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.

Oh no have I been on about it before Mrstraveller? my memory is a bit rubbish thanks to all the morphine. I hope that you find some recipes in it that you enjoy.

That's fantastic about the sleep purple I hope you get your MRI results soon and that they can sort whatever is causing the pain.

Thank you so much everyone. I have sensory issues with jelly, but I will get some (non-fibre) juice to drink. I will let DP know that you all approve of 'prooping'

I hope you're in less discomfort since they upped your morphine, Leslie. I know it's making you sleep more, but I'm sure your family would rather you be in restful sleep than uncomfortable waking.

Purple when do you get your MRI results? Are they quicker than usual?

Don’t worry Leslie I buy everything you recommend😀

Purple that sounds great about the blanket. 6 hours unbroken sleep is good. Do you find it makes you very hot though? That would be my concern as I get really hot at night and have to have the window open.

Xx

@WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo just file you 💜

@purpleunicorns 6hrs is ace  sleeping isn't currently an issue of mine but when I stop running about like a headless chicken I'll be back to that. Will keep the blanket in mind.

@Mrstraveller looks like you & me hitting the rads trail together! I have another busy day tomorrow but planning to collapse in a heap Thurs/Fri before DH back to work on Sat.

Love and risotto to all (not all of the wine made it into the risotto, just saying )

I also have a weighted blanket (can’t remember if I’ve given my review before). I was also worried about being hot as I am very fussy with temperature at night but actually it is great. I use it sporadically really- sometimes I don’t feel like it, but then if I’m having one of those nights where I can’t turn my brain off, it really helps

Very nice KeepCalm :)

I had a lovely dinner too, but then I threw up

Leslie sorry to hear that

First radiotherapy session achieved today! It was supposed to be yesterday but I got far too stressed out and couldn't do it. Today I spoke to a nurse, doctor and the councillor at the Maggie's centre and managed to calm down enough to do it. So, just another 19 to get through! My right boob is already feeling a bit warmer than the left, or maybe I'm imagining it?! I've slathered on the cream and have been drinking lots of water.

Love and best wishes to all

Yay! Well done Caz. I'm sure the other sessions won't be nearly as strange or frightening (not that I've ever had any...) chemo vet here.

Ah no Leslie hope you're feeling a little less Ropey now and settled 

Well done @CazY777. I can't say am looking forward to mine but you ladies always help like a great big team of virtual cheer leaders

Thank you TQ and KeepCalm. Yes, I'm sure I will get used to it and being able to sit in the Maggie's centre before hand, not in the hospital, will help me as well I think. And virtual cheerleading from you guys definitely helps too!

Not sure about my results, I think it's normally a week or 2 but I'm seeing my oncologist on the 4th March if not

MrsT no the blanket doesn't get too hot surprisingly, mine has a cover on that you can take off too but I haven't needed too

Well done Caz on getting through your first one, I think the fear of the unknown makes you emotional so hopefully you'll feel better next time

I hope you manage to eat today without throwing up Leslie, I find now I'm back on morphine I'm feeling a lot more nauseous. Can they increase your antisickness medication?

Hm I posted earlier but it hasn't appeared luckily it wasn't anything very exciting!

Well done Caz hopefully tomorrow will be easier. And it's great that you've got Maggie's for support. Does your one do free complementary therapies and things too? They might be worth a try. I don't have a Maggie's nearby, but my chemo unit had a lady who did massages, aromatherapy etc. which was always a lovely treat in the middle of a chemo day! When you're being prodded and poked, which I imagine you must be a lot with radiotherapy, it's nice to have someone touching you in a non-medical way.

purple sorry to hear that. Is it helping the pain? I hope that they can get your nausea under control quickly. It's grim thankfully I don't have ongoing nausea, just occasionally when I cough a lot it makes me sick, so not really something the medications can help with, I don't think. 4th March is a long wait - I hope you find out sooner :)

The nurses are here at the moment doing the stock check of my medications and getting them ready to go into the syringe driver. It only takes about a minute to actually set up the driver, but all the paperwork takes ages!

