Hi
Got my first chemo Thurs and on Tues am having blood tests, which I get - what is the DR part? Looked on google (as one does) and the first thing to pop up was a movie "Dr Bloods Coffin", whilst it sounds fun am not sure its what the nurse who completed my appointment booklet meant...
Prize available for first responder....
Good to hear your "husband" is actually a lady...if anyone takes offence they really shouldn't be in your life quite frankly! I admire the change of life and risks you took, not sure I could ever be that brave (I am a risk averse accountant after all - that also sends people running) what you did was most admirable, as am sure you've been told (and hopefully have!) on a number of occasions.
I do often wish my chap, though lovely, had more feminine (mainly practical) ways about him but he's not a bad sort. You're lucky you've ended up vvv happy.
I don't have the most conventional relationship & am the envy of all my pals as despite being with boyfriend for 16 years we live apart, only 4 miles, but that's the only reason why we're 16 yrs in! Never wanted kids (maybe something to do with the fact that I currently have 2 mothers, number 3 is a work in progress and that I weep when I see how much people spend on weddings...tight northener to the last).
So you're going to be rocking the post cancer fashion of compression socks, nice. My friend and I wore them when we went to Australia ages ago and I recall them being an absolute b4st4rd to put on. Does this mean that I will need to don such socks with my high strappy heels (I jest) when next I glide onto the plane??
Dulcolax is actually my new BFF and I'll not have a word said against it! Thankfully today calm & serenity returned to my bowels, literally a weight off my mind.
No Follexit (geddit?) yet...am quite looking forward to losing my moustache though however Movember will be a bit of a let down this year :) (no idea how to add the proper emoticons...like most of technology way beyond me/can't be ar5ed).
So thankfully no locusts as yet but let me tell you what the current plague is, we have a combination of huge zits (the local kids are convinced it's Halloween already) and I appear to have, wait for it, genital herpes...fr1gging great! Off to some docs shortly for them to have a gander at my nether regions. I do think the locusts could be arriving soon...
I am almost imagining myself as that circus car where gradually bits fall off one by one! On the plus side am being taken by my lovely eejit of a man to a sculpture park for a wander & lunch tomorrow, most civilised indeed...
Have a good weekend, love a good list.
Sam X
Morning Sam
I am married to an accountant who is anything but risk averse...latest is she’s talking about standing for parliament since our MP defected yesterday. Not sure what to think about that! If it happened I guess we’d have to buy suits, but the salary would be helpful!
Everyone wants the kind of relationship that makes them happy...my ex husband phoned on Friday and I was quizzing him about his love life, as you do. His partner lives in Manchester and he’s in Aberdeen, but they’re very happy and have no plans to change that arrangement. They just go ahead and have lots of exciting holidays and enjoy life. It is different being married to a woman, in that they are naturally skilled at doing the ironing and cooking nice meals amongst other things! Have to say I’m very happy with my life but glad I get on with the ex. He wanted a WhatsApp video call on Friday and I wasn’t even dressed! But we were chatting for 3 hours and he’s a good guy.
Never managed any list making yesterday. .we got distracted by a litre of Smirnoff in the afternoon and got derailed listening to Jewish music. So today I need to brave the hunt for stuff to take on holiday, while making multiple lists. I will take days to do this, but the wife will throw everything on the spare room bed in the space of about 10 minutes and say that’s me sorted. I’m thinking I may have ordered the wrong size of compression socks off Amazon...will let you know if I can get them on when they come next week. I’ve not worn them before, not even on my epic journey to Australia, but since having the embolism I’m more conscious of needing to move about and try and prevent another clot. I may actually go mad on the flight to Hong Kong, followed by a 5.5 hour flight to Bali. Last time we went I said I would never do it again but here we are doing it again...
Have a lovely day at the sculpture park and hope you will indeed be getting a nice lunch out.
Well you know what minska, I had a jolly nice time with those oh so cheap (!!) sculptures and had a jolly nice al fresco lunch in a nearby town. My cracking day was bought to a pinnacle when, 20 mins having sauntered off casually from the bistro I thanked the boyfriend (probably best just to call him idiot here on in) for lunch...the look of abject horror on his face when he realised that he hadn't paid was priceless. So whilst I wet my pants with laughter he ran back, accused me (probably) for not paying a left a very hefty tip..absolute numpty.
So whilst Sunday was a highlight not so since then. Didn't manage to drag carcass out of bed as felt dog rough Monday, and wouldn't have done it them but the cats were on the verge of eating me alive.
More later need to do a chore
Well Sam, I don’t think I’ve ever left a restaurant without paying, and I’m a tight Scot!
Sorry to hear you’ve not been well..think I would just have stayed in bed and taken my chances with the cats..I’m actually contemplating returning to my pit this morning, not because I’m unwell but because it’s cold and I’m lazy. But I am expecting a delivery today in the very precise time slot of between 8.38 and 10.38 so I’ll have to stay up for now. Had similar delivery slot on Saturday, no sign of postie so I eventually went out. I think he must have been watching because within 2 minutes of my departure I got a text to say he’d been. Typical.
My compression socks came the other day and my first thought was there was no way my legs were going in them, but amazingly they fitted and feel quite comfy. Mind you I only had them on about a minute as opposed to 12 hours! Currently our flight has an unsold seat in our row so I’m hoping it stays that way...there are also other free rows so I am going to have my walking stick in an attempt at getting sympathy and a bit of space. I am shameless these days.
