regarding benefits, Macmillan have a benefits helpline on 0808 808 00 00,

Also CAB will give advice, and also Breast Care Nurse should have info for you.

Breast Cancer Care have a fact sheet on benefits (you can order it for free on their website, or probably download it).

Department for Work and Pensions also have a benefits helpline, and info which can be downloaded from www.dwp.gov.uk.

Whether you get benefits will depend on various factors, but I think you would have a good chance. Also better to apply earlier than later, because they often won't backdate them.

Good Luck - CAB would help you with filling in forms etc., if you don't feel up to paperwork atm. -- I hope you get something sorted, and don't suffer financially.