Hi Ruth 

You are just at the start of your journey and the next few months will usually  be filled with tests and teratment in pretty quick succession , i have about 30 odd posts going back to last summer about my experiences and even have done reviews on google about my treatment , many of the others who post on here have been through the same scenarios since then  , i started my journey about a year ago so i would expect you to be in the same position as i am today this time next year , i am lucky enough to be able to put a very positive spin on the whole thing but only because of the first class treatment i have recieved from the NHS , trust me a year line passes quickly and i often wonder what the fuss was all about , i am a very happy bunny and have been throughout my journey and hope yours will be the same if i can help at any time with anything you are unsure about just ask , take care and keep in touch

regards

Douglas

Hi Doug,

Thank you for replying. It does help as I'm getting anxious about the op which is scheduled for 4th May. On a positive my husband is exercising and eating well. At the moment I'm trying hard to take a day at a time which I don't find easy. My husband is very much more pragmatic about it all which is good. 

I'm pleased that you are feeling much more normal now. 
 

Thanks again.

Milly 

Hi, 

Ruth- you are soooo like me, I hate fuss and if I am going for 'that sort' of appointment, I would always want to go on my own. Exactly like you, I like to process my stuff first. I like to 'get it' first, then tell others or not tell them, depends on what is going on. No right or wrong way I guess, 

Glad you are going on Friday to get the verdict. They will also presumably give you the plan. It is weird, we felt a lot better emotionally when we knew where we were going.

The emotional stuff is really kicking in with us now ! Now we've been discharged from most stuff. The strangest thing, I am getting upset about good memories!!! , so is he. Thinking about past holidays n stuff. Also a really weird one, all the close  relatives who are no longer here, how much we would have liked to have chatted with them about it!!!!! What is that about?

Millie 58- of course you are anxious. My brain was like a washing machine on spin cycle with all the thoughts. The best 'remedy' for me was always ( still is ) distraction. I was at work the day he was on the table !!!!! I was probably as useful as a chocolate fire guard, but my colleagues knew what was happening and no doubt shielded me and carried on with total normality, I drove him in , in the morning, by the time I got home, within the hour the hospital phone to say it was all done......... don't ask me if it was the right thing to do, but it worked for me.

Watching cr** on the TV is quite a good distraction , as is clearing out wardrobes etc. Anything really that focuses you away from the op.

Anyhows. Off to 'distract' myself now (:

Hi Hilts,

Thanks, I am not working at the moment so I will need to sort a distraction for the day. Our eldest son has arranged to have some time off so I'm not on my own. Think we will go for a long walk! So difficult with COVID. Hopefully that situation is easing. Trying to keep busy before 'the day'. 
 

Hightened emotions bring back all sorts of thoughts. I guess you are at the stage where you are trying to assimulate the past 8 - 9 months. I'm pleased you are returning to some normality, I truly hope we can do the same. 
 

keeping the faith to use your phrase.

Regards to all

Milly
 

Hi Rayb

Great to hear from you and that you are doing well.  It's always a worry getting the results - 1 had a +ve on 1 lymph node, but they said it was peripheral to the node and hadn't made any inroads.

This irritating cough seams to be consistent - I've now got my PICC line in for the 2nd FLOT (starts next Tuesday) and am looking forward to the DEX to kick in and see if that deals with it.  Hopefully it hasn't returned for Hilts husband after his final FLOT.

Yay, 

I was wondering where you were BFG!!!!. Everyone , including me, has gone a bit quiet.  Me, because we have been helping out in a 'Lamb maternity ward' , and last night chasing them about. All good stuff especially for kids. No, all this has not turned us into 'sheep fanciers', a mate has a flock, so helping out.

Ah, The cough.  How do I put this. Okay, I'll just say it. He still has it, BUT we went on a crusade to manage it. Up shot= Brown inhailer from GP, a steroid to calms the irritation, also a upright pillow acid regurge. ( amazon)  swilling gaviscon at night. Much better, but one positives of the post op dex, it did stop in , all be it temporarily. Also not stuffing himself with platefuls of grub, in one sitting - arrrrggg (:, as of course the 'tank' - gut is half the size as to what it was, so gets fuller quicker, hence it also causing bubbling back up.  
I think, I would be right in saying, that you hit a 'flat spot' emotionally post op, as you have been , on a crusade and now most if it is done, also post op healing takes time, Doug has been very helpful on this part.

1 pos lymph node out of all they took sound pretty good. They removed it. Gone. , and that  is the point of the post op FLOT., what did the rest of the reportsay? Yes I am very nosey (:, but feel free to tell me to go away, if you'd rather not share. I felt we needed Bletchley park to de code ours, but with help on here managed it.

Imhave to press the fact that Doug is exactly right, time improves it hugely.

take care and keep the faith.

Hilts

As if I could hide.

I am very mildy asthmatic, and have thought about going back on the preventatives - it's interesting that he has been put on them.

I had been sleeping upright using pillows, but now on a wedge pillow (also from Amazon) which combined with gaviscon seems to work.  Sleeping on my right side is manageable for about an hour and half, then it's back onto my back.

They only took the 1 node out - it was the only minor hotspot on the pet scan.  They are not very good at providing full-blown technical breakdown (I'm sure it's there if I asked for it), as there view is that its such an individual journey and you can be pidgeon-holed into something that may or may not happen, but what I do know is that it's a T3, N1, M0.

6 more days to the start of FLOT part 2!

Hi bfg,

It's good to hear from you and that your results are good.I hope all goes well with your 2nd FLOT. My husband's op is planned for Tuesday 4th May.

Regards to all.

Milly 

Hi Milly

It's a scary sounding op, but one they do on a very regular basis.  I was put on what they call a super-green ward down here which was segregated from the rest of the hospital to minimise covid risk.

Getting fit and eating well will all help - there will be a physio who will have him up on his feet pretty quickly, and advising on the breathing and excercises to do.

I'll be thinking of you both when I get my FLOT.  :-)

Mike