the 16th ***TAMOXIFEN***thread

[MaryAnnSingleton]

...here we go again

Welcome to Summatontoast. What a shock to the system, hearing those words from the consultant - I remember it well. But you will, over the next few days/weeks, gradually come to terms with it and fight it, like we all are. This is a wonderful place to come for hugs, sympathy and, believe it not, a good laugh. Oh and lots of cake.

Triplet, I peeked at your photos - what adorable children you have. I'm so sorry about the loss of your darling firstborn, what a handsome lad he was.

Oh dear Smee, I think DS is blaming the cat. Luckily no harm done. I think you can get decent trainers at some of the sports outlets like SportsDirect at sale prices. They're end of lines. I was in there at the weekend buying DS2 a pair of trainers and the good ones (well, ones with a "name") started at about £30.

Talking about deodorants, I think the poor radiologists must get their fare share of smelly people and not because they can't use deodorant - more like, their bad personal hygiene. I'm sure that's why they had the aircon on so high. A friend who works in a hospital scanning hearts (ECGs, that sort of thing) wrote on their Facebook page recently "Has............. Hospital sent out letters asking their patients not to wash for a few days - certainly seems like it today". Poor girl, that did make me laugh. I found a daily wash with a damp flannel (no soap) and a quick shower on my "good side" did the trick - certainly DH didn't complain about a pong.

Amber, your story about the consultant did make me giggle. Glad it went well today.

I have rung my BCN to ask for a fitting for my permanent prosthesis as my softie is getting me down, or rather, the lopsidedness is. I am seeing her for a fitting on 1st December but she wants me to bring along some of my mx bras. I havent got any and am currently pinning my softie to a sports bra. I've measured myself and it works out as as 42D according to the Nicola Jane mx bra website and I don't even register on the M&S one. My underbust measurement is 37" and overbust is 45". The M&S graph only goes up to 44. I might take a trip to M&S at Lakeside to get properly measured in both M&S and Debenhams but there's no guarantee they'll have any bras my size in stock. Which brands do those of you who've had an mx prefer?

Figgy just posting quickly, the bras I like best and find most comfortable are from Nicola Jane (although they do tend to change their designs quite often), and a front opening one from Contura Belle (also an online company) The M and S ones I prefer are the plainish ones, - I think they come in black/white/flesh, and have slightly wider straps than some of their other ones, which IME is more comfortable when you have the weight of a permanent prosthesis to consider.

dh just goes every so often to the osteo and podiatrist for a check up- he has had probs with his knee..am never quite sure what bits of him get manipulated !

Nice email from head of music at school explaining about the low grade - something to do with his not really being seen doing the work (when he is) -they're doing composition and listening- not quite sure what they are actively meant to be doing- she will talk to him and see where he really is and says I am welcome to come in for a chat if I like.

kk I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I picked up a helpful leaflet on swallowing problems after stroke at the hospital. There are lots of fact sheets produced by the Stroke Association www.stroke.org.uk which may be useful.

That sounds better then, MAS. Hope it cheers DS up a bit. Glad it's nothing serious for your DH. Not being sure which bits of him are being manipulated sounds wise. Blanket sympathy with men always does the trick.

Kurri, speech therapy sounds like a good step for your Dad then. Last thing he wants now is Pneumonia. Running to the garden gate sounds like a plan. Bet you could do that in your slippers.

Figgy, I had mx, but have had instant implants both times, so can't advise. I was laughing with my Surgeon at last consult, as I'm amused to find myself in my mid forties, yet having not a clue what bra size I am.

Thanks KK. I'll have a look at the Contura Belle one later. I've already seen a couple I like in Nicola Jane. I think my falsy is going to be a bit on the heavy side if it's the same as the other one. Ooh, my poor shoulders .

