TAMOXIFEN 9 *********

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Starts here !

I did get in a bit of a pickle but survived ! best bits were with my pals !
Hope you are feeling a bit more yourself today LJ

Bit better today thanks - have cut steroids by half and cut caffeine out completely. Only 4 hours' sleep (but good sleep) last night 2-6am so dropping a bit now, can't wait for siesta time! xx

It's great you can go to your mum's appointment irishbird - and what a lovely surprise for her to have you visiting - my experience of cancer treatment has been that whilst I've great practical care, I've often had to push for information and find out a lot of things for myself. (I think they want to avoid information overload, but that often results in you being left in the dark)

I hope your mum gets some answers on Wednesday and that everything goes well for her

im here in the middle of the night because i have just had another nightmare thats the 3rd night running,not sure if its my state of mind,the chemo or the medication thats causing this.i changed to cyclizone on wednesday it has helped with the sickness but it makes me feel really odd.

had my first session of chemo about 6 days ago so this is all new does the sickness subside over a cycle so i can cut these tablets or will i pretty much need to take them through each cycle.

Happy Mother's Day !

irishbird- really glad you can go over for your mum's appointment- hope it goes well and you and she get the answers you need.
pink- horrible nightmares -perhaps it's just a combination of everything ?

Hi all and Happy Mother's day from me too , - I'm glad you survived London MAS, even the bits which didn't quite go to plan. it sounds as if you had fun looking at the exhibition and meeting your chums.

Pink - All I can say about the sickness is that it varies from person to person - not very helpful I know. I had nausea rather than actual sickness and it was worse at the beginning of the cycle but did come and go a bit after the first week. I don't know if any of the following might help - ginger, peppermint or lemon tea (alternated so you don't get use to one particular one) . I also got some of those seasickness pressure bands (you put them round your wrist) I'm not sure if they made much difference though. But if you want to try them - I happily send you mine if you PM me.

Cyclizine was the drug which worked for me - but it does make you very sleepy.

Regarding the nightmares - I'm not sure what causes them, but I definitely had them on chemo, plus a lot of sleep-talking which I don't usually do. I don't know if there's anything you can do about them - but it's worth mentioning next time - you might be able to get something to help with sleep if you wanted too.

Are you managing to get bit of rest during the day? I hope so, and hope you have a better night tonight.

hi i have actually managed without the cyclizone this morning im not sure if they are actually making me feel worse but without them i managed a decent breakfast of egg and soldiers.

kurri... i will mention the nightmares i dont want to be shouting out scaring the kids. i have tried ginger tea but it made me feel worse,i am trying take it easy and pottering round rather than do to much and having a snooze during the day.

so far im feeling groggy but a bit better today except my mouth its like a cesspit and i have a bit of a sore throat.hope all you ladies are having a loverly mothers dayxx

Irishbird, sorry your mum's having such iffy care. Great you can be with her though. The others have said it all really, but just wanted to echo what kurri said, as I always felt like I had to push for information too. That's one of the reasons why this thread's so helpful, as someone on here will probably have been through a version, so can suggest things. Come back here anytime if we can help. Hope your trip goes well. Bet your mum will be over the moon to see you.

MAS, glad London was fun, even if you did lose your friends. I will definitely make time for that show then. Sounds like one not to miss.

LJ, good you got a bit of quality sleep, though 4 hours is nowhere near enough. Rest whenever you're tired and you take care.

Pink, I had some nightmares too. Had quite forgotten, but I think the drugs affect everything. Sorry you're feeling so grim, but honestly the sickness will go soon. For me, by day 11 I was feeling a lot better. When you talk to the Oncs about adjusting your drugs for next time, lay it on thick so they give you a far stronger one. Really feel for you though.

Where's Figgy then?? Hope she's okay, though silence is a bit ominous. Really hope she's not neutropenic again..

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all. I got some flowers and chocolates, though DS did insist on 'trying' the chocolate. We've been sitting on our front steps reading the paper, drinking coffee and watching DS zoom along the pavement on his scooter for most of the morning. Was lovely to be stretched out in the sun. Have just made a banana loaf. Can smell it cooking. mmm..

Happy Mother's Day All!

Feeling better today on the whole, but mouth terrible (like you, Pink). Yuck. Gums feel granular. Foul taste, but tastebuds don't work for food. Good job didn't have swanky meal booked!

Cards and flowers from the boys this morning. Breakfast made for me. Then best treat of all this lovely sunny afternoon: being left alone for 2 hours, just me, a paintbrush, a shed and a tin of Cuprinol . The things that make some women happy eh?

Then when I had finished it poured with rain . Oh well, will do a second coat another day.

Lovely lovely friend had brought me a frozen homemade cottage pie when I had my second op. Remembered to get it out of freezer yesterday so that was Mother's Day tea sorted - much easier and nicer than an overcrowded, overpriced restaurant, especially with only partially-working tastebuds!

The sudden squall of the rainstorm brought a shower of small pink blossom petals through the open bathroom window like confetti into the bath .

I do so get the Cuprinol thing, LJ - I was painting the bathroom yesterday, with chocolate biscuits (blame Cakes), a mug of tea and R4 have rarely felt more content.

