**tamoxifen the 13th**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we are- anticipating halloween

Ooh yay I do so like to be first in!

Well done to ds for passing his exam MAS. He does set himself high standards, doesn't he? A pass is a pass in my book.

I have just broken my diet to eat 2 - 2! - bags of chocolate buttons. I feel sick. And fat.

Sparkles, if you lived in Acocks Green we have probably passed many times in the street - I worked there for 11 years until 2001. Someone got stabbed to death outside our office once (Stockfield Road)

13's my lucky number!! Passed my driving test and got married on Friday 13th, though not the same one.

I worked in a chemists on Acocks Green Parade and as a waitress at a run down hotel called The Westley Arms, just up from the High St

Cakes, damn you. I not only want but need chocolate buttons now. Just had the op confirmed for next Thursday. Am eeking again..

Ooh eek indeed!

I have spent many a wine-fuelled convivial lunchtime in the Westley Arms, run-down doesn't bother me! How funny, what a very, very small world.

Every second shop on Acocks Green Parade these days is a Cash Converters or similar - I went through it a couple of weeks ago. It was looking pretty down at heel.

topsy.. im much better today on my old pills plus i can double them up if i need to.

mas...well done to your ds,bless him.

cakes...i hope you enjoyed them lol.

smee...awww i remember how i felt about my op it honestly wasnt as bad as i thought it would be.shame about the hospital food though take lots of munchies.

aw thanks Cakes - I'm getting him a treat anyway ! of course he didn't find out about his RS ....
I am very fond of giant chocolate buttons- might have to get some now...have been discussing cakes on fb (with reference to the Great British Bake Off) so am thinking of macaroons and the like.
Smee- eek, but am sure it'll all be fine -we're here to see you through it !
pink - hope you are doing ok.

We left there in 2006, the family who came for my very small wedding in 2001 all stayed at the Westley Arms, it had been done up a little bit to be slightly respectable by then....! Wow small world indeed, we lived on Olton Boulevard East, down a pedestrian path behind the main row of victorian houses on the service road side. It was walking through Acocks Green high street that I had to explain to ds not to touch a used condom on the floor.....yet another sign to move on! It was looking very down at heel when we left.

Cakes I too must confess to having 4 (yes I said 4 ridiculous) small packets of chocolate buttons this afternoon, I was having a wicked craving....I know it is my own fault, but dh rang me up to tell me he came face to face with an extremely large rat in our outside stopcock cupboard this morning....and I hate rats!!!

Smee eek, only a week, but it is the right thing to do!

The phone has been rigning what seems like constantly today, I have been leaping to it in case it is school about ds, but it has not been so far, and will pop off to get them soon now.

MAS I can not believe he still hasn't found out about his RE.....his will power is immense!

pink x post...I have to say my secret stash of 500/30mg co-codemol are my friend...hope you are ok, damn fluid. xx

MAS, I was so busy eeking, I neglected to say well done to T for G3. That's fantastic and I'm with Cakes; a pass is a pass after all.

Sparkle, I'm pretty sure my dentist was on Olton Boulevard East! Can't say I blame you for moving. Definitely not my most favourite part of the city.

Westley Arms was when I was 14 or so, Cakes. They used to boast they did the cheapest silver service weddings in Brum, which was most definitely true. I'm amazed nobody got food poisoning. Maybe they souped it up a bit for the likes of you.

Pink, those tablets sound a bit yuk. Keep trying new ones 'til you find one that fits. Seroma's a bugger too. Mine was like that for a while, but suddenly seemed to slow down. Here's hoping yours will soon too.

• Pink, Topsy or anybody, any tips on mastectomy welcomed. Obviously I should be an expert having had one before, but it was 18 months ago and I can't remember much other than being pleasantly surprised that it didn't hurt more.

sparkles..i also dread the phone ringing during the day incase its the school generally something like "your son organised a mass fall over today in the classroom or "hes been selling chewing gum for 20p each" or" he cried because hes having a bad day with his dyspraxia keeps falling over and couldnt do his shoelaces up" or he keeps saying his TA hates him( thankgod shes left during the summer holidays)

smee..my first advice is to take whatever pain killers they offer you to keep yourself topped up,also get shopping for comfortable underwear before you go for your op im having a terrible time trying to find something comfortable that also supports the boob i have left.

not to bad now my painkillers have kicked in compared to yesterday,my sides bulging and stinging more than anything today.so im bra less im finding wearing a bra a nightmare.

smee - mastectomy tips . Are you large of nork ? If yes get some bras without wires or lacey bits , as soft feeling as possible . If small knorkage is order of day , try vests instead . Either way you won't be wearing any bras for the first few days anyway .

Hospital pjs that button up at the front for ease of access for medical team . And depending on how many days you are going to be in , bring more than you will need . They get stained and sweaty easilly (or was that just me ?)

Snacks and drinks , hospital food is cack !

Books / kindle - hospital is boring !

