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**tamoxifen the 13th**

988 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 07/09/2011 14:03

here we are- anticipating halloween

OP posts:
topsyturner · 11/09/2011 20:01

Thanks mas . Yes , it's CT results tomorrow . Am slightly pooing myself .
Have also convinced myself that I am having problems breathing . Feels like I can't get a full breath .
Don't know if this is down to the lung secondaries or if I am just stressed out thinking about it and imagining it .
If you can understand what I am waffling about !

KurriKurri · 11/09/2011 20:07

Also sending loads of good vibes to topsy for tomorrow.

The Tree saga is getting more complicated. Neighbour brought round a 'tree expert' who was a great big bruiser type bloke, and he said the leaves and seed were falling down chimney and onto lawn (obviously leaves on the lawn is an intolerable situation). Basically he is a tree surgeon (Dsis looked him up on internet) and he's angling for business.
Mum said she is not paying for anything, they tried to say the roots are going under the lawn (which is untrue because Eucalyptus have straight down shallow roots).

So mum is contacting the council (although nasty neighbour woman's brother is on the council so that's not good!) she's also contacting her solicitor, to see what he says.

It was all very intimidatory, but mum has got her dander up now, and is refusing to be intimidated!

Hope everyone had a good weekend, I've just come back from a hour's 'brisk walking', apparently I smell disgusting of the outdoors Grin

Iamseeingstars · 11/09/2011 21:01

Hi everyone, lots going on with you all.

Did you all lose a lot of weight when you got your diagnosis, or when you started chemo? I have lost over 12kg in three months but dont think it is illness related, I have just not wanted to eat. I have also stopped drinking alcohol (makes me very sick). I was overweight so it isnt a hardship.

I have also been reviewing my old doctors notes and found indications that there were problems with my bloods more than 3 years ago, but it was dismissed by the doctor with "no further action". Mind you the outcome probably wouldnt have been any different and I would have had 3 more years of worry. But I do wonder if I had pushed more then what would have happened.

smee · 11/09/2011 21:24

Grrr to that bruiser and neighbour, Kurri. How dare they! Have to say, your mum sounds fantastic. I'd bet she'll win. Smile

Iamseeingstars - yes I lost weight. Think it was the worry at first, though sickness on chemo lost me a lot too. What a sod about the bloods. Must be annoying to hear that they could have possibly found it earlier. What's next for you, I've lost track.

Topsy, I'd bet the breathing thing is stress related. Sending you virtual hugs. xx

MaryAnnSingleton · 11/09/2011 21:28

topsy- am sure breathing probs are stress related too- will be thinking of you tomorrow and lots of good thoughts to ILGC's dd for tomorrow too.
KK - grr about neighbours- I always thought eucalyptus roots were deep and troublesome,but obv. wrong there. Horrid people.

OP posts:
pinkstarlight · 11/09/2011 21:31

topsy..good luck for tomorrow,shall be thinking about you and sending positive thoughts.topsy when i was first diagnosed and undergoing tests every time i use go to appointments i use to stand outside breathing funny on the verge of having a panic attack, looking back i think my stress levels were really high.

kurri...good for your mum but its a situation that she doesnt need.

iamseeingstars...i lost weight during chemo just over a stone but mainly because i was really funny with my food it just didnt taste right then later on everything tasted fizzy and foul.

Iamseeingstars · 11/09/2011 21:48

Hi Smee. Ive got Leukemia and waiting for a bone marrow transplant, but lots of testing still to be done on both donor and me.

I was a bit miffed when I realised there were indications in the past, I was also told get to get my platelets checked regularly, but changed doctors and new doctor wouldnt pursue it, because they were "normal". They were 90. There isnt any point in me worrying about it now because I dont think there would have been a different outcome. Chances are I would just have been monitored for last 3 years.

EarthMotherImNot · 12/09/2011 06:03

Good morning allSmile

Busy day today as I'm off to have my wound seen to at the hospital this morning and I've got loads of questions for my BCN.

eg, if I only had one breast removed why am I bruised from just above the breast area to my waist on both sides?

 why does it feel like I cant put my arm down fully (feels like the remains of the boob is in my armpit?

 Why is one of my teeth cracked and another loose?

I'm also going to ask for a copy of my notes from that day and night. Talking to Dh and DD's there are lots of things I don't remember. Apparently I rang DD2 on my mobile and was hysterical. I have no recall of doing that??

