**TAMOXIFEN 17 **

[MaryAnnSingleton]

blimey- we're almost up to our limit...so brand new shiny,sparkling thread.

Love to all, good to catch up on everyone's news, sometimes I feel the essential ingredient in life is being a stroppy cow!

I would like to say a big thank you for the gift sent to me an anonymous Mumsnet member. I havent actually got it yet but it has arrived at the family home

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/1353304-Mumsnet-Secret-Santa-Thank-You-Thread-Christmas-2011

Want to say hello to everyone, its been a while since I posted, I got too stresse

d with all what was going on with you especially as my date got closer. I have now had my transplant and everything is progressing as expected but its still a downward spiral before I get better. Lost all my hair today, it happened over 2 days, quite a shock, and I hate what I look like. Some people look OK bald but I dont. I dont suppose white withdrawn skin helps either

A thread has been set up for people to acknowledge they have received their gift so that the sender knows

The medications keep on coming, gotta go

IASS, phew that it's progressing as expected...keeping everything crossed for you. And for everything else, too.

I had someone else tell me how good my hair looks this week. These wigs really can be very convincing!!

It was my third herceptin. I reckon that if I can do three, that's the same as the study in Finland that said 9 weeks of Herceptin seemed to do something good. Last night I was so tired and achey that I could barely move. But I feel ok this morning, thank goodness. Bit of a nosebleed again but very minor. Just have to be hugely careful, I think.

I think I need more so I shall put the kettle on for those in need.

stars loads of love to you,it must be really tough going for you,and losing your hair very demoralising-thinking of you lots.
ILGC how are things going ?
amber well done too - take care of yourself, three down sounds a good achievement.

Hi IASS thanks for the update. It is good to hear that you have had your transplant and although its a downward spiral at the moment, hopefully you will start going up the other side soon.

Glad you are feeling ok this morning Amber - thanks for the :)

After an icy start, it is sunny here. Nice to see a bit of blue sky for a change!

Hi IASS, - I'm so glad you have now had your transplant, and send loads of good thoughts for the treatment still to come.

Well done amber, any herceptins that you can manage is a good thing (and you are right, the year's worth is a pretty arbitrary amount)

In case its of any help to you, I found my early herceptins made me feel ill, then I went through a patch of being OK in the middle, then it got a bit harder again at the end. So if they can managed to get you through the earlier ones, there's a chance it may settle down a bit.

Hi ILGC - nice to see you, I hope everything is well with you, and your DD's treatment is going well. - read your early post about your DS, - your kids all sound so great

waving to MAS, jane and everyone else

Been for a swim and now I'm ravenous. Off to the shops to stock up on chocolate

Thorntons misshapes anyone? and the kettle is on for a

Hello all, caught up on all the posts but, as soon as I've read them, I forget who posted what, so please excuse me for not replying to everyone. I think my brain cells are freezing up with this cold weather we're having.

IASS, thank goodness the transplant went ahead. Losing your hair is a very traumatic thing but keep in mind that it will grow again. I hope you are being well looked after and are taking things very easy.

Amber, cant believe you're half way through. Chin up, girl. Fingers are crossed for end of nose bleeds.

Sorry to hear KK and Topsy are having skin problems. Not nice. I hope you both find something to help ease the symptoms.

I've been to the docs again re scar that wont heal and it is indeed infected. So am on another course of antibees and have to have a new dressing every day administered by the practice nurse. It's a silver dressing which apparently helps with infections. It's such a nuisance as it's nearly 4 months since my op.

The tree and decorations are all up, everything looks Christmassy and cosy. We're off out for our first Christmas meal with friends tonight. I'm starving. I can even have aglass of on these antibiotics so that's a good thing.

Yes please for Thorntons and !

Figgy, grr re the infection. But hooray re the !

yes grr about infection figgy
Dh made the most lovely fruit cake -totally delicious- would you care for a piece ?

Thorntons and Fruit cake - mmmm. - It must be baking night for DHs - mine has made chocolate cornflake and raisin cakes .

Figgy what a nuisance about the infection - and after all this time, that must make you feel fed up. I hope the Abs kick in soon, and the dressing helps, - I had one of those silver dressings and it was very good.

