TAMOXIFEN 9 *********

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Starts here !

I hope all the chemo ladies are feeling OK today. How are things with you Figgy - I hope the temp settled down eventually.

Well done Celeste for mastering the cat flap.

Its rainy and horrible here, I've spent the day drawing up designs for the puppets, and am meeting DS tomorrow so he can have look and see if he wants any changes or additions. I feel a bit more confident now I have some ideas on paper and have worked out how the puppets will be operated (how I make the mouths etc.) They are basically going to be a bit like muppets I think.

Mum's face seems to be getting better (so she said when I phoned her today).

I gave yoga a miss this morning - my shoulder was too sore, have done a bit of gentle yoga at home instead.

Love to all - I hope everything goes well tomorrow LJ - I'll be thinking of you

So quiet on here.. I am rueing the day I gave up alcohol mid week. Have just had the play date from hell and really feel in need of a glass of wine.

Hope everyone on treatment's okay. Really only popped in to wish LJ a kind nurse and no SE tomorrow x

Hi everyone,
I come and go a bit on here, apologies if I've not responded to replies, advice etc...my triplets keep me so busy that I barely get five minutes at the laptop.
Just a question about tamoxifen...have had a tender lower abdomen for the last couple of weeks and am urinating a lot! Was getting myself in a state about it (as I do any symptom whatsoever)...had my three monthly bloods done today a and they were fine so that calmed me down a bit but they sent me for an ultrasound and everything looked okay apart from a 3cm ovarian cyst. Any ideas about the tenderness and peeing?? Could it be a side effect of tamoxifen?

Why is there always something to worry about???!

Kurri, muppets sounds fun. Hope DS approves your designs. Will you throw a creatively queeny fit if he doesn't?

I haven't come across the weeing and abdominal pain as SE of tamoxifen meandmyfour. This is probably a silly question but have you had a urine test to check for infection? I've also just googled 'causes of frequent urination' and ovarian cyst is mentioned - so possibly that. Anyway, I would go to the GP and take a urine sample, - if your bloods were fine, I don't think you should worry, but no harm in getting it checked out.

Are you on herceptin btw? - I can't remember if you said you were. - I did get a bit of a sore and upset stomach with that.

Smee - I am practising creative hissy fits as of now. I've just told DH off - because he was being a complete fool couldn't understand my explanation of how the puppets will work. I know what I mean and hopefully DS will too!

meandmy, I do so know what you mean, as every ache or anomaly is sinister in my head too. I have a fair few aches on Tamoxifen, but not in the stomach. What Kurri says makes reassuring sense to me too. Sounds like it's the cyst to me.

Kurri, you have to practise stomping too - incredibly effective when combined with a hissy fit.

crikey - clear mammograms (yay!), clever cats using cat flaps, but Sparkle having to be very courageous and Pinbk having rotten time with sickness . Lot of news.

Terribly busy at work so tired, but decorating looks really nice and we're off to Cambridge for the day on Saturday.

Just wanted to to say hi to everyone.

just popping by- doesn't sound like a tamoxifen side effect meandmyfour,so I guess it might be urinary,or cyst related - hope you can get some answers.
Poor Mr KK

i hope everyone is okay today.

i went and had my wig fitted today i had a very strong urge to cry when i saw what i had to choose from it kind of hit home omg this is really happening but managed to control myself as i had my 19 year old daughter with me who had come home for a couple of days from uni as she had no lectures.i think she knew so she kind of took over and found me a loverly trendy wig in my exact colour hair and then went on telling me how wonderful it looked and how i looked like i had just come from the hairdressers.

while we was at the hospital i went and got my med changed as the sickness feeling and the burning acid is stopping me from eating,drinking and sleeping,the med seemed to work straight the way so much so we went and found a quiet pub and i treated us to a steak meal i was starving i hadnt ate hardly a thing since sunday the steak went down really well but it made me go really tired my eyes was getting really heavy while we was out as soon as we got back i sat down i fell asleep for 3 hours.my bladder is a bit irritated but i think thats because ive not been able to drink much.

Pink - I'm really pleased you've got something better for the sickness. Your DD sounds lovely - she is about the same age my DD was when was DX (mine is 21 now) and mine was a great support to me too.

You do keep getting moments when it suddenly hits home - it's only natural to feel a bit tearful or overwhelmed by it all sometimes. [smile ] - I hope you get a better night's sleep tonight .

thanks kurri yes shes brilliant sounds like were both blessed, shes gone back tonight and coming home again at the weekend.

it was the sight of the wigs that did me lol so silly to fret about my hair such a small price to pay.

im going to take the last sickness pill just before i go to bed,i have one more day of steriods to take so im hoping i will feel better after that.

