Hi Meerkat,

Found your new thread after you replied to my post on your old one (I'm new to all this too!).  Poor you facing considerable surgery, but your medical team sound like they really know what they're doing. Must be strange to think about losing so many bits, but think of it as being a few pound lighter!  (Doesn't sound like you need to be though).  You will no doubt need plenty of time to recuperate so make sure all your loved ones give you a massive pamper package, and keep your laptop at hand to post on here.  Great that your friends are doing a charity walk, I have been threatening to do a charity run for my local hospice since Dad died, they've helped me so much through this terrible time so I definitely will do it in the future.

I am at an "acceptance mode" regarding my Mum at the moment, so am making the most of it as I know much darker days to come soon.  I can't believe that I find a chatsite helps, I never thought it was me!  Thank god for the internet eh!  Take care and keeping posting your virtual friends.  Hope23 x

Hi Hope,

Glad you've found me here! I'm going to 'cut and paste' your sentence about my loved ones giving me a massive pamper package and leave it lying round the house in various places . . . Maybe with a few ideas as to what constitutes pampering (for my partner!!! Say no more!)

It's good to read that you're going to do a charity run, some time in the future, for the local hospice who cared for your dad and who have helped you too.  I'm sure it will be a 'mixed emotions' experience when you run it, but hopefully an uplifting one, doing something in your lovely dad's memory!

I'm glad you're finding the chat site such a support and you are certainly doing your bit to support all of us out here! Even though you have said you know darker days are ahead, I'm glad you are making the best of the way you feel at the moment.

Stay strong, lovely Hope,

Meerkat x

Hi Garf,

Thank you for your lovely message! And the happy face icon!

As I said to Hope, I hit a bit of a low last night! Mental process overdrive!!! Typically over thinking things as I tend to do!

I also joked with Hope that a dose of daytime TV should make me see life differently and count my blessings!!

With you mentioning Jeremy Kyle, my partner made me laugh the other day. He had turned on the TV just as Jeremy Kyle was on and astonishedly reported to me that the participants looked quite attractive and were fairly eloquent! I think he'd probably been watching Good Morning or Lorraine Kelly!

Lucky for me, I have a few good books to read and with going to bed early, there are few more evening programmes that I record and watch during the day.

Sounds as if I'm a lazybones! Actually, the inactivity (other than the compulsory exercises I have to do to avoid DVT) is driving me mad! But I'm a good patient (if not a patient one!) and all this lounging about will pay dividends in the long run!

I see you've been offering your support to another postee and his partner Richard. I loved how you told him, "after 3 posts, you're not a stranger" wonderful stuff!

Please keep posting as to how you're going on too!

Best wishes, Jo xxx

Hi Brian,

Thank you for your lovely message! It was a good news day wasn't it? I could have hugged my surgeon when he told me that he'd removed all the tumour! He did say it was quite large and quite advanced! This was news to my partner and I as I assumed I'd caught it really early! Obviously, still early enough though!

You are so right about how your perspective on life changes! I too, like you have already started 'living life' differently since my diagnosis. I've started a 'little book of joy' where I log the little things in life that we so often take for granted or simply overlook because we're too busy to notice! A bit like the Amazing quotes and Uplifting thought for the day threads on here!

I see from another thread you've been stocking up on nut supplies! I haven't seen the long range forecast for winter, but as any Boy Scout, Girl Guide or squirrel knows, you need to be prepared!! Just remember where you bury them!!! We have a squirrel who digs up our lawn every year, looking for lost nuts!

Can I suggest that you do some consumer research with the new season chestnuts? Taste Test all the packets you've bought and then when you're sure they pass the Brian test, go and buy some more! As long as Mrs B doesn't mind!

Well, it's nearly midday and time to do a few exercises to keep the DVT's away! It's cloudy but dry here, so I may incorporate a little walk around the garden in to the regime! (And see if our squirrel has started on the lawn yet!)

