TAMOXIFEN -the third thread ***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

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

RWU - No one could be offended at those I am sure, they are lovely for a funeral - although there will not be a dry eye in the house.

The weekly round up thing is that "The good, the bad and the ugly" thing that Mumsnet email me each week - KK has a mention for buying a new steam iron [ grin] I must say KK, I am disappointed that you iron. Indeed, I am disappointed that anyone irons.

My mid life crisis came when I bought a Prodigy CD. I was happily dancing round the kitchen singing "That's my picture" when dh informed me the words were actually "Smack my bitch up"

at 'that's my picture'

arf !
Glad things seem tolerable SR
Ds hasn't got SN but is just very self contained and quiet (not at home,mind you) He has had physio and Occupational therapy to help him with balance,coordination etc and writing in the past, so on reflection that is a bit SN I suppose. He finds that being physically among lots of bigger,noisy children quite intimidating (as he finds it difficult to judge the distances people are from him)
I think that all those things add up to not feeling comfortable physically among people that he doesn't know. At home he is happy to run around and is incredibly tactile and huggy - out at school he is in his shell.

RWU so sorry to hear about your MIL. LOL at your self comparison over the ex-Ws. You go girl!

Sorry not been online for a bit. Had crappy day yesterday as routine bloods showed I was neutropenic so the GCSF jab didn't work. It took them 5 hours to tell me this.

I've got more jabs to self-inflict later. What fun.

No other major SEs though, apart from very sore and bleedy nose.

Oh, and I had a MAJOR haircut today. Hate it but it's fun to try it for a bit at least!

Glad that you got some good news Wubbly. Anyone seen BurningBright reccently? I hope she's OK.

Waving to all of you and particularly of KK's round up mention and Cake's ££££££'s. What a lovely way to start the weekend.

Hi Pennies

I went neutropenic whilst on GCSF as well, I think it can happen sometimes, still worth taking as it could be worse without. I know it is a grind jabbing yourself in a roll of flab. I had to do it in a railway station toilet once, on my way to an unavoidable meeting, which was a bit of a low point for me...

Sorry you are feeling crap, but you should be getting on an upward curve soon now (until the next time)

As regards the money - I may have to go out and spend a bit

Today I ran a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Care, which was a clay pigeon shoot for women, along with an auction and other bits and bobs.

I've not done a full tally but it would seem that we raised over £2,000!

Other than that my neutrophil count is 0 so I'm holing up for a few days now to try and keep safe from infection. Annoyingly I've got a cold which makes me a bit worried but I'm keeping and eye on stuff and taking care.

Pennies - well done!! That's fantastic. I have now enrolled on the Race for Life (it'll be my 3rd) and a group of colleagues are doing it too.

Does anyone have any tips on wigs? I'm going to a shop in Blackpool on Monday so any advice welcome. So far I've thought the lining should be as comfy as poss., the style I want close to my own, and that its not worth spending too much on but I want one that looks natural and the NHS ones seem a bit monochrome, IYSWIM.

I have followed the holed up policy for several days to avoid crowds and bugs. OK so far. Only current SE is heavy legs the last day or two, and with the cold I haven't done my usual walking.

That's brilliant Pennies. Well done.

Take care of your self - have you been told not to eat raw fruit/veg, or ice - as this can lead to infection? If your temp. goes up contact the hosp. (don't want to sound alarmist, but I was quite ill when I had neutropenia, and it happened quite fast.) I'm sure they've told you all that though -sorry I tend to flap

SR - I'm afraid I can't help with the wig question,-I didn't have one, but I'm sure others must have so hope you get an answer to that one

I'll be doing race for life again this year, hopefully with DD if she is at home. I'm doing simply swim for Marie Curie at the moment, but finding it quite tiring.

They've given me no advice whatsoever actually. They seemed quite relaxed about it. My dad is a Dr and he has been putting me more in the picture.

How can ice harm you? My tongue is so sore from the chemo that I'm sitting here with a whole cup of it right now and was about to start sucking on a cube when I read what you wrote.

here's a link Pennies clean diet seems to be OK if water is sterile/boiled before freezing. I got a load of infections and had to be isolated in hospital. So maybe they were just being cautious.

It must be reassuring to have a doctor in the family,there's so many things to deal with during chemo. I'm sure your dad will be able to explain it much better(and more accurately) than me.

Sorry to hear your mouth is sore - tips I was given for that problem were fresh pineapple, mouthwash (they should have given you some at the hospital, Difflam IIRC) and my GP suggested dissolving a couple of soluble aspirin in half a glass of water and swilling in round your mouth(don't swallow) - I found that worked quite well.

Thank you for that link KK. The info I've been given is clearly pretty inadequate and I have been lead to underestimate the situation.

DH feeling unwell and temperatury today despite not registering one. Nonetheless I'm banishing to the spare room tonight!

Interesting diet advice. I'm following most of it as I'd been advised to take similar precautions to pregant women but I don't know what the problem would be with nuts or dried fruit as long as they're cooked.

