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Tamoxigang -the 39th thread ***

996 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/07/2013 10:53

cooee ! we're over here - just in case the current thread hit 1000 without our noticing Grin Bring the trolley !

OP posts:
topsyturner · 22/07/2013 19:24

Evening All

Any news from Gigs yet ?

Malt you definitely need someone with you !
My DH came with for all my chemos .
I used to have to go in the day before for my bloods , but I never brought him in for that .
It's positively cruel to expect you to sit through chemo alone !

Ruby your poor botty !
Don't suffer on for too long , if its still so painful , go for the stronger pain killers .

Dermatology are happy with me .
They've said the bit of sun I've exposed me too , has done my skin the world of good .
But now my skin is too good to refer me for light therapy !!!
Ah well . They're keeping my file open , so if it flares up again I can just phone them .

Bloods tomorrow , but that's at my gp
Having a fasting glucose and cholesterol tests .
Woohoo ...

Gigondas · 22/07/2013 20:12

Yes I am here- I have steroid to help pain And boost my appetite plus Anti nausea as lovely specialist nurse took pity on me. So be afraid of the return of gig to the steroids platoon -looking forward to our new recruit malt joining.
Malt- glad that they let dh sit with you but I agree it does become more routine. You don't believe it but you do get your own rituals as kurri said.

Kurri sorry that your mum has been poorly and for old lady dog. Shame cooker doesn't fall on evil sis.

was in lot of pain and cried at end of scan/after (seeing someone with a baby set me off as reminded me that am crap sort of mum to mini gig ) so glad that nurse sorted me out.

Ruby how you doing?

Smee are you going away at all?

Hope mas and amber enjoying holiday.

Gigondas · 22/07/2013 20:13

That's good about dermatology but bugger don't get light treatment. Must mean more time in your pants when sun is out Grin.

malteserzz · 22/07/2013 20:27

Topsy good news about your skin
Gigs hope the steroids sort you out. I don't get them till the tax part not the fec
Just started to rain here thank goodness it's so humid we really need it. Hope we get a storm I fancy a good storm !
Kitkat she didn't say how long it would take in total just that the actual chemo part would be an hour to an hour and a half depending on how well it went

Gigondas · 22/07/2013 20:54

You got anything planned to entertain yourself with malt? Aside from news about orange babies Wink

Lilymaid · 22/07/2013 20:59

Malt - its nice to have DHG take you in and home from Chemo but it isn't really that traumatic and certainly not painful.
Last week the cubicle next to me seemed to be full of an entire family watching the Open whilst I (and others) were happy in our cubicles reading books and magazines.
I've now chosen a wig and it will be fitted tomorrow (and I'm afraid it will be "bye bye for now" to my remaining frizzy dead hair - sad it is going, but glad I won't have to keep vacuuming it up for the next week or so. I went to choose the wig with a friend - DH kept saying he wanted long blonde curls or auburn - my hair has always been shortish and a nice shade of dark brown (and so will my wig).

Gigondas · 22/07/2013 21:30

Good you have wig ready- I think staying with own style best . Are you going to get it cut so right length or is it ok?

malteserzz · 22/07/2013 21:39

Cubicle sounds lovely lily this was just 2 big rooms with chairs down each side! Glad you got your wig
Gigs not much planned next couple of days, will do something with arguing children tomorrow then they're going away with gps for couple of days on wed. Might see if dh wants to go out for a last supper type meal too!
Rain came to nothing we only had a few spots and thunder has stopped
Orange baby more interesting to me than royal one!

trice · 23/07/2013 00:19

Malt, you will be fine. Make the nurses let you bring Dh, take your conditioner just in case (I didn't know about it for the first two sessions, then a nurse came back from a training course on the cold cap and set me straight) it is weird because the thing freezes to your head. Take a couple of paracetamol ten mins before your appointment and stuff your temples with cotton wool. You will be fine.

I have been out for lunch today with good friends, we went for a walk and I managed further than I have been since March. I was feeling pretty good, but then an old friend I haven't spoken to since Christmas rang, she didn't know about my secondaries, she asked how I was in a casual kind of way and I had to put the phone down for a couple of minutes while I got my head straight. Put me in a right old spin.

Bloods and new cycle tomorrow if my blood count permits. Not looking forward to it but hoping for more improvement.

Fingers crossed for improvements for all of you with pain problems.

malteserzz · 23/07/2013 04:28

Wide awake for once not worrying but because of the scary storm ! Ds keeps coming in as it's waking him up, dh and dd sleeping through it ! We sleep in the old loft and the rain is so noisy on the velux windows
Trice good luck later on, I will take conditioner on
Thursday in case
Off to play candy crush I think till the storm passes

Gigondas · 23/07/2013 05:58

I slept thru it here but didn't go on for long. Candy crush very addictive isn't it malt?
Was thinking malt do you have sky? If so tons of other chemo suitable viewing for you if you like reality tvGrin.