Take care, Brian, best wishes, Jo xx

Hi Jo,

Sorry to her you had a bit of a low last night.  You have been through an awful lot and I think you have been amazing, you cannot be expected to stay upbeat without having some lows.  Sometimes our logical brain doesn't make any difference because what we feel in our heart takes over.  I hope you've been having a rest and god only knows that Jeremy Kyle is definitely enough to make us count our blessings!  I hope your friends and family are pampering you and that you are soon feeling a little more upbeat again.  Hope x

Hi Jo,

I just love the idea of doing consumer research on chestnuts. Now that is a job I would happily come out of retirement for. I could ask different shops for free samples to see if their nuts meets the Brianitus kite mark. I could then get a plentiful supply completely free as every time they have a new batch I would just have test them wouldn't I. That's excellent thinking Jo. As for Mrs B minding, she is used to me and my nutty ways by now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care Jo, best wishes, Brian,

Hi again Jo,

First of all I am sorry for not responding yesterday but with a very busy time at work and getting home feeling like an old rag that's been wrung out once too often, this has turned into one of those weeks that I haven't visited the site as often as I would like.  I must also say that I love your idea of "a little book of hope".  Certainly writing it will give you a little distraction from all the television you are forced to watch right now.

I am sorry you were feeling low but with everything you have been through it is bound to happen, especially if you have so much time on your hands to ponder your situation.  Maybe the next time you feel low you could find a re-run of our friend Mr Kyle to lift your spirits.  It certainly makes me feel better when he is on in the morning but I have to turn him off to go to work.

Keep up the good work.

Garf. xxx

Hi Jo,

Just wondering how your radiotherapy has gone today.

Maybe a little early to ask you.

Thinking of you

Annabel. xx

Hi Annabel,

Thank you for thinking about me. We're just back from the hospital after a very long day! My appt was for 1o'clock, but the chemo nurses were running an hour behind. Then I had to have a chat with a nurse about the treatment and finally, around 3.30 I was hooked up to the drip. The infusion lasted 2 hours then a 10 minute flush through, then home!

I was warned about tingly fingers and being sensitive to cold. Wow! I only touched the radiator at home, and my hand went into pins and needles overdrive.

I then tried a piece of pasta to see if it as cooked and that made my jaw go funny! Even though it wasn't cold! Now sitting with my hand on a hot water bottle and I'm wearing wooly gloves! Hospital advice.

I got chatting to a man who is having the same chemo as me  and is 3 cycles into treatment. He gave me some great tips and things he's experienced. Thankfully, he seems to be coping ok with it. Fingers crossed I'm the same so, only 7 more to go! 

How are you? And how's little Ava doing? Bet she's filling out now.

I enjoyed the 'udder' cream thread the other night! Really made me smile.

Take care and keep me posted with baby news.

Big hugs, Jo xxxx

Good Morning Jo,

When I last spoke to Charlotte, my daughter, baby Ava is doing a bit better thank you in as much as the feeds are beginning to be further apart. She has put on weight and has been discharged from the hospital check ups on her bilirubin levels. Charlotte is finding just talking to me helps her worry less. It's the practical midwife side of me that obviously come out on the phone. Charlotte and her husband are hoping to go out for a meal soon for the first time since Ava's birth. My son who lives fairly near them will be chief babysitter.!!! Otherwise known as Uncle Baba.

His nick name Baba.

Your treatments side effects are amazing. It makes you wonder exactly whats going on in the body whilst the chemicals are doing the rounds. I hope all your cycles are fine and you don't suffer too much. The hot water bottle sound a good idea, maybe you'll need a few more. !!!

Well it's a miserable day here today after an awsome day yesterday. we had a large clear up of leaves from the lawn yesterday as it was probably our last chance. The ground is very wet again. Inside work today, he ho.

Keep your chin up Jo, we are definately rooting for you.

Annabelxx.

Me again,

I have to agree with Annabel in that it's very strange to think what is going inside your body for the treatment to affect your touch and senses in a certain way.  Are  you sure you aren't getting pins and needles reaching for the remote when Jeremy Kyle is on the telly?

"Anfon dymuniadau pob lwc i berson arbennig!"

Don't worry I haven't gone mad it's just a message in my native Welsh to wish you the best for your treatment and recovery.

Good luck Jo.

Garf. xx

Hi Jo,

Just reading about your recent chemo treatment and wanted to say that I hope you are doing OK and not having too much of a reaction; hopefully tingly fingers calmed down now.  Thank you so much for replying to me on my thread when you are going through so much yourself, I have left a message for all my virtual friends on there.  Hope you have a relaxing weekend and let us know how you are doing. Hope xx

Hi Jo,

Just reading about your recent chemo treatment and wanted to say that I hope you are doing OK and not having too much of a reaction; hopefully tingly fingers calmed down now.  Thank you so much for replying to me on my thread when you are going through so much yourself, I have left a message for all my virtual friends on there.  Hope you have a relaxing weekend and let us know how you are doing. Hope xx