*tamoxifen* 31- in the bus shelter with the cheap booze

[Gigondas]

Shiny new thread

[jchocchip]

Morning all! Hope the weather is kind to you. Got to get up now but putting it off.
Ned, a day in School may be just what you need, could be scary going back, I found it daunting, but it was amazing how quickly I got back into the groove.
Woodburner day today :)

[Copthallresident]

gigs So it was d) Sorry put two and two together and made five but yes there is someone about who is young and still wearing a wig but perhaps the lesbian look is about to take off in Twickers? . It was also that whoever did keep looking sideways, as if wondering what I was wondering, but then we were talking bus shelter things, some of the time.

Oxford Street? Now? That is brave, or mad. Had to go and get passport on Monday and wait four hours for it to be ready, took one look at Knightsbridge and fled to the library ... Getting the passport was a trial. Fierce scary lady in passport office marked my form and photos a FAIL three times, and then made me stand there repeatedly filling in the signature bit until it was INSIDE THE LINES, and even said "Now take a deep breath and write slowly". I would have felt that treating me like I was in Reception was due to my chemo brain, given once upon a time that signature was perfectly acceptable on very important letters and £14m contracts and things, except she was doing it to everybody. Young glam city banker behind me was as much of a fail as I was!! But we needed the passports and couldn't shout, so we formed a support group ...

Do sign. February is so dismal.

MAS I hope things slow down. Have you tried making the tea really weak? Chinese style.

[graciesmall09]

Well done gigs on enrolling with OU. I would love to have the brains to do something like that alas I feel even more stupid since chemo (that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it).

mas have you tried the green tea with lemon, very refreshing. Btw the greyhound you 'liked' on FB last night was the one I homechecked for. He is off to a fab home with a lurcher and terrier. Hope your bowel problems ease up.

The mutt has gone to the vet for his booster shots and grooming. I have to pick him up soon so he is bound to be huffing so dear knows what he will chew when I go out to do the school run.

[MaryAnnSingleton]

he was lovely gracie I can't cope with any tea with lemon since I was given lemon tea once and had to throw it in a flower bed- strange as I like tea and I like lemons

[topsyturner]

I live on peppermint tea Mas
Drink gallons of the stuff !

[topsyturner]

One of Santas robins just had the nerve to briefly land in my back garden
Pig/Dog has gone postal at it .
And telling Pig/Dog that Santa won't bring him any presents if he is mean to the robin isn't shutting him up ...

[HerNextDoorAt21]

Afternoon all :) Found the laptop topsy ? You will all have to forgive me for my sporadic appearances. I work full time and spend most of the rest of my life running around after the kids etc.

Thanks to everyone for their experiences regarding reconstruction etc. I think like you ledkr, I would prefer the non flat chest look if I could possibly get away with it ... will have to see what they say next week.

I had a very wobbly day yesterday, a pity party and a "oh why meeeeeeeeeee" day but feeling a bit more chirpy today and have had to get on with life seeing the clinical psych for my ASD DS and his conitnuing soiling problems and now just about to head off to the dentist with my 4yo DS.

Although I am (and will continue to be) eternally grateful to topsy for being there for my constant ear bending, over wine, gin, bacardi, meths coffee I have requested counselling through my GP which will hopefully be progressed quickly (by my good friend who it the GP's practice nurse who has siad she will try and bump me to the top of the list ) to help me with the months ahead and just my mad life as a parent to 2 wee children and 3 older (and very bloody challenging) stepkids. I only came off ADs two weeks ago and think I should maybe go back on those too .... see what next week brings.

It is interesting for me to be reading and getting to know you all a bit better.

[Baskets45]

I was just thinking, Copthall, couldn't you do your friend Just a Scandanavian-style willy warmer instead of a whole sweater? I've heard Topsy has a pattern ....