Trice- that must have been upsetting when friend called but well done on walking. That's impressive.

Also I have just woken up and been able to go the loo PAIN FREE. Going to take it easy but so pleased about this as it is a big deal.

kitkat1967 · 23/07/2013 06:56

Mlat - agree with Trice about the paracetamol. The other things that I have done are to take a blanket with me - once my head goes numb my body heads gets cold so i wrao up uat that point. Also the second time I made sure I ate plenty of carbs before hand and nibbled on stuff throughout the treatment - i say nibble aas you have a tight strap under your chin so major eating is out of the question.

Fab storm here in the night - very imprressive Smile.

topsyturner · 23/07/2013 08:06

Morning All

Yippee for a pain free pee Gigs !
Glad you made it through yesterday's apts . When do you get ct results ?

I'm off to gp now for bloods .
Speak to you all later x

BetsyBoop · 23/07/2013 08:53

woohoo fora painfree gigs long may it continue :)

trice great you managed a walk, but sorry it was tough talking to your friend :(

ruby hope your botty is feeling better today

topsy glad your skin is feeling better

Anyone heard from EMIN ?

malt - I would insist you want your DH there for the first one if that's what you want (you may remember I was told I HAD to have someone with me for the first one! I'm a pretty independent leave me alone I'll do it on my own sort but even I was glad to have DH there for the first one, even if he was sat in the corner reading his book so as not to annoy me!) I was expecting the big room with lots of chairs round but so far I've been in a room by myself which was a good job after I made a show of myself by fainting last time! It does get more "run of the mill" once you've done your first one though, you know what to expect.

Well remember me madly suggesting that my boobs were smaller after the first chemo? Well I'm obviously not totally mad as you can now SEE a big difference in size between cancer-boob (much smaller now) and non-cancer-boob - hopefully a good sign chemo is working (lumps feel smaller too), but makes me wonder just how many cancer cells were lurking in there Hmm It will be a shrivelled up prune they are chopping off by the end of chemo at this rate Grin

MaryAnnSingleton · 23/07/2013 09:19

Aide, can't keep up - but I see that gig is pain free,hooray and let it continue WineWine. V sorry to hear about your mum and poor Old Lady dog kk - sending love.
ruby - rotten about bot Confused
Welcome to wrinkly - can't advise but you are v welcome to our hands to hold.
Am having v nice time- yesterday was lovely, Southwold packed with Latitude festival goers - lovely by the sea, lunch in cafe on the pier and a walk into town then more beach where T swam.
Music teacher emailed results of singing exam..a pass, 6 points short of a merit- T very disappointed as he'd hoped he'd do better- feel bad for telling him now, but he cheered up after swimming.
My hands like the sun, they look almost normal ! They are brown anyway,as are feet. It is so nice not to have meds Grin. I wore my Seasalt handy band to stop my head getting sunburned and it covers all,so will be brilliant for those without hair- only thing is that it made me feel like a cancer patient Wink
Lovely brewery today to buy beer and have lunch,then,if not raining,to Walberswick again.
take care all xxxxxxxEnvy

OP posts:
malteserzz · 23/07/2013 09:20

Gigs that is brilliant ! Yes I have sky so will find lots of trash to watch
Betsy also brilliant news ! Just shows that it works which must be worth all of the SEs
Topsy good luck with bloods
I also think about Emin a lot and hope she's ok, is anyone in touch with her other than on here ?

Nurse yesterday advised me to take some sweets to suck she said some people get a funny taste/ smell as soon as its going in. They had a big fridge with sandwiches in to help yourself and drinks but I'll take some snacks
Just had a big downpour again-in the sun ! Tired after being up in the storm

malteserzz · 23/07/2013 09:25

Mas sounds like you're having a great time I'm really pleasedSmile shame about the singing exam, we has similar here recently dd only got a pass in her baritone exam but it's still a pass
Something I forgot to ask yesterday, what if you need a wee when you're having chemo ? If it's 4 hours I might need one !

Gigondas · 23/07/2013 09:27

Sweets good idea- I liked fruit sherbet from m and s. I found in end even the thought of hospital food made me nauseous so bring some of your own.

T still done really well mas. Am Envy about beer.

If kept emin in , she may not have access (chances are may want to observe she is ok before send her home).

Trice I see on another thread you aren't thrilled about baby news overkill whispers you and me both .

Off to shower before reflexology . Am so SmileSmileSmileSmile that pain better. Thanks for putting up with me.

Going to hunt sky suggestions for malt too .

malteserzz · 23/07/2013 09:34

I spotted trice on that thread too Grin

kitkat1967 · 23/07/2013 09:51

Malt - that's cool that your DD plays the baritone - that's very unusual Smile (ex brass bander here!!)

