******The 36th TAMOXIFEN thread******

[NedSchneebly]

You all out there? Pop this way!

Can anyone help, I'm in a bit of a state. In February I had a radio-isotope capsule to try and do something with my thyroid problem. I was told I would get a return appointment after approx 6 weeks. In the meantime, as some of you know, I had pin put in my femur from hip to knee as they believe I had a broken hip.

The result of the thyroid stuff has been forwarded on to me via my breast surgeon as:
Her latest thyroid function test done on the 4th April continued to show normal thyroid hormones with a free T4 and free T3 level of 17 and 5.3 respectively. But the pituitary hormone TSH remains at

Earth, I'm sorry I'm not much help, but Kurri might be the person on thyroid issues. Am sure she'll be along in a bit. x

Thanks smee. Just feel like I'm never getting any further forward. Originally BCN had been all for getting me a speedy appointment so we would all know what battle would be against. Now, it's like wo'ah hang on a minute.

Earth what a pain. They've probably all talked amongst themselves and come up with the best plan regarding all the different appointments but not remembered to tell you so you're left wondering what on earth is going on. Could you phone your BCN for advice?

figgy much love to you and DH. I hope the tests go well. I find knitting very relaxing and a good way to pass the time waiting for hospital appointments etc. I find once I'm concentrating on my knitting it's hard to think about much else so it can be a good distraction :)

I really must get up, slept in til 11 and then have been lazing :) so I won't reply to everyone now, hope you're all having a good day though.

earth I am also clueless on thyroids but nj as well as KK may have an insight. It sounds as Breast Surgeon is wanting to make sure that they work together? Remember he won't necessarily understand the full implications of the thyroid function test results. If it has sent you to the end of your tether I would ring the BCN again to talk it through.

smee I shall probably end up falling in flower beds anyway [pimms]

That childbirth things is doing the rounds of Facebook, very funny but also a bit disturbing as I had forgotten how much it did hurt!

I always get complete amnesia when go to doctors, and do impersonation of someone who is intellectually challenged, or Dickens character trying to ingratiate themselves with their betters, even when they are Dr Ws....... very odd. I always come out wondering why?

I think it helps to have the sleeping pills there in case so that you don't get extra desperate if you have something you want to be on top form for or just are fed up with being zombie. I laid there last night thinking that here I am, having clutched as you did, at straws, in lovely comfy bed with heavenly high tech memory foam topper, lovely pillow and duvet stuffed with softest down of some particular east European goose, lovely high thread cotton sheets and my body just wants to thrash, creak, ache and sweat. I am worse than the Princess and the Pea, or an American tourist..... Big Copt had a sleep in there when she was back and came down saying it was like sleeping on a cloud

MAS I am totally in awe of your healthy snack and breakfast regime, here I am struggling in unequal negotiation to reduce numbers of bottles of coke drunk (I will just go and buy pro plus instead) and packets of Doritos and get her to eat the odd plum. At least pizza today was Reubens. Big Copt just the same except that I can get her to eat healthy Chinese food and snacks like Soya beans

Tosses Reubens rocket and cherry tomato pizza on trolley...

Afternoon all.

I have got behind with posts again, so forgive me if I just dive in.

Earth - I don't know what the thyroid stuff means, thyroid stuff gets very complicated. but I think your TSH level suggests you are still hyper, even though your T4 and T3 levels are OK. I am honestly just guessing here, but it might be that the radio iodine hasn't worked yet, or wasn't taken up very well (sometimes you do have to have it again because it doesn't work). I did read somewhere that TSH levels can be affected by stress (which obviously you have had a lot of) - but I think you need to speak to your endocrinologist to have it all explained.

Right - the appointments confusion - it is not on to make you wait, I would phone your BCN and say you are very anxious about your results and don't want to wait for ages, can your consultant either ring you or can he get in touch with the endocrin. department to give you a quick appointment so you aren't left waiting. Or can you see your consultant as planned on friday and talk about what he knows so far.

I don't think there is any need to panic about your actual thyroid results - mine were all over the place after my radio-iodine treatment - they take several months to settle, don;t read anything bad into them, it sound like the usual variable results you get after treatment.

topsy - gland is a nuisance, but good they are keeping an eye on it and great there is no change in the lungs

Figgy - ((Hugs)) to you and Mr Figgy, - sending loads of good thoughts your way that the operation goes really well, and MrF doesn't feel too rough after it. It that he is upset, but actually probably did him good to have a cry and let it all out. xx

waving to everyone - am going to try to read through posts and catch up.

You haven't said how you are, Kurri. Hope on the mend??

I am OK-ish thanks Smee - very tired though, I think the virus aspect of the shingles is hitting me at the moment and making me worn out (plus the tablets make me tired) so I'm doing my well known impression of a zombie Rashes are fading which is good, although still fairly prickly

Earth I don't know anything about it but I hope you can get some answers soon
Kurri glad you're ok and you seem to be on the mend
Had lovely lunch with nice friends then came home and sobbed its a bloody roller coaster isn't it!

I'd be like a bear with a sore head if I had them, Kurri. Feel free to growl if it helps.

