Pleased to hear there are some small wins (Milly's husband on slight improvement, Lee's Dad's antibiotics working) and some big wins (Hilts new sports car!). :) 

I discovered, when I stopped taking some paracetamol for a small pain in my throat, that pains in my bones had crept in rather unnoticed and I was in a lot of pain at the end of last week. Got prescribed some co-codamol which has finally allowed me some sleep after two weeks of truly awful sleepless nights. I've never been happier to grab three hours sleep here and there! Not perfect and suspect I need stronger (and GP said I probably would too) but still... the relief is massive! Plus all my other symptoms (dodgy stomach, bloating, dry heaving) disappeared the moment I started taking the co-codamol which against suggests I was misreading my pain. 

Yesterday I started my first chemo! CX (Cisplatin and capecitabine). Spent 9 hours in a day clinic on various drips to get my cisplatin where I was praised highly (and way too loudly) for having wees. LOL. Felt like I was back at nursery school! And I've taken my first capecitabine tablet today so just waiting for my first "chemo symptom" to develop. Though the oncologist was very much "You won't even know you are on chemo" as we're going for the gentle symptom-easing approach, the cancer ward nurses were much more "This is very serious and you will not enjoy it". So we'll see how I go. 

Husband is currently freaking out about COVID (I'm now double-jabbed) and every other possible infection so I reckon I shall be spending the next few weeks wrapped in cotton wool. Not helped by my Mum (who takes a COVID test every day!) coming to visit pre-chemo and getting pinged on the isolation app whilst here. That didn't go down well with the husband... LOL. Fun times ahead. 

I hope everyone has a good week with only good news. 

Hi all, 

good to hear you're as well as you can, good stuff about the car Hilts, the thing is you've got to just crack on and do things, covid restrictions allowing! We managed a house move last November, and haven't looked back. Milly, a road trip sounds awesome, you'll have a blast.

Lee, good to hear that your Pa is doing better, chemo is so different for everyone, I kept reading horror stories and got totally paranoid that mine wasn't working because I didn't seem to suffer half so much with subsequent treatments ‍♀️
Got my liver ablation on Monday, just off for a covid test and then lockdown until then.

stay safe 

G

Gosh,

Talk about waiting for a bus and a whole bunch turn up.

Hilts - I did the same.  No notifications, but checked the chat anyway.  :-)

As for all these sports cars - now don't get me wrong, I love the Audi TT, but I'd probably have to either buy a pair and use them as roller-skates or a convertible and play tank commander all day.

Glad to hear that everyone is moving in the right direction, albeit baby-steps.

I'm now 4 weeks post the 4th cycle of FLOT and GOING TO A RESTAURANT for the first time in 16 months.  We were in France on the last night of our weekend away on the 14th March 2020, when the restaurants were told they were closing at midnight - so about 4 hours warning.  Needless to say, they were not amused.  We managed to get back via the hypermarche the next day without incident before we went into full lockdown a week later.  (Remember the message?  Pubs and restaurants will remain open, but please don't use them! Then full lockdown commenced).

Milly - delighted to hear that hubby is making progress.  Just a case of building him back up to fighting weight - but I know what you mean about covid.  We were looking forward to the 18th July, but did not expect the increased covid rates and the complete removal of restrictions - it looks like a disaster is about to decend, and all we can do is sit back and watch.

Tabnabs, JaeinKent and Lee - great to see the progress being made. I know what you mean Tabnabs on the chemo - my first round went without too much incident - I turned into AGOG for a couple of days, but the 2nd round of FLOT was a bit like the first - but turned into AGOG for a bit longer (a grumpy old git), with a does of nausea thrown in.

Keeping the fffaith - I still haven't managed 4 pts yet Hilts!.

bfg

Hi y'all

LOL BFG- we are all coming on. D'ya know I think we really do care about what the others are up to. We have found a 'bond'. I try to 'visualise' us and come up with us all sat around a big table in the good old 'working men's club' or a bingo/ card  table / whist drive supping and chatting. Like the gents used to do back in my old home town. Been hauling steel/ coal/ iron all day, come home have tea then tell the wife " I 'm off to club" where they would all sit, and just be and enjoying the 'simple' now

Anyway.......

