TAMOXIFEN THREAD HERE ***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Am sick of my messages never getting through - I have had 7 attempts to reply to Cakes' last post- am starting a new thread ....
this is what I wrote anyway.....

righto, this i my 7th attempt to reply on this thread - everything keeps disappearing !
My assessment is on 25th,and am told to allow two hours for it,crikey !!
Saw a lady in town yesterday who was having rads and finished at about the same time as me and she's just seen the onc. for her follow up - they are running very behind I know- so I emailed to ask about mine - I tie myself in knots in trying to be assertive yet not too needy or a nuisance - I suppose I just like to feel that everything is done in order. Am not worrying about my health -am sure breast is fine and dandy, it's more my emotional state which troubles me.
Anyway, they have made me an appointment but it's at the same time as my assessment so have emailed back and left a phone message...arghh !
Special thoughts for RWU today and of course KurriKurri - hope all ok..and of course you Cakes and Morph.

i fear it has gone forever it would be a bit tragic to email and ask if they could still get a copy wouldn't it???

Just checking in to see if there was any news of sandripples' op.I am so glad I found this thread as it makes me feel part of Mumsnet in a way I didnt before.Thankyou.I havent read any of teatotal's posts.Should I?If so where are they?Sorry about that proudest post rwu and well done on outing a troll on this sensitive thread.

no pranma if you ever see the name teatotal just gaze into the distance and think about a warm sunny beach she spouts various incomprehensible bits of crap- really not needed around here! Glad you feel at home here- we're a friendly bunch really

How long was SR planning on being held hostage in hospital? i'm guessing it wasn't a day case. Hopefully she'll be home soon and feeling ok

still , i want my post back- couldn't they have deleted all of teatotal's posts and left the rest for future reference? Could have made it easier for me, print out the web addy on pieces of paper and give them out when people start pestering me something along the lines of:

"IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE GORY DETAILS CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING LINK:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/reallywoundupsrantatteatotal
AND YES IF YOU ARE WONDERING I AM RWU! THERE YOU'VE GOT THE FACTS NOW PISS OFF AND LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Hi there,

Just checking in to see how SR got on too.

Having a bit of a rubbish day today - feeling quite low. I spoke at length to a lady who had had BC last year and had chemo for it as well. Her description of what the chemo did to her, esp at the end of it has blown my mind. She said that by her 6th cycle she was in bed for two weeks following and couldn't do a thing. I thought that it would be about 4 days of feeling yuk and then a couple of weeks of relative normality. Feeling so scared and daunted. . BTW I did ask her for a warts and all description of what she experienced so she wasn't being insensitive at all.

We're decided to go on a last minute skiing holiday from this Saturday - some beautiful scenery, some exercise, some fresh air and some good family time will hopefully set us in good stead for the horrible treadmill of treatment I'm about to step onto.

Pennies, I'm sorry you are having a rubbish day, if its any comfort, we all get those from time to time.

With regard to chemo., everyone is different, different people have problems with different things. From my own experience, I can tell you yes you will feel tired; accept any offers of help you are given. As for the other side effects you may experience some things but not others.

What I would say is, you will get through it. It is daunting, but it is do-able, and each cycle you have is one more over and done with. The hospital will ask you about any side effects you are having, and they will have something to give you that will help.

Its a bit like when you are pregnant and people tell you how awful their birth was . It wouldn't be honest to say its a walk in the park, but neither is it correct to say its terrible.

There are things you can do to manage fatigue etc. which your hospital will help you with, also if you have a big 'C' centre, they will offer complementary therapies like massage etc. which can help. Also again, MacMillan are very good with advice on how to deal with chemo.

