**TAMOXIFEN** 26 !

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Here we go !

stars a big hug for you -- I never look at myself naked in the mirror, I really can't. Am glad you are feeling a bit better- perhaps the back girls will know about muscle spasms - smee and sometimes ?
gig glad you had nice lunch at your mum's - I can imagine the prospect of scans is pretty horrid for you - will be thinking of you.
Am off to post office shortly- ds just got up- am taking him for hair cut later this afternoon.

Tried a heat pad? I bought one on amazon for my dodgy shoulder and it was far more Effective than pain relief. It's better than heat packs or hot water bottle as can place it where you need easily and stays constantly hot.

I don't know anything about back spasms, sorry Stars. it sounds really horrible, so sympathies.

Stars I am lucky that I have never had back probs . My sister does though and she gets voltorol based painkillers , and says they are brilliant .

Had a great lie in today till gone 11am .
Love the fact that my DC are extremely lazy and sleep for hours

Hair coming out in handfuls this morning . But only from my ears backwards bizarrely enough !
Think the clippers may be getting an airing by the end of the week .

Nurse just been . Wound is back to its ousey bleeding state
I give up !

And if any of you tell me how hot and sunny it is , I may have to hunt you down and kill you !
Guess where all the rain has gone ???

Am off to google the benefits of valerian now Gigs .

Rain, dodgy wounds and more hair loss Poor Topsy. I won't tell you that it is hotter than a hot thing here, then

But if it makes you feel less like killing me - the washing machine has just jacked it in. Sigh.

poor topsy .... and poor sometimes grrrr

Thanks. And it has come in a week when we are already having people over on Wednesday to install cavity wall insulation - and I hate having people in the house doing stuff.

I do realise that this is a very spoilt, middle class sort of complaint and I will go and put myself in the corner with a gag on right now.

Waves to Stars - nice to see you back here. The only thing which worked for me with back spasms were incredibly strong anti inflammatories. They calmed it enough to break the cycle. Over the counter ones didn't touch it. Once the spasms had gone though, I could go back to the less butch ones.

Topsy, about wound. And hair going too. Not a good day in Topsy-land. Is a treat in order?? I would say essential given the circs. Kalms have Valerian, I think combined with Hops which is supposed to be the best mix. They work well with a glass of wine.

gig, not surprised you don't like scans. Bit of luck though it'll be good news this time. No point telling you not to worry though.

Sometimes, bugger about the washing machine. Totally get what you mean with people coming in too. Hugely unsettling.

DS and I have been out doing our art shop run. I buy him a sketch book at the start of the long summer holidays and some new pencils. Turned into a rather nice tradition. So far, he has skulls, dragons and swords in it. Oh and a deeply unflattering picture of me.

No real news on the baby for now. Will tell you more if I hear.

Here Topsy-[[http://www.facebook.com/goinggoingbike/posts/278486865593734 chris hoy now
Appears allergic to shirtS]] . That picture will cure wounds - fact!

Thanks for kind words smee- trying not to focus on scan as my nurse did say it was only routine to see what going on and not diagnostic as such . I know my wobbles are partly due to everyone going on holiday at end of next week.

We did discuss whether mini gig Could stay but thought might be tricky and what kind of message would that send to big gig that your sister an optional extra plus dh besotted with her so was unlikely to let her stay.

Have made lemon cake with vanilla icing and fruit on (or chocolate buttons for the less healthily inclined).

Won't boast about sun here

Poor Chris Hoy
Maybe we should start a fund to buy him some see through shirts ?

I couldn't do without my washing machine Sometimes . I seem to have obtained a DD who either goes through 3 changes of clothing per day , or she refuses to take her pjs off !

Gig totally understand your scan anxiety .
I get a ct every 6 weeks , and waiting for the results is a bloody nightmare .
It's waiting for the axe to drop every time isn't it ?
Has anything got any bigger ? Has anything spread ?
When in reality (apart from the first diagnosis of secondaries) its not been awful news .

I will get some scan results on Monday at my pre chemo apt , so I will hold hands with you this week

uncertainty is so awful.
sometimes am with you on the anxiety about people doing stuff in the house (remember tap trauma) I am much better at dealing with the possibility of things going wrong than before -but still dread it.T's haircut done - he is a funny boy- I offered him an icy cool something from the Costa but he refused and wanted to get home again !

smee Got T a new drawing book at London Graphic centre (and one for me too !) he's been drawing maps,imaginary countries....

Hugs to everyone who needs it including topsy and gigs for scan and results and sometimes for her insulation and washing machine.

Still no news on baby smee? Keeping everything crossed.

This last chemo has wrecked my bladder . I bought some cystitis drinks today but not really sure if it is cystitis or not. No pain at beginning but agony at the end so not sure what is going on.

Well MIL totally bent my ear yesterday and then phoned today for another 1 hour chat. Boy that woman can talk about rubbish. I have heard the same stories for the past 20 years and she insists I sit in a room with her whilst everyone else sits in the other room. So came home and flopped.

Found this for you Topsy www.standard.co.uk/incoming/article7965449.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/Sir+Chris+Hoy.

And happy to hold hands as those are sort of my thoughts but I guess all a bit too fresh since initial dx.

gracie have you tried cranberry juice? You should mention The cystitis as i know it's a known side effect on my chemo which is why I end up staying in and being shoved full of fluids and what I think is basically posh cystitis meds.

gigs the nurses did tell me my chemo irritates the bladder so I will mention it again to them. I did say last week but it fell on deaf ears. She just told me to drink lemon drinks. I haven't tried cranberry juice as I keep forgetting to buy it but I will get some tomorrow as I am in agony.

Lemon!!? Ow ow ow. Loads of water, minimal caffeine and booze and cranberry which stops the bacteria sticking to bladder wall.

I thought lemon was a bit weird as I thought it would be acidic - no wonder it has got worse. Different nurse tomorrow, last week's is a bit absent minded. She forgot to do my bloods and hasn't filled in any of my notes which will not go down well tomorrow.

Aw thanks Gigs
It's very unfortunate that his clothes keep falling off isn't it ?

*Gracie ow !
Plenty of plain fluids . Flush your system out . And definitely let your onc know .

Fell asleep on the sofa this afternoon , dammit !
That's gonna be a bugger tonight !

Gracie, I had cystitis on chemo. The sachets always worked for me. I think it's like everything else, you're just hugely prone to infection. very ouch though. Lemon's an insane idea.

Did you get any Valerian, Topsy?

MAS, should have known you would frequent art shops with your DS too.

Baby still being weaned off the heavy duty drugs, so they can't do proper scans until she's off those properly as they'll effect the results. She's had a few seizures today though, which clearly isn't good. Am off to drive them back to hospital in a bit. They came home to freshen up.

Most unfortunate- it may be olympic rather than orange theme for a while ...

oh smee

Poor baby .
And poor parents .
Am thinking of them lots xxx

Oh smee thinking of your friends and their baby

gracie how you doing? lots of water and sachets- I know it's horrid going to the loo but ime you do need to flush cystitis out.

how did you sleep topsy?

Think between shopping and mini gig overdid it yesterday as neck/shoulder stiff again- duct tape me amber style if see me overdoing it