Also I thought salad was ok as long as properly washed (eg in boiled water). Reminds me that I had a boyfrined many years ago whp had health problems which I didn't really appreciate at the time, and he always washed salad with a sterilising tablet in the water.

I can see that if you know your immune is really low you'd do all of this. I'm not on GCSF and don't know how low my system has gone. Personally I think I'll still eat some things on the list as long as they're carefully prepared in my own house. I might have to adapt this according to what my blood counts show at next chemo I guess. OMG its difficult to know how extremely to take this. My main concern is avoiding buggy people. Will continue holed up policy till Tuesday ie day 14 after last chemo.

SR - I was fine on a normal diet until I got neutropenia,if your level is not too bad you will probably be fine. After I recovered and they got my neutrophils up I was able to eat anything again.

Pennies - I hope I didn't alarm you last night - I would talk things over with the hospital next time you're in - obviously they are the experts not me. But I was pretty unaware of the possible problems, and I would hate for anyone to go through what I did unnecessarily.

Really just popped on to say Happy Mother's Day to all - hope everyone is having a restful day. I think all of you have children who are younger than mine, and I greatly admire your ability to cope with the demands of young ones and treatment. You all deserve a special day

Happy Mothers Day too from me and very well done on the fundraiser ! Take care of yourselves

Pennies-that bit about fundraiser was meant for you !

Pennies - well odone indeed on the fundraiser, and I am deeply impressed by SR and KK on their endeavours in that area as well.

I must say I have no advice on wigs and was also crap with the whole clean food thing as well. So I am no help at all. I just ate what I wanted (I think I avoided pate and soft cheese and takeaways) and avoided indoors crowds from days 10 ato 14 where possible. Mind you I did get swine flu and have to be isolated, so take no notice of me I am ever the optimist.

Happy Mothers Day all - I am working again. Ho hum.

Thanks for the further points about diet.

I have had a nice Mother's Day - my DS brought me breakfast in bed, wonderful exotic flowers and a pretty scarf, DH made lunch and we've just been for a walk in a country park where it was windy but sunny. Hope everyone also enjoying the Day.

How old are your DC KK? Mine are 16 and 20. The latter is coming home for a few days this week which will be nice.

I've been researching wigs online so now feel ready to go the shop tomorrow! I don't want to buy on-line as I really think trying on is essential! But might try on quite a few with the possibility of buying one tomorrow but ordering another on line if I find more than one I like. IYSWIM.

Hi SR,- that sounds a nice day. My DCs are 20 and 25 -(18m younger when I was DX), so old enough not to need running round. I know you said your DS is doing GCSE's - which I recall as being slightly stressful! My DD is coming home for Easter next weekend - its been rag week at her university, so she's been out in fancy dress shaking a bucket

I've just finished planting all my seeds, so feeling rather smug. DH is making veg. stew for tea, so I'm putting my feet up. Hope everyone is having a good day.

Well done re seeds KK! I am waiting for my free Dig-in seeds from the BBC to arrive!

Fortunately my DS seems to be confident re most GCSs, and he has a good group of friends too. It was more stressful with my DD although she's extremely bright! She seems happy this year though so we are looking forward to hearing more about her year abroad. I'm just sorry I won't be able to visit her as I'd hoped.

Anyway - off to the Blackpool wig shop now- I've rung to warn them I'm coming

Morning all.

I was still neutropenic and running a 38 temperature last night so I had to go into hospital and they say I'm in until tomorrow, despite my neutrophils now being up to 1 (I was at zero).

I'm trying to enjoy the rest and just get stuck into daytime TV but it's a stunning day outside and I am totally gutted I can't get outside to enjoy this perfect spring day.

Hope everyone is all well.

RWU how's your DH doing? I thought of him yesterday.

hope you're out and about very soon Pennies
Hope all is ok with RWU family...and hope your mum liked the cat picture

Sorry you've had to go in Pennies, but also glad that they're keeping a proper eye on you, I was worrying about you (flapping old woman emoticon) try to get a good rest - the nice weather should still be here when you come home

Good luck at the wig shop SR hope you find something you like.

And thoughts to RWU and family xx

Oh Pennies, how rotten. But I hope you get sorted out very soon and that you're in a nice ward.

I actually enjoyed my trip to the wig shop and a very nice young woman gave me plenty of time, tea and advice, while I tried things on. I managed to choose one in the end and am pleased with it.

Got my own room . Haven't had this much peace and quiet since the before dd1 was born.

SR - is your chemo affecting your nose at all? Mine is so very sore inside. I had a massive nosebleed today as well. I'm worried my septum is going to fall apart and I'll look like Daniella Westbrook.

I'm fine, pennies- sorry you are being held hostage! Take it easy and you'll be home and feeling great before you know it. I have ulcers inside my nose As well ATM, tis horrible but shouldn't last long. I have a new toy, a new gen iPod touch, from dh and kids for mothers day , posting from the bath
ps, mas mum loved it!