Tamoxigang - 41 and counting

[KurriKurri]

Morning all, new thread, croissants on trolley, and I'll put a brew on.

Scarf on top of wig though malt ? To make it more secure ?-won't look cancer-ish that way..in fact rather ladylike.

That could work Mas I have lots of scarves so will experiment

Hi I am back in the land of running water and electric light. We were all exhausted but i spent ages in the night in a sleepy state trying to find my flip flops to trudge across the field to the loo when it dawned on me it was only a few feet away across a carpeted floor. I am all camped out for this year.

My scan letter has arrived and it is a few days later than they told me on the phone. I am on of those anal Virgos that like to plan so it has thrown me a bit.

Thanks for the roundup gigs it was very helpful !

Morning All

Just had a read and reply to EMINs thread .
It's so bloody unfair isn't it ?
DH just walked in and found me sobbing .

Snap out of it Topsy !

Hands topsy a - yep it's not bloody fair . And seems to be the good ones that suffer too.

So far am still awake after my not so great night but must admit not at my most long fused. Can I last the afternoon? Especially after roast pork. ? You have to grandmas topsy?

Grabs gratefully !

Yes at Granny's , pink meat (roast ham) today .
Then orf to get school shoes for the not so mini topsys .
And a Tesco run , as the only food we have in the house is bread and milk and I have no wine

This evening it's a second roast dinner at HNDs house to celebrate her DSS 18th birthday .
Yum !

Then comatose into bed I should think .
Hope everyone else has a lovely Sunday .
Although I see you have been dragged to a car show room Gigs
Sigh ...

Oh and Amber a very happy belated birthday .
I hear it was a special number ?
21 was it ???

Most important question Betsy , what colour is it ???
hehe topsy - DH did hours and hours and hours of research as to what car to get, I got to pick the colour - metallic petrol blue - it's a Skoda Superb Estate like this one (the pic is the 2012 model, can't find a 2013 model in petrol blue)

Just made some rhubarb and strawberry crumble and a fruit cake so I'll toss some on the trolley when they are cooked.

phew it's warm here today

Oh very nice - and big betsy.

Yes it was basically a posh car showroom but it was a way to avoid sleep. In park now on bench- may have an ice cream but probably ought to wait and buy kids one too. Your treats sound tempting as does pink meat. We are having late lunch so am starved.

wow - massive car Betsy - but lovely colour. I have an estate car at the moment but may change to something smaller after Xmas as don't seem to need so much space at the moment. Also mine is a very dull colour and i would love a fab colour like yours!!

Gig - you def can't have an ice-cream without your little gigs.

I have a long day out yesterday (and late night) - and was fine - but am absolutely bushed today - got up at 1pm as DH had cooked brunch but am knackered again already so will be an afternoon in front of the TV for me I think.

Dh is in a clearing out sort of a mood. He has got rid of my camping gear as he hates camping and I am never going to be well enough to go on my own with the kids again. He says he is being realistic. I say he is being hurtful and an Arse.

I am feeling really down today. I have the home from holiday blues.

yes it is a bit scarily big, but DH assures me it's only a foot longer and 7" wider than our current car (Nissan Primera) so hopefully I'll soon get used to it. I hate car shopping with a passion (hence having the current one for almost 13 years!) so we figured we needed something to fit the kids as they get older (DH is 6'3", I'm 5'11" and the kids are both two years ahead of "average" height for their age, so looks like they will be tall too and will be in need of rear leg room).

x-post trice - that's not good :( - and who says you won't be well enough to do a camping trip again? Or even "garden camping" (my kids love that!) You have been doing so much better lately :)

You are right kitkat so we all had one together.

Trice, I agree with betsy. Never say never- you are doing loads better and either gardening or lux camping. We were meant to be going this week but haven't. I certainly haven't given up on going again. Not surprised you are fed up.

Home now and staking out kitchen for roast pork.

Afternoon all and anyone? I've got flapjack or choc brownies on offer?

Trying to catch up, and then I read EMIN's news. . .

Emin that is shit news of the highest order - I'm so sorry lovely. Cancer is one of life's nonsensical evils and the most vile disease of all. Nothing I can say will help, but I am thinking of you and hoping that whatever time you gave left is full of special experiences with those you love x x x x

Will catch up on everyone else - good summary gig ! Sorry been so AWOL - been madly busy. Had nice holiday in Ireland and now in crazy "last week of holiday" madness, with DS's 6th birthday thrown in too!

Lots of love and hugs to all of you lovelies x x x

Well now, if there's and on offer....

