**24TH** TAMOXIFEN thread !

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go...

Police have just been round to ask if I head anything, - the burglars drove up by the side of our house (there's a bit of waste land, and there are tyre marks on it apparently) then went round the back of our garden and to neighbours sheds.

Neighbours do have three expensive cars in their drive, posh lawn etc. so probably looked a lot more inviting than our mess!

Have missed loads, as have been doing half term type things, but am back now, so will try and catch up.

Eight, am doing cartwheels for your last chemo.

Ned, reducing dose sounds sane. Last one is utterly brilliant.

Topsy, hip-hip-hooray for your gangrene free nipple.

And MAS, another hip-hip-hooray for your boy reaching 15. Hope he's having an extraordinary time in NYC. I'd bet he is.

Sometimes, was v. good to hear DD has never spent time away from you before, as my DS never has either. He just doesn't want to, and I don't want to push it, as I'm sure he will when he's ready. How's the back now?? Still feeling stronger I hope.

Kurri, that's creepy about the burglars. I hate that idea there's someone out there. I found a fag end by our garden door not long ago. None of us smoke, so someone had obviously been standing there. Unless of course the cat's taken up Silk Cut..

Gracie, huge hugs for you and do keep moaning here - we really do get it. I seem to remember thinking I'd never get through either when I'd got through a couple. That smell thing still does it for me too. DS and I were on a train only yesterday and the person behind us had a drink which made me think of FEC, so we had to move seats. DS thought I'd lost the plot.

Any news from Snoopy or Autumn? Hope they're both okay.

And isn't poor Lime's camping I think. Waving to all those I've missed.

Er, we came back early - took advantage of the break in the rain on Monday to brink back a dryish tent rather than a wet one! Had a good time despite foul, foul weather. Group of friends, wine and fire helped. Spent the awful Sunday at the marvelous Big Pit mining museum. Went down t'pit! Highly recommended and free!

Have felt completely shattered last couple of days tho, think the full-on efforts of packing/camping/packing/washing have done me in!

Gracie - I know what you mean about the 'chemo smell' - strange isn't it? I remember the weird smell hanging around me, or possibly up my nose, for days! A friend's dog wouldn't stop sniffing me after one session. Would it be an idea to switch chemo to hospital? I remember the chemo nurses saying some women brought special 'chemo pyjamas' with them which they then burned at the end. The trigger for me would be the conditioner which I used each time before the cold cap. By the end the smell of that was making me feel quite sick, I could hardly bear it, but didn't want to switch to another and 'spoil' that one too.

Amber that is a bugger about the glaucoma. I've been having 6-monthly checkups for a couple of years due to raised pressures. I feel my eyesight has deteriorated a bit recently so may pay an extra visit to opticians.

Kurri that is disturbing about the burglars. Nasty people . We don't have a water butt either, I bet if I got one and we somehow, miraculously, managed to fit it, that would put an end to the rain!

Hugs all round, and a special wave to Topsy's celebrity nipple!

Oh and my poor knees (and joints generally) after crawling around in the tent! Could barely move by the time we got back. This bloody cancer and treatment has turned me into an old wreck .

BTW - Smee - I finally have a date for my bone scan - next Thursday! They had completely forgotten.

Very wise to come back early Lime - the weather has just got increasingly worse through the week. Pity you had to cut your holiday short though.

I'm sure I'm much more creaky than I used to be too (or maybe cancer +treatment just coincided with me hitting fifty!)

This rain is miserable isn't it, - I want to go outside and play

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Oops clicked too soon - good news about your scan date at last!

excellent news about bone scan date lime !
Sunny but windy here today...just seen a pic of T posted on fb -having dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe on his birthday !
Hope everyone is doing ok today x Waving to smee !

Sunny day here today although a little cold. Looks like we are off to the school fair today

lime great news you got your bone scan date. I'm having one on Monday so I will be thinking of you. Hats off to you sticking the camping even for a couple of days - I would have been home after the first night.

mas sounds like T is having a ball. Glad your plumber eventually turned up.

kurri that is awful about the burglars. Glad they didn't take anything of yours.

Feeling a little bit more normal this morning. I think I definitely need to re-think the working situation. Don't think full days are a feasible option, I will maybe ask if I could do half days.

Good news about the bone scans to both Lime and Gracie .
Top tip from Topsy - the scanner part of the machine gets very close to your face and moves very slowly . So deep breaths , and try and think of something nice .
If you do yoga or meditation , try your breathing exercises .

Gracie don't push yourself too hard with work . You are going through an awful lot at the moment . And just the sheer physical fatigue you will be feeling is enough to knock you off your feet .

DH is going out to play this afternoon with a group of his friends that he went to school with .
One of them has just flown in from Australia , one from London , and one from Scotland .
I think it may get messy

Stopped raining here at last, - it's been chucking it down and coming in through the roof (we haven't had our repair done yet, - the quotes were too high so DH is going to do it himself )

Waving to all, - glad you feel a bit better today gracie. Sounds as if T is having a good time MAS, and hello Smee - nice to see you back.