Blossom sounds like a sign of fresh awakenings, LJ. Definitely sent especially to cheer you. Glad you're feeling a bit better today. Mouth misery sounds horrible - keep gargling. Hope it goes soon xx

(In case you think we're a bit odd having main meal on Sunday at tea, not lunch, it's because of DS2's karate at 1.30pm. 'Tis a pain to be honest. I knew you were all agog with wondering )

Pink so sorry to hear about your nightmares and sickness. And after 6 days too. I had chemo on Thursday, have finished all extra drugs today (skipped last steroid this lunchtime - got too carried away with shed painting!) and if things go like last time will now slowly come back up to feel normal-ish by Thursday/Friday. Sounds like the sickness meds are not quite right for you yet? Mine (Emend and Ondansetron) do make me pretty drowsy/out of it too - I think! - hard to tell what's causing what. I take sleeping pills now on the nights when I am having the steroids, after a really bad night last time. I happened to have some from an old prescription, but they're happy for me to take them so will get some more soon from my GP.

Did you know that all cancer patients can get free prescriptions now? Got an exemption certificate from my GP.

painting the bath with chocolate biscuits doesn't sound very practical -surely the choc will melt ? Is it the Cuprinol smell that does it for you LJ ? I loved the image of pink blossoms -as KK says it's a sign of new beginnings and spring is really here !
Am drinking some pink fizz ! DH has finished the painting and it looks lovely -ds has moved his bed top beside the window so he can look at the stars he says-but he may get very hot as it's now next to the radiator !
I picked up my guitar for the first time in many many years and managed to sight read some classical pieces I used to be able to play- I was sure I would remember where to put my fingers..sounded very bad but it was great ! my fingers hurt !

LJ -yes,I got my exemption card when I started on tamoxifen -though I feel bad about using it for my antidepressants

x posts Smee - woman after my own heart - bathroom painting set-up also my idea of bliss xx

Wow it's been a weekend for painting then!

MAS This kind of Cuprinol was more like thin paint, no creosote-y smell unfortunately.

When I was a teen I used to sleep with my curtains open, facing the window, so I could look at the sky/stars from bed. When the moon was full it would shine straight in on me (and gave me a few recurring nightmares ).

How wonderful to pick up your guitar again! Well done

Pink blossoms, classical guitar music......lovely images today....anyone else?

I meant to say I was sure that I wouldn't remember where to put my fingers !! which is why i'd avoided trying -but it lives in ds's room and as everything was moved in and out for the painting,I just thought I'd have a go !

Hi MAS your day out sounds great (even the hairy bits).

Feeling a bit guilty now you are all painting stuff, we have lots that needs doing.

The nightmares on chemo are a recognised SE - at least, my BC nurse told me to expect them.

am still having anxiety dreams most nights- usually featuring loos (last night in particular) or else not knowing what I'm meant to be doing in a job -exhausting

thanks Cakes it was nice - I was glad to have my nice friends there-was so relieved when I found them !

Wow, what a busy painty weekend at painting bathroom with chocolate biscuits.

LJ I was indeed asleep in my chair by 8.30pm, I am proud of my accuracy! Last night though I stayed awake, and dh fell asleep at 8.30pm. God I hope I don't snore like he did!! I sat watching Lewis with a sound akin to a drill going off in my left ear! I hope you are doing ok today.

MAS well done for making the most of Friday, I have to say I would have got very worked up and upset by being abandoned by those people. I am glad you kept going, found your friends and had fun. I must follow in your footsteps and get out to a gallery, or even pick up my violin, or guitar or even sit at the piano instead of just occasionally dusting it

Not today though ds fell this morning and subluxed his neck vertebrae, so am being mum and nurse/doctor.

Best wishes to Irishbird, I hope you get some answers.

Figgy I hope you are all right.

Pink , I wish for no nightmares for you tonight. I could never drink ginger tea for nausea, and I can't stand peppermint tea, but I did find sugar free peppermint gum kept me going through horrid morning sickness and my migraines. I know it is not the same, and I normally hate gum, but it really did help. Just a thought.
x

Ooo wee anxiety dreams, yep had one of those last night!

MAS - I fell off the no chocolate wagon - I was given some chocs for Mother's day - a strong person would have put them away for after Lent - but I am not a strong person (sheepish ) - I will get back on track as of now.

LJ - sounds as if you had a lovely day yesterday - despite lack of taste ability (that SE is horrible isn't it) Blossoms in the bathroom is lovely - as the song says 'little things mean a lot'

Smee sitting on steps drinking coffee and watching a small boy scoot sounds pretty perfect too

DS and his DP treated us to lunch out on Saturday and gave me a Mother's day gift (spoilt or what?) then we pottered round some swanky shops together - looking at stuff we can't afford .
And yesterday I just pootled about in the garden getting grubby (my ideal day )

Hope everyone on chemo is feeling a bit better today. And hoping very much that Figgy is OK - I'm sure she is - but I can't help worrying about all our girls.

KK - it's ok- remember that you are in theory allowed Sundays off in Lent

Poor sparkles junior Hope he is feeling better soon.

I think I had the wee dream last night, as well. It's not a restful way to spend the night, is it?

KK I have fallen off the chocolate wagon quite spectacularly over the last few days, but I, too, am back on it today

I hope Irishgirl finds some answers and her Mum is OK.

DD's Tae Kwon Do grading went well on Friday but I really let myself down. For the first time they had to do some actual sparring for the grading - she is a bit scared of getting hit but they usually only do sparring in the classes so it doesn't matter that she is a wuss. But for this belt, there is sparring required. She did OK with the first 2 girls as they were wusses too, but then she got put with a boy who came after her quite hard, and she started to run away. I am afraid to say that, when she looked at me for support i hissed 'Hit Him'. When she didn't hear I shouted 'BLOODY HIT HIM'

Anyway, she did, and he backed off a bit - whereupon she came over all brave and landed quite a few. I think next time I had better send DH

She also had to break a board by kicking it - which she did, first time

Pilates tonight - onwards and upwards!