Last night I took off the support vest for the first time and I confess I sobbed like a baby, it looked so awful. I know it's early (very early) days yet but it was a shock.

Dh came upstairs to find me howling and I asked if he wanted to see, "go on then" he said "might be better now than with the nurse there"

Well he looked, and gently touched and said "it's nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. Well thats a relief"

Bless himSmile

MaryAnnSingleton · 12/09/2011 07:44

oh Earth - bless your dh. It is very early still and everything will look pretty awful but it will settle down.I think they do put a lot of pressure on your body when operating,which is probably why things are hurting and bruised,and teeth-they may have knocked/chipped them with the anaesthetic /breathing thing (that's why they ask about crowns/loose teeth beforehand) . I had WLE and sentinel node biopsy and my underarm felt swollen for ages-I can remember lying with my arm away from my body on a pillow at night for quite a while. lots of good luck today,and of course to topsy and ILGC's dd. And everyone else too of course !

OP posts:
topsyturner · 12/09/2011 08:04

Morning all .

earth - I too had the feeling that I had a rolled up newspaper under my arm . Still do to a certain extent . I am still very numb aswell .
The first nurse that looked at me post surgery did the "oooh you are VERY bruised" thing .
And yes the teeth are down to the anaesthetic I'm afraid .
You really had a bad time of it didn't you ?
Good luck for your appointment today .

kk - your mum sounds like a real trooper , good luck to her !

ILGC - very good luck to your DD for today , hope everything goes smoothly for her .

Pig/Dog has been doing his very best to take my mind off todays appointment . He woke us up at 4am , throwing up on the kitchen floor !
He is now lying on his back on his bed , snoring happily !

Appointment not till 11.40 , will let you all know how it goes .

Iamseeingstars · 12/09/2011 09:12

Can anyone advise me.

I am very yellow today (aneamic) but my skin is also really waxy which isnt normal. Does anyone know what causes this?

smee · 12/09/2011 09:20

Will be sending waves of positivity at 11.40, Topsy. Pig Dog's timing's not the best, but any distraction is not to be sniffed at and definitely not that one! Grin

Earth, I had a horrendous sore throat after my op and couldn't work it out until someone reminded me they stick all sorts in your mouth during the op. Hope they answer all your questions today. Your DH sounds lovely. Smile

Iamseeingstars, that's a heck of a thing to have to wait for. have they tested all the relatives yet? How are you day to day? I'd imagine pretty weak?

Got to dash off some work now, then meeting surgeon at noon to discuss Thursday op. Am I allowed to say: 'Please don't botch it?' Grin

pinkstarlight · 12/09/2011 09:56

topsy...i have everything crossed for you,good luck.

earth... i also have sore ribs and above the chest area,back of my arm is the worst feels like its been burnt.i have a bulge under my arm with what feels like a sharp thin bone been told its what they call cording but its causing me terrible trouble with bras.cracked tooth doesnt sound good no wonder you have lots of questions but thank goodness you have a wonderfull husband.with me i had 2 drains one started leaking almost straight the way quite alot of fluid so they had to keep changing the dressings and packing my side but it meant i saw very early on my scar so wasnt such a shock.

smee...you tell him girl lol.

im being driven nuts today by a itch i cant find,doesnt help that my breast area is still numb.grrr

wore my new boots today had to get a size bigger because with losing all my nails left my toes very sensitive,im fine in sandles but cant bear closed in shoes they hurt but thank goodness they are so comfy.my tips of fingers also feel very raw and sensitive,did anyone else have that after losing nails?

pinkstarlight · 12/09/2011 10:00

also on the subject of nails mine are growing back with horrible ridges,will these grow out ?

topsyturner · 12/09/2011 10:03

stars - I would phone someone on your medical team about that . Doesn't sound right to me . Let us know what they say .

smee - get a permanent marker and write on the affected boob "it's this one" ! Am sure they will get the right one , but it never hurts to give a few visual clues Grin
Good luck for today .

pink - haven't lost any nails myself , but I am sure it would be painful . Just be careful , you don't want any infections setting in .

Off to do some banking now (grrr to DH who never has enough money in his account for the direct debits !)
Speak to you all later .

EarthMotherImNot · 12/09/2011 10:58

I'm backSmile

BCN was very surprised at the level of bruising but more surprised at how much blood and fluid she had to drain off. 2 full kidney bowlsShock She wants me back this Thursday, apparently this will happen for a while yet.

