TAMOXIFEN 9 *********

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Starts here !

lots of good luck tomorrow to pink and sparkle -will be thinking of you both xx

Yes lots of luck to you both Pink and Sparkle, will be thinking of you too. xx

Smee - my aim is to draw up some designs and work from them - this is the theory - watch this space in June to see me in total panic mode

Have visions of Sparkle with foil wrapped sandwiches, thermos and assorted selection from DS's weaponry, coiled and ready to pounce. Really hope she manages to corner him. Pity we don't all live near her, we could have created a possy.

Kurri, I especially like the way you're incorporating panic mode into your plans.

LJ, that's good that your hair's still mostly there. I think LGF and Figgy did try it too, but it wasn't too successful. My Onc said about 40% of women find it works enough to be worthwhile, so if you're the 1 out of our 3, that sounds about right. I was like you, so kept a fair bit and kept going with it. I'd bet you have thick hair like me, so that really really helps.

Still thinking about you Pink. xx

Thinking of Pink this morning. Hope it all goes well for you.

Good luck to Sparkle too - I hope you get seen and listened to.

Smee you have a lovely imagination!
When we lived in London we took DS1 on an AntiWar march in Sept? 2002. He also really enjoyed it and especially blowing the whistle we bought him. He was only 2½ at the time so did most of it in his buggy. We met some lovely people

Sparkle we are all here, your very own cyberposse, cheering and shouting for you!

Wow Kurri those puppets look amazing. How many do you have to make?
Am very impressed with your veggie-growing and envious of your greenhouse, although I do have one of those mini greenhouse-cum-coldframe thingies someone gave me, sitting up against a shady wall at present, filthy and empty . Have been making inroads with the weeds and general clearance, better switch my attention to seed-sowing methinks!
What a brilliant result at the quiz too! And so nice of you to give the chocs to the Big C Centre

I am having to starve again today - for six hours! - as they are having to repeat the ultrasound to try and see the cyst in my liver which showed up on the CT scan. First time was unsuccessful as the sonographer couldn't find it due to not being experienced enough and the fact that, apparently, there was "a lot of gas" . Not sure how to remedy that one! Any tips on making oneself fart?

poor lime having to starve again - -um,not sure about how to encourage release of gas !
Am v much looking forward to KK's puppet making reports
Am off to post 2 finished pictures and the census form- I imagine the post box will be stuffed with them
Good luck LJ x
Smee- I think my bro was organising the actual events in Hyde Park

Hi all, I hope everything is going well for Pink today, it's good to get the first one out of the way - it's always the most nerve racking.

Sparkle I hope you are making some headway and getting people to listen to you. .

Lime - sorry you've got to starve again but you are probably getting near your appointment time, so will be able to have food soon. I am sending good vibes for the discreet expulsion of gas.

The puppet in the link is fab - I am not sure mine will be quite so impressive, but I will keep you updated - I may even take some photos (unless its all a complete disaster, in which case I won't ).

I went to yoga this morning - but my shoulder hurt so much, I couldn't really do much except lie in a heap. So I have been trying to make a GP appointment via the new 'online booking system' - first appointment available is the middle of next week - so hopeless. I will try phoning if only to give them the opportunity of saying 'why don't you use the online booking system?'

How is your mum getting on MAS? - I hope she's continuing to recover well.

My mother managed to fall at the weekend (she was a bit vague as to whether she tripped on something or lost her balance) she caught her cheek on the corner of a table as she fell so now apparently has a huge bruise on her face - "Don't worry dear I'm fine - I just look as if I've been in a fight"

your poor mum KK - hope the bruise goes down quickly- has she got arnica ?
Mum is very much better-she and dad were gardening on Saturday- at least dad was doing the work and mum was directing him ! She was walking around though,with dad's help, so massive improvement.
Hope LJ is gas free and scanned and can eat and that sparkle has given them what for.

Ouch for your mum, Kurri. They are a worry, aren't they?

Sorry your shoulder's still hurting. You seem to have had a run of not too good things. Are the thyroid drugs sorted now?

MAS congrats on finishing the pictures. You sound far and way more productive than me today.

Lime, that's a sod having to starve again. Hope the appointment's done and dusted by now and that the cyst was viewable. Must be annoying to be back there.

If it was the big anti war March you took DS to, it was February 2003. Will always remember the date, because I went straight from that to see a friend's new baby who was born just the day before.

Where's Cakes gone? She's MIA..

That's great that your mum was out in the garden MAS - she's doing very well

The thyroid drugs problem seems to be improving slightly - I haven't felt faint for nearly two weeks now - which is good. And yay - I just phoned the surgery and they'd just had a cancellation so have got an appointment in about three quarters of an hour - I will not be bothering with the online nonsense again.

oh hope it goes well KK

Hooray for speaking to a real person and getting the cancellation Kurri - hope you get some help with your shoulder. Rotten having things hurting and stopping you from doing things. Sorry for your mum too - it's especially worrying when they can't quite remember what happened - my mum had a fall like that last year, hurt her back, not sure how she fell.

Smee - I remember DH had to go to that one alone, as by then I was 5mths pg with DS2, it was the day before DS1's birthday party, and he wasn't feeling too well.

MAS your mum is doing really well by the sounds of it. Lovely that she can get out and about in this nice weather.