First time I managed the 4 hrs without a wee (proud moment) but last time I had drunk too much tea before hand (with my carbs) but they were able to un-plug me from the cold cap machine (chemo all done at this point) and I shuffled off for a quick wee with cap on head Hmm

BetsyBoop · 23/07/2013 09:56

malt you can just wander to the loo with your drip stand in tow ;) Sucky sweets are a good idea - apparently the C bit especially can give you a bit of a "chlorine hitting the back of your nose at the swimming pool" effect - not had that yet though, just the stepping off the waltzer effect Grin

Have been avoiding the baby threads, was vaguely interested for about 10secs Hmm

Gigondas · 23/07/2013 09:59

I got a dab hand at drip drag as was latched on for 3 days each time. The beep it made when it ran empty used to haunt me for days.

smee · 23/07/2013 10:22

Betsy a large cheer for your shrinking breast. Smile And a huge one for Gigs and no pain. Long may it continue. Smile Smile

Malt, word of warning. Take the paracetemol, but don't admit it. My lot told me off. The reason is if your temperature spikes, paracetemol can mask it. Not a huge problem though, so take the pills. It does help.

Am mighty jealous of MAS. Your holiday does sound lovely. Three cheers for DS for passing his exam. Smile

Ruby, how are you today? Are the painkillers working a bit better now?

Sorry can't post more. Got to run to pitch for a new work project. Will be useless in this heat. Back later. Waving to all. Hope everyone in treatment's feeling not too bad. xx

Copthallresident · 23/07/2013 10:59

I was stuck with my faithful drip for three ruddy weeks when had my personal 9\11 during first chemo. I did make the loo Grin

I had a friend with me at every chemo, we sat and watched very deep films and discussed them, she is gorgeous and very wise, enjoyed using brain in normal way, and helped convince me I was still me and not institutionalised Cancer patient. Once home reverted to crap TV. There is so much on Sky, watched first shameless other day, James McAvoy Smile

We only had a mini storm here around 8 and now looks like sun coming out. Going to be interesting driving down to London this morning. [scared emoticon] Hope there's been some rain as DH not very patient with watering my garden.

Nausea has been threatening so have avoided all talk of babies, and tried to blank out jokes on Fbook as well, honestly has everyone gone back to year zero as far as childbirth is concerned, good friend who had her baby in Egypt, so no hurry up drugs available to her, just posted they should call it George Michael it took so long to come out Confused actually think some people have gone back to year zero as far as all brain activity is concerned. The nausea was brought on by just one reference to a presumably at least moderately intelligent young woman who has some achievements under her belt, if you count, getting future King to marry you, choosing nice clothes, and successfully managing your public image so noone can discern a trace of personality, as "Mum", don't really much value that list of achievements but she doesn't deserve that! Tomorrow meeting up with dear friends who just landed from the US, will be interested in their take on it.

Also been thinking of EMIN, once they sort out the methodone it usually makes people more lucid and calm, hope she is feeling better.

Trice yeah for walk, very hard to suddenly find yourself in telling people mode when you are not psyched up for it.

gigs So glad last night and trip to loo was pain free. Coffee beckons soon Smile When do you get scan results.

kK sorry about your mum's accident, old lady dog and mad bad sister. At least you have a good sister to help you. Does your mum realise she is bad and get upset or is she vulnerable to being manipulated? When your mum has what she wants within reach it must be very hard.

Goondog is making parents old lady dog very happy, had her running full pelt up the beach with him and they play like puppies.

I too have quarrelling siblings. They are so very different in every single way, and really wind each other up, they have humdinger fights that end up with hair, and even once bits of teeth, flying. I have wondered if I did something wrong but there is no law that says that the sibling you are landed with is going to be your friend. However just occasionally, when Big Copt is first home, when we are on holiday, you see that what they have in common can overcome their differences (usually when united in taking the piss out of me Grin ) and I do think that having each other will be a good thing in future.

Mas your hols look wonderful, are you also off to Aldeburgh, loved it there, it was almost a if an orchestra was permanently playing in the background, have lovely painting of beach there on wall at foot of my bed, makes me relax just looking at it.

Better shut up , Mum will be shouting at me for being obsessed with virtual world at expense of real (ex school teacher, and very opinionated about modern things which are uniformly evil )

MaryAnnSingleton · 23/07/2013 11:10

Probably not Aldeburgh this time or Snape, but depends on weather - it always rains on us in Aldeburgh !
Shall I stick some nice beer on trolley gig ?
Am thinking my ma had me in Tehran, no fancy drugs etc,could only speak enough Farsi to ask 'where is my baby'. Easy to find as the only fair haired scrap there. Apparently they wanted to shave my hair to make my hair grow thick and black out my eyebrows with burned cork...( not mum,but Persian lady who helped look after me).

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