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.

Welcome from me too Haggisdoodle - I saw you on the other thread but this is the right place!

MAS - what a good thing you started this.

My wounds continue to feel sore Especially a little swollen area. The nurse when she took drains out said I had a small haematoma that would be sorted out at next Breast Clinic appointment where I expect they will take dressings off etc. I think I have only dissolvable stitches now (had 2 non-dissolvables removed when drains were taken out) but am not 100% sure.
I tried a bra (larger size) yesterday for support but as it hurt by the afternoon have not bothered today - am going for a supportive vest!

I don't think I'm VG at being a patient either, in that I feel I want to be doing things that I can't. Also I normallylove reading but ever since this all started I have not been able to relax into a book. DVDs seem to be better so I went through our collection yesterday to find some cheerful ones. (We seem to watch too many murders and I'm not in the mood for those at present)

I suppose a good thing could be that it is the wounds which feel sore, rather than my shoulder - I mean I have the feeling that once wounds are better I'll have good movement. Perhaps its too soon to know though, really.

haggis- hello! glad you found us, this is a lovely quiet corner of mn, but you'd be amazed at how many people know we are here even if they don't join in!

i'll catch up with everyone later but i've got to take dh's glasses into town to get fixed (back less than an hour and dd pulled the arm off, thus meaning he can't read, drive, watch tv or play on the 'puter until they are fixed!! so instead he is washing the living room carpet with the vax thingy !

Hi all, just wanted to make a quick suggestion SR - have you tried audiobooks? I love reading too, but sometimes it was too much effort and hard to concentrate, but I did enjoy lying down and listening to someone else read to me! Hope you're feeling a bit better soon

that sounds lovely KK- being read to...my ds has taken to reading to his grandparents - they've had several books now !

KK _ what a good idea. I'll just finish this cup of tea and then go to the library...hadn't thought of audio books.

I've beem back to hospital as wound appeared to be oozing - have had dressings changed and now feel happier. Nurse was great and said no sign of infection, but personally I don't see how it could have been a good thing to have a wound sitting wet for a week; it would have been that long if I hadn't gone back and asked them to check it out. So happy now

Thanks to you all for the welcome messages.
Re the audio books - I found these really good when I was very tired. Couldn't concentrate on anything with a plot but listened to loads of chick lit type books. I also got myself an Ipod - quite a step forward for a techno numpty like me. Managed to download some films and also the Cranford series from the telly (not trendy but I really liked it. Can put in earphones and listen/watch in bed on sleepless nights witthout disturbing DH.

Sandripples - re vest - M&S have really good ones and larger stores have assistants trained to deal with BC patients. Sorry if you already know this but I was really surprised at how clued up and tactful the staff were when I went. I still had dressings on as I had a seroma but they weren't in the least put out and went out of their way to help.

Hope you are all having a good weekend.

oh I loved Cranford !

Hi, I boldly went out alone (for 1st time since op) to the library and gazed around looking for AV section - spotted it - chose books and took to counter.

Assistant - o these should be good. You erm, realise they're from the Children's section

SR er, no!

She pointed out the other AV section and I got some adult novels. Have enjoyed listening so far though I do keep falling asleep!!

Haggis - thanks for type re M and S. What is a seroma?

All - I am finding wounds still very painful at times - is this normal please? I'm on 6-8 paracetamol a day but by about 4am I wake up and don't take any more till morning. Feels as though stitches tight and pulling? Kepp hoping they will dissolve but from vague memory of other stitches perhaps its still too early as today is 5th day since op. Any advice welcome.

at childrens dvds !! - actually I still love watching The Railway Children & Swallows and Amazons...
I think for the scar to be painful after only 5 days is normal - it depends on individuals too -people experience different levels of discomfort.

Have been reading back on this thread further I have done in the past. Just wanted to say Cakes, that my daughter had a few strange things going on for a while (she seemed to get spooked by feelings in some environments and also attribute feelings to inanimate objects)when she was about 8-10, but she came through everything and is a highly intelliogent, and sensitive young woman now. Very much an individual. We did get some support from an ed psych briefly, which I found helpful.

I found it helpful to ensure she could proceed at own pace and in own interests - music became v important and still is.

I have been out for a 35 minute walk today despite the rain, and we also went out for lunch, so I feel I've achived something. Am going to lie down now and listen to my audio book.

Hello everyone. SR - my wound was sore for a while, still had dressing after two weeks. Mine went a bit weepy and gooey, -it turned out my stitches hadn't dissolved properly, so practice nurse pulled them out for me. She said it was quite common for that to happen. - Just letting you know in case that's a possibility. But I think tight and pulling is probably about right at this stage.

Glad you're enjoying your audiobooks. I often listen in the night too Haggis, if I'm not sleeping well.