DS has just phoned, he has an ear infection, so is on AB's for that (he's always been prone to them) and he's being tested for that stomach infection that can cause ulcers - helicobacter pylori - because he's been getting a lot of reflux. So I hope he can get that sorted out soon - it sounds a bit worrying.

kk my uncle had ulcers for years until they tested for that and treated it. He rated it as a miracle cure....
Figgy, at least if the practice nurse is changing the dressing they can keep an eye on the scar. They have lots of expertise with dressings.

Hope everyone wakes up feeling well today. I'll put the kettle on for a

Thanks for the ! How are you feeling, J? Everyone else?

oh poor ds kk - ulcers and reflux sound horrid. My friend S gets reflux and was sent for a tube down the throat,nothing bad found-think she just gets very stressed.
Hope everyone is doing well today- grey and chilly here. The fruit cake was delicious and there's some left !!

gray and damp here. Just been for a swim before breakfast so all is right with the world. Should get some potatoes done to go with the roast and we have lots of parsnips - lots of things were reduced in the coop yesterday afternoon so we have a big joint today so it must go in before church. Village carol service this afternoon so a busy day! Glad Mrmas's fruit cake went well this week :)

Morning All

stars so good to hear from you . Glad you have had your transplant and things are going according to plan . How much longer do they think its going to be before they release you ?

figgy I hope this new regime off dressings helps you . Its been going on quite some time now hasn't it ?

kk hope your DS gets better soon . The good thing about the H Pylori caused ulcers is they have brilliant treatment for them . So in a bizarre way I hope that is what it is , if you get what I mean ?

jane were you a lumpectomy or a mastectomy ? I ask because of the swimming . I was a mastectomy . And I would love to start swimming . I am just not very confident because of my fake Bobby the Boob . Anyone got and experience of this ? Will it stay in place ? Will I horrify my fellow swimmers if it escapes and floats to the surface ?

I had a lovely surprise yesterday . A very old (as in a long time ago , not as in she is ancient !) Friend got back in contact with me . We first met when we were 2 in playgroup and ended up going to the same junior and secondary schools together . After that we kind of drifted apart , but sent the occaisional christmas card etc .
Now , thanks to the wonders of the interweb , we got back in contact . And it was so lovely to hear from her .

Right , enough gushing !
Time to get showered and dressed . Off to Grannys (as usual) for lunch . Then I shall be doing a spot of Christmas shopping with my good friend and neighbour this afternoon .

Happy Sunday to you all . And amber , no stage invasions at the X Factor final tonight ! I don't care how good Gary looks in his velvet smoking jackets , security will not understand !

mas , any cake left ? Haven't had any brekkie yet

passes fruit cake to topsy

Afternoon all

topsy- I use one of these for swimming, in a mastectomy swimsuit. You can get a swimsuit from the same site (or others) or IIRC you are entitled to have a pocket put in your swimsuit by your hospital. Or John Lewis will sew a pocket in for you (don't forget to ask for VAT off).

I've never had a problem with prosthesis 'escaping' and swimming its own length - the bean one is very light and comfy. I did have a foam one - but it didn't last long - the chlorine made it go all yellow and nasty.

Lovely to hear from your friend

jane - I'm very impressed with all your swimming - and up so early too! You will be fit as a flea

Amber - enjoy the x- factor, - I'm feeling excited for you, - have a lovely time

MAS - any crumbs I can lick off the plate???

I think you are right about the H. Pylori - in a way I hope it is that too, because it will tell him what the problem is and it can be treated. Otherwise they'll have to do more investigations I imagine. He's always had stomach/stress related problems, even as a small child the slightest bit of excitement and he was sick all over the place.

Topsy I was lumpectomy, so I can't advise on Bobby the boob, but swimmers are all shapes and sizes where I go and I have never felt self conscious among them. (well maybe a little doing handstands). I've only just started back since finishing rads. Hope you get a costume sorted, have you a pool nearby?

I can do better than crumbs for you kk (passes generous slice)- mind the mixed peel,it's quite solid.

Oh - I meant to say, I find with my mastectomy costumes, the pocket has a relatively small opening, you have to push and fiddle a bit to get the prosthesis in, - there's no way it could escape

Thanks MAS, - I luuuuuuurve fruit cake (actually I like all cake )

Thanks! Will try to behave.