TAMOXIFEN 9 *********

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Starts here !

meant to say do you have a cancer support centre of any kind in your area? - they will often have people who ca help you sort out benefits.

Topsy, that is unbelievably horrible of them. I'm an employer and goodness me I pay people if they are genuinely having a tough time of it (which you are), even if their contract says otherwise. At the very least I would have expected them to talk to you.
Have a and possibly a virtual hug if it helps. Very unmumsnetty but I'm past caring today.

Hi everyone. Wild weekend with dh was indeed had, but now I'm in the 'heck, reality is back!" bit of the week and feeling as if I'm struggling a bit. Been let down by a friend, too, and not one I was expecting to do so. There are plenty more good friends, so I'm not totally disheartened. I'll probably be alright tomorrow.

Anyone else for a and a slice of whatever virtual cake you'd care to request (guaranteed calorie free and to taste exactly right and not in the least like cardboard)?

G'ah for Topsy. That's so shoddy to dock pay for one day - even if you only had a bad cold it would be shoddy after two years of loyalty, but with what you're facing it's far worse. And not to even tell you?! Grrrr... Virtual hugs from me too.

Amber, sorry you're struggling. Weekends away are a lot of effort on chemo though and I do seem to remember anything out of the ordinary always hit me afterwards. Sorry your friend's let you down too, but cake's always an excellent idea. Would join you, but I have just scoffed a Twirl Bar. DS had three as part of an Easter Egg. I ate one last week and keep meaning to replace it, but have just scoffed another..

Sparkle, I want chick pics. Can you upload some, they sound incredibly cute. Though I'm with the kids on the eating front. [veggie shudder..] Poor DS. I hope his mood lifts. Not surprising he's depressed though.

Kurri, your DD's dissertation sounds wonderful. Bet she's had a lot of fun researching it too. Are you okay now you've stopped taking your thyroid drugs?? Hope so.

MAS, hope DS's exam goes well. Is that the only one he's taking?

ds seems ok after the exam (couldn't get much out of him except that he 'enjoyed writing his thoughts down'- I think RS is that kind of subject) It's his only GCSE this year- they do it early in yr 9. There is his singing exam though,in July.
He brought his lasagne back in one piece- but have found the tomato puree and butter for the white sauce unused - ah well,that's our supper !

oh and call me an old softy,but have given him sushi and a chocolate eclair as a post exam treat

You old softy!

Oooh Chocolate Eclairs!! Tell DS to budge over, I'm coming round...

chomped up pretty quickly - I gave the other one to dh
Ds loves them- we made them once -they were heavenly but it took an entire afternoon !

Topsy - I managed to claim benefit last year (also for the first time ever) I think I rang the Dept of Work and Pensions number from their web-site, then was put onto which office I had to contact. Rather than fill form in on-line I did it by telephone which was also an option. It was a full-on 45 minutes - I remember it very well as was feeling a bit weak and certainly had to go and lie down afterwards. However it did the trick, You need all your financial info with you as they ask loads of detailed questions. Basically (although I'm sure its changed in the past year) I was entitled to some benfit based on my NI contributions. I did not qualify for anything else as DH has reasonable salary. Good luck. If you get stuck I'll llok out my file from last year and see if I can find numbers to ring.

Sparkle - I love visiting Cambridge and have stayed in various places. When feeling rich I stay at the lovely place on Chesterton Rd overlooking the river -name escapes me right now - when feeling I need to economise I stay at a B and B without the breakfast (!) on Milton Road. DH and I are will be at the B and B in June!

Sorry in a rush as DH just back from visiting v. frail aunt now back in hospital.

hope everyones ok, i have had a rough few days with 2 children having a sickness bug not easy when i have my own quesy tummy to deal with but somehow have managed to avoid getting it my x has helped out by taking them to his house for a few hours here and there.its 7 days post chemo and i have so little energy,i swear im getting worse each cycle had a little cry in the kitchen earlier all because my son couldnt make up his mind what he wanted to drink omg then remembering i have 3 more chemo sessions to go.i shouldnt be feeling sorry for myself i should be happy because my treatments working but im so sick of feeling like crap with one thing after another that never seems to end,i need a kick up the backside and someone to tell me to get a grip.

forgot to ask has anyone experienced blochy cheeks whilst undergoing chemo

Pink, I remember feeling like that - you need a , but honestly stop giving yourself a hard time. It'd be weird if you weren't feeling low - doesn't take much to tip you over when you're on chemo and sick kids is more than enough I'd say.

