Hiya,

You've really been in the wars, haven't you. I get reflux, so I know what you mean about everything coming back.  I was put on Lansoprazole, one a day but still had trouble so I was put on two a day  In the next few weeks I started feeling just how you are describing, no energy to do jobs that needed doing and falling asleep at the drop of a hat.  The only time I had felt like that, before, was in the months leading up to my cancer diagnosis.  I phoned my doctor and said I thought  I might be anaemic and wanted a blood test.  This was duly arranged and the nurse who took the blood said they were going to check everything and I should hear within two weeks. The very next day the pharmacy delivery man appeared at my door with a bag of folic acid supplements.  The box said to take one every two weeks, they were obviously strong, but my prescription said I had to take one twice a week! I had no information about why I had been sent these, never did get one but I checked on the NHS website - better than Dr Google, and found out that the Lansoprazole could affect the digestion of folate causing a sort of anaemia. My levels must have been flipping low to be given such a strong dose for that first month, then I was given a small daily tablet to take.  I didn't even talk to the doctor about it, I just decided to put a distance between the two meds so I take the folic acid at midday and the Lansoprazole at morning and night.  I've been ok (ish) since then.  I still keep getting them sent so I must still need them.  
Hormone therapy is responsible for so much in the body that it's no wonder they cause all sorts of problems  I have to take oestrogen blockers and boy do they make me suffer.  I used to love to crochet, but I can't make my hands do it any more. I feel like I'm going through the menopause again, hot flushes, night sweats, headaches, joint pain, weight gain, you name it and I've got it. I know they are supposed to stop my body cooking up another cancer but it's not guaranteed. I keep taking them, though, my kids would go mad if I stopped!  I'm like you, I pace myself, and just do what I can, slowly.  
Since my surgery, in October 2019 I haven't had one face to face check up with the breast clinic.  Every six months I have a telephone consultation.  I've had annual mammograms but no examination to see everything is ok.  I didn't even get my May call because of staff sicknesses.  I was very surprised and hopeful when I got an email telling me to come to the breast unit on July 1st for a face to face check up  we'll see if it actually happens!

See, I'm rambling on again.  Gotta go, my battery is dying.  Always good to hear from you.

Christine x

Morning dear Christine , didn't realize you were battery powered . Thinking i could do with one to give me a boost , I've got a spare scooter one.

i was woken up by Bella at 6oclock making squeaky noises right beside my ear,(she wanted out) , she went out and sat down in the wet grass and rain waiting for me to go out and chase her back in, in my PJs. Once we're in she goes back to sleep, till i do breakfast.

Hope things are going well with you and Archie .

I've loads of cherries on the trees but no plums yet.Very surprised as only put them in two years ago and only 4ft tall ,plums taller about 6ft .

Love Billy xxxx

My BP is still down 83/53 , nowonder im lacking energy  but keeping going, another two blood tests Thursday talk to oncologist Fri and order meds again.

Take care all my forum friends .

Love Billy xxxx

Hi Billy,

How are you today? I hope make sure to tell the docs how you've been feeling.

I've got something strange to tell you. I went out today with four of my friends to a beach hut in St Anne's on Sea.  While some of the girls went paddling - yes, really. My best friend and I sat in the sun guarding our belongings. I started to tell my friend about young Jess and how she had stopped communicating with us and how some people thought she was lying about having cancer. My friend started smiling as I was describing Jess's messages and what she said was wrong with her. It turns out she knows someone who's granddaughter Is called Jessica, is 18 and two years ago was rushed into hospital and was diagnosed with stage four cancer in her bowel and bladder!  This girl lives with her father and stepmother and had a difficult childhood.   It. Seems too much of a coincidence to be a different girl doesn't it? I have asked my friend to make subtle inquiries and if it turns out to be the same Jess I will try to get a message to her telling her we are sorry she disappeared on us.  What do you think?

How's Brenda, any further news of her coming home?

I'm tired after my day at the seaside.  My daughter had Archie today and I've got her puppy tomorrow as she has to go into the office. She worked from home today.  It means poor Archie will face a third day of torture by Bobbin, as I had him yesterday while she went into work. I usually have Bobbin two days a week. He's a sweetie really, just turns into demon puppy when he sees Archie and spends all his waking time terrorising him.

I'm going to sleep now, I've walked 12832 steps today!

Night night 

.Christine xxx

Hi Billy,

I'm so sorry to hear about your visit to Brenda being so upsetting.  Did they call with her scan results?

I hope you start to pick up sithout the hormone meds. They are a real double edged sword, aren't they.  They make you feel rubbish, but they are supposed to be keeping the cancer at bay. We can't win!

