**Tamoxigang heading towards hearts and valentines - thread 47**

[BetsyBoop]

roses are red
violets are blue
sugar is sweet
but cakes are better

Pickle I didn't have a Hickman line so can't help you with that, hope your care gets better

I had my 1st rads, all ok though found out I have 20 sessions rather than 15

malterserzz that's frustrating. How frequent are your sessions?

I had a very shallow bath to ensure nothing got wet. I then washed my face in the sink and got the dressing at the bottom of my neck wet. I wasn't overly concerned as the hospital had said it was waterproof but not to submerge that or the dressing on my chest. It wasn't and my neck wound was weeping. Thankfully I've got a decent first aid kit so was able to make another cover for it. I've also got some microfibre tape to tape down the two dangley lines I have and hopefully ensure I will be able to sleep ok.

I hope my care gets better too. I'm a pretty easy patient if nursing staff do their job properly (and I'm not expecting miracles). I'm not at all impressed if they fail to do basic care. One nurse had to change the dressing that another nurse had just changed as the first nurse hadn't bothered to clean up the blood before putting a new dressing on. I didn't need to say anything about that, fortunately as the second nurse was gobsmacked.

Have been crying on n off all day today, despite having had relatively good news (low grade sarcoma vs fibromatosis). Recovering well from the op. (though frankly wouldn't know, as am consuming so many pain killers on hospital instruction, I'd be oblivious of I sat on a hairbrush).
Normal to cry two weeks post op and a few days after diagnosis with GOOD results? I know it prob is (thee both incl build up and release of two hellish months of waiting, waiting, waiting, operating, waiting, waiting (you get the picture). I just... feel bad for feeling sad as I really think 'I dodged a fucking bullet' (DH's words).

Goodness I'm sure it is all just the shock of what you have been through and what you are still going through. I think feeling how you are is perfectly normal and all just something to get through. I hope you feel brighter tomorrow.

Pickle you're right that's all we want is decent care from people who know what they are doing. I hope you manage to get some sleep tonight. Rads sessions are every day apart from weekends, times all over the place !

Goodness I'm sure that's a normal reaction you need time to let it sink in

Has anyone heard from really today ?

Glad to know that the chemo has not melted my brain and that I can concentrate when I want/need to.

Pickle - I am sorry that I keep calling you Difficult. I just keep remembering your situation with the hospital/beds etc and it is how I remember your name! Sorry, I can't help with information on the Hickman Line, I am a Portacath girl.

Wren - Your dizziness might be a sign of low blood pressure, drinking more water and eating salty foods can help, (if you can stomach anything).

Malt - Glad your first session went well. Surprised that your Oncologist or Consultant didn't tell you that they had changed the schedule and left it to the Radiologist to tell you. I know it doesn't take much to get us paranoid.

Goodness - I would say what your experiencing is perfectly normal - you have been under a lot of stress for a long, long time now.

I have had a lovely day today - two friends had arranged Afternoon Tea as a surprise to cheer me up. Some people can be so thoughtful and pull out all the stops - I am very lucky.

Tiny that is lovely of your friends thee are some kind people in the world sorry you're down, do let us know if we can help at all even if it's just a listening ear. It is overwhelming sometimes x

Tiny I think I have line envy . I wanted a portacath but the consultant said I couldn't have one.

Hope work went well for the returners.

Hope you get some sleep Pickle.

Goodness, you may have dodged a bullet (Yay!) but you have still been punched in the face (metaphorically speaking) so it is fine to have a weep. I think the painkillers wreck your composure as well. A good swearing session will probably also help.

Thank you Xxx

Morning everyone

Morning Malt and everyone [waves]
I'm hopeless at keeping up with everyone but hope we're all ok on this lovely morn [glances out at rain pouring down again]
Goodness it's good to get everything out - its been such a rollercoaster for you.
Sounds a lovely treat Tiny, cake is my downfall and I love a good teashop!
Had my 3rd of the weekly taxs yesterday and once the Piriton wore off didn't feel too bad but couldn't sleep at all so todays going to be a quite one I think.
Hope everyone has a good day

Really, if you're reading this, I know you're having a shitty time and am thinking of you. Xxxx

Wine glad you're doing ok hope you get some rest today

Goodness how is really is she still in hospital ? Send her our best wishes please were all thinking about her

2nd rads today was going to go on the bus and walk but not sure now in this rain

Morning everyone. Another one hoping really is ok.