[jchocchip]

Sometimes I leave the tea out completely and drink hot water. My friend squeezes an orange over hers. Hot ribena was always a treat, too. Not surprising that you had a wobble hnd, I have a history of spectacular wobbles myself. Fresh air and exercise help, usually.
Supposed to be working so back to it. Have new woodburner:), but can't light it until tomorrow :(

[topsyturner]

Willy Warmer Crocheting is for my lovely bil .
He has (mercilessly) taken the Mickey out of me since I took up knitting and crocheting . He thinks I am a Very Old Lady !
So I have crocheted him a micro one and a maxi one , and he can take his pick !!!

[ledkr]

I still have wobbles eighteen yrs later . Currently I am freaking about pain in wrist and foot which of course could be nothing else but cancer.
Got go tomorrow to discuss raised ca125 and ask for referral for my oof.
What the hell eh ill just have to embrace the menopause

[jchocchip]

topsy have you got a pattern?

[Copthallresident]

Baskets I think my 79 year old mother would be a bit taken aback by a willy warmer, Dad might be quite flattered by the maxi though They were quite a randy pair when I was younger. I once came back with friends from a night aged 17 and they were at it on the sheepskin rug in the front of the fire, oh the horror and shame.... My friends have been in awe ever since!

[Gigondas]

At your parents being goers copt

hernextdoor I think counselling is an excellent idea (see a therapist myself and it does help). Also feel
Your pain about big step kids.

topsy you are not shaming me enough to pick my knittjng back up and I really should.


baskets I fear how rusty I will be on this course and that I will have a picky tutor.


jchoc is your woodburner warm? A friend has one and I am

ned hugs and - I still have wobbles so I can only hope you get some help soon. I don't think christmas helps as the air of jollity can make it seem worse if you aren't havjng best time. Also a year on is a massive dip according to my dm.

mas how is the Xmas playlist and how are boys exams?

Waves to amber smee and anyone I have missed- fresh baked mince pies for fbs if anyone keen.

[MaryAnnSingleton]

copt I'd have died of embarrassment !!!!
hello gig T seems to be coping ok with the exams- drama and maths today...
Christmas playlist all done and sounding good !

[Baskets45]

Our sons caught us 'at it' a few years ago, on the hall carpet. And, no, nobody was wearing a Santa hat. I still cringe and laugh in equal measure when i think about it. The boys had all gone out to the library, first time EVER they'd all been out without one of us - they came back early cos the boy who falls had fallen. By then we'd retired behind a bedroom door - and I am deaf so didn't hear the boys returning - luckily DH warned me, but they did overhear some 'talk'. DS1 did give his father a bit of a smirk later, but nothing else was said. It's funny what teenagers think about 'the oldies' having a sex life, though TBH i was a bit of an innocent and I never gave my parents' sex life a thought as a teen. However, my dad was very keen to tell me about his vasectomy - in a shopping centre no less - I was in my late 30s by then. He was recommending it for DH after ds4 was born. Since I was born in 1961 and he had it done soon after, it seems he/my dad was in the 'vasectomy vanguard' which i've always thought was quite funny as I didn't think my parents were 'ahead' in much else.

Gig, you will have a lovely supportive OU tutor. Does the course not start with the basics? I did look a few years ago, mainly cos I thought it might be interesting to DH who is nearing retirement. It will come back to you when you get started. I think it's a lovely thing to be doing (I did a degree in modern languages when i left school, before I did nursing - i know, I know - still very much like the process of language learning ....).

I think you are right about all this 'festive jollity', Gig. I am on the point of pulling out of a group meal with friends from uni. I can't face it - the others all have careers and good health - and it's a major schlep to a town south of Glasgow. Maybe a bit silly to withdraw socially but i can't face it really at mo.

Well, I wonder if I should knit willy warmers times 5 for Christmas. i wonder what my menfolk would think .... (I have a DH and 4 sons - aged 22 down to 14. Dh is 66 - I don't think anyone's ever done him a willy warmer before - must check). mmm, lots to ponder. Much better than liver disease and cancer .....

[Baskets45]

The above should read NEARLY on hall carpet. For what it's worth. I don't think nearly being caught has quite the kudos of really being caught ITA. Oh well.