Well the US scan was another let-down. After hanging around starving for a further hour, even the proper consultant sonographer couldn't see the thing that was on the CT scan. The part of my liver they need to look at is right up under my ribs so they can't see it clearly. So still can't definitely say "it's just a cyst" or whatever (he actually used a different word, a haema-whatsit). So, yes, I am a bit worried, was hoping to 'eliminate it from our enquiries'. Sonographer said he will talk to my Onc about if/how/when to try again. Have appointment with the Onc on Weds so will see what he says then.

Pink - hope it went well today and you are resting and not feeling too icky.

Sparkle - hope you got a good result today.

how frustrating LJ - see what onc. has to say about it.

Big GRR for LJ. Really annoying waste of time and increased stress too. Hope the Onc on Wednesday can reassure you.

Kurri, bravo for bucking the appointment system. Nigh on impossible to get past those things imo. Hope the GP had something sensible to say. Good that the thyroid's settling though. At least that's something.

Sparkle, are you still holed up in the fuckwit's office?! Virtual camp bed and box of biscuits on way. Seriously hope you got a result of some sorts. Let us know when you can.

How frustrating LJ - hopefully the onc. will come up with a plan on weds. - I hope so - meanwhile have a and a (or a )

Well - I waited an hour to see the Doctor, so had plenty of time to thoroughly peruse the March 2009 copy of Prima on offer, and even time to learn about Colleen Nolan's family feud in 'Best'.

Anyway - the gp didn't really know what was wrong with my shoulder, so she's referred me to a physio, but said the appointment might take a while to come through.

So meanwhile take painkillers, (my stomach can't deal with anti inflams unfortunately) and she said it was OK to carry on with my yoga etc. - which is good to know I won't be damaging things further.
So no instant solutions but I wasn't really expecting any. Oh she also said 'did you know one of your shoulders is much higher than the other?' - no I didn't - but am now assuming I look bizarre and lopsided!

MAS - I told my mum to get arnica when she phoned so am hoping she has

x-posted Smee - was also wondering about Sparkle - I hope things went well.

Pink - hope things went ok today, and that you are not feeling too yuck?

LJ - what a nightmare? All that waiting (and starvation) for nothing really..poor you? I hope your Oncologist can give you some answers about how to proceed.

Kurri - at least you have been referred, which is a start, and you can carry on with your yoga :)

Smee - I didn't actually try cold cap as I just wanted to get on with the treatment and not worry about anything else. I am actually getting used to my wig now, and it saves me messing about in the morning, drying my hair and straightening it! In fact I can stay in bed an extra 20 mins - result

I am feeling ok. Tired but apart from that all other symptoms seem to have passed for the moment, oh apart from the flushed look? I got a few comments about how I'd caught the sun today :)

LGF, good on you - wig wise that is. I do like the sound of an extra 20 minutes in bed.

I used to get the chemo tan too, and have just remembered another positive of chemo - it detoxes your skin after a few sessions. So yes okay you look a bit wrecked, but lots of women find their complexion becomes flawless. Definitely happened with me.

Thanks for that info Smee, I have never had what you would call a flawless complection, so I will look forward to that hopefully :)

Evening all. Have had an upset tummy today and been feeling v. tired and a little flushed. Just took my temp and it's 38.1 so now I don't know what to do? Last time I rang the hospital after 1st cycle they just told me to monitor it. But on the other hand I don't like going to bed in case it gets worse.

Talking about flawless complections - before I had chemo I suffered from a nasty rash of excema/dermatitis around the top of my bottom and it was horrible. It disappeared within days of my first treatment so that's a result

Figgy I would ring if I were you. I was told to ring if temp hit 38. Better than going to bed worrying about it? Poor you xx

Figgy - I used to get horrible upset tummy about a week after my cycle - tell the hospital they will can give you some loperamide (immodium) otherwise it can wear you down a bit, - make sure you drink plenty.

I hope your temp settles down soon., I'd go to bed and lie down for a rest, and take temp again in a hour - if its going up I'd ring your cancer ward for advice - they won't mind you phoning - better to set your mind at rest if you are a bit worried

I'm glad you're feeling a bit better LGF, and Smee is right - chemo is excellent for that youthful flawless glow

x-posted LJ. Figgy - take LJ's advice don't sit and worry for an hour , as I say they really won't mind you phoning.

Oh Figgy I hope you are all right. I do hope you have phoned.

I have only quickly scanned down your messages and will post properly tomorrow. In the meantime I hope your mum is all right kurri

Cyberposse rocks! Thank you

Got seen by director for ed and district ed officer at 3.30pm. CXO agreed to see me, but sent a message to say if I want to lodge a formal complaint aganist these two and others, he would not be able to over see it if he attended today. Think this might have been a prompt on his half.

I am proud of myself I calmly fired both barrels, there has been some serious arse kicking being done in LA today, most of it being them kicking each other in order to shift the blame.

I gave them 1 week to identify which school they are going to place ds in. Director said arrogantly ultimatums are not helpful, I replied you have one week, you may not find ultimatums helpful, but in this LA who has chosen to play political games with my ds life they are a necessity. [very very emoticon needed]

I remain cynical that they will do the right thing, but I think I have managed to scare them with Equalities Act, Health and safety Legislation, and Safeguarding legislation, I also warned them if anything happens to ds as a result of their inaction, poor decisions or lies I will come after them throught the courts....that made them both shift uncomfortably in their seats.

We will see.......don't hold your breathe, nothing about this LA could surprise me now.

I will do proper catch up tomorrow, hope LJG, LJ, Pink and Figgy are feeling ok tonight. Love to you all, and thank you for all your good thoughts.

figgy-hope everything will be ok..