Currently waiting for the district nurse to arrive. I had to change my neck dressing twice last night and ended up using supplies that the hospital sent home with me for the dn to use. Hope she has some of her own.

malteserzz I wouldn't walk in this can't you go by car?

District nurse has just been and gone and changed dressings. I feel almost human.

That's great pickle glad she's made you feel better
Yes I can drive there easily just need to lose some weight and get fitter so bus and walking would be healthier, might save it for nicer days though !

It's stair rods here and I need to go out. Will definitely be driving! Our village is flooded so only one road open to get out which means journey times are slow.

Glad you've got new dressings, pickle, and I hope it's under control now. It sounds like a stressful night for you. And I imagine a neck dressing is tricky to change as you presumably need a mirror? I could only see my breast wound in a mirror and occasionally got directionally muddled when doing the dressings....

I can't think that walking out in this rain is healthy, malt. My daily walk is definitely on hold - not that I've done it since chemo, mind you. And fingers crossed that your last road out of the village stays open, pickle. Hospital by boat is one adventure too far!

Big ((hugs)) to really, if you can read this.

Got my wig this morning. Can't say I love it, but feel happier to have it to hand. Hair still in but won't be long now...

wren how are you feeling today? Did you make the parent teacher meeting last evening?

Worst of my tax SEs over for this month. Bones were horrible all weekend. Taste buds behaving themselves so far this cycle, hoping that will hold out.

But I've caught a cold. Having no nasal hair is not fun with a cold! Thankful I've being getting Nuelasta last few cycles. I seem to avoid the various bugs DDs have brought home. Certainly my cold is much milder than what DD1 had.

Hi everyone, hope you are all having a nice day, or as nice as days get in this world!
goodness hugs for you, it's totally understandable to feel like you do, go easy on yourself,
really thinking about you, sending hugs too,

Iv just been with my DF for his mask fitting for radiotherapy, poor thing has to wear a face/neck mask, he's very claustrophobic but coped well, said it was like having hot pastry draped over your face
He starts radiotherapy at beginning of march, every day for 6 weeks, it's gonna be tough for him I think. The nurses etc are so kind (so far!!) all I can do is try and be there for him I guess

mom, I didn't go to parents' evening on the end - still quite swimmy and it just seemed better to delegate. DH took notes and gave me a good de-brief. They're odd right now, these occasions, as we have lots of friends amongst the parents (in this year group, many of whom we have known since ds started school 12 years ago). Most know. Some don't, so DH had to manage that news and sympathy thing. A bit of me was happy to be out of it. But the school has been great; they all know the situation and are kind, but are still, rightly, going to push ds on the GCSEs. And they've given us extra time to pick A levels.

Every day for 6 weeks is tough, honey. No doubt about it. By mid April you will be through the treatment with your summer to come, but it must look like a long time away now.

mom, did you automatically get the neulasta with the tax? I'm worried that my hospital is a bit hearty and cavalier around the extras such as that (and around decent anti emetics).

Wren I only got nuelasta after becoming severely nuetrophilic during cycle 3. I spent 8 days in hospital as result. At the beginning of my chemo, I asked about neulasta on recommendation of a work colleague, but hospital said they only give it when it becomes necessary. I have a prescription to cover all remaining cycles.
But I know other people on here got it as a matter of course. So no harm in asking you care team about it. I think I might have got it earlier if I asked my Oncologist rather than the chemo nurses. So make sure to ask a decision maker.

My DDs are still in Primary school. School and school friend parents have been brilliant for me too. Glad to hear your school are being accommodating to your DS. I also had the 'some know, some don't' going on at school for a few months. In the first month or two I was getting lots of comments on my new hairdo when collecting girls from school! I used just smile and say thanks...

Really hope you are doing OK.

Hello all :) Just one week to go until I start chemo and trying to get a few things sorted.

I'm looking for some good quality scarves and those cotton hats which I think are worn under scarves and for bed. Hoping for recommendations and a few tips

Malt I was also originally told 15 rads and has now increased to 20?