Planet of the Crepes

[DukesOfTripHazard]

New bowl of crisps, tuck in Ruby!

I am thrilled at this Pixi lust. Another of their things wot I like is the cheek gel in natural. It doesn't stay on very long but while it does it's well pretty.

I felt a bit rubbish yesterday and spent much too long hunched over the computer looking at not very edifying things. Today is better. Have shredded, spot cleaned the stair carpet, written a letter to DD who will be at an outdoor pursuity place with school next week and am now going out to buy some fabric conditioner at Wilkos. When the mice are away the cat does rather boring things, it would seem .

Oh Strops, that's terrible news for you all from me too. Hope they get on with the MRI scan asap so that you aren't waiting around in limbo for too long.

Thank you. All sympathy much appreciated. I am feeling a bit lost here. dd and French friend have gone to town for a jolly (good) and dh is playing slightly manically with ds in the garden. I am sitting here at the keyboard having a bit of a blub. You know, the worst thing (and this is ridiculous, I know it is) is that dd's dad died when she was in Year 2 and now ds is in Year 2. I don't want to have to have that conversation again. Well, I don't want to deal with any of this really. Does anyone have a bucket of sand handy so that I can stuff my head in it?

Yes, thanks MI, the specialist nurse handed dh a huge wodge of papers from the Prostate Cancer Charity. Trouble is, it's a bit difficult to move forward with any of it until we know whether it is localised in the prostate or whether it has spread into the surrounding area. The not-knowing is rubbish, isn't it?

Also, the medical staff that deal with this sort of stuff aren't used to having patients who are dh's age and have young children and still work.

Darling, my lovely Strops, I know you are thinking ahead and catastrophising but as you say nothing is known yet. I would - I had an induction day there for work recently and they were impressive - talk to macmillan now, about what it's like for you at the moment.

I am so sorry.

Oh Strops, I feel a bit blubby for you I hadn't realised your ex had died - thought you were divorced. Must be doubly awful to have the memories of all that while you have such a big worry with your DH. Not knowing is really rubbish - hope they get on with the scan asap.

Yes, MI's advice is good - they must have talked with thousands of people who were waiting on scans - they will be a great support, I'm sure.

Thank you MI. I know you are right. The nurse did absolutely say that in view of the findings so far "they are absolutely going in with a view to curing it". Yes, I will investigate Macmillan. Sorry to be such a wet blanket. Dh is awfully shocked but being positive.

You are NOT being a wet blanket. You are being someone who has had a horrible shock, made worse by your previous experience.

Yes talk to some specialists like macmillan. It must be tough not knowing the prognosis and thus the treatment. Dp's uncle was treated very successfully (some new implant treatments) when things didn't look too rosy so there are always possibilities to pursue. Feeling blubby here too ... Keep talking if it helps.

Definitely NOT a wet blanket

I'm blubbing now Strops. What a horrible shock. May I join in the group hug, and add a hair stroke. Cry on our virtual shoulders.

But take heart from my anecdotal tale: my pal, who is 48 or so, had keyhole surgery on his prostate cancer, and all is now totally well. It's often the contained, slow-growing sort, that can be whipped out.

Def not wet blanket!!

BTM, I did divorce my first husband and then he killed himself approx 18 months later. So I wasn't all "woe is me" when he died, tbh, but it was v. bad having to tell dd (then 6) why the policewoman had come to see us. Anyway, dwelling on that ain't gonna help. And is deffo catastrophising, as MI says. (Dh agrees, btw :) )

Ahhh, Herbs, I shall pass that info on too. Thank you :) Am pulling myself together. Dh, bless him, was somewhat put out when the nurse informed him that one of the side effects of having the entire prostate removed is sexual dysfunction (well, duh). Afterwards he said that he felt that whether he could get his leg over was the least of his worries, he just wants to stay alive. I think that I can accessorise that with a without it being in too poor taste.

Oh God Strops, you have been through the mill, havent you?

Herbs's story should give you some hope....

Keep the "positive outcome anecdotes" coming please. As far as I'm concerned, all anecdotal evidence is more than welcome . See, I have stopped blubbing now. I know I will come over all pathetic when I put ds to bed tonight, but hell, shit happens and we all just have to be grown up and deal with it, don't we?

You have had more than your fair share of shit happening though Strops, so you are allowed to put the brave face away when you need to blub or vent. Please look after yourself as well as your dh.

Oh Strops, I'm so sorry. When will he have the scan? I don't have any experience of prostate cancer myself (well, I don't mean myself, but you know what I mean), but try not to think the worst until you have the full picture.

Look after yourself - and your DH.

oh what a horrible shock for you stroperella. my dh is an interventional radiologist and specialises in prostrate problems... if you have any questions etc. please let me know and i can ask him or you can or you can pm me.

My mum talked to bacup (who merged with Macmillan) when she had cancer - they were fab, she said you could say things to them you couldn't say to friends/family which wa such a relief. They also gave her good advice.

I am sure I speak for all the crepeys when I say we are here for you do as MrsS says vent/rant/whatever...

Thank you all, my crepey friends. It has made a huge difference being able to talk about it this afternoon/evening. oldqueenie, I think we may well be coming to you/your dh with some questions post-MRI. How interesting that your dh is specialised in just this area. Dh was very pleased when I read him your post. He is also very touched by all the good wishes. He is now on the beer and playing his bass, so not wallowing in misery (not his style). He did say that I am rubbish at choosing husbands and only get the ones with a short shelf-life.

MrsS, I hope you are recovering from your injuries. (And you're not kidding about the hair tangles - stress makes my hair even wilder than usual - it is currently XXXXXL-sized).

BD, CV, wilbur, thank you also - I will, I am sure, do a bit of virtual gnashing and wailing from time to time and look forward to you lot helping me keep a perspective on the whole cancer thang. But I will also be coming here for my usual dose of crepey S&B wisdom. And all the other crepey goodness that I find very life-enhancing. And I shall, er, shut up now, before I get embarrassing.

Tomorrow we are off on a daytrip to Bath to do the Roman Baths and entertain our guest, which will probably be a good idea for everybody, under the circs.