I took a spritz thingy (cooling spray for my face) as it was devilishly hot when I was in . I also took a little battery operated fan , but I gave that away to the poor lady in the bed next to me who was really suffering !

I had one of those tv things at my bed too , so you need money/debit card to buy a card for that . That covers tv , phone and internet .

As I think of more things I will post them !

smee... i think topsy has just about covered it all make sure you bring your mobile that helped me pass the time,also ear plugs as it can get noisey during the night. someone brought me in some coffee sachets with made a nice change from hospital coffee.

not sure whats up with my son hes come home from school so far hes told me im a legend,fantastic and everything i do is amazing so it can be one of 2 things either hes done something or he wants something. though he did say now hes nearly a teenager its not right he tells me everything anymore,hes gone out now so i guess i will have to ponder to later.

i just wondered what happened to littlegreen frog,does anyone keep in touch with her as i wondered how shes getting on?

Brilliant tips, thank you. Though they're making it all flood back to me. I have started a list of things to pack, so keep them coming! I have been told I'll only be in hospital overnight, so with a bit of luck I won't have time to miss anything I've forgotten.

I wonder about LGF too and Limejelly - I think she was going through chemo at about the same time as you, Pink?

Todays school related tragedy is as follows - 1 bottle of chocolate milk emptied all over the inside of DS school bag . School jumper and all new books have been choc-inated !!!
DS is devastated , tried to convince him that me wiping the books off and drying them out will be fine . But he thinks they are "ruined" .

12 year old boys are soooo dramatic !

I've been AWOL for a day or two and look at you all, Tamoxifen 13th already .

Earth, I hope everything well well for you today and you're comfortable and being well looked after.

Smee, next week? That is quick. I think Topsy covered most essentials for your hospital stay.

MAS, well done to your son on passing his exam. A pass is a pass in my book too but he obviously has high standards, which isn't a bad thing. I can't believe he didn't enquire about the RS result. Aren't you itching to know?

Pinks, sorry your seroma is giving you such a hard time. I went to the rads department again today as they requested only to be told it hadn't gone down (I know that) but that the surgeon was in theatre so could I go back on Friday to the breast clinic for a drain then onto the rads dept for the tattoos and hour later. What a palaver.

Being back at school is lovely. The job-share teachers I work with (worked with them before a few years ago) are so organised and when I went in on Monday the classroom had already been prepared. I spent Monday and Tuesday laminating, trimming and copying and the children were all back at school today so I've been at the painting table with them most of the time.

Tonight I'm taking DS2 to see a stage version of Thriller and, as he's a huge Michael Jackson fan (I'm not) I'm hoping he'll really enjoy it. I've managed to get really good seats so I'm sure he will.

Wow figgy you have been busy!

Topsy at chocolate disaster and dramatic 12 yr olds. I have a sneaky suspicion I would have reacted exactly the same when was 39 12 too!

On the Birmingham question Acocks Greeen 0 Rural Staffs several zillions,...no competition I am afraid, I have lived in the two largest cities in this country and I now confirm myself to be a country person. I have to say the police helicopter hovering over Acocks Green every weekend was enough to wear anyone down

Speaking of being worn down...can I just say HUSBANDS.....ARGHHHHHH!!!

......as you were......

You can indeed, Sparkle. Is helpful.

'Evening all...just marking my place and grabbing a glass of that if there's some going.

also place marking, - I'm getting left behind on the posh new thread (thank you MAS ) and congrats to DS on his singing exam.

Hope DS2 enjoys his show Figgy

Did someone mention ?

Glug, glug..

smee..LGF was just ahead of me in her treatment and was on the thread alot when i first joined,i hope her and lime jelly are both ok.

topsy..oh no my 12 year old would also freak out big time.

figgy...how long now has it been since you had surgery? for me its 3 weeks today im also going on to have radiotheraphy but that wont be for a while yet.i have no idea what to expect, tattoos what do you mean tattoos (panic attack) everytime i try to talk radiotheraphy i get shot down by being told one step at a time.how nice your fellow workers are a very nice start to the year.

sparkles..you can scream husbands when ever you want to,grab yourself a cuppa and switch off.

Hi everyone

Hope you are all OK and had a good day.

I started a new thread to ask about Chemotherapy, because I didn't want it to interfere with this social thread.

I am looking for tips/advice on what was useful to know beforehand that you hadn't been told about, what you found invaluable when in hospital, what you wished you know beforehand etc.

Obviously the doctors explain the treatment, but not really the practicalities in when in hospital.

Treatment has been delayed but when it goes ahead it will be a 10 day strong course of chemotherapy

Thank you

Iamseeingstars- don't worry-interefere away with this thread-it's for everything !
Figgy- so glad you've had a good first day
A friend's ds started at secondary and came home with missing tooth from some kind of affray- he has aspergers and I gather some other kids were being bastards
Am resigned to knowing about the RS results when ds is good and ready (but I shall expect them tomorrow !)
He rather sweetly put his arm round me when I got home from Mindfulness this evening