**24TH** TAMOXIFEN thread !

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go...

yes,lots of love to gig for today and bon voyage...
topsy have a nice relaxing day - will add some treats to the trolley later- croissants maybe

Morning all!

I love KK's new chap, what a cutie

Hope everyone is doing OK today. Whoever asked about working (Gracie?) It is a tough one really, it depends so much on what you do. Loads of us on here worked all through but many of us are self employed and did not have to travel much. But if you feel up for it and can sit near an open window or door, public transport might be OK. My onc said most infections you give to yourself anyway. And work definitely helps you to stay feeling a bit more normal, if you can manage it.

Great to see Topsy restored: and here's my best wishes for Ned, Gig and everyone else going through the mill.

I haven't said my welcome to Bubble yet - so this is it. I can't help with the tamox question: I am on it but don't remember the sensation you mention. However, I will say that I had plenty of other aches and pains with it in the early days. So try not to worry - but do ask. I am sure it is fine, but you should get reassurance so you can move on. This bit where you emerge from treatment and feel a bit alone is very, very tough emotionally. But it gets easier.

Morning all

good vibes for Gig today.

gracie good luck with chemo.

Ned - hope you are feeling a bit better and they let you out soon xx

Bubble - I wasn't having periods when I started on tamox. - so can't really help. But like Sometimes I can tell you it took a bit of getting used to and I did have various aches and pains, - you are bound to worry, it's perfectly natural after what you've been through, so do ask the GP and they can set your mind at rest.

topsy - have a nice restful day, and I'll have an egg sarni please if there's one to spare - love them (although I'm always reminded of the scene in Father Ted where he says he likes all sandwiches except egg, and Mrs Doyle has made a massive bag of egg sarnis )

jchoc - sorry you are feeling under the weather too, - hope the GP can sort something out for you.

Can't believe T is off to NY so soon MAS - seems only yesterday when you first heard about it! - what an adventure for him, I hope he has a fabulous time.

love to all, waving to anyone I've missed.

Off to make a GP appointment for DH, - he has a dodgy looking new mole on his hand - but is saying 'oh I probably just be wasting their time getting it checked' so I have told him he I am making appointment and he is going.

Good for you, KK, make him go. Dodgy moles can be VERY dodgy if left

Flying in to say am thinking of Gig today. Candle lit here, soft breeze blowing.

Gracie, good luck to you today too. Hope the driver goes in without a fuss. Picc line too.. I did work throughout, but like Sometimes I work from home, so that made it much more viable. Impossible to say really, as we all react so differently to chemo.

Snoopy, glad you're not feeling too bad. Definitely take the Lorazepam if it helps. You can come off it gradually once you're through.

Kurri, yes v. good for you on mystery mole. My DH had a dodgy skin thing and we had to have biopsies and all sorts. Thankfully benign, but so glad we got it checked as the specialist said it was the sort that could turn malignant.

Sometimes, how are you today?? Are you still taller?

No news from Ned. Hope that doesn't mean she's back in hospital.

Topsy, are you in Gig's suitcase still? Am luring you out with M&S Jubilee tea cakes..

Bubble, I think you're bound to get aches and pains when you start on Tamoxifen too, but definitely ask BCN and keep an eye on things. Bit of a coincidence, as I've been having pelvic pain for a few months on and off now and my last period was way back in June 2010. With me they said they really don't worry unless you have spotting/ bleeding, which I hadn't until yesterday..! Fortunately had an appt this morning with my surgeon, and she's referred me to a Gynaecologist for ultrasound and possible biopsy.

Still, 'tis a lovely day. Waving to all those I've missed. Hope everyone out there's feeling okay today.

Afternoon all - hope everyone OK today. Big hugs for all in need.

smee unfortunately I did end up doing another stint in hospital, but am safely installed at home now. Slightly dramatic 999 dash at 2am on Sunday morning, with temp of 38.6, couldn't breathe, heart racing, couldn't move legs, dizzy etc. Neutopenic again, neutrophils 0.6, so iv antibiotics again. Feeling OK just by tired. Have booked my bed on the ward for next cycle

Boo you've got to see gynae - hope they can sort things out for you.

snoopy take all pills that are offered, it really does make it easier. Glad to hear you're feeling OK.

gracie you're rattling through these chemos! Number 3 tomorrow, I think? Hope driver goes in OK x

kurri my DH is the same about not going to docs- he just complains! Well done for booking mr kurri in. Love the seal by the way!

Sending positive vibes to gig x x x

Talking about working, I am a teacher, and was very definitely signed off for the duration of treatment. Was told risk of infection from snotty children too high. Don't think I would have been much use anyway, to be honest!

Making a sandwich if anyone interested? Will pop some cheese and homemade pickle ones on the trolley

Oh cripes the worry never really goes, does it Smee? am quite sure it will all prove fine, but top marks for getting it looked at pronto.

I am fine and dandy, thanks! Still straighter and taller, but with a very fuzzy head still (which is not entirely due to the higher altitude I am now enjoying ) Also still surrounded by flowers, people are so kind.

Ned - great you are home now - take things easy, - its horrid going to the hospital in the middle of the night - they do all sorts of jabbing and poking, and you just want to sleep (and groan quietly to yourself)

Smee - am sure it will turn out to be nothing to worry about, but you are very wise to get things checked.

