***TAMOXIFEN number 19***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

ta daa !

Morning all! and biscuit anyone?

Lime or quite like LJ (my first 2 initials!) Welcome back, and thanks for your brilliant advice. Sorry to hear that you have been having a proper rough time of everything in recent months. What hard work for you all. I'm really pleased that you have come back, and touched that you felt strong enough to write such a long post of helpful hints for me May I take the liberty of reaching out for a small hug? > Please stick around - I need all the help I can get!

So, so far for my chemo bag (bright pink Cath Kidston one got for Christmas) for Monday I have:
Snacks: dried fruit and nut type things (from latest Graze box)
Entertainment: Ipod with music and 2 series of Miranda to dip in to.
Reading material: Marie Claire and Kindle with indescribably embarrassing trash downloaded
Bottle of water
Mints of some kind (yet to purchase but on list)

God, I really am over-thinking this aren't I?!

Any other suggestions welcome!

[hands out biccies, sweeps crumbs off chest]

The bag sounds perfect, Ned. You are - ahem - certainly organised, but I think that's a good thing. Take back some control.

Personally I'd add some ginger beer or cordial, it worked like magic on any nausea, for me. As I recall, I was never without a can, which made for a bit of clanking at times, but needs must.

You are not driving yourself are you? Not wise for the first cycle, wait until you see how you are going to feel, there's no way to predict it. Personally I could have done it, but you never know.

hey gig glad DH at home with you today, and that you have sensibly identified a possible chemical reason for your down-ness. Might be worth talking to your GP about how to safely reduce the levels of painkillers? We have breast care nurses, do you have a similar contact? Macmillan maybe?

Hang on to the good stuff, and enjoy today. I've definitely learnt that. . . Got nice plans for you all today?

We're going out for lunch, DH on holiday today as well, and he wants to get some fishing stuff as well. Plus DSs cycle helmet is perching on top of his head like some kind of balancing ball, so really needs a bigger one, given the speed with which he hurtles around on his scooter!

Tooth fairy came last night, bearing a shiny £2 coin, which has been spent on Haribo!

Love and hugs to all x x

x-post, sometimes I know its anal to be this organised, but you're right, it is a control thing! Have got lime cordial at home, as that worked a treat for morning sickness. Also pineapple juice and ginger ale. DH is coming with me, so I don't have to drive myself.

Ooh, ginger biscuits. Grabs a handful..

Hello am back and Dad's safely home with his artery unblocked. Phew and double phew. Bit stressful, but he had fantastic treatment and wonderful staff looking after him. I do so love our NHS. Did anyone see that Panorama on the US Health Care system? Bloody hell, we are so lucky next to that.

Waving to Lime. How lovely to see you and still in one piece too - always a plus. Been wondering about you and hoping you might return. Don't worry about keeping up - don't think any of us can.

Will try and catch up a bit more later. Ned, I'll have a think and see if I can remember anything about chemo which might help for Monday, though I'd bet the others have covered it. I see Topsy's off for her weekend of excess. Those photos will be quite something am sure.

Good to see you back smee, and with your Dad better too. I didn't see the Panorama show but i saw a few conversations about it - we are pretty lucky, I think.

have another handful of biscuits, I think I may have overdone the ginger a bit [embarrassed]

Ned - am glad DH is going with you - mine always did as well. I think he looked forward to it as a chance to have a sit and a coffee, and read the newspaper.

Morning all - topsy I wanted to say bon voyage and have a wonderful time, but I overslept (again ) and think I may have missed you, - so sending it in mental vibe form

LJ - thanks for kind words about Dad, and so sorry you've been missing yours too. But ladies of here have been so kind in helping with my sad days.
Dipping in with random comments is definitely the way to go, - I try to answer everyone, and have realised it makes my posts so long, - it probably puts people off! But I know someone will answer everyone at some point, so people don't feel unsupported.

have a good day MAS (again probably left already)

Gig - glad you have worked out what may have made you down, and are feeling better today.

Ned - your bag sounds great, - and its nice to take something with you 'from home' as it were to make you more comfortable. There's always a bit more faffing around on the first cycle as they are watching for any reactions and explaining things, so plenty to do is a good plan. - I used to read murder mysteries with lurid titles for my trashy relaxation (probably terribly innappropriate for a chemo unit )

You will need to drink plenty when you get home, to keep flushing things through - so stock up on things that you like. Apple Lucozade was my tipple of choice for some reason, but I think a little bit of anything fizzy is handy to have on standby for settling the stomach.

Hello Sparkle - nice to see you, ope you've had a nice half term, update - ned has her first chemo on Monday, and OneInEight has her second, - those are the most imminent treatments I think. Gig and Holsten both recovering from their surgeries atm.

Smee - lovely to see you, so glad your Dad's op went well - its always a worry. And great that they've sorted his artery, - hope he'll feel much better now.

waving to Sometimes - are you home alone yet?

Nothing for the trolley I'm afraid (this is the house of boring healthy stuff atm ) but I can provide paper plates with balloons on to save washing up.