I won't hear any more about Jess for a while I don't think, because the Jess I've been told about is related to my friend's ex-husband's new wife ( the one he left her for) so she will probably have to go about asking in a very roundabout way.  If it is the same girl, I don't think she did tell lies, she possibly got confused, can't we all with cancer? She tried so hard to make people like her, she was possibly just lonely. We all know what that feels like, don't we?

I think my day at the seaside followed by a day with Bobbin has tired me out.  Yesterday my house looked very neglected so I did a thorough clean,  It's only a small bungalow so easily looks untidy, then I decided to take advantage of the lovely weather to do some outdoor housework and tidy the back garden.  I was going to mow the lawns front and back but didn't have the front in me after I'd done the back.  I sat out for a bit, reading, but I was so tired I couldn't follow the story, so I came inside, fed Archie and went to bed. Poor Archie was trying to wake me up from about six thirty this morning but only succeeded about an hour later.  I've taken my first lot of meds and have to wait half an hour before I can eat anything so popped on here to answer you.

I do hope Brenda gets some proper treatment for her legs, it's not right that they were allowed to get so swollen in their care. 
Time to get some breakfast sand take more tablets,

love

Christine xx

Hi dear Christine ,no phone call,so phoned early this morning scan clear , consultant hasn't put plan in place yet . SHOULD phone me today . Didn't sleep well.

Could rain here cloudy and dull. 

 Hate waiting for hours I've dusted and vacuumed just fed up.  Waiting for hoist people to come sometime today, they have to check twice a year .

i decided to have cheese and tomato on toast this morning , Bella wanted cheese of course luckily i did extra , for some strange reason Bella is putting weight on .:-(  .

Hope you can get a restful day

Take care keep safe and sure.

Love Billy xxxx

Hi Billy,

I hope you are feeling ok and you've had news about Brenda's care plan.

Its a bit grey here, today but the weather app promises to be a nice evening.  I was up at five o'clock this morning. Archie was desperately trying to wake me and I kept telling him to stop grumbling. In the end he actually started barking, which isn't good for neighbourly relations at that hour so I got up and let him out and he had the trots.  I bought him a super duper treat when I went shopping yesterday and gave it him to chew, then forgot he had it and when I realised there were only two or three inches left.  It was made up of natural, healthy ingredients but he was only supposed to eat a bit at a time.  He was quite annoyed when I took the remainder away.  I gave him some "Dicky Tummy" to settle him, but had to give him some more later.  He seems ok now, thank goodness. The trouble with Shelties is they are all hair, so I have had to wash his back end every time he goes if it's loose, and in the end today I had to cut some of the hair off his tail and down his legs to make sure he was clean.

My daughter took Bobbin to the groomers today and called in on the way back to show me.  I was really disappointed, he really looks like a poodle now. She let the groomer trim his face so he's now pointy faced with a Pom Pom and his ears have been cut square so he looks like the woman off Wallace and Gromit.  I suppose I'll get used to it but instead of being a cute puppy he looks like a grown up poodle.

I'm having an  easy day today, I finished reading a book then started on the painting I've been struggling with for weeks now.  It's come on a bit but will be a work in progress for a long time yet.

Take care, I really do hope you have better news about Brenda by now.

love

Christine xx

 

Hi all my dear friends, not about me this time  .

Brenda is back in hospital went in yesterday afternoon trouble breathing they reckon infection she's in MEAU on antibiotics intravenously, she slept well don't know anymore yet as still having tests   

Im still off my cancer meds, BP improved and energy levels slightly better.  

Hope all my forum friends are doing well. 

Love Billy xxxx 

Oh dear, Billy, poor Brenda and poor you having bad news after bad. It's not fair.  I'm glad you are feeling a bit more energetic, I just hope you stay like that, I know how debilitating it can be when you can't muster up the energy to do things you want or need to do.

I had a lovely couple of days this week when my son surprised me.  He told me on Monday that he would possibly come on Wednesday, then he turned up on Tuesday!  It's madness with the dogs when he comes, my Archie is in love with my son and wants constant attention from him, which doesn't go down well with his dog, who always comes with him. Of course Bobbin just thinks other dogs are there for his entertainment and Archie always gives in to him but Charlie wasn't having any of it and she really barked at him when he tried to play fight with her. He ran away but was back within seconds to try again

I love having both my children around me, and on Tuesday my daughter took us out to dinner, and on Wednesday we went to a wonderful Chinese and had a banquet.  I secretly got my debit card out so I could pay the bill when the waitress brought it to the table  but my son went up to the desk and paid on his way to the loo!  When I said I'd wanted to pay he said "Your days of paying are over, Mother, be told!" Can't argue with that, can I? I'm very lucky!

I hope you have better news about your lovely Brenda, and that you blood pressure stays up!

Love

Christine xxx