TAMOXIFEN -the third thread ***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we are- will put a link on the old thread.

no its not that itchy, guess that will come..... i just have a bit of backache and feel very strange iyswim, i just cried watching waybuloo with dd in bed- not a clue why! maybe its just my body saying "wooooah, slow down, too much........." i've had so much on my mind as well as physical treatment recently, i guess somethings got to give.

i have anti-virals and some cream to put on the rash. i also distinctly remember the doctor telling me that ice-cream of the posh variety would aid my recovery !

Oh RWU, Sorry, that sounds crap. Get the ice cream out quick!

MAS - yes Bourton on the Water. Could go some Jo Malone though.

SR - good on you for the hair thing, am guessing that is going to feel better, and also like you havr taken back control. Don't even think about losing weight on chemo, the steroids make it virtually impossible. Don't beat yuorself up: and I bet you aren't obese either.

Feeling a little better here today, thanks. Have enjoyed my energy by doing admin. What fun.

RWU - what a shame about getting shingles. You poor thing. I do hope you feel better soon. That perfume day sounds lovely and lots of fun.

tkband3 - you do sound like a wonderful friend. I hope she is feeling OK when you see her.

Head pain still there, but to be expected as the hair continues to make a bid for freedom. I've bought a load of scarves which arrived today. I've gone for larger, gypsy style ones which give more volume and soften the features somewhat. I just have to resist the urge to wear large hoop earrings and not say the phrase "cross my palm with silver".

I've also tackled the other end of me and bought some Very High Heels. I'm practicing wearing them today inside because it's ages since I've worn stacks. I noticed I was hunching (protective posture following surgery) and I figured this might make me stand up a bit straighter. Until I fall over that is!

Hi all - glad you're feeling a little better today Pennies.Good for you with the high heels - I struggle not to fall over on them at the best of times.

Sorry to hear about the shingles RWU , they are horrid, - I had them about a year ago just at the end of chemo - they tend to come when your immune system is low. You can get aqueous(sp?) cream with calamine lotion in it, which I found helped a bit. Other than that I put cool damp flannels on them (mine were on my head)just to ease the prickling pain. And painkillers help a bit. Hope your feeling a bit better soon.

Good they are taking pre-emptive action before your surgery SR - hopefully you will avoid the problems you had last time.

Way to go, Pennies!

I think the hair loss bit is one of the trickier times, but you seem to be tackling it with aplomb! I think Very High Heels would cripple me these days, but I think you do need to dress it all up a bit to give yourself a lift. I went with the statement earrings, although I avoided the gipsy look as well - i now have dozens of pairs, including some really lovely ones.

I had to go to a different hospital today, as part of a job I am doing. Had to sit in with the medical illustrators for a while and I have seen some things that I NEVER want to see again....

my SIL lalaa always did good earrings when she lost her hair.
Cakes- I wanted to be a medical illustrator once - but then I looked at pathology books in Foyles and it really changed my mind !! I almost fainted at one point.

I like the style tips today! I'm enjoying having a much comfier head and had 2 friends round to do some Italian so have shown off my new look immediately, ie mauve beanie hat , green scarf and turquoise earrings. Might sound funny but I feel good. This evening I'm going to a jewellery party (a friend imports it from a co-operative in Nepal and all the proceeds go back to the co-operative). I will again show off my new look which will mean I'll be over the hump of going public with it AND I might well buy some new earrings. (WAs think hoops might be nice - must be my inner hippy!!)

Pennies - I agree about having a big scarf - the volume allows you to do flattering styles. I got a couple from Headcovers. But I must say I find my little hat very easy to wear, and it has a bit of body so is also quite flattering - it doesn't just sit flat on the head IYSWIM. I chose styles like this to give my head a bit of volume..don't think I could manage high heels - good on you though.

A couple of senior colleagues from work visited on MOnday and kept saying how well I looked. Think they now realise my job is exhausting - if I look better at the moment despite all, just through not being at work!

MAS Not surprised you got a bit faint, it's not a job for those with a weak stomach. Yuk! and double yuk!

And I am liking the sound of SR's ensemble - wear it loud and proud, why not!

Hope everyone is OK, especially RWU - I hope you're telling those shingles you are the boss.

Had a lovely time at the jewellery party and bought 3 pairs of pretty dangly ear-rings - not hoops! One pair has lavender jade stones which I hadn't come across before. Very pretty.

I slept better last night now that hair has gone. Wore a little sleep cap in case my DH woke up in the night, saw me and died of fright . Think I'm turning into Queenie out of Larkrise to Candleford - she wears a night bonnet!

