**tamoxifen the 13th**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we are- anticipating halloween

smee - I was in hospital for 5 days (mastectomy) . And the day after I was out I was back doing the school run . I will qualify that by telling you that I can see my DC school from my living room window , so it wasn't like I had a huge trek
I did however do the Tesco run (with DH) straight away , and it was too soon . I came over all funny and had to be sat down .

Best thing is if someone offers to do the school runs , let them . You can always change your mind if you feel up to it .

I think the anaesthetic needs to get out of your system before you drive -but also it would have been too sore for me to drive for a few weeks as the SNB was under my left arm and putting the handbrake on etc would have been tricky ! I did look after little S two days after and was doing my usual household stuff,except for heavy lifting. Cleaning the tiles in the shower was my exercise !
Meeting this evening at school for GCSE parents and children -hope it doesn't go on too long.
How are things today earth ? and pink ?
Support group sounds fab jane

Hi all, just running through quickly because I have to go out in a min.
Smee - I had my mastectomy on a thursday, came home next day, but by the following tuesday I still had my drain in - I didn't have recon. though, so maybe the wound is a bit different and doesn't and doesn't leak so much.

Sorry - that's probably not much help, I think a ten min walk would be quite a pleasant way of getting out of the house when you are starting to feel stir crazy! - But I might try to keep a friend on stand by for a few days, juts in case you can't manage it.

Earth - I'm glad you are feeling a bit better today, - a good nights sleep makes all the difference I was put on anti depressants about 3 mnths after my op (just before I started chemo) - I had resisted for a long time, but they did help. Don't want to shove the AD route down your throat, as you may not like the idea at all, - but they will be available fro you if you think they would help

earth...glad to hear you got a good nights sleep its well worth thinking about anti depressents,i was really against the idea as i wasnt depressed just totally fedup and sick of the whole thing and everything was just getting to much but he explained that i needed something to help me get through because i was dealing with chemo and yet to face an op and radiotheraphy and he was right they really helped to calm me down.

janemacer..i also took up knitting again after many years,i read a interesting article about how knitting is good for your health helps to relax you and has a similar effect to meditation.plus it encouraged me to sit down and rest.

smee...i was also in hospital for 5 days even though i was told i would only be staying overnight my biggest problems were getting dressed but soon learnt that elbows can be very useful,bending down to pick things up so get the kids to help you and hoovering get someone else to do it or forget it for 3 days while your husbands away.

as for picking the kids up from school i think with painkillers you will be able to manage that if your walking but of course if someone is willing to help let them.i more or less just took my time and got on with things around the house but i had strong painkillers so make sure the hospital give you something stronger.

the other thing to consider is if they send you home with drains, it depends how your draining some peoples drains are removed before they leave hospital but in my case i was home for a whole week with drains because i was leaking so much fluid even then it was only removed because i sprung a big leak and it had stopped flowing.i didnt feel like going out with my drains in even though they give you a bag to put them in.

mas...not heard anything back yet.im ready for them though.

Pink - i should think they are all fighting NOT to be the one who has that particular conversation with you

Think I'm going to have a bath .
Has anyone been told about the not using of perfumed products after mastectomy thing ?
And if you were told that , how long did you have to keep it up ?
I ask as I have a fresh bottle of my fave Clarins bubbles that I want to use .

www.lovedaybellydance.co.uk/belly-dance-articles.asp The group is Bosom Friends and has monthly meetings

JAne - Wow I have taken a look and she sounds amazing!

Topsy - I don't know about the bath thing, sorry

oh wow ! have also looked jane

Wheeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! Clear margins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs all round!!!!!!!!!!! and later.

amber...yay brilliant news just popped on to see how you got on,whats next is it radiotheraphy?

dog just almost killed me dropped a sock and he dived between my legs from behind to grab it,hes a lab sized dog so you can imagine.best of it is now hes sulking because of course i wanted the sock back.stupid mutt.

pink.

Oh, yay, amber, that is terrific news. a-plenty tonight. If not champagne.

Ooh, leaping about with you Amber!! How totally and utterly brilliant. Huge sighs of relief and celebration for you + definitely wine later.

Jane, she amazing, but I now feel inadequate.

Topsy, all I was told was not to bath too close to the operation, as you're more likely to get an infection, but you're way past that. .

Pink your pooch sounds v.funny.