It is tough now because you are waiting for it all to start, and it is an unknown, but you will get into a sort of treatment routine. After the first couple of cycles, you get to know how you will feel on particular days, so it is a bit more predictable. The main thing is let others help, don't do anything you don't actually need to, save your energy for the things that are important to you. You will get there, and you can come on here for a moan any time, and always get a sympathetic ear

Pennies we are all different and chemo affects people in differen ways.I was fine on FEC apart from losing my hair but taxotere was awful-I too was 'welded'to the bed for a couple of weeks after each cycle and had other awful side effects but....they all passed and here I am.remember as KK said listen to your body,accept help,drink lots of water,suck ice while chemo is going in and eat fresh pineapple if you can[helps prevent mouth ulcers]I found sparkling water more palatable than still.If I can help in any way just ask.

Meant to say I'm glad you feel at home Pranma,- it is a nice little corner of MN

it's lovely to see you here pranma (we have 'met' on the BCC forum !) So sorry you are feeling down Pennies- it must feel very daunting - I didn't have chemo but KK and pranma's replies seem helpful and sensible.The ski ing will blow the cobwebs away I'm sure. Hope to see sandripples soon !

Pennies - if I can add my (late) two pence worth. The thought of things is often worse than the reality. I was also pretty OK on FEC, have not had anything else.

Of course the hair loss is nasty, but other than that i found it not too bad - knackered and a bit sick feeling for a couple of days and then gradually better. No need to take to my bed or anything like that.

Everyone is different, and you should report any symptoms you do have to your BC nurse, who will probably phone you a day or so after each cycle - report so they can give you remedies to help. There are lots of these.
Pranma's ice and pineapple sound good, I did not know about these. my top tip would be ginger - anything you like that has ginger in will help with sickness. Ginger beer became my friend for a few days after each cycle, it really does help. I was not sick even once.

Don't worry about one off day, but if it goes on speak to your BC nurse. They are hugely experienced and highly responsive to your needs.

Post here too, people who have been through it have lots of good tips!

Reporting on my yoga experience - just to prove I went!

It was really enjoyable actually but, God, it brought home how stiff and unfit I am! Clearly some work to be done here For someone who has been so flexible she could put her feet round her neck, it was a bit galling to find a half shoulder stand a strain!

Onwards and upwards!

Hope you are Ok today RWU and still feeling liberated by having made that post. I remain in absolute awe. Shame we can't rescue it for you!

Well done on the yoga Cakes, don't worry about not being able to do everything. My yoga teacher is endlessly encouraging - she'll say 'let's do a shoulder stand', and I'll topple over, to which she'll say 'well done Kurri, you've decided to do a lovely plough'

I don't think I could ever have put my legs round my head, so you must be more flexible than me!

DH has got a new date for his op. Feb 2nd. - hopefully it will go ahead this time.

Have spent the morning so far reading through DD's essays she e-mailed me. She went back to uni. yesterday, and wanted me to check through her final draughts (drafts?).
She's coming back at the weekend, because we've got tickets for the Ballet 'Cinderella', which I'm looking forward to.

I wonder if Sandripples is home yet? If you are SR I hope you're not feeling too sore. Getting plenty of rest etc. (fuss,fuss, nag, nag)

Ha ha your yoga teacher sounds fab

Fingers crossed for the op - no more paper pants horrors this time round.

at yoga teacher KK ! and well done for going Cakes...my exercise for today will be a brisk walk to buy a box of green tea...double health points !
Fingers crossed for dh's op this time KK

Crikey what a lot of activity on here since I went into hospital!! I came home this morning - am a bit dopey as did not sleep muchy last night- ward was v busy! But all seems to have gone smoothly. Thank0you for all your support - I agree that the wire thingy is not bad at all - I had to have 2 put in - almost enough to start knitting

As for the GA I cannot even remember going to sleep, so how cool is that?

Drains came out this morning and then I came home - think I'll go and ie on the sofa now.

Will post again when more alert but just wanted to let you know I'm fine, and say thanks for all your virtual support.

Welcome back! Get some rest and I'll look forward to chatting again soon.

xx

glad you are ok SR! take it easy for now x

lovely to have you back SR - go and rest !

Lovely too see you back SR. Good that you've had your drains out too, much more comfortable. Have a good rest. xx

Evening. Sorry to butt in but we wanted to clarify something for reallywoundup and the rest of you.