She says the teeth thing will be down to tubes etc in my mouth and she says to ask the surgeon next week when I see him if I can see my notes. As I pointed out to her, because she said "oh I'm sure he'll let you have a peep" I don't just want to peep, I want to take them home and digest them!

I do feel a lot more comfortable now with the fluids removed though Smile

cakesandale · 12/09/2011 11:35

Good to see you back, Earth. I am sure you have the right to see our notes in detail, especially with all that went on, and with damaged teeth to contend with. It can happen, but you have a right to know how, and why.

Sending good vibes to topsy for around about now.

Pink - my nails grew in with ridges: those should just grow out, mine are fine now.

KK - i am rooting ('scuse the pun) for your Mum and her tree. What a bunch of mean spirited bastards.

Love to everyone else, I have read it all, but you have been so chatty!x

topsyturner · 12/09/2011 12:46

Scan shows nodules in lungs have shrunk significantly since last time and Onc is happy with this .
Treatment plan now 3 more lower dose FEC , then scan every 3 months to check for any regrowth .

Am very happy with this news , off out for lunch with DH now but will be back later Grin

cakesandale · 12/09/2011 12:56

Very, very good news indeed topsy.

Breathe easier and have a wonderful lunch. x Smile

cakesandale · 12/09/2011 12:57

Meant to say - lower dose of FEC should mean reduced SEs. Hope so.

smee · 12/09/2011 13:29

Brilliant news, Topsy! You deserve that lunch. Think Cakes is right about lower dose meaning less SE's. Smile

Pink, my finger tips and toes were incredibly sore and nails all had ridges, but are now smooth and as they were pre-chemo. I'm a year on, but they've been okay for a good few months.

Earth glad you got drained. You sound nicely feisty. I pity your surgeon if he tries to deny you those notes. Grin

Just back from Surgeon and I've been bumped until the 6th Oct, due to Cancer patients taking priority. Can't tell you how much I smiled when she said that. Most excellent not to be in that bracket any more!! Am kind of happy about having a couple more weeks, as the builders might have gone then, so it'll be easier to slouch out recuperating without them popping up all the time looking for yet more biscuits. Had a v.funny chat with Surgeon about whether to keep my remaining nipple or not. I shall put that down in my list of 'conversations you never thought you'd have'. Grin

KurriKurri · 12/09/2011 13:40

thats good news topsy - have a nice lunch, you deserve a treat after all the appointment stress (I used to be practically hyperventilating every time I had an onc. appointment)

Lots of good wishes to your DD today ILGC, I hope it all goes smoothly for her, and she doesn't feel too awful afterwards.

Stars - do you tend to get jaundiced with your condition? - I would def. contact your team or GP, yellow and waxy doesn't sound right. Let us know how you get on.

Earth - you poor girl, you've been through quite a battering - physically and emotionally, it does all look a bit shocking at first, but it will soon start healing up, and as you recover more form the op. you'll feel a bit less fragile. Crying is good though IMO, - no point in bottling things up. Bless your DH, he sounds sweet.

Pink - my nails got very ridged (although I didn't lose them but as they grew they came out ridged) It does go eventually. I'm glad your new boots are comfy, - its so horrid having sore feet. You can get sort of sponge covers for your big toes from the chemist(I think they are actually for ingrowing toenails). I had a very sore toe during chemo and used one for protection at night.

Hope your appointment goes well Smee, I think you should def, say 'don't botch it' ! - will be thinking of you on Thursday. Have you got plenty of treats lined up for when you get home?

Thanks for all the support for mum. She is a trooper, she's tiny but she won't be pushed around. Jude is pretty feisty too, so between them they won't put up with nonsense.

Waving to everyone else, as usual my post is getting too long, so I'll stop. Grin

KurriKurri · 12/09/2011 13:41

Oh bum. Dsis is pretty feisty. Gah.

cakesandale · 12/09/2011 14:01

Hi smee - glad to hear you got bumped as not urgent. That is a nice feeling. Def tell them not to botch it, perhaps you should write a note explaining your decision ref the nipple in marker pen, as per topsy's (I think) suggestion Grin

KurriKurri · 12/09/2011 14:07

Oops x posted Smee, - good to be bumped and not be urgent Smile