***TAMOXIFEN number 19***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

ta daa !

topsy I'm two years since my mastectomy. I had herceptin and wanted to wait until i'd finished that and also had my port removed. I was supposed to do it in October but I chickened out!

Cot propping up a good idea as did that with dd (but forgot). May investigate new bottles too (ditched bf as was too much when In hospital and would have meant the hassle of an epidural rather than drugs for pain relief). am not Doing too badly today hence mundane concerns .

Plum jam and bread and butter good- and that's great re sleep ned. I bet you feel heaps better for it.

All this abstinence - am I in the right place?!

Ned, I'd say you need something stronger next time. They seem to start you on the lowest rack of anti sickness drugs, then give you more powerful ones if they're insufficient. They put me on Emend for chemo 2, but I had a bad reaction to it - don't let that put you off though, as it's a 1:1000 oddity and for most women Emend is utterly fantastic. If they look at you blankly, the name it goes by in the UK is 'Aprepitant'. You have to take it an hour before the chemo drugs go in, so ask them when you get your bloods done before next chemo a) what drug they'll try and b) should you turn up early/ can you have them before the day so you can take on way in. Last thing you want to do is get stuck in the unit for longer than you have to.

Gig, could you do the unthinkable and lie her on her tummy for a while? If you're in the room it wouldn't be risky? My DS had horrible colic and it was the only thing which soothed him.

Pennies, when are you having your epic op? I'm having another in April, but mine's just to remove an expander implant and replace with pure silicon. Am quite looking forward to having matching breasts for the summer.

glad you slept well ned !
I remember Ash Wednesday ! and Holy Days of Obligation :-)

Should have said, MAS you'll read the poem beautifully I'm sure. What a lovely thing to do, though hard too I know.

Thanks smee -I'll do my very best !

Smee that is our solution of choice (bad mum and it's dh fourth baby so he tends to be a bit more no nonsense) when we are awake. As you say it does work.

Am also in awe of all the abstinence here

Friend just texted to say something on woman's hour re pregnancy and cancer- think I may give that one a miss as comes under google heading.

Gig, I got myself into a right old stress about putting DS on his tummy, but my mum reminded me that we all slept on our tummies as that was the advice then, so I chilled out about it a bit. Hope she's a bit better today. v.hard when they're so upset.

• definitely avoid the Radio. Stick loud music on and dance instead.

Gig just realised, but does this mean you're an evil step-mother?!

Morning everyone.

Ned I still feel a bit queasy -off food - for about 5 days but have not been sick since using the Emend. By Saturday I am usually OK. Did you get bad morning sickness - my consultant said there is usually a correlation. I have a very red face this morning - for another strange side effect.

Penni - good luck with the reconstruction. I have not reached that stage yet but am hoping they will be able to use my tummy flap that has refused to disappear since the twins were born. How did you get on with the herceptin. Would love to hear of someone who has struggled less than Amber.

Goodluck to all those Lent vows. I think I am off food enough at the moment without denying myself anymore for Lent. Good excuse anyway.

OneinEight, most people sail through herceptin. My genetics is dodgy, which is why I sailed through chemo and why herceptin nobbled me completely.

Ned, very slightly queasy is normal. Try sea bands from chemist - wrist pressure straps. They worked a bit for me. So did sipping ginger beer.

Hi all. Feeling better than yesterday, when all hell broke loose here (too long a story). ? (with sugar, which is how to maintain willpower for diets, according to new research)

Eight, I'd forgotten that one about Morning Sickness - definitely true in my case.. How are you - sounds like you're feeling a bit yuk?

Pennies - that is a daunting op but I am sure will be very worthwhile. I wish I could donate my spare tum(s)! I can understand your reluctance to start over again in building up fitness How lovely to be working in your DDs' school - I used to do dinner duty sometimes and gloried in DS2 rushing up to me and proudly claiming me as his

Smee - toes are a lot better most of the time but whole feet, especially one, get v sore if I'm on them a lot, and first thing when I stand up, and had such heel pain for a while I was literally just hobbling about. Went to GP and got anti-inflams and was told to buy air-sole trainers .

MAS - how clever of you to record yourself, brilliant idea. I am sure with this practice and tweaking you will do a fantastic job. Well done you for going for it x

Ned - I still felt queasy even on the Emend, but I was never actually sick.

1in8 - a couple of the women at my chemo ward coffee morning on Monday talked of taking Herceptin but didn't seem to have any problems with it. I see Pennies mentioned having finished it further upthread.

Love to everyone. I have seeded hot cross buns, so surely v healthy? for the FBS trolley.

Gig, I was going to suggest lying her on her tummy too. I had to do it with my ds, he had terrible problems with wind. I also used to jiggle him on my shoulder quite a lot and could feel the bubbles of wind gurgling. Now shoulder jiggling is what dh's are good for you know.

Pennies -I am not surprised you feel a bit daunted by the surgery. You will be fine, and I feel you should be very pleased with yourself that they have to take a skin graft from your leg, as for me lack of extra skin would not be a problem

MAS - I am glad you are going to give the poem a go, you will be fantastic, good luck.

I have to say no lent vows here....diet is not just for Lent, but for life

I have just got back from having my hair chopped off, now have short bob, kind of blondish still, if you are being kind see me in strong sunlight and squint a bit

Yes the morning sickness comparison was true for me too - more nausea than many, but never actually sick x

Am using wii fit with balance board, it not only makes me work, but also measures me every day so I can't cheat fail to see how badly well I am doing.

Yes i am a most evil step mother Smee ( the big kids are both away at uni now so dont see so much of them but they are great with the littlies).

at Gig as wicked step mother

Dh working from home, so just laid down an ultimatum that it was either going to be oil (central heating) or wood (wood burning kitchen range) but it WAS going to be one of them as am freezing....also missing a lot of hair now which clearly provided extra shoulder and neck warmth!

Should say range burning away happily now......

Smee - I'm O.K really - mid course blues I expect. Thanks for asking.

Big hugs oneineight.

Sparkles - sympathies. I have a constant battle with my dh over the thermostat setting - he just doesn't feel the cold. Glad you won this time.

gentle hugs for mid course blues. I remember the chemo flush - every cycle with Fec.

Sparkle - how lovely to be talking to you again! Have Wii Fit but am afraid to go back on it - will get sarky comments about increased weight and time away (couple of years)! I shall have to create a new Mii.... Had a go at some games during half term with the boys and was sad at how unfit and unbalanced I am compared to before treatment. Used to be quite good at eg heading footballs! Now crap at everything.