**TAMOXIFEN 29**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

crikey !

I have to go in first thing and will have it done by lunch time. They will keep me in for at least 2 hours afterwards to make sure I am okay.

Afternoon all - trying to catch up with everyone, having missed a few days.

fab - you are bound to feel scared about tomorrow, - I think GA's are always a bit scary, whatever you are having done, but I am sure you will be fine, - and give yourself time to recover afterwards - it always takes me a good 10 days or so to feel right after a GA. Lots of good vibes coming your way from me xx

amber - I'm glad you are feeling excited and enjoying your work - but don't overdo it

Ned - poor little Ned, - and poor you and DH, it is so scary when you have to do a hospital dash with DC. I hope he's feeling much better today. have a good time seeing new nephew

topsy - enjoy your nephew's party, he sounds like a lovely lad.

SR - glad your DS is settling in well at Imperial.

Ooh MAS - how lovely that you are meeting Ned, - she is a lovely, lovely woman - you will have a great time together

I am feeling very zombie like, having taken an amytriptiline for my shingles pain, and they knock me out. I managed to stagger round Lidl to do the grocery shopping. I've got to have another go at reading an awful book for my book club next week - finding it very hard work!

And some little bastard of an animal has snuck into my greehouse and stolen my aubergines which were nearly ready to be picked! I'm so cross, every single one has been bitten off at the stem and made off with (I suspect a rat, or squirrel maybe, but rat more probable as the fields have just been ploughed which makes them come into gardens)

Love to all, hope everyone has managed some relaxing time this w/e, and weather not too dreadful (it's pouring here)

MAS and Ned - have a great meet!

KK - very cross on your behalf re the aubergines - outrageous behaviour - I'd be furious too!!

Have just walked for 2.5 hours with Ramblers so going to lie down now......

Justfab, can't add much but how you're feeling sounds ever so normal to me. so try not to give yourself a hard time. Cancer's scary and operations are too. You'll feel better once you're through and even if results aren't good, weirdly at least you'll know. Somehow limbo-land's the worst. xx

at pesky vermin, Kurri. How infuriating. Am mighty impressed you grew some aubergines though.

SR, well done on the rambling. Lying down sounds well deserved.

MAS & Ned meet up sounds fun. She does get around that Ned - must be the red-ninja mobile.

MAS, how are you feeling about tomorrow? Stupid question I know, but is it feeling less daunting now you've been through one round, or more? Hope the former obviously. xx

Hope little Ned's still climbing out of his lurgy still. Sounded very scary. Asthma's horrible, especially in small children. Am sending you a hug, Ned xx

Happy party, Topsy - must be a riot when you all get together. Your nephew sounds like a grand lad.

Amber, i have the duct tape still and can travel. We're watching you.

We ventured across to the Serpentine pavilion as it was last day today. Gorgeous leaves walking through Kensington Gardens. Predictably we've come home with yet more conkers...

I wish I had photgraphed my aubergines - now they exist only in my mind

I've just realised I should have had a blood test on Friday - I've got my onc. check up tomorrow, - it's at four in the afternoon - do you think if I get the bloods done first thing the results will get there by four? Hope so because that's what its going to have to be.
Aargh - I hate hospital visits even if its only for a check up.

Well done on your long ramble SR -hope it kept fine for you.

You can never have enough conkers Smee - every small child and grown up woman should have conkers in their pocket (plus odd bits of string and a pea shooter)

I have no pea-shooter, though do have misc. stones, several red postie's rubber bands and a couple of odd screws.

I think they can turn round blood results within an hour, so if you go first thing you should be fine. Do they do bloods every check up? My lot don't. Have always wondered why not.

Yes thanks KK it stayed mostly sunny and entirely dry - not the most interesting route ever known - rather flat and prone to motorway noise! But a good to be out for so long and I met a nice companion and we chatted all the way.

I have visions of massive, glossy aubergines in your garden......

Smee - its oddly very nice to read about the lovely weather and leaves in Kensington gardens as this means my DS has had a sunny day and nice leaves too - but he won't tell me of course, as he's busy getting into life down there....I suppose he did txt me yesterday so mustn't grumble.. much... anyway thank-you for telling me about it!

Good luck to MAS and Fab for treatment tomorrow.

I've only had one blood check in the last 2 years - my GP said it was to check my liver was coping ok with the Anastrazole. I do wonder if they'll ever check my bone density again as well. Not much point having a baseline check if you don't do any ever again.

Evening! DS much improved this evening, thank you all so much for hugs and good wishes. It was pretty scary - he woke up coughing, his inhalers made no difference whatsoever, so I called OOH, and waited for a call back from someone a bit more medical . In the meantime, DS getting more distressed, not being able to breathe, retching with the coughing etc, so I phoned them back, and they sent me straight to hospital. Got antibiotics (although doc not convinced it was an infection, but covering all bases, especially over the weekend), steroid tablets and steroid inhalers. Had peaceful day, and he was much better by this morning after a reasonable night's sleep. Had a good sleep on the way back from seeing nephew (very cute!) and is currently watching "Pirates and their adventures with scientists" or something, while munching chocolate spread sandwiches. . .

MAS I am very much looking forward to our meet up next weekend - it'll be great! How does coffee and cake on Saturday morning sound?! How are you feeling today? Hope you've had a restful weekend.

kurri awww you are too flattering! Sorry to hear about your aubergines. DH had exactly the same problem with his tomatoes!

smee I have not engaged the morph function on the ninjamobile yet, but, given that the handbook is about 6 inches thick, I am sure I will find the instructions as to how to do it in there somewhere! Hope you're doing OK x

SR good to see you!

gig how you doing lovely?

topsy hope nephew's party was fun?