They're increasing my morphine, because we had to call the nurses out for a morphine injection again this morning. Bloody adhesions. The problem is that the pain is sporadic so it's hard to know whether the drugs are working or I just don't have pain at that moment.

@CazY777 the radio gets easier. You do feel a bit like a slab of meat but it is fascinating how it all works and it is only for a tiny amount of time. You will get used to where to lie to minimise the pulling and shoving. I used Aveno cream and it worked. Mine felt warm too.

Lots of water and take tumeric to reduce inflammation.

My fatigue kicked in for the second week and had to stop working. Look after yourself.

Thanks Leslie, purple and flying, I had the second one today and it went ok. I did feel a bit panicky at one point but just concentrated on breathing and then it was all over. It was quicker getting set up today, but I did say at one point 'I think my shoulder doesn't move like that' as they were trying to roll it back! I had tea and some nice cake at Maggie's before hand. They do have a program of things going on Leslie but it depends if it fits in with the times I'm being dropped off, as I'm going in and out with the patient transport as it would cost too much to drive there everyday.

I came home to a house completely covered in Lego! My daughter had tipped it out everywhere and DH can't pick it up. I wasn't very impressed with having to clear all that up as soon as I got in. DH is suffering a lot as he's went with me to the hospital for the first 2 days and it takes it out of him. I have said that I don't think I can go through this and then come home and do everything. My daughter seems to be playing up a lot at the moment, she's not normally this bad so I'm wondering if it's anything to do with me going to the hospital every day. I've tried to explain it to her but she's only 4 and doesn't quite have the concept of time. I think we're going to have to lean on my parents more over these next few weeks.

Caz sorry it has been tricky. She's only little and won't understand what's happening but will at the same time know that mummy is poorly. Mine is 5 and I know she was terrified when I was in hospital.
I'm not sure why your dh can't help but I'm assuming there is a valid reason and if that means you need to rely on parents so be it. I had to rely on my mother in law massively and still do as my dh would not cope alone.
Well done on finishing the second one!

Ah that's quite restrictive then Caz. I hope you can find something that fits with the transport times as it sounds like you could really do with a break! And that's rubbish about all the Lego. He should not have let her make all the mess in the first place if he would be unable to clear it up. Maybe the Lego needs to be put away for times when you or your parents are there to supervise. Lean on anyone you can for support. You can't do this alone

I hope everyone is having a restful evening.

Am about to settle into this whilst painting my nails with some strengthening stuff.

Thanks for the series tip leslie!

@Toofaroutallmylife @purpleunicorns @CazY777 hope you're all doing okay today

Love to everyone else that I haven't checked in with. Am pooped from doing a decent amount of work yesterday & today as well as DH being over tired off the nightshift and trying to rearrange everything we've got coming up due to a massive change to his shift pattern

My aunts are up for a few day holly starting near by so am waiting on that summons too....... Wish me luck for a decent sleep or my temper may fray

THIS @WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo (I forgot to post the photo )

But am only on episode one and am screaming at her to stop being such a gullible fool!!!

Good luck KeepCalm, hope you sleep ok.

Thanks Dulce, yes it's difficult to explain things in a way young children understand isn't it. DH has a problem with his neck which affects the nerves in his arms. If he does too much he then finds that he can't grip anything and getting down on the floor is very difficult for him. Normally I do most things around the house and almost everything to care for our daughter.

But, yes you're right Leslie, I'm hiding the Lego for tomorrow and going to encourage her to do some drawings for me. It will be easier next week I think as she'll be back at nursery in the mornings and I will ask my parents to help more.

Hi,

I have managed to get my hands on my iPad at last. My eldest has monopolised it with a rockstars times tables contest website (which I cannot refuse as it is great help/practise for her!) I need to remember my password so I can do updates on my phone!