Pink - Well done for getting through the wig choosing. Made me feel pretty wobbly too, sitting there looking at the things. It does bring it home. So pleased your lovely DD helped you through it and chose you a good'un. Delighted that you got some different meds that work for you too. And at your steak meal making you so tired - you sure you didn't wash it down with a couple of pints? cheeky I think one of the FEC parts does irritate your bladder if you don't drink enough water, so hope that improves now that you can.

Today went well, got to bloods appointment 15 mins early, so even had time to come home for half an hour between the 2 appointments! Onc didn't keep me waiting too long either. He declared he's not at all worried about the liver thing, so I'll try not to too. Will try another ultrasound in 6mths. He admired the surgeon's neat handiwork, noted the marks left by my bra (due to slight lymphoedema? can't spell that: swelling) and said I needed better "foundation garments" , so sent me to talk to a BCN who has referred me to a woman who can kit me out with a proper chicken-fillet, and also measure me up for a proper post-surgery bra. Had been vaguely wondering what I would do when no longer able to hide my lop-sidedness under winter woollies, so that's all good

Thanks for all your good wishes for tomorrow, it really does help you know Night all xx

x posted Pink - you have reminded me re the steroids - Onc also said it was OK for me to cut the steroids by up to half if I want as long as I don't feel too sicky again. Excellent!

pink- well done with wig fitting and what a lovely dd I'm sure it will look cool and trendy !
LJ - @ 'foundation garments' ! And that is reassuring news from onc - try to not worry. Good luck today,will be thinking of you.

how's work Cakes ?

Am off to London tomorrow to meet up with friends (mostly from art school)to celebrate a birthday and see the Watercolour exhibition at Tate Britain- lunch first at the National Gallery cafe...will be lovely I'm sure but am also really anxious- I do find anything out of my usual routine quite anxiety-making -even lovely things. Will try to be mindful on the train !

Pink, your DD sounds lovely. I'd bet being with you helps her to get through it all too. The whole wig thing is tough. I seem to remember laughing hysterically, as it was either that or sobbing. On steroids, I think on FEC you can opt not to take them. You'd better check with your Onc, but I didn't take them after the first one. You have to take them with Tax though. With that though you start taking them before you have the actual chemo. They won't give it to you if you haven't taken them.

LJ foundation garments?! Just how fantastic is that? You'd have thought a Breast expert could manage to say 'bra'.

KK, am hoping you're still speaking to your son.

MAS, I haven't seen the watercolour show yet, so am You'll have to let me know what you think of it. Sounds like a lovely day out.

Sparkle, how are you today?? Hopefully all's calm with DS and you're not fighting the grey men in suits. I wish you and .

Figgy, LGF, hope you're not too addled by SE. Let us know how you are.

Hoping LJ gets through smoothly.

I'm off to build castles after lunch, with Year 2. Amazing what you can achieve in an afternoon when you're 6.

hello all - it's been quiet here today it's Cakes who does all the chatting I wonder why?

LJ I hope the chemo went OK today and you are not feeling too yuk. And good that your onc. appointment was reassuring - you can bet if they had the slightest worry about it they'd be acting pdq. (They found a lesion on my lung when I had my CT scan - which every so often someone says 'we'll check that again sometime' they also found something on my liver - which turned out to be fat )

Foundation garments sounds like something from the fifties - but good they are getting you sorted with a bra.

Pink - hope you had a better day today and the anti sickness drugs are still working.

MAS - I'm sure you'll have a lovely time in London - doing a bit of mindfulness is a good idea, try not to get anxious, I'm sure you will be fine

Smee - hope the castle building went well - sounds ambitious!

I had a good meeting with DS - he bought me coffee, scones and carrot cake. He likes my drawings and we had a look at materials and costed it all up. He also wants me to design the poster - so I need to get on with that tonight.
I think it will be a really good production - I hope I'm up to scratch with the puppets (nervous).

Hi Ladies, I am feeling much better today after a great nights sleep (for me). I have done a full days work, and then went out for food with a lovely work colleague. It was nice to do something normal :)

Pink - I agree, the wig fitting does bring it all home. I have been wearing mine for almost 2 weeks now, although it was only last night that DP shaved off the rest of my hair. There are plus points, more time in bed (no washing, styling etc) plus I have beautifully styled hair all the time rather than my usual rags .

LJ - glad your appointment went well, and foundation garments did make me chuckle :)

LJB... sounds like you had a contructive day yesterday, i hope today went ok for you.

