Hi Pippin,

I take 150MG of Venlafaxine, but I understand that dosage can be up to 375MG in severe cases. I am glad to hear that you have left a message with the nurse and hope that she got back to you today. How did your first radiotherapy session go?

Jolamine xx

HI Greeny,

I am so sorry that you are having bother with your emotions and night sweats, on top of everything else. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon, but you will soon be back to your normal positive self. What a pity that you have two poorly children at home - hopefully, they'll soon be hale and hearty again. Hubby had a biopsy of his cheek on Monday, so we have an anxious 6 weeks of waiting for results, for a suspected Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

I am just keen to get my tilt test out of the way and then to hopefully get some answers. Yes, I've got my Christmas shopping finished, but still have the wrapping to do. I'll need to post many of them this year, as we moved down south from Scotland earlier in the year - another additional expense! I hope that you manage to finish yours soon.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, only just saw your reply, didn't seem to get a notification. I did speak to the breast care nurse, who was lovely. She said to ask tomorrow when I go for wound check in plastics department, to get a dr to check it for me as it's a reconstruction. She said if I can't get it checked there, they'll fit me into breast clinic for a follow up. She did also reassure me it's unlikely to be anything to worry about. With regards to venlafaxine, I have talked to receptionist at Dr's, who said someone will give me a call. I'm only on 37.5mg at the moment and want to increase it to 75mg, so hopefully they'll agree to that. Thanks for sharing your dosage, makes me think I won't have a problem. Radiotherapy therapy going well, just the journey is a bit of a pain, 3 1/2 hour round trip today, for a 15 minute appointment. Tomorrow I have to go for another wound check at a different hospital in the afternoon, so a tiring day. Hope you are feeling OK, your tilt test must be coming up soon isn't it?  Xx

Hi Pippin,

3½ Hours is a long journey for a 15 minute appointment, but I'm glad to hear that radiotherapy is going well. It's good that the nurse got back to you today. I hope that someone in plastics will check you over tomorrow and that all will be ok. As far as I know, it is normal to start on 37.5MG of Letrozole and to go on to 75MG after 2 weeks, so you should be fine.

My tilt test is on 18th December, so not much longer to wait.

Jolamine xx

It's actually the venlafaxine that I want to increase, I think letrazole is only 2.5mg, so many meds it gets confusing lol! I am going to message macmillan nurse in the morning, to check that oncology are OK with t. At least when gp contacts ne I can say I've already checked with hospital. 

Not too long to wait for your tilt test, hopefully they won't keep you waiting too long for the results. I saw on your post to Greeny80 that your husband has also had a biopsy. Six weeks seems a long time to have to wait for results. I think the waiting is the worst bit to be honest. 

Hi Pippin,

Sorry, my head is in the clouds tonight - I meant Venlafaxine. Hubby was diagnosed with Bowen's Disease, on top of everything else, when he had a squamous Cell Carcinoma removed from his back, 5 months ago. He had a number of lesions frozen off his head a couple of weeks ago and had a biopsy, on what plastics believe to be another Squamous Cell Carcinoma in his cheek, on Monday. It usually takes about 6 weeks for skin biopsies, but it is a long time to wait.

Jolamine xx

Hi Guys,

Gosh Pippin, 3 1/2 hour round trip is a lot!...thank god it's only 3 weeks so there is an end. Hope you're doing ok so far this week and that you can have a break this weekend from the travel at least. Hope you can get the right doses etc of your drug and peace of mind

Jolamine - so sorry to hear about your husband...6 weeks does seem like a long wait, hopefully christmas and festivities can distract you a little bit. Keeping everything crossed for a positive outcome...and glad your tilt test is coming up, thats good news.

All ok over here - i can feel things levelling out a little bit, still up and down but not feeling as teary/emotional as i have been - so hoping im on the right track..hoping christmas will be a good distraction too!!...and not sure what next year will hold but i'm definitely hoping that 2025 will be a slightly happier and healthier year! It's been a lot this year on so many levels so will be glad to see the back of it!