See - another huge post - they don't look that long, then I post them and they are enormous - sorry, must try to be more succinct.

I am home alone, KK - until later on tomorrow. I am loving it. Have not spoken for about 24 hours, which is wonderful. I have arranged to go out with some girlie mates later so that will break it up a bit. And I am working, but very slowly, with lots of breaks to progress the laundry through and stuff. It has been so long since I have been able to just think my own thoughts - both DH and DD think it is fine to just interrupt me whenever, whatever I am doing. I have even taken to shouting - 'I am going to the toilet so nobody bother to call me' Quite blissful last night to have a bath without someone marching in for a chat!

Bloody hell! DD just phoned for a chat. I think my brain is going to explode. She would be very, very good as a racing commentator....

Oh the joy of not having to speak for 24 hours, and managing to finish anything without interuptions, even if it is sorting the laundry.

Thanks for the update Kurri, so good lucks and positive thoughts are needs for Ned and oneineight.

Ds is now flat on back on settee with excrutiating neck pain... is this to do with me having told him to do some touch typing practice and that we were going to do his physio session this afternoon....

Hmm....

He denies it of course!

Poor him Cut yourself some slack and have a and another biscuit.

Sounds like a plan, it is freezing here as Scrooge dh keeps the thermostat low to reduce our oil consumption, need to for warmth!

Sounds lovely Sometimes - I know what you mean about thinking your own thoughts. I adore my DD's company - but by God she can chatter for Britain - think its hereditary my MIL was the same!

Also doing laundry and chores here - but quite slowly - have had a couple of day of no activities because of half term, and it's rather nice not to have to get up and go out, just a nice little walk with the dog.

sorry DS is feeling poorly Sparkle (or has typingitis possibly )

made here

Oooh ta! {slurp]

Am at airport , complete with packed trolley dolley suitcase !
Have had huuuuuge fry up . Now drinking large glass of white wine and enjoying the dulcet tones of a stag group in the hotel bar . All of them ar dressed in orange afro wigs , apart from the groom who is wearing a cow pattern onsie ...

Flight not till 4.30pm , what's my chances of being escorted onto the plane tied to a trolley , Hannibal Lector styley ???

If you hang around with the stag party, probably quite high!

My mind is boggling at the thought of the onesie

Yes - I'd say high too

Are you all checked in, and ready to board when the call comes? I getting quite now - I like flying, - especially shortish ones so you don't get bored.

Make sure you have a fab, time with your girl friends my lovely xx

Guess Topsy is flying now.

Hi Lime. I can't keep up now I'm back at work but pop in now and again and post a random comment.

I was dx in August and had wle and snb then 4 weeks of rads finishing November. Have felt well, but work is tiring. Worked this morning, slept this pm, just getting up again...

at Topsy joining stag party, tied to trolley, with groom in onesie.

Hope she is having fun!!!!

Am putting the kettle on again...I need

Hope kurri has a great weekend.

Feeling lot better today. Booked acupuncture tomorrow as always makes me feel a lot better.

Sometimes, your DD always sounds a blast. I didn't take DS to my parents, so it was the first time I'd been away from him for a chunk of time too. He rang me at least three times every day - once to tell me how to spell 'volcano' and 'inferno'. (apparently I needed to know!). When are they back? I'd love a couple of days at home with no-one. Totally get what a treat that must be.

I'm of Topsy too. Where's she going then?? I can't remember.

Ned, I can't add much to the chemo advice, but you will be alright, I promise. Did you know that with FEC the Nurse sits next to you to slowly pump the first of the drugs (the 'F' bit) through the canula. Takes about an hour, which sounds ages but the nurses I had were always lovely and calming and it was nice to have a natter with them too.

Isn't OneinEight on no.3?? I think that's right. Last of the FEC then? Are you there Eight, can't remember if you're onto Tax next?

Just been swimming with a friend and her boy, so we slow breaststroked up and down nattering, avoiding the giant inflatables the staff had put out for the kids. DS pretty good at swimming now, so I can finally do some swimming too which is rather lovely.

Gig, glad to hear you're being proactive - acupuncture's fantastic. In fact you're making me realise I should go back to my wonder woman. I could do with an energy boost and she might be able to help with some painful scar tissue. Does anyone else have any of that??

Kurri, hope they sort out the thyroid drugs for you soon. It does seem to hit you a lot.

Right, can't post more as this post is way too waffly and long already and I still need to read back through and catch up. DH has escaped out with some friends, so I have 'A Single Man' to watch on DVD and naturally.

Wishing you all a v. lovely weekend. Ned keep busy. You'll feel better once Monday's over.

Thanks for that smee Got lots of plans for weekend, to keep busy, as you say. Didn't know nurse would sit with me. Will be nice, especially as stuff from hospital says in big letters that friends/ relatives HAVE to sit in the waiting area due to health snd safety regs so will be on my own otherwise. Think eight is on third cycle. I think she's got 8 in total so maybe one more FEC before moving on?

Went out for lovely pizza at lunchtime, so light supper in order. Hope everyone OK this evening gig you doing OK? Hope topsy behaving. . . .!

Take care, all x x x