Ooh I wonder what the stones are. Are they purple and clear? Could be amethyst or fluorite. But there are so many lovely stones now.....sigh...

DD is having her ears pierced as an Easter present (you'll hear the screams when it's done ) so she'll be fighting me for ossession of my vast stash of earrings quite soon now!

Love Lark Rise to Candleford, though the Queenie look might take a bit of getting used to!

Love to all esp RWU and her shingles

Sorry SR have just realised you are telling us what the stones are - lavender jade, right? Doh! Thought you were describing them! No, I have never heard of them either. I have a green jade bracelet, and a red jade one as well, but never lavender....Bet they are lovely!

earrings sound lovely SR !
Hope the piercing goes well Cakes
RWU -how are you today ?

Lavender Jade sounds lovely. I love nice ear rings, and they look good when you're in scarves etc.

I spent the morning at a Big 'C' event at the assembly rooms in the city. -Lots of stalls and information from all the different cancer charities. I'm going through a sort of info. gathering stage at the moment - thinking of working as a volunteer once my treatment is finished.

Then I went to the library and got a load of books on jazz for DD - she's got an essay to write. Luckily DH was there to carry them all

Hope everyone is OK today - not too tired Pennies and SR, and that the shingles aren't too horrible RWU.

Oh - meant to say, I did a sort of talk to camera video thing at this event about quality of support services for cancer patients in our area. Most unlike old me who would never have done anything like that. -Think I've reached the point where I don't really care if I look a bit of an idiot

Well done, KK. I think I've reached that stage too, maybe it's a combination of - ahem - middle age and having had to develop a thick skin to show your bits to all and sundry

Is it for TV? I was once filmed wearing a giant yoghurt pot outfit for local news. That took some living down!

I also did a bit demonstrating how to fill up an LPG car. And my radio commercial voiceover is the thing of legend ("Thanks to Startins I could afford a Corsa" if I remember rightly )

Hi. I'd forgotten to put my new earrings in, but you've reminded me. The lavender jade is a pinky lavender colour. The others have tiny amethyst and the thrid pair have tiny citrines, which I don't normall like but the greeny yellow is nice for spring with green clothes. I'm rather into green at present eg bought an apple green Ford Fiesta at Christmas - so easy to find in the car park!

Well done KK re charity volunteering.

Bet you looked lovely in your yoghurt pot Cakes!

Do hope RWU, Pennies and BB are all OK. I am not tired at all today but chemo is tomorrow so will be by this time tomorrow! Apart from havging bloods done this morning, and taking teens to St JOhn's this eveing, and a quick trip to supermarket, I'm having v restful day today and drinking lots of water as it seemed to help.

I don't think its telly Cakes - more for use by the folk who are looking into improving support services. Yogurt pot sounds good.
I'm generally rather camera shy, but seem to have lost a lot of my inhibitions since I was DX - think its a kind of 'if I can handle this... atitude!

Good luck with chemo tomorrow SR, - drinking plenty a good plan, helps flush it all through I think.

Good luck tomorrow SR - ALL the earrings sound lovely. I am a fan of green myself, and love citrines.

Good on you for doing that KK, it all helps!

yes good luck tomorrow SR

and well done KK

This is not much fun! I can't decide if I'm hot or cold, even having the duvet on me hurts and it feels like my skin is burning.

Hope chemo people are ok, I'm obviously off chemo for the forseeable [yey]
I'm going to go and see how much creme egg ice cream I can eat in one go

Oh RWU - I really feel for you. Have you got anything like ice packs you could wrap up and put on your skin? Maybe just a sheet to cover yourself in bed. Have you been given some stronger painkillers?

If its any comfort, I think the anti-virals will help a bit once they kick in.

Just popping in to say hi to all, and that I hope you feel better soon RWU and good luck for chemo tomorrow SR.

Thanks guys, i'm feeling a bit better now, called doc out after screaming in pain trying to change my pj's, got some tramadol, naproxen and Valium to add to the medicine cabinet . So tonight I'm going for the full on knock-out effect! I can now lay down properly so that's a bit of a break through. I have learnt that our out of hours service is more than happy to provide the good drugs that my own doctor questions- he was a fabulous German guy that came out, shame he isn't a regular gp as well or I'd be swapping practices.
good luck for chemo tomorrow sr, take it easy

Thanks everyone for the good wishes.
Glad you're slightly more comfortable RWU - I hope you enjoy the full KO - sounds excellent!

I've just watched Masterchef - good way to avoid thinking about chemo!

Hope you are Ok with your hair Pennies - or lack of...I know some people do feel very upset about their hair. I'm just so relieved its gone really. But if I had ever had amazing thick lustrous hair I'd probably feel differently -