((((hugs for Malt))))) Glad lunch was nice though. Good to keep busy. Two weeks must feel like a very long time. x

Gentle hugs for malt - sobbing maybe helps get some of emotion out.

Kurri- take it easy but glad rash fading a bit .

Earth- I Agree with kurri about pushing for early appt. it may be nothing but no point stressing you.

Appt went ok- onc nice. Being measured up for rads after half term (we are off to Paris) then 10 rounds of short sharp treatment. Am also coming off the steroids and morphine which means if I feel up to it. Keeping an eye on achy knee but think that may be have overdone it in last few days.

Have pain quotidian cake to celebrate more microwaving.

Glad to hear Onc was nice. 10 sounds not-so-bad, but what do you mean by short and sharp? Have they said it'll be ouchy?

Thanks for hugs. I know I go on, I'm sorry. It's the effort of keeping brave face in real life I think, don't know why as friends would be happy for me to cry on their shoulder but too proud

Gigs I'm glad your appointment went ok, I like the sound of short! Paris sounds fab

Malt, that's exactly why we're all here. In RL you can't always be honest, whereas here you can. We all get the fear and anger, also the downright boredom and tedium of it all.

Thanks everyone, I can't seem to get a hold of anyone, no-one is answering their bleep.

My physio had suggested I ring my Macmillan nurse as my pain is very strong even with the breakthrough morphine pain relief and I can't even get a hold of her other than by leaving a message. Grrr.

To take my mind off stuff I've made muffins and weirdly they are delicious. Raspberries, half the same amount of blackberries and lots of chunks of white chocolate. Sooo bad and yet . First come first served.

Earth - I am awe of your baking genius. Those muffins sound awesome.

Not good that you can't get hold of your health care team. I hope they ring back soon.

Those muffins sound wonderful.

Yes will be ouchy on throat but short lived.

That is rubbish about your team earth.

Afternoon all - Earth sorry you're not having much fun. I never usually recommend googling, but perhaps a judicious search might yield some helpful results.
topsy hope your other half is feeling better and gigs am envying your trip to paris (tho did you hear about the notre dame today?>>>>)
Malt get them to run through what to expect at your op. The worst part for me was on the day of the op, the radio isotope injection to track the lymph nodes to biospy. They inject it on the day of the operation. Because you're hungry (because of starving) you feel a bit pathetic and it did sting. But all the staff were lovely. I kept asking people to hold my hand or pat my hand - which everyone did ... I was a bid of a sad, pathetic case ...! But it was tremendously reassuring. The only reason I was scared was because I wasn't in control!. I'm sure if I'd been wearing a gown and doing the operation myself I would have been fine .

Waves.
Has anyone said that the dye turns your wee blue, malt? :) makes a grab for muffin, those sound devine and virtual muffins virtuous and calorie free :)

Hi earth I have thyroid cancer and am on thyroid meds. Am off out but will be back later to read properly the thread and what you are asking. Not sure I will be of any help.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and reassurances regarding DH's appointment today and his op. The echocardiogram went well - all normal - so that's a huge relief for him as he was thinking he had a heart problem as well as everything else. Then at 4.30 today the hospital rang to ask if he can go in for his op tomorrow morning instead of Thursday and he has agreed. So it's all systems go!!!! Eeek!!!!

Brain is in a whirl so can't post anything else but love to you all xxxx

Hi and thank you notJenkins, Does it sound as though I may need the radio-active iodine capsule again, there was talk of perhaps surgery if the first round didn't make a difference.

I have throughout the Carbimazole treatment as well as the last few weeks without it, been without symptoms of any thyroid problems, now, all of a sudden, I feel jumpy and anxious. I've left messages at the hospital, I'm presuming it will be tomorrow now before anyone rings me back.

Oh and it looks like DD2 may be getting married in a castle[wow] it's a very small castle, as castles go, but it is very very beautiful.

We tried them on a whim but while they are more expensive than a hall or a pub it doesn't seem impossible to achieve.

OOh, Figgy. Huge wafts of love and positive vibes too. Will be thinking of you and your DH all day tomorrow. Try not to panic. I know it must be hard, but once he's through the op at least you can get on with what's next, then onto life again. xx

Earth, those muffins sound extraordinary and wow on DD's castle. You'll need a fancy outfit. Really hope one of your team calls first thing. Horrid being in limbo like that.

Waving to all. Wonder if MAS is still propped up at a bar with her margaritas..

Figgy all the best for tomorrow and good news about the ECG
Jchoc blue wee good job you said that or I would have talked myself into it being something sinister :)
Coorong thanks for that, I'm sure I will be much sadder and pathetic than you were !
Earth muffins sound lovely any left ?

I've really struggled today I'll be glad when it's bedtime

Hi earth your TSH looks very low. I find sites like this helpful to try to work out the results of the bloods.

You definatly need to get back to your team but whenever my meds are altered bloods are redone in 6 weeks so it takes awhile for the levels to settle after a change. I was old the RAI works over several months so that may be another reason for the wait. Do you have a thyroid nurse to ask ?

Sorry I can't be of more help but I have no thyroid any more so my experiences are different !