MAS your son always sounds such a lovely boy, I'm sure his GP's really enjoy having him read to them.

DD and I went to the ballet last night, it was 'Cinderella' done by a Moscow company. We had a really good time- we like to treat ourselves to a girls night out every so often

hi everyone- quick q for cakes- now that i have your name [stalker!!] it was you that was on fb wasn't it? if so how will i know which one you are??

it's me who is on fb - not sure if cakes is

Hi all - sorry for silence, have had a sickness bug. I feel like I have drunk too much wine. Yuk.

RWU - no,'twas not me on facebook, I have not got over that technical hurdle yet. I only do email and only do that from the email address you have/had. If you need it again, let me know, I still have yours and can re-send without you coming out on here again!

sandripples - thank you so much for that, it is good to know. People in RL don't tell you about psych type stuff, do they?I think my dd will turn out to be the sensitive sort as well

I think your wound sounds absolutely fine, just keep an eye on it. Mine is still tight now, and my surgery was last April. Just keep an eye on it, You were quite right to get it checked, and that the dressing should be changed, keeping it wet won't be a good thing. IN answer to your question a seroma is an accumulation of serum (rather than blood, which is a haematoma) and it is extremely common as the serum is what would normally travel down your lymphatic channels, which have been disrupted by the surgery - many people have to have these drained repeatedly, I was one of them. If it all feels very tight and swollen, and there is no infection, there may well be either a haematoma or a seroma. Neither is at all serious, just uncomfortable. BC nurses will drain for you, or leave it to disperse by itself if you prefer.

Welcome haggisdoodle. Stick with us, we have all been there, and don't mind admitting we've all had/have tough times. But we're not letting that stop us!

Would be massively jealous of Pennies and her holiday - if only she did not need it so much! What a fab idea.

have a good day, all!

poor cakes - hope you are feeling better now

Getting there, thanks MAS!

haggisdoodle, my dd is 6 as well so I know where you are coming from ref telling them. But little ones are very accepting. if you are matter of fact about it, they will often accept it in that light. Sorry your treatments keep getting postponed, you just want it over with, don't you? Try not to worry about the new chemo, you may be fine on it, and even if it is crappy, you will be on the home strait (or is that straight), which is something to hold onto. Rads are not NEARLY as tricky (although not without their surprises)

Loving the Burns emoticons, I want to use all of them, is that meant to be Tam O'Shanter on their heads, or what?

lol love it!!!!

Thanks. wound dry today - dressing all off. will leave till appointment on wed.

Extremely tired today, so am going back to bed. wastupid last night and had tiny glass of sherry - felt terrible and pulse went up to 93, was worried. Back down to 74 this morning and I felt much better in the night when I woke at about 4am. But so knackered now. no more sherry ever...

CU later.

Prob mixing badly with medication. One more crappy side effect to contend with! Don't worry, it gets better - and you can even have a drink or two on chemo, if you feel like it (I almost always did - )

glad wound is dry now sandripples- do take care and rest.
Took my weird ear to the doctor today (having been to the dentist this morning who cleverly patched up my chipped tooth ) - it's been feeling very odd for weeks -apparently I have an infection so have drops -never had an ear thing like this before-not painful,just odd,as if something is fluttering in and around my ear.

oouch mas- ears and teeth, doesn't sound good. Must get myself to the dentist at some point- all the chemo has shot my teeth to smitherines, there are a few that are only half there (but at the back so not noticable iyswim) the thought of going doesn't fill me with pleasure, suppose i should at some point make the appt!

SR glad things seem to be on the up! enjoy those audio books.

Mas- we need to 'connect' on facebook- how the bleeding hell am i going to find you lol!

am very glad to have got dentist over with - am always breaking bits off fillings/teeth . I've tried putting your rl name into search (and now I've forgoten it- though I know the spider reference bit) I think mine is hard to find as I put the security settings on high..are yours too ? that might mean why I can't find you..

Didn't know chemo affected your teeth!! What a b***d!!

I am also always breaking bits off my teeth, so you both have my sympathies. Apparently I grind them. It is depressing, I hate the thought (and reality) of false bits of teeth. Or even worse, one day, false teeth. Have always vowed that it would not be me, and have always brushed religiously, so it is quite galling to find that you can smash your own teeth in your sleep. I hate those mouth guard things as well - I have one, but can't wear it.

Good day all!

tis true- kills the type of cells that regenerate enamal i think- my chemo nurse was always very insistant that i go and visit the dreaded dentist but i think i may have got past the point of no return so i'll go for a denture fitting lol!

mas- you should be able to find me but i won't have a pic displayed until you are my friend iyswim. i do have a lot of mn'ers on my list as well so if you find a C O D check the list of friends and you'll know it's me lol! i'll go and find a linky thingy to some pics- that may help!