MAS..i hope you had a good day with your friends sounds like alot of fun.

smee..i have took my last lot of steriods today for this cycle so i will talk to them next time.they did tell me that the steroids was causing the acid.

kurri...sounds like your ds knows how to look after you,im sure your puppets will be fantastic.

i had a good nights sleep last night and woke up feeling not to bad that was till i took those blasted steroids lol,a hour or so later i was heaving but i think my mistake was i should have had breakfast when i felt ok. felt a bit better this afternoon and was able to eat some dinner,just have the dreaded constipation to sort out now jeeze its one thing after another.

hope you get rid of the constipation quickly pink- must be horrid to be bunged up.

KK - would love to see your designs and your poster- you are v clever !

Celeste faffing around outside her cat door ,tapping it with her paw and generally taking ages to get in,until the neighbours go into their garden and startle her so she speeds in head first at 100 miles an hour ! she needs to put her head in first to unlock the magnetic catch.
Love to all -see you upon my return from the Big Smoke

littlegreenfrog... glad to hear your feeling alot better,i know what you mean about normality the last couple of weeks for me seems to have been non stop hospital visits and feeling grotty and miserable around the home.

MAS... my cat use to do that when she was younger would go out the catflap but tap on it to come back in,use to drive me mad

Kurri's right, we need Cakes. Hope you're not too buried in it all, Cakes. Come back soon.

LJ, hope you're feeling okay after no.2 and that you have your foundation garments were all in order.

LGF, you're right about the normal thing being so key. I remember once I'd settled into the rhythm of the chemo cycles, the normal things are what keep me sane. In other words, all of you having treatment need more lunches and other such treats. Am liking the sound of your wig. Stylish sounds like the way to go. I never ever got to grips with mine, so you're already doing far better than me.

Pink the steroids made me buzz round like a deranged bluebottle. I was okay without them on FEC, but each Onc seems to have a different view - hope yours lets you try not having them. Constipation sounds grim. Hope you've sorted it by now, but they can give you something for that too, so definitely ask for next time. I had the opposite problem on chemo. [yuk emoticon]

Figgy, how are you feeling? Maybe your SE from no.2 are waning. Hope they are.

Kurri, the cake was a cunning smoke screen to decrease your budget. Beware a son bearing cake, I say. They're always after something.

I had a ridiculous amount of fun building castles yesterday with DS's class. They even made mechanisms for the drawbridge and all sorts. Not sure I've ever seen so many cereal boxes and pipe cleaners. Have finally been forced to accept I could never have been a Blue Peter presenter. The kids had to show me what to do.

Me? Talkative? Surely not

You seem to have managed quite a lot yourselves without me, and now I am confused about who is doing what, and how it is making them feel. I shall have to try harder. Forgive me if I don't comment on much, it has all got muddled in my head. But I really do think all the chemo ladies sound like they are handling it with admirable dignity, aplomb, and humour .

Also a special bow to sparkles, who really has stepped up the pressure - those bastards have got it coming to them.

I missed you guys!!!!!!

April is looking like a bit of a quiet month for me and today is a cleaning day so, needless to say, I'm back! Not much to report here, except that i have been very lax on the exercise front, did OK with the chocolate/Lent thing until yesterday when it went pear-shaped (I shall start again today), but have been very, very good on not drinking in the week (smee shamed me into it). However, Friday is NOT the week, it is the weekend

my poor friend's grown up daughter has been hospitalised by her partner: friend has got to go over and change all the locks on the house before the worm gets let out from under his rock.

I agree with smee - steroids make you wired beyond belief. It's like being one of those wind-up mechanical dolls for a week.

Oh, and if i can be permitted to brag - dd's teacher says she is 'zooming ahead in all subjects' and 'is a lovely child who is never mean or spiteful' . Apologies, but I am ridiculously proud, especially over the behaviour thing.

X

Yeay, Cakes is back. for your DD. How lovely to hear nice things like that.

Am impressed I shamed you into not drinking mid-week. I manage it, but do miss it. Especially as I've failed to shame DH, so he quaffs away. You're right though, today is Friday, so

That's horrendous about your friend's daughter. Did she call the police??

I think he has been in the cells. Details are sketchy as my friend gave me a quick heads up at the school gate, trying not to let any parents (or our kids for that matter) hear. I'll find out more later. I am really really shocked, she has a couple of adult daughters, one of whom has a very spark-filled private life while the other seemed much more settled. This is the settled one

As regards the drinking - I miss it some days, too. But fortunately dh is doing his best to join me, so we can spur each other on a bit. It is just so easy to get into the habit of quaffing a couple every day to relax. But I sleep so much better without...