Kids have got one more week of school and then they break up for christmas - nearly done with the christmas shopping, just need to wrap so kids don't see anything!! Also need to do teacher gifts as well - i have put myself up for class rep this year for some reason!!!!

Anyway just wanted to check in - have a lovely, lovely weekend xx

Hi Jolamine,  so sorry to hear thst your husband has also been going through so much. It must be difficult when you both have appointments and worries.

I've had a bit of a day today and quite frustrated. Messaged macmillan nurse at the chemo unit to ask about increasing my venlafaxine. She replied that it was reasonable as it's still a low dose. Phoned and spoke to receptionist at gp surgery, as I hadn't had a call from gp. She said gp now wants me to have a phone call with pharmacist from the surgery, who's only in on a Tuesday. I explained that macmillan nurse said I was OK to up my dose. Apparently this wasn't good enough, so I asked for afternoon appointment on Tuesday due to radiotherapy. She is only on in the morning, so need to try and get back for 12 o'clock. I asked Macmillan nurse if they could email something over, she said wait and see what they say first. I told them I have some of the higher dose that I was given before, which I going to start asking while I wait.I was getting so frustrated. 

I went fir my wound check this afternoon and mentioned the breast lump, which they could feel. They said I would need to see the plastic surgeon and they asked if I'd received a 6 week post op appointment. I said I hadn't, so they checked, but nothing in the system. Went to desk to get appointment,  none avaliable until end of January, which will make it 3 months. Got back in touch with BCN who emailed plastic surgeon, who is going to arrange a scan for me. 

All that and a 3 hour round trip to radiotherapy has left me feeling knackered and anxious. Plus have irritating rash between my boobs from the radiotherapy. Sorry for the rant, but feel better now I've let it all out. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Xx

Hi Greeny80, glad to hear you are feeling a little better, I really think maybe it's just hit us about all we have been through. I have been feeling the same at the moment, yet felt so positive going through chemo and surgery. As you say Christmas will be a distraction and hopefully we'll feel better then. I bet your kids are getting excited about Christmas, I'm really looking forward to spending Christmas with the grandchildren. Well done for putting yourself up for clas rep, it's really good of you considering all you've been going through. 

I've had a rubbish day, which I've explained in my post to Jolamine. Won't put it all up again, but you can read on that post if you want. I've ended the day feeling exhausted and really anxious. I've decided I can't wait any longer to get back to my walking. Going to start again tomorrow and see how it goes with the wound. I need the walking to help with my mindset and know this will get me back on track. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Xx 

Hey Pippin,

How are you doing? How's it going on radio? Hope you're ok.

Have you managed to get out for some walks? I really hope so...Did you speak to the pharmacist? And any joy in getting a scan date? Really hope your'e starrting to get some answers.

I'm doing ok. Feeling a little more level with regards the hormones but definitely not where I was...like you was so positive during all the big stuff, surgery, chemo, radio etc but just finding this bit hard for some reason..but i am feeling a little better...other than side affects from the abemaciclib which is giving me a dodgy tummy and feeling a little nauseaous at times??...it was worse over the weekend, oncologist thinks that's  becuase i had my zoaldex injection last thursday and the concoction of the jab and the abemaciclib just unsettled my stomach?..if feels a little better today so hopefully i'll be good now for a bit...until my next jab next month!!!

Anyway we are off to Canada for xmas so i just need to concentrate on that and make sure the kids have a lovely fun festive time even if i'm not quite feeling it myself his year!! Feel like a right old bah humbug!!!!!...but maybe a change of scene will be what's needed.

Husband still looking for a job.He's currently on gardening leave but we've been told the company might be going into administration so we may not get paid..which is a worry...not sure what else this year wants to throw at us but this year really can do one!!!!...really hoping for healthier and happier 2025!...to you and your families too! 

Sorry for slight rant but always feels better once you've aired it!

Hope you're doing ok and not surffering too much with your radio.....are you nearly half way now?

xx