Thanks to all for remembering - my post-chemo brain's total mush. I will have drains, but not to the nodes, only to the breasts so shouldn't have them in for v.long at all. Last time the breast one came out after a couple of days, but the node one was in for 10. Surgeon says she's pretty confident I'll be okay to go after home after just one overnight, which is fantastic if true. Last time I was only in for 2 nights, so with a bit of luck, she might be right.

< skips and dances at ambers great news >

I bathed .
But halfway through my friend rang the bell , so I had to get out !
Still I smell lovely and ginsengy now

pink - my pig/dog fought me for a pair of DS pants today . My fault really as I gave him an old pair to play with when I sorted out his (DS not pig/dog) underwear drawer . And now he thinks all our pants are fair game .....

great news amber

Great news amber

I've had a good day so far, made potato dauphinoise with chicken and cauliflower cheese for tea (ready made cauliflower cheese but still) I can't believe its two weeks since my surgeries, seems like a lifetime ago.

Mmmm, that sounds good Earth. I have some kale which needs eating. Doesn't sound half as appetising as what you're having.

sounds yummy Earth - think we have pasta today.
amber- fabulous and wonderful news !!!!!! all round !

Hooray for amber - that is great news, and definitely reason for a

jane - the belly dancing looks brilliant.

Tea sounds yummy Earth, I love cauli cheese. We are having veggie moussaka left over from yesterday (because I accidentally made enough to feed the five thousand)
at the dog stories.

Our little pooch isn't very well at the moment, - she's off to the vet tomorrow, she's been drinking loads, and wetting herself, she also had a very gungy eye this morning. But she's 14, so she bound to have a few problems.

I went to my art group this afternoon. I tried to do a picture of Portland Bill in pastels, - I managed to make a right old mess. Not sure pastels are my medium .
I sat with an old chap called Bernard, he's 81, and wanted to show me all his drawings, and tell me all about his life. Very sweet - I think he was rather lonely, his wife died a couple of years ago. He also explained the plot of House of Elliot to me - because its his favourite programme. He told me he had four daughters, then his wife got fed up and made him have a 'man's operation'

Go Bernard !
Think you may have an admirer there kk

Tonights tea was a mismash of leftovers . I had chicken pie and left over veggie rice . DD had the left over sausage and mash from last nights dinner . DS had a bowl of cereal !
DH works late on a Thursday and his boss buys him dinner .

It got to 5.25pm and I realised I was meant to be at DDs curriculum meeting !
Whoops , maybe I should open some wine and forget all about it .....

open the wine topsy !
Love your Bernard KK ( @ man's operation !)
Pastels are messy,but are meant to be !
Lovely present today from best friend- arrived in the post packed in a beautiful box- a little tin with a delicate flower sprig for putting precious things in and a sweet enamelled bird on a ribbon which you put a picture in- managed to fit a teeny one of Celeste. And a little golden beaded bracelet !
Cakes I have a very nice b ig notebook for writing ideas for book down,which I will do -am just trying to do a change of address card and 2 christening pictures- but my mind is ticking over.

Bernard was easily won over with a cup of coffee and a crumble cream (He was keen to try the coffee because he'd seen an advert for it on TV (it was Dowe Egberts), and he thought it was 'rather strong')

MAS, what lovely presents, you lucky old thing

topsy - oh dear about meeting, never mind

smee...funny he has his moments but taking me for a ride is not one of them only to other people.

topsy..as you can gather my dog is also a thief you have my every sympathy,his latest mission is to go after some new coloured beakers i brought for the kids sure he thinks there toys for some reason.

kurri..bless your little pooch i hope the vet can make your doggie more comfortable.

must be in the air i also picked up a little old man last week in the hospital pharmacy told me all about his italian wife and what a good cook she is,how hed been ill recently scaring his wife and now hed never known her be so loving,about his 2 daughters one who has a crazy x and how his daughters fell out but had made up when he got ill and how pleased he was that they had made up. then of course he got his wallet out to show me pics of his grandkids.he was so sweet.

mas...how lovely your friends sounds really thoughtful.

earth...while you are on treatment the time flies by.

for dinner we had homemade sheperds pie,carrots and green beans was yummy even if i say so my self lol.

oh KK - missed the poorly dog bit- hope she is ok - good luck at the vet.

we ended up having fish & chips as it was a bit late after the GCSE meeting- yummo !