JustFab have been thinking about you a lot this week. Waiting it is the pits, it really is shit. Once you know what you're dealing with, I found it became somewhat easier, because you have a plan, and you're on the road to getting things sorted. Waiting and being in limbo is a pile of crap, and I sympathise completely. Stick with us, love x

Anyone for and Downton Abbey later?

Waves to gracie, sparkle, lime, sometimes, and anyone else lurking, those too tired or busy to post, and anyone else who needs a hug x x x x x

just rushing quickly in to say hello and grrrrr about aubergines kk - how really annoying and greedy of the varmint.
Bless little ned - so pleased he is feeling a bit better. Coffee and cake on saturday am will be fab - shall we meet at the Italian cafe in town - I will email you with my phone number etc - so excited !!
I have already started my 2nd round and so far feel fine- I had wine last night too- no sickness or anything.
kk - am sure you can get blood done tomorrow and it'll be ready - mine took 2 hours but they were v busy (this was at hospital)
Lots of good vibes for tomorrow and to fab too.
Looking forward to Downton

Sorry Ned . I don't want your time wasted on me. I am grateful to you all for welcoming me and helping me so much, much as I feel a fraud as I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet and it is probably something daft like polyps. It is just when a doctor says "it could be cancer" you kind of focus on that if you are me. Not sure I will be able to sleep tonight. Have to be up at 6. Taxi booked. Even scared about that as not keen on going in a car with a stranger .

Evening All

Downtown and sounds just about right to me !

Luffly time was had at the party .
Sister in laws family are Indian , and they did most of the catering .
I am presently lying on the sofa in elasticated trousers ...

Just Fab, hope it all goes okay tomorrow. Sorry you are worried, it's totally understandable. Nothing to add really, just to say GAs are VERY safe. Despite working for years as a nurse, and (sort of!) understanding the science behind them, I worry about GAs too, and getting into cars with strangers too , but fact is it's rare for any of it to go wrong. And soon at least you will know more about what is happening. I hope you can get help with school runs etc for rest of week, so you can rest and recover.

Sorry to see Wee Ned not well, but glad he's on the mend. Asthma is so scary and can worsen so quickly. Ned and Mas meeting for coffee and cake in an Italian cafe The rest of us will be on the cybersidelines looking on (and salivating). Hope you ladies have fun together.

MAS, how's the new hair do? I hope it all went well and has given you the predicted lift.

So, sandripples, how was the film? Barbara? I'm keen to see it too. I like this era of history too. Just the other day i was looking to see how near to home it is playing - Glasgow, I think. Not sure if I'll get to see it this week. The book Stasiland that smee mentions is good. Another book in a similar style, but from an earlier era, is Frauen. It's a series of interviews of women who lived through the THird Reich. It must be weird having ds move away. But good he is settling in. We are one child down only at moment (ds1 isa student in Glasgow this year). ds3, if he ever sorts his UCAS form, will go next year. In fact that's the reason I'm online at mo - to check the ucas website to see what 'helicoptering' is required. mm, not sure which is better, a helicopter or a tiger, but maybe I've left the 'tiger mother' stuff a bit late. Oh well ....

at topsy's elasticated trousers. There was an interesting int on radio this week - ?Womens' Hour - about Indian food that isn't fattening. Good you had lovely time with family. I love Indian food ( and some members of my family too!)

sorry for bad punctuation above!

Thank you Basket45. DH is taking Monday and Tuesday off but can't take any more time and there is no-one to help. I will have to drive as the school is 8 miles away.

Just Fab - hopefully by Wed, esp if you take it all easy Tuesday, you'll be okay for a little light driving later in week. All the best anyway. Same to others too. xxx

at Ned's restraint with the morph button.

MAS, not sure why but I thought it was a Monday start. How long do you take each lot of pills for? I can't remember. Glad to hear wine's still going down well.

SR, glad to be of service. London's lovely at the moment. Am sure DS isn't even noticing it though, as he'll be so busy.

JustFab, YOU ARE NOT A FRAUD. Even if you end up with the best of news, you've still felt the fear we've all felt. We get how terrifying and overwhelming it all is. That's why you're in the right place. xx

Gig, are you out there? You're unusually quiet, so hope you're okay xx

Baskets, too late for Tiger Mum made me smile. A friend once told me the best method of parenting was benign neglect. His kids have both done brilliantly.

Downton is yet another thing I've never watched.

Thank you Smee.

Smee I was once talking to a friend about palazzo pants (those wide leg trousers) and she thought I was calling them fatso pants !

The days feast appears to have warn off .
Am now munching on mini cheddars (special offer at tescos) and mini twirls .

Just popping in to say loads of luck for Fab tomorrow - we'll be thinking of you.

topsy - I am of your elasticated trousers. I want to buy myself some fatso palazzo pants once - and DH said (rather bluntly I thought) - 'you'd look terrible in those' he was right, I would look terrible in them, but I still slightly hanker after a pair.

MAS and Ned - make sure you eat a large slice of cake for me (coffee and walnut if poss), and have a lovely time

Baskets - am looking up those books you mention - they sound very interesting.

Night night all, and good luck for treatment and appointments for everyone having them.

Baskets - hair is as I hoped - so that's v cheering
Smee - it's 14 days on and 7 off - almost forgot to take them this evening
Italian cafe doesn't do coffee & walnut ( my favourite) though my mum asked them to make one for my bday last year which was fabulous with a coffee and mascarpone icing - they said they hadn't come across it before

Kurri, I hope you haven't got an Amazon habit, like me . Another good German writer on Cold war themes is Peter Schneider. A fair bit of his stuff now translated into Englisch. Wall Jumper is one, off top of head.

Morning everyone