**TAMOXIFEN 18**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh my,we're starting our 18th !

Drift, I finished rads end november and had an oncology appointment about 6 weeks later to check my skin. Have an appointment with the surgeon in March. First follow up mamogram about September. How is your skin doing? Hurray for only 5 more rads :)

Evening All

Glad things went smoothly today amber . Am keeping my fingers crossed that the Herceptin behaves itself for you too .

Elusive can totally understand you wanting to have the investigations done now rather than wait another month or so . If you are going to have them done , I can't understand them wanting you to wait ?

Holsten I had a clearence of nodes in my armpit , and have had no pain from it at all . I honestly don't know what it will be like for you though , having them removed from the groin
Good luck for tomorrow , if you have internet in hospital and you are bored , feel free to entertain us with tales of Mad Patients on your ward . I had one who kept buzzing the nurse every 2 minutes throughout the night to as if she was on fire

Am now off to google Montezuma choccie buttons and see if I can persuade DH to go out and get some tonight

Knitting project coming along nicely , who was it who reccomended a website for me and what was it ?

Camel, blimey they don't have put you through it, don't they. Think I'd opt for the biopsy too. Especially if it's under local.

Drift, five left's fab. Appointments after depends on your team, but I think from memory I saw my Rads people a few times after it ended, but that was because my skin was in a mess. After that it's been every 3 months on a revolving basis between Surgeon/ Rads Onc/ Chemo Onc.

Holsten, take some wipes if you're still reading. Hard to wash if you're stuck in a bed. Wipes perk you up somehow. What time do you have to be there tomorrow?

Topsy am impressed at the knitting. Is it funky?

Not funky at all smee . Not competant enough yet ! Must go back on youtube and teach myself how to do another style

topsy It was me and the site is Ravelry I am very almost finished this (just a bit more of the last sleeve) and then moving onto a Christmas project

Here are some things I keep bookmarked as they're quite useful.

Knitting increases
Knitting tips
How to knit a hat along with Crazy Aunt Purl's hat recipe
Texere have some good/inexpensive yarn.

Dammit I have woken in the night with a cold! Had to get up to get some vicks etc. Just what I need plus I'm a bit pms, so that'll be nice after my op. Re lymph nodes I'm having the blue dye thing (they.warned me about blue wee and poo! Then they will take the sentinel nodes for testing. They made it sound pretty straightforward. They are also taking tumour so as this is my 3rd op will be interesting to see how much I have left down there! My mum, who is a bit barking, said 'at least its not your face'. On that bombshell, back to bed. Oh thanks for hosp tips! Wipes defo. No bloody signal there tho and no tvs! I have a book. Not taking dressing gown cos its so hot, it makes me cross!

@ your mum holsten !! Sorry about pesky cold though. The blue wee is quite entertaining ! I hope you won't be too sore down there afterwards.

Be prepared Holsten , they may not want to operate if you have a cold . Hope it all goes ahead for you . Positive vibes for you today .

Thanks camel . Brilliant links . And I get what you mean about starting Christmas projects now ! There's no instant gratification with my knitting projects

Who wants what for breakfast today . Yesterdays chocolate croissants have all been eaten gone stale . I have a full selection of cereals , 2 different types of bread . I have eggs , I have bacon . I also have a box of cream eggs

crispy bacon and creme egg for me please topsy

Holsten and at your mum - you've got to laugh haven't you?
You are right about the heat in hospital - ask for a fan - I'd have melted without one!

Have you got a low GI breakfast topsy OOOh creme eggs!

well done the knitters, - that's a lovely cardigan camel.
I'm doing a cardigan - its taken me about a year - its got a cable pattern on it and I have to concentrate all the time - I keep reaching the point of nearly giving up - it is this one

Am I too late for bacon and egg? I will try and lay off the creme eggs until after easter when they are reduced! And I had far too much chocolate yesterday... Lost 2lb this morning though so I don't know how that works.

Hope Holsten is doing ok.

I'm supposed to be going out but it is p**ing it down here. Cat is most dischuffed and thinks it is my fault..

Oh lovely cardi kk. Afraid all my knitting has been bunting triangles or squares. I go to the group for the coffee and can't talk and knit anything difficult at the same time!

jane - I thought about joining a group - there is one locally - but I'm not one of those knitters that can knit and do other things - I think I probably sit there frowning with my tongue poking out of the corner of my mouth in concentration

There are a few who do that but they take the time to show what they are doing and have a little chat at the beginning or the end. I'm not a natural knitter but my best friend and my next door neighbour are both in the group and when it is not raining it is a nice bike ride to get there! I will be sad when I am back at work full time and won't be able to make it very often.

am in awe at knitters -I am hopeless-I've tried and tried but can't get my head around it. Cardi look ace kk and camel's projects.
Pissing down here- was hoping it might be brighter as I need to photograph two new pictures before sending- have to go out in the beastly rain to post too (but will cheat and go in the car)

Creme egg please topsy

I cannot knit. Am bowing in awe to those who can. . .

