Cancer Support Thread 92 - Christmas Happy Hour at the Patience Inn 7pm tonight 🎄

[LemonDrizzle10]

Old thread nearly full!

Some ibuprofen gel, in addition to the painkillers will be really helpful

@TwigTheWonderKid

Could you wear a mask and / or keep your distance?

Window propped open, everyone using hand sanitiser, spraying disinfectant?

Seems a shame to miss the visit, esp when half the world seems to have coughs and colds

Can't really have windows open as I'm suffering from cold induced neuropathy so have to keep warm. Can definitely wear a mask and keep my distance.

I'm wondering about asking them to stay at goddaughter's tonight then they could come here tomorrow during the day and stay the night. That way it's one less night they are here and also if he feels worse tomorrow we can reassess. Does that sound reasonable?

It does to me

Tho I'd be inclined to think, bah fuck it, and just go for it

🤔 probably why I'm always on antibiotics 🤔

Logically it’s the unwell one who should offer to wear a mask. I think your idea is good, get them to stay elsewhere tonight and if he is worse tomorrow he can stay away while BF visits you. It’s such a shame!

Thanks @TopOfTheCliff I just needed some reassurance I wasn't being ridiculous. They are my best friends and I really don't want to upset them.

They are your friends!!
You absolutely won't upset them

They've told you in the first place, because they want to keep you safe!

@TwigTheWonderKid I agree your plan is sensible. I often pop in on my friend & she always warns me if one of them is unwell & the window/door are always open (same as here), at least for my visit. I'm in the "fuck it, can't get much worse" camp but appreciate the caution & she does her best to keep the ill person a distance from me.

Which reminds me...I need to text her back about going for lunch on Thursday...

Happy New Year all - here's hoping the coming year will be a good one for us all.
Does anyone have any travel insurance recommendations? Now I have stage 4 I'm horrified at the prices I'm getting for a 3 day trip to the EU.

Happy New Year, everyone. Wishing you all a better 2024.

@Englishrosegarden I used Staysure but they were still quite expensive.

Can't recommend anyone but would definitely advise against Insurancewith or anything related to Collinsons (who has underwritten our Insurancewith policy). We have been fighting with them since July.

Hope everyone has a good a New Year as they can and hope 2024 is a better year for you all.

Travel insurance, not InsureandGo. Its difficult I chanced it and went without insurance a fair amount but with DH and clear of cancer and was fine.

Twig I always used handgel everywhere and kept distance and never got ill. Its good that they've asked and I think its fine for you to ask whatever you prefer, they obviously care. Though some people aren't great at keeping distance.

MacMillan have a list

Happy New Year! Here's hoping it's better than last year 🤞

It will definitely be better

I've booked us all a good 2024

Us

I spent literally all morning on the phone rearranging and declining various things 🙄

Dentist (for tooth out) "the referral says asap"...well yes, asap, but it still needs to suit me, not mean I drop what I'm doing & ask how high I should jump 🙄 Then tried to book me for on my actual birthday next week. Ah, yes! That is so my idea of a fun way to spend my birthday instead of going to my fave restaurant 🤔

Dr's for an annual review..text received this morning
Me - what annual review?
Receptionist - for your heart meds
Me - no thanks, seeing specialist nurse in 2 weeks, reg in 2 months & have scan in between - they'll pass on necessary info
R - well we still have different tests to do
Me - what tests please?
R - height, weight, bp, review meds
Me , no thanks, that's exactly what the specialist nurse & reg will do
R in teacher voice - I beg your pardon, we need our own

Um no, don't be bloody rude, the specialist will pass on the info the GP (s) need/want. GP is welcome to ring themself if they actually do desperately need any info that wasn't passed on a week ago 🙄

Cardio reg/cons secretary to rearrange MRI since hospital I was referred to are determined to offer me a single date and time, still 🙄 No answer and no call back. Shall just cancel MRI at this rate & wait for someone to realise that I didn't just shut up and do as I was told.

MH referral for dd1

Me - I've had a letter that says you've rung on x and y date, and that you've sent me a letter on 5th Dec, I've had none of these things
Her - I've got x number, y number and z number. X is down as Mum
Me - um, z is mine, y is dad, x is totally new to me 🤷‍♀️
Her - oh, it definitely says Mum
Me - it's not mine. Mine is z and should be main. Could you pass on that I'd like a call on z, after half past one so I'm not holding a potentially sensitive conversation in the street.
Her - oh, we don't make requests like that
Me - you're going to have to note it so dd gets what she needs
Her - suppose so

🙄🙄

Oncology was exceptionally easy to change from dd1's birthday & to a better time for getting there after work. Cardiac nurses receptionist was pleasant about passing on a message too. I don't get why the majority of depts have to make life so bloody hard!

@lucysmam
I know you're frustrated
And rightly so
But...

I've had a giggle reading that 😂 sorry!

You've been kicking butt!!

@lucysmam the annual review at my GPs is a farce. I have to have a blood test done separately for exactly the same things as the monthly ones for my chemo yet they can't use those readings! Due to the chemo, one of my liver readings is over the boundary which prompts a text to make a GP appointment. This year I got a very bossy GP (on the phone obviously) who told me in no uncertain terms that due to the raised liver reading she would need to order 'more detailed liver and bone blood tests'. I said, 'are you aware I'm on chemo' which she obviously wasn't and then was all flustered and hurried me off the phone with, 'oh that's fine then'. Happily they request a weight and BP reading to be phoned in - I have a BP machine luckily.

@Fantasea cardio wanted me to have a separate blood test for them at one point - on the same days as the ones done at the chemo suite 🙄 Checked they're all accessing the same system for results and...yep, they are. Even the oncology folks who are based at a different hospital 🙈

My kidney function's not quite right according to my last blood test. Cardio reg seems to be "panicking" (not the right word!) about it. Cardio nurse 🤷‍♀️ Might be dapagliflozin. Oncologist 🤷‍♀️ Might be Abemaciclib. Both - seems to be settling down. So no need for cardio reg to be writing letters instructing everyone to keep a check on it when they are doing & the initial change co-incided with starting the Abemaciclib 🙈

Too many bloody cooks! All want things their way & then they're put out when I tell them it's actually going my way 🙄

@Tilllly tbf, I have laughed at the rediculousness of it all today - esp gp receptionist's "we have different tests to do"...not sure how they'll do exactly the same thing differently.

@lucysmam
They'll do the tests whilst wearing a cape

Obviously 🙄

🤣 that would certainly make for better conversation than the awkward small talk!

I have dusciveted tanquary alcohol free gin and its lush!

I have dusciveted tanquary alcohol free gin and its lush!