[amberlight]

Hee hee, can we order willy warmers for our other halves then? There could be a decent business opportunity here

'evening all! Coughing away thanks to usual winter-ish virus thingies so trying to be sensible (ha ha ha), but nurse happy with my blood pressure today so that's one thing that's still working.

Boob pain. If I do a lot of walking etc my boob hurts. I guess it's the nerve damage from the lumpectomy etc. Do I need a sports bra or something? Any thoughts?? Very annoying.

[Baskets45]

Hi, amber. Why don't you try a sports bra and see if it helps? I wear a sports bra when out for long walks, as get uncomfortable - no breast surgery for me but I do have large breasts - if I think anything more strenuous than walking will take place I used to run a bit), i wear what i call 'extra scaffolding' which is a sports top from M and S with 'support' built in. With said sports bra.

Good about your BP. Is that still fallout from Herceptin? Hope your winter lurgy clears soon.

[amberlight]

On Herceptin it was totally out of control even on two different maximum bp tablets. It's now back in normal range on just one. Phew. Will try bra.

[invicta]

Hi HerNextDoor (Higher National Diploma) and LedKR

Led - you asked about genetics testing. Its definantly worth it. I'm waiting for results from genetic testing at the moment. However, they can only tell you whether you have one of the two known genetics genes. They can't tell you whether you have a bc gene that has not be identified as yet.

[jchocchip]

Morning all! Time for a and porridge.

[MaryAnnSingleton]

baskets !! that's v funny and love your tale of your dad's vasectomy
MIL has described how FIL used to have to wash and reuse olden day condoms
Get better soon amber -and sports bra sounds a good idea for walks
Had a very nice time with ex book group- lovely party snacks irresistable so am full of yummy things and some nice wine.
Hair trim and a few foils in my hair for festive sprucing today

[Copthallresident]

gigs I was rusty at first but then I was one of only two not straight from a U/G course or, worse, the stint at Beijing Normal. OU will be much more attuned to facilitating people back into study. I was soon holding my own with all the 20 something's and I ended up doing better. It counts for a lot that you are there because you really want to learn as opposed to have something else on your CV.

As to picky tutors Academics don't survive these days without excellent feedback from their students, that student satisfaction score is too important in the league tables. OU wouldn't do so well on that if it had picky tutors. All my tutors were/are really encouraging, even the world renown Professor. In Continuing Ed it is all the more important that they are encouraging so it will be "positive parenting".

I am sure you are really going to enjoy it.

[smee]

Been away for a day or two whizzing round the country for work, and so much to read..!

ledkr, I've had genetic testing. They found a gene anomaly, though it wasn't the recognised two, though on a watch list apparently. Was all v.interesting. Also have had no periods since chemo (June 2010) and am 46 now. Will find out next week whether am through menopause or not, as they took bloods at last appt to check. I tried to think of it all as a positive as my cancer was so hormone positive.

roca, I'd echo what Elibean says (waving to her ), as when I had a scare recently I was told Endo is usually highly treatable. Still a worry though, I know I was terrified. On the raised ca125, I asked my team why they don't do regular bloods and they said because they're unreliable, so yield a lot of false positives which stress patients out unnecessarily. I know that won't stop you worrying, but maybe it's vaguely reassuring.

Ned, Dr Lovely does sound incredibly lovely. Hope they can get you onto a level soon. Is DS excited about Christmas? I'd bet he's about to go pop.

HND, I had implants straight away after mastectomy, but was told they wouldn't do any other form of reconstruction as I was having Rads and it can damage the skin. If you end up having rads, am guessing they might say similar. Sounds like you need black out blinds to soften the glare from Topsy's display.

MAS, how's your tummy today? Hope it's calmed. Did you call the team to ask about it?

Gig, mighty impressed by OU course. I yearn to do something similar and nearly got myself to Birkbeck open day in November, but have too much work atm. I'm thinking Autumn 2013 might be the time..

Haven't time to join in the discussion on parental sex or willy warmers, though it's good to see the tone's at it's normal level! Waving to Amber, Baskets, Kurri, Sometimes, Copthall and anyone else out there I've missed.