**TAMOXIFEN** 4th thread

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

Just popping into say hi. Pennies - hope things are a little brighter today, each new phase of this business brings its own set of emotions. As others have said - one day at a time, and take care.

RWU - lovely to hear from you, so sorry you have been in a dark place, but pleased that things are improving a little. at Petunia. You know you're always in our hearts even if you're not able to post (sentimental old fool emoticon!)

Cakes - I hope the physio is helpful. MRI is a pain - but you are right they are just very precautious about everything. at flood in your office, - raining here too, but still hot and muggy.

Sorry to hear about your friend SR - very hard situation to deal with I should imagine, best wishes to her.

Waving to Petunia. Maybe that'll help a bit RWU. I know it's not a lot in the great scheme of things. Am still in awe of your shed clearing. I walked to the post office this morning and felt like a hero.

Pennies hi to you too. Hope the day feels a bit brighter.

Cakes, I know these things aren't rational, but you've had the back problem for years, so it won't be related am sure. Once you're through it'll be the best thing you could have had done. They couldn't fix mine at all until they got a proper MRI picture and diagnose; now I'm loads better.

MAS, how are the ribs? Better I hope.

well done for seeing physio cakes - I guess the history bit will always be following around, but better to have things checked out thoroughly...
Have listed 2 pictures on folksy and linked to my facebook fan page which I have to say is really good for getting people to see your work- have been asked about several commissions already today (RWU -haven't forgotten your cats -whenever you feel up to it !) Which is good, but part of me panics when i'm given work - am afraid of saying yes to too much and hate saying no..but better to be in that position than mooching about without anything.
It's summer concert tonight (usually loooong and bound to be hot) ds is singing in the choir so must go.
He is baking choc chip cookies today..yum
Dh says that 6 of his work colleagues were made redundant on friday,which is horrible for them,scary for him.

smee - thank you - ribs a bit easier today -hooray !!

Thanks all - I am sure you are right. And I am v positive about the physio. Am sure we can get it licked. Just a bit about wearing shorts for the examination and the sessions. With my thighs that is SUCH a bad idea

MAS - go for it with the work! It usually makes me feel loads better to be busy, am sure you are the same. for dh's colleagues and a worrying time for dh too. It's awful.

Hope you enjoy the concert. And good luck resisting the cookies!

Good luck with the concert MAS - and glad the ribs are easing up a bit.

I'm sure you'll be fine in your shorts Cakes. DH saw a physio last week about his knee - he fretted for ages over which pair of undies was most respectable, as the letter said he'd have to undress. (Apparently he's been walking wrong for the last 48 years and has to have special orthopedic heel things for his shoes.)

I had a phone call from my GP this morning - just to chat and ask how I was feeling, - he is so nice. He'd spoken to the blood test nurse I saw last week, and she thought I was a bit down, so he wanted to see how I was, asked if I was enjoying the footie and tennis, and what I was growing in the garden. Whether I feel tearful etc. He wants me to try increasing my AD dosage a bit, and see me in a few weeks to see how its going. He's such a kind man. made me feel a bit emotional for some reason. Its just nice when you feel people are kind of rooting for you.

DD's been to Pisa and now in Venice

cakes - am sure you'll be just fine in shorts !
KK what a lovely doctor you have ! it is overwhelming when people are kind - think that's why I like my bcn so much ! I had a fab GP some years ago - he ran a solo practice and seemed to work endlessly yet came to see me at home with newly born ds nearly every day.

lucky KK dd too

Hi KK

Those shoe insert things work ever so well. DH will do well once he gets used to them (make your leg muscles ache a bit to start with as you haven't been using them right).

Your doc sounds fab. It does make you feel emotional when someone is kind and interested. Hope you are feeling a bit more 'up' soon.

Not sure if it is the tamoxifen, the fact that I am fat or what - but i am sweating uncontrollably in this heat (what an attractive picture I paint), just feel like a grease spot the whole time. Poor physio, I wouldn't have wanted to lay hands on me...
Feel extra concerned for those on chemo in this weather. My sympathies, ladies!

Oh don't mention sweating Cakes - I am awash!! even worse if I drink a cup of tea, you'd think being a DIY sauna I'd lose a bit of weight

Thanks for kind wishes - I am OK really - we all have our good and bad days don't we.

Yes everyone on chemo, do take care in the heat - plenty of fluids, and a fan if you have one will help a bit.