MAS, it's good of the head of music to e-mail you. Has it put your mind at rest or will you go in for a chat? I read further up the thread about DS not being very forthcoming with the answers in class. It's really unfair that that is holding him back. Imo some students are naturally quiet and, even though they know the answers, don't join in. It shouldn't hold them back though - after all, it's their results and the work that they produce that should count.

figgy I had the same problem as you getting post surgical bras . I am a G cup (bazookas !) and M&S post surg bras don't go up high enough for me .
I use sports bras now . And yes the permanent prosthesis is heavy !
Some days when I am feeling achey , I go back to my softee . So don't throw it out , you may need it !

ds quite cheery now,thanks I think ds is scared of getting things wrong and intimidated by the more 'forward' children. I have arranged to see the head of music after she's spoken to him next week...
Have dreadful headache having been working really hard on not the easiest job- phew,think the drawing bit is finished.
kk hope your dad gets the swallowing sorted with the speech therapist- it must feel quite alarming for him.

cat64 - please could I put my dd in the bag with your ds for a bit of that classroom chatty-ness?!

My DDs teacher has book , in which pupils names get written if they talk too much .
How DD has not merited any entries I do not know , the child barely draws breath some days

CT at 8.30 tomorrow morning (my 3 monthly one) , then a small wander into town to pick up a new book for DS .
Might nip into M&S and see what vests they have . Anyone tried their secret support ones ?

Picked up a nasty cold. Think it is because I've been on packed commuter trains the last couple of mornings. Haven't got as far as buying anything in m&s yet Topsy but I'm getting on well with the cheapy Primark ones. Watching one of the death in paradise I missed. The first one. Been out to the local support group tonight, may try and go on a course at the centre, there is some interesting art work on the walls.

thank you for the link jane - that looks useful, and I'll have a look at the hospital when I'm there next week for stroke info. - good idea

I went to a talk this evening on different types of breast reconstruction, and the various options and operations. It was very good, and gave me a lot of food for thought.

I quite like the look of the M and S secret support vests topsy, - haven't tried one yet though, They do some nice one with sort of solid colour on the bottom, and a sort of mesh/see through sort of stuff on the top, which looked quite nice. Actually that description makes them sound weird, I'll see if I can find a link instead!

Running slippers Smee? - I think I sniff a business opportunity

I think its this although I don't remember it being thermal, its not quite what I thought it was. Maybe its not sold online. Another (more likely) explanation is that I've lost my mind and imagined the whole thing

cat that would be wonderful, mix and match children !
poor jane - horrid to have a cold - hope you feel better soon
Good luck tomorrow topsy x

Yes good luck tomorrow topsy, and enjoy your shopping afterwards

We could do Christmas Gift packs, Kurri. Slippers plus FBS. MAS could design the box.

Talk sounds interesting. I never looked into reconstruction past implants. I know there's lots of options. Must be interesting and a bit confusing to contemplate. Do you have a timeframe/ next appt?

Hope CT scan's a doddle tomorrow Topsy and Happy Shopping.

Jane, hope your cold goes soon and hope your headache's long gone by now, MAS.

DH driving back from work at daft o'clock due to a late seminar, so still not back. Ridiculous to work this late. Night all zz

Ha - slippers and FBS - the alternative approach to running

I don't really have a time frame - I haven't actually seen anyone about it yet, I'm still waiting for an appointment, (someone told me tonight to give it another week then chase it up) - there was a lot of talk about how the expected cuts to the NHS will affect breast reconstruction surgery, especially delayed recons. I suspect.

Yoga and art class tomorrow so I should hit the hay too. Night all x

Morning All

Off out to the hospital shortly and won't be back for a few hours , so just a quicky to say morning and hope your days go smoothly .

See you all later !

Morning! Another rush out of the house to catch the train by a whisker. On my way back from my first rads boost; it took ages to set up today but they say it will be quick tomorrow now they have made a tracing on a bit of acetate...

Jane, are you on your last week then?? I think you must be.

So cold and damp here and dimwit me agreed to take DS swimming after school. Not one of my better ideas..

In taxi on the way home .
Went into town after CT .
Got as far as Waterstones and M&S .
Too knackered , so I am going home .
Got DS his book , got DD a snowglobe from Santa . She gets one every year , our little tradition !

Got myself a lovely purple vest . It isn't secret supprt , all they had was the tummy secret support ones . As bad as my tummy is , its the one remaining boob that needs the help right now ...

Yes Smee, just 4 days left now! :) Will be cold and damp swimming whatever the weather, but I know what you mean. Brightened up here now. I picked loads of sloes on my way back from the station, just need to buy some gin now :) Lunch and a nap, make cakes for guides thing on Saturday then Thursday pub night, yipee.

Topsy- install yourself on the sofa for the afternoon. I'll go and look for the chocolate...