We have NO reason to suspect teatotal of being a troll.

We simply dropped her a line about her rather, ahem, unusual posts.

Just wanted to make that clear.

I've never opened the links she posts to as I can tell from the general broohaha that she's talking shite. What dumbfounds me is the total and utter calousness of repeatedly ignoring the pleas of those who are directly affected this disease for her to stop. Why would she want to cause so much distress?

Anyway, glad you're back SR and not too sore. For me the lumpectomy wasn't too bad but be warned that over the next couple of weeks you will be surprised at how sore you may feel in your arm after the node removal. It's nothing that a couple of paracetamol or nurofen won't sort but I wasn't told to expect it and thought I had an infection.

A quick question about diet. Has anyone here changed their diet at all post DX? I am eating a mainly veggie diet (organic where possible), reducing diary, wholemeal bread / pasta etc, and trying to cut out refined sugar and booze too. But sometimes the lure of a dark chocolate digestive is too great and then I feel guilty after guzzling a couple. Also with the new regime it's quite hard to get calories into me and I'm quite slim already so I don't want to lose weight. What do you eat most of and what do you avoid.

Lastly, I'm thinking that a full mastectomy on both sides is the way forward, but I know nothing of the impact of that. All I do know is that I do not ever want to go through this again. Can anyone advise me or tell me where I can get non biased and non scary info!

Thanks Helen. To be honest I have been thinking about this today and I also think that she is probably just a bit odd, which is not what i thought before, But even so, I think she has to recognise that she must stop. Her misguided opinions would be one thing on a completely open forum, but she persists in posting where she knows she will be seen by vulnerable people and that is unkind.

Pennies, as regards diet - I am just trying to be healthier, lots of fruit and veg. Don't go mad. You need to be holistic in my view, which means a little of what you fancy does you good.

Exercise, a broad and healthy diet, and minimal stress are the ways forward. Some foods such as apples, carrots, broccoli and green tea have some fairly well accepted health benefots but don't go mad. Be kind to yourself. Slim os good, skinnt and self-denied is no way to live. xx

Hi Pennies, hope you are feeling a bit better today.

With regard to diet, I try to eat healthily, but don't deny myself the odd treat . But I have cut out a lot of the 'rubbish' I used to graze on.

It sounds as if you have a pretty healthy diet already and that has to be a good thing. Also I think trying to eat well is something you can do to help yourself, which is good in a situation where you have to be so dependent on medical experts.

I don't know if you have been given a chemo. info pack from the hospital yet. Mine contained advice about how to keep your calorie intake up. Chemo can affect your sense of taste, and often it can be a case of eating whatever you fancy just so you've had something.

As far as I know people vary in such things as how sick they feel, whether they lose appetite etc. I am sure they will keep an eye on your weight. I had advice from a dietician at the hospital, and what worked best for me was having very small portions, so meals didn't look overwhelming.

self denial isn't good for the soul really - if you fancy something have it ! something once in a while can't hurt.Having said that I deny myself chocolate for Lent every year (and normally its something I have every day - not huge amounts but definitely some) Lent is fast approaching if anyone wants to join me - it is very cathartic I think.
One year I gave up and asked people to sponsor me in aid of the breast unit at my SIL's hospital - I think they wanted to refurbish the quiet room.
With general eating,I think we probably eat pretty healthily here- no vast amounts,lots of veg and salad. I eat watercress every day and several cups of green tea, but I also love coffee so drink that too !
Dark chocolate is v good for you, as you probably know.
Sandripples - Pennies is right about the under arm scar- that was by far the peskiest thing as it rubs and felt swollen for so long..it is still numb now and will always be as the nerves get cut.

Thank you Helen. I have referred to Teatotal as a troll on another BC thread, but apologise if that is unfair.

I echo cakes sentiments though, TT's comments were innappropriate. I'm glad its been sorted out.

I think Teatotal was just a misguided soul whose opinions never really made any sense but were distressing to a lot of vulnerable people on the threads he/she posted on