DH has a lot of moles - mostly on his back, which I check regularly for him as he can't see them! - he's normally fairly good about going to Docs, but I think he just can't be bothered half the time - so he makes stuff up - says 'Oh I'm a bit worried about this new mole, it itches ' and I say go to GP then, Next day he's saying 'Oh I'm not sure its new after all, its probably nothing, maybe I'll wait and see' Grrrrr.

Anyway they couldn't give me an appointment for thursday (which is the day convenient for him) but they said ring on the day and they'll fit him in. So I shall do that!

Blimey Ned, you win the high drama prize. That must have been terrifying. Hope DS slept through it all.

Sometimes, that fuzzy head'll need teacakes. Am convinced they're addictive. We got some for DS's party but forgot to take them, so of course I couldn't let them go to waste.

Kurri, I have similar with my DH and his moles. He now has a yearly mole check though, so at least that's something.

Tea cakes and cheese and pickle sarnies ?
My kinda board !

Welcome home Ned , sofa , now !

Ah well, if it's recycling we are doing, I'll take 2 teacakes

Get out of that case, Topsy my love, you need to let the air get to your important little places after all that time in hospital! All that time on those sweaty wipe clean mattresses. Yuk!

Passing Ned a tea cake: hope I don't need to deploy the tape, Ned.....

I can help out with those tea cakes - would be a pity to waste them.

I have to be weighed in about a weeks time I haven't made much progress in the three weeks, - not put any one, but not lost any. And i fell of the wagon at the weekend and had a Magnum - to be fair DH bought them and it would have been rude to refuse. Plus we had Eurovision snacks. Oh dear.

I am imagining a topsy shaped piece of contraband showing up as Gig goes through customs

It is getting a little moist in here ...

Dh complaining bag is very heavy

Moderately good news so your candles worked!! Liver spots look benign (fatty deposits) - no significant movement on lung or bone met. Am fit enough to do hard core double in patient treatment which apparently has best chance of success for controlling this. Loads of candles needed that get a good go at this and the pain is worth it.

Drinking wine and having lunch now before off to French France .

Will be back later but I do appreciate the candles and thoughts xxxx

hope all is going well with gracie
eek about you smee but best to have things checked- was told the same (about spotting ) by surgeon..a comforting hug for you xxxx
ned hooray that you're home- all sounds v dramatic - take it easy now,and a cheese and homemade pickle sandwich sounds just the ticket.
kk hope all ok with dh's mole- my father has had several removed from his face (sun damage) Oddly enough I was looking at a mole on my leg this morning and checking it online - it's not new but I wasn't sure whether it looked like it does before-the edges I mean...will keep an eye on it.
Had my eyes tested - not much change and contact lenses are fine but if I wanted I can have new lenses (or specs) to even up my vision for work-usually I take my specs off to draw but with the new prescription I can see even better- hmmm, will need to think.

cross-posted with you gig - that's good news I think - and we will certainly be with you through it all,now have a fab time away xxxxx

Flipping heck you lot there's never a dull moment on here! I feel recovered now and ready to rejoin the human race. Did I tell you I had to clean the loo in hospital? Oh and had to wait 7 hours for paracetamol? I probably did tell you but can't find post. Try to stay as well as possible ladies.

Was a bit scary, but DS oblivious to it all, although he seemed a bit disappointed afterwards that he didn't get to see the flashing lights! DH stayed at home so we didn't have to disturb J or anyone else. Was much poking and jabbing, but was on the ward by 6.30am with illicit toast made by one of the nurses!

topsy moist is a rude word. It always makes me chuckle!

Hope everyone enjoying FBS this afternoon - tea cakes are delicious!

Gig - that is good news, and you know we're all here for you through your treatment Now go and enjoy your holiday and eat a croissant or ten for me

GreyLady - at cleaning the toilet and 7 hours wait for pain killers - that's appalling. (I did stay in a hospital once that had fleas in the bed, - it was a good few years ago though, and not where I am living now!)

MAS - new specs are so expensive aren't they? - I need some too but am putting it off until I feel richer

Great news, Gig! Enjoy Froggy France!

New glasses are eye-wateringly expensive, but can make a huge difference, of course. Don't forget you can have your prescription and go somewhere much cheaper......

that's true, though I get a discount on lenses and frames at my opticians-so it probably evens out- I like my current specs but any excuse to have another pair that might make my vision better for working (and it's nice to have a change) though I really shouldn't spend any money.

gig reasonsbly positive news then - well done you! You know how much we all want to support you through treatment - sending you massive hugs x x x enjoy your holiday - you deserve it so much

greylady at your hospital! Hope you made lots of fuss. I have been pretty lucky with my hospital so far.

MAS I hate spending money on glasses - tried contacts but didn't get on with them, and was recommended not to use them anyway, I am blind in one eye and there is more risk of damaging the good eye. I guess if it makes it easier to work its worth spending some money to update them?

at loo cleaning, Grey Lady!

I hate buying new glasses too, but when I did it last autumn the difference was quite amazing.

Trying to economise here too, a bit. The door literally fell off the cooker last week so we have had to buy a new one, as the door was the only bit that wasn't already hanging off . The new one is very shiny but a bit baffling

Gig tell your DH I am aghast at his "heavy suitcase" aspersions
Good news re the benign liver spots , and also good news that you are viable for sooper dooper chemo blasting . When do they reckon that will happen ?

Grey every time I went to the loo in hospital I took my flush able bleach wipes with me !
Some people are real mingers and leave the loos in such a state

Ned what about gusset ?
That always makes me giggle