I'm trying to think of a present for my Mum's nintieth birthday (at the end of this month) - she doesn't want 'clutter' because she's trying to get rid of stuff atm. - Which rather limits the choice.

x-posted - Morning topsy

Morning kk

:) at mrtopsy going out to play - good for him to let his hair down!
:( at your roof kk hope dh gets his finger out and does it soon.

Old people are hard to buy for. My Mum usually gets chocolates. Remember buying my Grandma a rather nice cardigan for her 90th.

Made some chocolate pots here - double cream dark chocolate and tia maria - will put one on the fbs trolley - don't all grab at once ;)

Bought loads more cheap English strawberries and plums this morning - and some sugar and pectin too. Will go grab more rhubarb out of the garden and see if I can jam it for the winter :)

And making more scones - find baking therapeutic!

hairy bakers roasted strawberry scones and clotted cream for the trolley...

nice picture frame for that lovely pic of your dad in his jumper ?
mmm,scones, yes please jane

at hairy bakers. Sounds yummy.

Good news about the bone scan, Lime. Shame you had to come back early but it's wise to know when you're defeated - the weather's been lousy hasn't it. I'd be useless at camping - all my joints ache - I think it's the letrozole.

KK, glad to hear you weren't broken into - burglars normally do two or three garages/sheds in a night round here.

MAS, sounds as if T is having a super duper time on his birthday.

Gracie, very sensible to rethink work - there's no point in forging on and making yourself feel worse. I hope they can accommodate your wishes - they should be able to. Apparently if you have cancer you have the same rights as those with a disability.

Topsy, I hope MrTopsy behaves himself . Have you got any treats planned?

We've had a quiet day - looking at bathroom showrooms. We're thinking of getting rid of our bath as no-one uses it - we all shower - and having a lovely big shower cubicle installed instead. We haven't got room for both. Do you think that's a good idea?

Lovely fresh honey flapjacks for the trolley.

Picture frame is a good idea MAS, cardigan also a good idea jchoc - but I gave her one for Christmas.

I thought I might make her a few home made treats too - some homemade jam, some of DH's tablet, a fruit cake etc. - really there is nothing she wants, she reads, but gets books from the library because she doesn't want to store them, she watches TV, she likes watching the birds in the garden. Fairly simple pleasures.

Figgy I think if you don't use the bath then a big shower is a good idea. If I could only have one, then I think I'd go for a shower too.

We spent the afternoon at B and Q - goodness it's a boring shop! DH was pricing up roofing materials, and I had to write down the details of measurements and prices. I forced him to take me for a coffee afterwards as a reward for not running amok and going bonkers my help.

shower room sounds v good - SIL has one ! I like my bath though
Had a nice outing to NT gardens at Hinton Ampner - decent weather here, then to Alresford which is v pretty place, nice cappuccino in coffee shop there and a visit to the Long Barn lavender shop...
Tumble dryer keeps blowing the fuses, bah ! it's only 2 years old, have been defluffing every crevice to see if that makes a difference.

I've just stumbled upon this website while looking for silk shirts, it has silk items suitable for wear if you have are having chemo, and silk crop tops for those who have had a breast op. Thought it might be of interest here

Lime, I know it's good you've got your Bone Scan through, but I know too that you're worried. I remember before mine I didn't sleep v.well, so I prescribe more fine wine - if there's any left from the soggy camping that is.

On aches post chemo, well bloody hell yes. My knees and feet are so incredibly creaky and painful. DH keeps telling me to go to GP, but I want just a few months of summer (ha!) and to try and get fit. Have had my fill of all things medical. A friend who had chemo at same time as me has been diagnosed with arthritis recently and she was told FEC can trigger it..

Gracie glad to hear you're feeling a bit better today. How are the headaches?

Figgy, go for the shower I reckon. Sounds rather lovely.

How annoying about the tumble drier, MAS. Sounds like it's overheating maybe?? That could trip the fuse

T's plane has landed !!! (sad mother checking flight tracker at 3.30 am) and tumble dryer seems to be working having defurred every bit and rinsed the condenser -yay

Welcome home T
Be prepared to be smothered , I think mummy may have missed you ...

Mr T made it home at the fairly respectable time of 1am .
He had fun , think they all morphed back into the 11 year old boys they were when they first met though !
(bit as they are all grown 45 year old men now)

Horse riding for DD shortly , then Granny's for lunch , then Tesco (deep joy) as we have absolutely no food left in the house .

Any exciting plans for you guys today ?

My GP said that a good number of people get arthritis after chemo, so apparently it is indeed fairly common. It's not improved mine, for sure.

Off to a garden centre with a friend later. Meantime enjoying Not Doing Any Reports, which is unusual for me.

Welcome home T MAS, you are not sad - I stayed up all tracking DD's flight when she was coming home from a school trip - we're Mums - it's our job

Glad MrT had fun topsy, hope he is not nursing too big a headache this morning!

Have fun at the garden centre amber, and enjoy not being too busy atm!

I've just been gardening for the last two hours, - doing all my pots and borders - very late, but the weather has been too foul recently to get out and do anything.

Just having a large - anyone want a cup?

Old lady dog has a bad ear again I think

boy is home and happy- some souvenirs but not a huge amount of money spent- will change the dollars and let him have the money ! he has taken lots of photos and films and seems to have had a really great time.