Jae of Kent- Pain is such a phenomenal condition. They even have 'complex pain clinics' around here! Stress is a major cause of pain. and you have had a fair bit of that lately! It is incredible how nerve pathways show themselves, pain occurring miles from where the problem is- coding is not 'only' good for pain LOL. Let's just say I have a 'complex ' back history and the only  thing that has ever remotely worked is a TENS machine, even better than opiates- which were pretty useless. I wonder if I was 'distracted' by the buzzing- who knows. 
I certainly feel your pain about fusspots! My world is full of them- they can't help but cluck and say the most reassuring (not) LOL. Things have really changed since my nursing days , people were told stuff, but not to the extent as now. I remember when my guy went for the op, the surgeons told him 10% chance of death!! To Which my husband responded " well ,all us humans run a 100% risk of death eventually "  yep tmi is defo on trend these days , but I'm not if it is beneficial or not ???
 

BFG- Have you though about a 'convertible' LoL. And wow going out, great, enjoy every mouthful -we want a full report.

Just told today my guy's ballon dilation is going to go ahead next Thursday now ! Once that is done I hope he doesn't challenge himself to increasing to more than 4 pints ! I will have to pick him up in the new car.........

Any hows, Friday afternoon and I supposed I should look interested in finishing my work !

keep it up and keep the faith

Hilts

hi everyone

not been on much but still suffering from an annoying tickly cough , anyone got any remedies ? apart from that i am tip top and whizzing around Scotland with the roof down and the rock music blaring ,  thats how my friends and people who know me know that i am on the mend , i am getting a course of reflexology ,aromatherapy and therapeutic massage from a charity free of charge to see if it will help with the physical side of recovery and i will report back on this , naturally i will be making a donation to their funds , stick in everyone you know that if i can then all of you can certainly do it  , take it easy.

Regards

Douglas

Hi Bfg and all,

Hope you had a good meal and enjoyed your evening.

I recall you saying that you had some breathlessness after your op? Not sure if others experienced this too?

As you know my husband had a complicated pleural effusion which required additional surgery. He is making progress but has noticed when either sitting on the loo or bending forward  his breathing changes to a more shallow breathing..  Any advice on whether this is typical of Oesophagectomy and if it improves? Thanks and hope everyone is trucking along. Hope your procedure was OK Tabnabs.

Keeping the faith

Milly
 

Hi Milly

Having gone through the journey - with the excepton of your hubby who decided the left tunnel looked far more interesting - I recognise the symptoms.

Post-the original-op we were encouraged to stand up and walk about as this was far better for the lungs than lying down (the worst) and sitting (not so bad but not as good as standing up).

I imagine that post the other ops, the lungs will still be recovering big time and the effect of sitting down, and leaning forward basically pushes all of the internal organs and internal fat upwards and restricts the lung function - hence the more shallow breathing. 

It will improve. You should have some breathng exercises to help work the lungs, and when ready if not already, then walking is ideal - with small incremental steps each day.

As for the food - what can I say.  The owners and the people working there are more like family - we do what we usually do and share starters and desserts, so a mix of fresh grilled sardines, dressed crab, moules, skate wing and fish and chips - finished off with tarte tatin and a chocolate bomb with pear and ginger and a bucket of chocolat sauce.  :-)

Keeping the fffaith

bfg

Just a quick update, got the ferry across to the mainland only to be told that the anaesthetist had been covid pinged and therefore op was cancelled Rescheduled for Wednesday now, in meantime I had a CT scan only to have an allergic reaction to the dye, looked like I'd gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson! Then had the most appalling coughing fit which lasted over 20 minutes. Then to add insult to injury the cannula site bled all over my only set of clothes! What a day , think I might stay in bed today just in case! 
Bfg your dinner sounds amazing, good for you.

trying very hard to keep the faith! 
 

Hi Bfg,

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes he was up and walking the ward after his first op, off oxygen and hitting the top of his spirometer before he became critically ill! After all that's happened the Oesophagectomy seems to have been in the background! Your explanation makes complete sense. He is doing the breathing and other exercises and yesterday hit the 4000 on the spirometer fior the first time since it all 'kicked off'. We have been on one short walk and once this heat (not complaining) has subsided we will go on a steady increase fingers crossed. 
 

Your meal sounds amazing - I don't suppose you are allowed to say where it was on here? So pleased for you. It must have been so special. Here's to more good times!

Keeping the faith. 
 

Milly and Kev says thanks too!