It's not summer yet, but we are on cancer support thread 69. Join us if you've got cancer or are having cancer-related tests.

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Good evening lacies and welcome to another thread. We filled the previous one rather quickly with dog stories

Hello to any new posters. Feel free to join us if you've got any sort of cancer, or if you're waiting to find out if you have it. We are always happy to share our experience and hold hands, and even happier when we get to wave goodbye to people who have had the all clear :) (please do come back and let us know either way - sometimes people just disappear into the sunset, leaving us wondering whether they were OK or not!)

It's helpful if you can post a quick (re)introduction, even if you're a regular on the thread, to save people having to remember or to refer back to previous threads. There's no need to "catch up" - just join in whenever you want to.

@BikeTart completely echo what leslie said and if you have a Maggies centre near you that might help you all too

Monday morning sure looking fine for me here, hope it is with you all too

Lovely photo Keep Calm.

Everything a bit quiet with me just now until things ramp up again with the Radiotherapy starting on Thursday. Trying to make the most of this quiet time.

Love to everyone

xx

Beautiful photo Keepcalm

How's your eyelash Leslie? Putting a hot flannel on it is supposed to help

I was supposed to have a telephone appointment at 11:30 and I'm still waiting they're really busy apparently but he will ring me at some point

I'm going to hospital as soon as he's rang as my temperature keeps spiking and I feel rubbish. My Macmillan nurse said to wait until the doctor has rang and see if he can get me on a ward rather that hanging around A&E for ages

Love and to everyone who needs them, sorry I've got a bit lost with who's posted what

Oh purple how frustrating! Can you chase the doctor? (Not literally, obv!). I’m a big fan of being a nuisance in these cases. How are your pain levels these days?

I've rang twice now and have been told by the arsey receptionist that he'll ring me when he gets chance

My pains been a lot better over the last couple of days, I think the weighted blanket I bought is helping as I'm not waking up during the night in pain so the pressure of it must be helping somehow

Did the medihoney help? It's sounds lovely but I don't suppose it is

purple that’s ridiculous. Grumpy receptionists are the worst.

Has anyone got any coughing tips? There’s the vomiting and also the pain. I’ve been taking codeine and using a steroid inhaler, been offered morphine but I’d rather not go there if possible as I’m hoping it will improve when I’m back on chemo on Friday.

I’ve also tried squishing a pillow onto the most painful bit when I cough as pretty sure at least one rib is broken now.

Has anyone come up with anything genius?

Hope you’ve had the call from the doctor by now purple.
Great photo earlier from keepcalm.
Went for a walk earlier today in the sun. Beautiful weather but really fierce waves.

Oh wow gin that is beautiful

@Mrstraveller am Thurs too but trying to do as much work/catching up as possible before then lol What time are you?

Gorgeous pic @Ginisatonic

@Namechangeforthiscancershit if it's coughing fits sometimes a fizzy drink 'catches' it to stop the continuous coughing. Sounds awful 

@purpleunicorns am tooled up and ready to go, just point me to the receptionist in question!! Hope you're tucked up somewhere now.

@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo seconds of the pasta dish have made an easy tea for me & kids here whilst DH on late Shift. Loving these books thank you x. hope today has been as easy as it can be

Thanks keepcalm it definitely comes on in fits and if I can find a way of stopping it before it gets going then that’s exactly what I need. I’ve only been drinking water so I will try something more exciting!

Oh Namechange that sounds so painful I wish I could give you some magic tips to help. I know you'd rather not go down the morphine route but it really does help when needed

So it got to 3:30 and still no phone call from the doctor so I rang them and was told that he'd gone home I got my DH to bring me to A&E, luckily I was only waiting half an hour to be seen then I was taken straight to resus as my heart rate was 156 and my temperature 39.9. And to top it all of it took 7 attempts to get a cannula in and on the 6th attempt it came out of my vein so I now have an arm like popeye. And they won't even let me have a cup of tea

I'm having my very own pity party tonight

purple - I can’t believe they made you wait all day only to go home without informing you! How are you feeling now? Have they given you something to take the edge off?

I’m infuriated for you. Lots of hugs

So it got to 3:30 and still no phone call from the doctor so I rang them and was told that he'd gone home

Seriously? I am furious on your behalf

Oh jeez purple... I thought 4 cannula attempts was bad enough last Friday but you beat me! I've had CT contrast dye go into my arm twice and that was effing painful - I ended up with a muscle like Popeye's too... sorry you're having such a crap experience today. More antibiotics? I hope you're not in for too long.

that's utterly shit purple I hope the antibiotics get to work quickly and that you're soon feeling better. It's difficult in hospital, but if you can get something warm it helps with the pain/swelling. Warm things seem to be the magic answer to almost anything!

Namechange is there a particular reason you don't want to try the morphine? A small dose of oramorph really does help with cough/breathlessness. Also keep breathing through your nose if you can, and take small, shallow, calm breaths (not hyperventilating).

KeepCalm I'm glad you're enjoying them :)

@purpleunicorns sign me up! Am still fully tooled for the receptionist so the wanker GP can get a smack too

I saw my hospice nurse and she's booked to see me again next week. I really thought the whole dying thing would be quicker. I seem to be dragging it out! She got all tearful when I gave her the scarf I'd made.

purple I'm putting warm compresses on it every so often. I might try some magnesium sulphate if it doesn't come out soon. That's good for normal ingrown hairs, but I am a bit wary of using it near my eye. My nurse was a bit baffled, but she is going to ask her colleagues if they have any ideas. She just said to use eye drops, but that doesn't really address the problem. At least it has grown into the outside of my eyelid and not the inside, if you see what I mean. It's visible just under the skin above the lashes. I Googled and some of them were growing into the side next to their eyeball, which must be much worse hopefully no one reading this is squeamish...

I've got bloody shingles!!!2inches above the deadzone from the mastectomy. 2 inches, plus it's on the crease of my armpit so everytime I move my arm or wear clothes it gets all arsey and hurts.
talk about inconsiderate.

So radiation delayed for minimum 3 weeks honest to God I'm so pissed off. I'm infectious for 2 weeks so housebound until all the spots scab over. I've got some acyclovir to hopefully shorten the length I have this lovely rash and amitriptyline to stop the pain(plus it knocks me out like a light)

A little update from me - my thyroid lump was benign. I cried with relief and told my consultant I never wanted to see him again Thank you all for being so welcoming. You're a very lovely bunch and this is a very supportive place. Best wishes to you all xxx

Goodbye Sunday! In the nicest way, how lovely to see the back of you!

Pandora you poor thing. That must be very painful.

Leslie let's hope you drag it out for a good while yet. You'd think the body would let up on other stuff wouldn't you? Wtf is it playing at with an ingrowing eyelash?

I'm tempted Keepcalm I also got a text from the doctors asking me to put another sample in so they've obviously lost mine. I'm on IV antibiotics as it is a urine infection.

I cried when they attempted the third cannula and didn't stop until they got the 7th one in

Leslie I hope you drag dying out for a very long time yet. As long as you're comfortable and the painkillers are working

That's brilliant news Sunday! Such a relief

I'm feeling a bit better now thanks Babay. How are you?

6th rads session done today. I was immensely pissed off with it all yesterday but today has been better!

Sorry your doctor is being so crap purple

We're sat waiting for DHs results on his bowel cancer... wish us luck. I only escaped this hospital Saturday evening so it's a bit odd to be back already...