MAS - I'm so chuffed DD is having such a good time (although she's running a bit short of money apparently) seeing her get on and enjoy all the normal youngsters adventures gives me a boost.

Hello all. Thank you all for lovely kind words yesterday. I managed to go out with DH and have a nce meal with no blubbing. Been a bit tearful tho again today and my BCN felt I needed counselling ASAP so she arranged a slot for me today which I'm on my way to now. My dad called yesterday and was alarmed to hear me so low so he came up to London and just took me out for lunch.

I threw a lot of energy into being positive and determned thru chemo and I also think I had loads of adrenalin flying around so this is me coming down from all that. I will keep a very close eye on it all tho and will seek help from the GP if I'm still like this in a week or two.

Thanks again for everyones very kind words. Apologies for typos - am on the bus. Will be back later!

That's because you are so nice. I'd be

aww,kind dad - and glad you are being slotted in.
No cookies - bah ! ds had to go to choir rehearsal instead :-( but mum brought me a box of violet creams - my favourites..they seem to be unable to get rose creams for some reason.

and yes,the heat is very sweat making, can't tell if it's that or tamox. - had a cup of tea last night and felt incredibly hot afterwards !

Pennies - lovely that your dad was able to meet up with you. And great they found you a slot today, I hope it went well and was helpful for you. Lots of love and good thoughts.xx

Just dropping in to say hi - including to Petunia. Perhaps she and Lenny could get together sometime

Thinking about you all but bit whacked just through all these trips for rads and having had very nice friend to stay. Am still really pleased that rads not seeming to do me in, so far.

Can't bear to think about Tamoxifen sweats yet! I go out in the sun at the beginning and end of day and enjoy Wimbledon in between!

Lenny and Petunia -aww !
Hope the counselling session was helpful Pennies.
Rads travelling etc and the daily routine is tiring,especially in hot weather SR -hope you can relax and enjoy the tennis.
Concert wasn't too long and was ok - I took a paper fan I got in a cracker ! actually the hall was nice and breezy as they kept the doors open on to the outside.

hope you are all ok today - have been drawing,then Sainsburying and just back from piano lesson with ds.
He has his itinerary for activities week which is in 2 weeks time-he's doing Discover London (slightly daft as he is London born and bred until he was 7) trips to the London Eye and a river cruise, st Paul's Cathedral and a city of London walk and a performance of Oliver ! - sounds great.

Yes thanks, OK but a bit tired. Only 2 more rads to go. I'm a bit oversocialised due to visitors and also lovely people who take me to rads but we chat all the way and then I'm in need of quiet time!

How are the ribs MAS?

And the back KK?

Are you getting ok with your rads Pennies? Have they given you exercises to do? I hadn't understood till last week that rads cause scarring just as surgery does, hence the need to do lots of exercises to stretch the tissues. So I'm being quite good about them to avoid tightening up.

I hope Pennies and RWU are gradually getting to a better place mentally but realise you might not want to be posting about it. Virtual hugs to you.

ribs feeling better today thank you !
2 rads left ! the scarring inside can last for several years my surgeon said- my left breast def. has hard areas which are rads damage.
Looks as though our fridge/freezer has packed up finally - dh is in quite a flap but friend's camping fridge borrowed again and frozen stuff in parents freezer.New Bosch to arrive on saturday. as the old one has been great and done pretty well for 13 years.

DS's trip to London sounds great MAS - Oliver ill be fun, hope he has a good time. Glad the concert went well. Sorry the freezer has broken

Only 2 more rads SR - that's great, how's your skin holding up, no problems I hope. It does wear you out though. It used to make me feel a bit sick too, - hope you're not affected in that way. Do they have murals on the ceiling and chillax music at your rads. department?

Hope all those going through a bit of a rough patch have had a better day today and everyone on treatment not feeling too awful.

I've been to yoga and swimming this morning. So that's my nod in the direction of exercise.

I've got to make a cake for a fete tomorrow - trying to think of something that won't melt in the heat, but still looks interesting.

Just got back from walking the dog (cooler for her in the evenings), she was desperate to join in a football game at the park. The lads playing were laughing at her - which she took as encouragement Will remember to take her garden ball with us tomorrow!

Love to all.

Oliver will be fun - my typing brain's gone to bed!

KK !
carrot cake ? There's a Nigel Slater recipe for a peach and blueberry cake which I am quite keen to make...

[http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/20/nigel-slater-recipes-summer-cakes cake here - it looks very pretty and summery and nothing can melt]

second attempt