Why not accept it for a day and indulge? Sink into bed or the sofa and sob if it helps, then make yourself get out and go for a walk somewhere lovely. I always found that helped, even if it was the last thing I felt like. Once you've had the next cycle, well that's another one done and the end's far more easily in sight as there will be only 2 left. Honestly, you're doing brilliantly, and the end's nearly in sight.

I had a red rash after every chemo on my face. It went quite quickly - at best I looked like I'd been in the sun. Does that sound similar?

Hope all others are okay. Am a bit miffed the chocolate eclair was scoffed, MAS. Might have to get myself one later. mmmm..

I do so like to repeat myself. Sorry Pink, that was typed in a rush so it's a bit of a long winded garbled. Got to run.

pink, yup, I think I'm getting more emotional with each of the cycles too. Very normal (er, whatever normal is these days...). Just horrible to get through. Be gentle with yourself.

Hi all

Topsy, another vote from me for pay docking being mean. How depresssingly mean spirited. Sorry I can't add advice about entitlements, but there seems to have been some good advice posted already. I hope you can get what you need without hassle or petty officialdom getting in the way.

Pink, you definitely need to cut yourself some slack, it is bound to feel rough at times. Indulge your inner weepy person for a few hours and then do something lovely.

I also had the red face. Someone told me I was looking absolutely glowing, and I didn't have the heart to tell them it was extreme toxicity not evidence of good health returning. You are getting through it all brilliantly, be proud of yourself, and take things easy.

Dd has come home from school with a Harry Potter. It has hundreds and hundreds of pages. So we are on a mission to read 50 pages a night - it's going to be quite a struggle as the school only lets you have library books for a couple of weeks - gulp!

MAS I am mighty impressed that you made choux pastry and stuff, even if it was only the once. Chocolate eclairs - my very favourite

thanks guys i guess we all feel like this from time to time and feeling miserable will pass.

well i had a good indulge this morning after having a run in with my 15 year old daughter who got up in a bad mood and made sure everyone knew about it.wish i hadnt have bothered gave me a bloody nosebleed.was first real cry i had since waiting for my biopsy results i think it just needed to come out.

my mums not long rang shes got her house up for sale and looking to downsize and has decided to buy a holiday home in spain with the extra cash which means we can have use of it whenever we want as she wants to look for somewhere that will accomodate the whole family.

thanks for reasuring me about the redface in a way that was like the final straw with me thinking what the hell is wrong with me now.

im going to try and cheer up now,do what housework needs to be done cuddle up with the dog and watch some tv.

House in Spain? Things are surely looking up

I have just ventured into the Style and Beauty section. NEVER again. Those women are so opinionated, and they hate just about everything that I swear by. So I have left after finding out that I am a tasteless chav, but before they beat me down enough to actually care

I've never ventured into style and beauty and I think I'd better not, in that case. Not sure 'slightly dishevelled middle aged mum who's a couple of stone over her ideal weight and with no hair' really fits with Vogue magazine type people...

lol cakes im going to have to have a look now.

Try the thread about linen trousers, then, pink! Personally I really like linen trousers (have just bought a new pair, in fact). Apparently black is absolutely the worst colour to buy them in (and guess what colour mine are )

amber - you'd do well to stay out. You've just described me to a 'T' (apart from the hair which has made a comeback) and they could make you feel very, very inadequate, if you were actually bothered what they thought, of course

a hug for pink and a brew
Cakes- what are they on about- will I get cross too ? I have black linen trousers (also navy ones) and they are perfectly lovely -what do they know...I have contributed to the Havaiana flipflop thread,but generally stay away from style and beauty.

where is the mug- oh I put two brackets like a link,I see...

there, got that off my chest,so to speak...

ha ha mas you tell them girl