**TAMOXIFEN 17 **

[MaryAnnSingleton]

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

Allow me

See, watching others go through it makes you live through it again which, while painful, is probably cathartic. What a good job we have this thread.

And on that subject, thanks again MAS for the CD. (A mark of how dozy DH is at the moment - DH: Do I listen to this, then? ME: Unless you are proposing to inhale it, yes, you do)

arf !! I have a 45 minute 'body scan' cd which you lie down to listen to but I've never been able to remember much after the bit where you get to your hip bones because I've drifted off..15 mins is a good short time to stay awake.

Yes,it is cathartic isn't it. I've just posted something on a thread to do with OCD which has made me revisit some aspects of that.

Thank-you all for your help and support over the last week while i have waited for my biopsy results.
I had my appointment today and have been diagnosed with Periductal Mastitis,
so relieved. Am an odd case as it is normally associated with smokers or diabetics! I have another 2 weeks of antibiotics and then they will decide what to do then, might have to have ducts removed, but i can certainly cope with that.
Thanks again and take care.

That's excellent news NK - you must be very relieved, I hope the AB's sort out the mastitis problem and you are feeling better soon

yes,very good news NK - let's hope it clears up quickly

Ooh, really good news, NK. Must be a massive relief. Hope you're celebrating.

Really good news Nk so happy for you. :)

Glad you're safely back, Cat. It's no small thing Rads, so I think you're brave and fearless.

Happy Birthday KK - enjoy those slippers! They'd be good here due to chilly draughts I must say.

Have been frantically cooking - 2 Christmas cakes and 3 Christmas puddings due to requests from relatives. Its fun though isn't it - I like it really. Just a shame I have to go to work at this time of year... or any time of year!

Have just been sorting out a bag of pressies for each person and realise the little pile for DH is extremely small........well he does have a boat after all which eats money! I will have to go out shopping though as I think he'd cry if I can't find a few more exciting items! Any ideas for DHs, girls?? I've got a special tin of Sheba for orlando.

Bon courage to all those having rads and chemo at the moment. Great if you can get finished by 25th. I've been feeling smug recently as was finally remembering to take my Arimidex every night - but then I forgot again last night. I have a sieve for a brain.

Am rather on tenterhooks but know I should forget about my DS waiting to know about Cambridge as we won't hear till January....

Cat don't worry, quite a few of us are lumpy ladies on here. I'm just a little ahead of you, having finished rads. It is traumatic, no matter how we minimise it for those we care about.

Everything is ok with new baby. Brother has been asleep a bit this morning then back to hosp. Other bro cracked and phoned the house.

Ran across the park for a swim last half hr of session 26 lengths and 2 handstands and home in time for doc martin in the bahamas.

NK fabulous news ! I am so relieved for you .

cat glad you got through the first one . It really is a bugger getting your kit off for total strangers isn't it ? I have done 6 sessions now though , and it has got easier . (although the handsome young man with the warm hands who I got last Friday made me go all embarressed again !)

sand aaargh , why can't they let you know straight away ? Is it at least near the beginning of January you find out ?

Just back from DDs Christmas Concert . They performed Hosanna Rock - the story of the birth of Jesus . She was an angel , and she wore her communion dress from earlier on this year and wings and a halo (picture of her in her communion gear on my profile) .
I am an old softee , I always get weepy at these things . The first bar of Silent Night and I start sniffling

Have Doc Martin In The Bahamas paused whilst DH lets pig/dog out and makes me a coffee !

No ideas for DH I am afraid sand , am watching this space though for any ideas for my DH !

About minimising how we are feeling , I am the world master at that ! Mainly because I can have 20 or 30 people ask "how are you" every day . And I really don't think they actually want to hear me say "well actually I feel crappy" . They expect you to say "I'm doing fine " , so that's what I say !

Saying that , I got a beautiful letter today from one of the teachers at Mias school . She is a teacher i have never had any dealings with , never taught either of my children . But she wrote me a letter about her mum having breast cancer 5 years ago , and how well she is now .
It was lovely of her I thought .

Miss the nativity now the dcs are all big, Topsy. Wonder if I could find an old video and get it to play...

Bless her heart topsy - I always used to well up watching mine too, - my DD was in Hosanna Rock too a good few years ago - she was a donkey

How lovely of that teacher to write to you - those sort of things mean such a lot, and show you that people care about you

SR - I'll have to keep my fingers crossed all over the holidays for your DS
I wish I knew what to get menfolk for Christmas - DS is OK because he always just wants books, but DH is harder. - I usually go for CD's, or old TV shows on DVD. Actually this year I'm getting him the movie about Ayrton Senna - because he likes F1 and its supposed to be very good.

DD went to see a silent film called 'The Artist' tonight - her friend had won free tickets, she sad it was good,- has anyone else seen it?

how lovely of that teacher topsy
My dh is always happy with selections of beers,or nice wine-he likes clothes and books,so that's what I get him
Back from the school carol concert in the church in town- lovely church,lovely singing - staff choir are amazing. The school choir did Silent Night and it was lovely to hear the boys voices (there were three,2 year 11s and ds)
They came in by candle light, but ds I knew wouldn't carry a candle as he is scared of fire (just like me-it took me years to be able light the gas- bunsen burners were a nightmare)

waving to SR ! will keep everything crossed for ds and Cambridge !

off to coffee with a friend or two to celebrate a birthday - might have hot choc if the walk there is chilly... hope everyone has a good day,esp those being radiated.

NK - woohoo!!! brilliant news! it's not often you get to say that about mastitis, but it sounds treatable and a mighty relief. Good for you. Enjoy Christmas

Cat - am glad it was only an hour's wait for rads. You are on the final stretch, so hold tight.

Feeling you haven't had BC enough seems to be quite a thing for ladies who didn't have chemo: but I can tell you that we chemo ladies feel that we may have had it too much! There's no easy answer, and I think both worries are just hooks that our brains find to hang their general anxiety on. I have a friend who is tormented by the thought that maybe she should have had chemo - but no, if there was any suggestion that it might have helped, she would have been offered it. Guaranteed.

Topsy - how lovely of that teacher. People really do care. I can't see your profile so haven't seen your dd as an angel, but I bet you were proud. I'd have sobbed, and I am not much of a cryer as a rule.

Finished rads and am sitting in M&S cafe having a pot of tea and waiting for the rain to ease off a bit before I tackle the shops !

Please , if you have a spare minute today , can we think of my good friend who had to fly to her mummys bedside this morning to say her final goodbyes .
All treatment has been withdrawn and they are just waiting now .
May Nanny Ednas passing be peaceful x

Saying a little prayer for nanny Edna (and your friend)

Lighting a candle for Nanny Edna and your friend topsy x

hope she drifts away peacefully - lots of loving kindness to her and your friend topsy

I am thinking of your friend Topsy.

Hi everyone, I know I am sorry, I am being particularly useless at the moment. I am just not able to get near the pc at the moment. You are all in my thoughts all the time though. Very selfishly, this is what is happening in sparkleland at the mo, and kind of explains my absence. I have been helping my FIL move house, he has moved in next door, and he is a bit stressed about it all. Dh is still out there looking for jobs, glug and fingers crossed. Ds is still having a bad time, ahd a few phonecalls from school today, I thuink he is just shattered now, but still has another week to go. Dd1 is in the nativity play and is just fab, dd2 is fine too. Me I am hanging in there, holding it all togther....well most days it is a reasonable attempt anyway.