However, electric guitar pressie from DH has arrived and is very cool! I am definitely considering it as good physiotherapy. . . I am doing exercises too, smee , promise!

Dogs very dischuffed that it's raining too jchocchip. I fear puddles on the landing carpet later, unless I remember to turf them out at regular intervals!

Only 5 to go driftwood ? Excellent progress!

Thinking of amber on Herceptin and holsten today x x x

Went to NT property with DM for a nice walk yesterday and bought some Kendal Mint Cake for fbs. . . .yum

holstenlip Good luck with it all. Just wanted to add, do, do take a light dressing gown, just in case you have to walk anywhere. I was paraded up and down hospital corridors, with the public passing by. A funny sight actually as I wore thonged fitflops over my surgical stockings (yes, it's possible) So was glad of long light dressing gown

Advice needed- thought would ask the wisdom of you all. . .

When I was diagnosed, I messaged various close friends to let them know. One friend, T, who I have known for over 10 years, who is godmother to my son, messaged me straight back, so sorry etc, but I have heard nothing from her since. Her DH, a uni mate of my DH, has emailed him, but I have heard nothing from T at all since then. This was 2 weeks ago.

Question is, do i message her again, with an update or anything, or just leave it to her? We live about 3 hours away, so it's not like I'm going to see her regularly or expect a lot from her, but I feel a bit let down by someone who I thought was a good friend. Am I asking too much? What should I do?!

Also, more mundanely, (is that a word?!) do you think it would be OK to have a bath? I've had a couple of showers since the surgery, but it's cold and manky here, and I fancied a soak in the tub. I've got glue sealing the wounds, rather than stitches. Is it likely to be OK, or should I wait a bit longer?

Calling on your greater wisdom ladies

Hi Ned - I think it's best to stick to showers, it's early days for you, but others may be along to say it's fine.
When I let people know after dx, they were naturally concerned and I get calls from some but not all, wanting the updates. Naturally there are people around locally and there are those that live some considerable distance away. I think that some people genuinely are rubbish at empathy, and when all you want is a mental hug, that hurts. I have a sil who is holding me at arms length, because she cannot stand anything to do with hospitals, i'm being charitable Most friends and relations that I told are great, but did state, that they wanted me to phone for a chat/update too, because they didn't want to pester, so it might be an idea to give your friend a call, she will be consumed with guilt! Don't leave it to fester is my advice.

ned, definitely keep people in the loop with your path results when you get them. It is hard to know what to say, maybe they are not wanting to call you in case you are resting etc btw I had baths within 5 days helped to soak my dressings off. certainly your lower half can have a soak while you keep the scars above the water if you are worried!

Ned, I'd say e-mail or call and tell her not to stay away as you could use some distractions and a natter from time to time. If then she continues to let you down, well it's a shame but it happens. Some friends are brilliant straight off, others need a gentle nudge. Then there's a teeny few who really can't cope with it all and sadly you lose along the way. Well that's what I've found anyway. I'd check with your BC Nurse on bath. Should be okay, but give her a call, I'm sure she won't mind.

Am bowing down in amazement at the knitting. I did some wrist warmers for my mum and dad for Christmas, but it was huge needles and thick wool sort of stuff.

Hope Holsten's okay today. Did she say how long she'd be in for??

Hope Amber doesn't have any Herceptin traumas too. About time things went smoothly for her.

Drift, I got flip-flops over my stockings too. So glad you're nearly through your rads.

Cream eggs you can keep, Topsy but if you have any of those little ones with the crispy shells hurl them this way. Smug alert, as I cycled through the rain for a swim. Feels good.

Hmm Smee thats reminded me, I should have gone for a swim this lunchtime :( I did do my run though; week 5 of the couch to 5k program. I waited for the rain to become drizzle before setting out

Ooh Jane, you're doing better than me. I'm only on week one and have done that twice.

I forgot to take any nightwear to hospital so ended up in 2 hospital gowns- and with the paper knickers and lovely stocking (worn with my flip flops) and was trailed all round the hospital in this attire (to the breast unit for wire and mammogram and ultrasound and then to nuclear medicine for my radioactive thing)
ned I did have a bath on day 2 (also had glue) -a shower the first day afterwards. Best to ask the BCN.
As for your friend- perhaps a nudge to see what's what - as others have said,some people can't handle it/are frightened/don't know what to say.One of my BILs and his wife never once sent a card or anything (they did ask how I was when dh rang) and it's never been mentioned and I was surprised at how upset I felt with them .

Hello, My op is tomorrow, although now I have a rotten cold...do I have to tell them. I can't bring myself to ring them. So much is organised for tomorrow :(