Yes, it was my 21st birthday and it is of course a total lie that I may have been 50

waving frantically at ned !!
Am off to meditation in a bit, then more anniversary celebrating with prosecco and chocolates

help again - more stupid questions from me.

So surgery is on Friday but not meeting surgeon until Tuesday evening and BCN on Weds pm. I am guess surgeon will talk about op but I need BCN for practical info and that does not leave me much time to get organised.

I have ordered 2 post surgery bras (and hope they come in time) but do I actually need them immediately or will I have only dressings? Also will the nurse provide a prothesis or do I need to buy that as well? grrrr... not stressed about the op but am stressed that I have no info and feel un-prepared.
PJs I can do - but do I also need tops that un-button down the front - I seem to only have one, or will I be OK in a T-shirt (once out of PJs )?
Am booked in for 2 nights - does that mean that I will come home with drains in?

Sorry just dashing in quickly - ,

Kitkat - you won't need bras immediately - you'll have dressings, and wil need a bit of time to heal before a bra is comfortable.
BCN/hospital will provide you with a softie initially, then after several weeks you'll get a proper prosthesis fitting at the hospital - you don;t need to buy one yourself at all, it is all provided (although at some point you might want to buy yourself spares for swimming etc. but you'll work out what you want once you get used to it.)

yes to button down the front tops - as they will keep looking and your arm will be sore, you don;t want to keep taking tops over your head.

two nights - you'll very likely come home with drain in unless you are very lucky and stop leaking fluid quickly. District nurse will come out to you each day to check wound/redress/remove drain when necessary. You need a little bag of some sort that you can hang over your shoulder to put your drain in, for ease of walking around with it in. (sometimes hospital, provide a little bag sometimes not)

thanks KK - that makes sense. So my priority is to search wardrobe and if necessary shop for tops.

As reconstruction will be in 6 months (all being well) I'm hoping to have minimal new underwear etc. but still want to feel positive about it all.

Oops - slightly misread your post Kitkat - I thought you meant tops for hospital (where you need to keep taking them on and off fro exams) - back at home wear whatever is comfy - loose soft t-shorts are ideal.

I find that tops which you might think will be too low cut can be adapted with a lacy vest top underneath, and some bras have a sort of lace insert bit (the problem is that prosthesis can gape away from scar slightly when you have a mastectomy, so you have to cover up a bit more or everything will show. But you'll work out what feels comfortable for you

ah Fab - so I already have PJ tops with buttons down the front and am assuming I will not get dressed until time to leave hospital.

Hopefully i've got enough variety of clothes to find things that will work - am aware that i won't be able to wear anything low but don't think that's a major problem - just a question of trial and error I guess.

Kitkat what boob size are you ?
I found boob size made a great difference to what you wear post surgery .

After my mx (I was at least a GG cup) I wore M&S total support , wire free (granny) bras . With my hospital supplied softee (tis a boob stuffed with teddy bear stuffing , whilst you are still tender and healing after surgery)
And I wore tight fitting best tops under my normal tops , as those granny bras showed over the top of all my tops .

After my reduction surgery (on my remaining boob) I just wore vest tops until I got my proper prosthetic as I was reduced to a b/c cup .

Def try to wear button up at the front tops in hospital as there is always someone wanting a poke around !

And yes , a small shoulder bag for your drains .
If just mx , should be 1 drain .
If node clearance too , 2 drains .
They don't like to leave the drains in for longer than 5 days , but will do if they really need to .

Ask ANY other questions you want , we've all been through just about every surgery you can think of !

thanks Topsy - am a 34B/C so def not large which I am hoping will help. Just mx - nodes are clear - so mx with insertion of skin expander.

I've ordered a couple of bras on-line but (can send them back if they don't fit I guess) - spent a long time looking for the least 'granny' options as I really don't think at my age and size i want/need those great wide strapes and think backs.

oh and also ordered one of those sew in pockets - so will experiment to see what suits me best.

Kitkat bit of a shock bringing your op forward but good to get it done asap once decision made. I had my op (lumpectomy) 2 years ago on 1st Sept and certainly all healed up and rads done by Christmas.
Busy busy day here. Junior church, lunch, party, walk to the river and watched tail end of a dvd and now bed :)
Foot is a bit better gig, another week and a bit of anti-inflamatories and then I'll see if it is up to running, if not a referral.
Saw friend with recurance this morning, she is having a rest from chemo and feeling a bit better.

Party was at a friend's house - she died just as I was dx so 2 years ago. Was a good party but missed her so much being in her house.
Nighty night everyone. Hope you are meditated, fresh aired into a good sleepy place tonight.