TQ glad the scans went smoothly, I hope you get some good news at your appt today.

caz radiotherapy is so surreal I find. I am 12 done out of 20. I find this the most difficult emotionally as you just feel so vulnerable in the position you have to lie in and it feels such an alien thing to be doing. But, it is over so quickly & is so far fairly pain free. My boob also feels hot, looks red and I have had some stabby pains (not during treatment but out and about afterwards) I asked and this is apparently where tissue has knitted & is now being disturbed the nerves can complain too, which is what the stabby feeling is (& is totally normal)
Good luck & I agree, colouring sounds less messy for whilst you are out... My littlest does a rather good unicorn picture whenever she gets the opportunity!

toofar be kind to yourself, it isn't long since your op and general anaesthetic can affect you for some time afterwards. You are doing brilliantly already X

I hope you are resting well & no more sickness Leslie and no further gate crashing guest situations on the horizon... Some people have no idea and are not considering the unwell person, just their own agenda. Your Mum sounds ace (& the cookbook is in my Amazon basket too)

keepcalm that risotto looked lush. I am struggling for dishes my two will eat at the moment. They are good eaters if I get it right, but have gone incredibly picky and refuse to try a risotto. I think creamier sauces are less appealing for them maybe. I am trying more new dishes after getting stuck in a rut, but still find pesto pasta the most requested dish (I do put lots of veg in there sneakily too!) I wish I could get them to even try a risotto (maybe I need you to come round & cook one!)
namechange leftover dominoes rocks. On the itv hub dominoes adverts seem to be very regular and I literally drool at the little garlic bread pizza thing they do. Yum! There are alot of cancer adverts too, not sure if there are more than normal or if I just notice them more now.

knicker & tahiti I hope you are feeling better. purple that nausea sounds rough, have you tried all the anti sickness meds? I found some worked better than others on me during chemo. I hope it is not putting you off your steak & spinach

I hope everyone is feeling as well as possible and has a good day.
My mum & dad are still here for half term, so I have had a couple of crafty afternoon naps after my radio, which has been good

@CazY777 slept fine apart from. Bad dream  One of those ones involving real life people in too close a situation if that makes sense? I started watching the box set lesie recommended before drifting off so I might have to go back to doing that again.

@noodles44 my youngest is 10 and they only tried it one night. Instead of left overs for tea last night they opted for waffles, beans and cheese which is their Dad's signature dish

A little lighter a little earlier which always brings a little cheer!

noodles, keepcalm, purple and leslie - thank you so much for your support (sorry if I’ve missed anyone- my iPad won’t let me post so I’m having to do this from my phone)

caz - sorry your DD is having issues- children are very good at picking up on things and don’t really know how to deal with it. My DS is 11 and did something really naughty at school while I was in hospital- afterwards he couldn’t really explain why he did it. Luckily school knew what was going on and dealt with it brilliantly

keepcalm oh! The dreams! You have my sympathy. My dreams are so disturbing that I struggle to get back to sleep afterwards. My poor subconscious is obviously doing its best to deal with all this!

I did waaay too much yesterday but felt much better for it in an odd way. I’m off to see the plastic surgeon today to see how the wound is healing.

Good luck to everyone having treatment today, and hope everyone has the best day they can x

It does help with the pain Leslie but not for long, I can only have morphine every 4 hours but after a couple of hours it's hurting again.
Ah it's annoying not knowing if your pain medication is working or if it's just not hurting isn't it? I tried keeping a pain diary to see if I could figure out what was making it worse/better but it didn't help

I'm still eating steak Noodles I think it's definitely working as I dont feel anywhere as bad as weak as I did.

The doctors have just rang to say my urine sample from nearly 2 weeks ago has come back positive for Ecoli and another infection which I can't remember the name of, I'm just waiting for them to ring back as it's likely I need to go to hospital for IV antibiotics. I'm actually glad I have a reason to why Ive been feeling rubbish for the last week or so. Hopefully I'll only be in a couple of days and not weeks this time

Good luck for your results if you get them today TQ