Hope you’re feeling better now...I’m off to the shower in case my delivery is on time! xx
I do hope your delivery arrived and that it was something fabulous! I think you're 90% there on the impression sock front, suspect that.me and my pal just have more than the average calf girth. Let's hope you don't have a calf indent post wearing, its a fetching look..like when you've got shorts on and you've either sat on the toilet for too long.or a plastic, patterned chair in a holiday restaurants..always an interesting view from behind i think as I peel my cellulite off the chair.
I had to use a walking stick 2 yrs ago when visiting Naples as, unbeknownst to me at the time, I'd broken a bone in pelvis (fell off my bike like a sack of spuds). I utilised fast track, getting a good seat on plane and demanding that daft foreigners vacate their train seats exceedingly well so crack on I say!
Anyway to finish my story was admitted to hospital where am now. Strangely feeling just fine throughout, despite stats saying otherwise...v stoic northerner...
it did get a bit boring at one point being in protective isolation but as now can leave prison cell ( I jest.. I'm on a private ward, haven't gone private but it's the only area they have..its like a spa) and wander around its lovely. Hopefully home tomorrow, and the boyfriend was so disgusted by state of house (I'm sure it wasn't that bad???) he has cleaned up...good but will I ever actually find anything ever again?
Sam x
Omg..you’re in hospital. Sorry to hear that. I hope you get released today-us stoic northerners always say we’re fine. I was taken in by ambulance, though no blue lights-when I had my embolism, and poked and scanned and x rayed. I kept saying I was fine and wanted home. The dr kept saying no, but then relented as I was only medium risk and not high risk. At risk of what says I. Death said he. I got to order my lunch but didn’t stick round to eat it. The wife had to take the day off work as I needed someone with me for 24 hours. But I was fine! They were astonished when I said I only had pain for half an hour when it happened...not sure if they thought I was mad, but the doctor looked like a very young Ed Sheeran so I wasn’t convinced he knew what he was doing,
My package, tracked and delivered in the right time slot was a padded envelope...kid you not..to send some kit back to EE. I changed to BT and am never off the phone to them about my issues, speaking to heaps of different folk who all say they’ll sort it out but haven’t yet, I’m so glad I’m going away next week and don’t have to listen to the on hold music which was driving me batty.
Checking Cathay Pacific’s website every day and the seat next to me on the plane to Hong Kong has still not been sold so I am hopeful of a bit of extra space. But got to strike a fine balance between being pathetic and claiming illness and not looking too poorly to fly! We cancelled our flights with them last year when I was diagnosed...when we booked again for this year they said we could have free access to their lounge in Hong Kong as a sweetener. Our plan for a free upgrade to business class was foiled, but we’ll maybe get some free food and drink!
Excitement planned for tomorrow. We are going over to the dark side, aka Worksop, to see the new Downton film. I can’t wait! Biggest thrill in my life for a while-I really don’t get out enough!
Take care and keep well. Hope you find a lovely clean house and can simply relax on the sofa while being fed peeled grapes (in the form of red wine, preferably). xx
Minska
All good here, the nursing staff are all sick and tired of my relentless talking at them that am out tonight once had last antibiotic IV, on the plus side that means I get fed before I go home..hospital food ain't so bad. Had the most delish leek & potato soup here and a bloody lovely hummus wrap.
But am actually gonna temp escape after this IV is done as only live 10 mins away and drive back for dinner (which they serve ridiculously early) at 5.
Love your hospital story, esp dr death, a force not to be reckoned with.
And you never know you could still get an upgrade. It happened to me and a pal on way back from New York, like pigs in muck we were!
Enjoy the abbey, never watched it but love dame Maggie, hugh Bonneville and of course the poor dog named bloody ISIS.
Home soon, yay
Sam x
Minska
Hope you're having a fab holiday, not jealous at all...
Not much exciting happening here, feeling very good in fact (let's hope it lasts!).
Was having a lot of moulting just before 2nd EC last week and hair was looking particularly poo so got the boyfriend to bring round his clippers the other night. His clippers are s&&t! (Apparently the problem was my hair!!) and ended up looking like a vv sad baby bird..not a good look. So yesterday went to the barbers (they were very surprised to see a "lady" in a chemo cap sat waiting) and got a grade 1. I don't look too bad but hate the grey (always colour my hair normally), just as well there's not a lot of it eh? Amazing how cold my head is now, feel like a southern softy pants! I guess bald men just get acclimatised over time.
As been having a good week have been working, amazingly I can remember (sadly) how spreadsheets work...my brain has not given up on me yet.
Oh and had a PORT fitted Tuesday, went without incident and am still a little sore and feeling like I've been assimilated into the Borg collective but is another way to illicit sympathy from nearest and dearest..ha!
Got some northern pals visiting this weekend so off out for afternoon tea, they'll be having champers whilst poor old me will have tea...boo!
Hope you're still enjoying your hols, can't wait to hear about it.
Sam X
Hey Sam
Internet has been hit and miss here so forced into a bar to get WiFi tonight. They were supposed to being showing the Liverpool match but apparently “can’t find it”. Val took hold of their remote control for the telly and also couldn’t find it so is streaming it on her phone at the table.
Aww..sorry you’ve lost your hair...I was lucky my low dose chemo didn’t do that. Somehow I don’t think I could have rocked the look! I don’t mind the grey...haven’t dyed my hair for yonks now and I’m quite liking it, and saving money at the hairdresser! You’ll need a beanie for the cold!
Amazing youre working-I’m impressed. I haven’t worked for nearly 4 years now since Lincoln Uni wouldn’t give me a month off to go to Australia and New Zealand. It was already all booked so I walked. I have now run out of money...the downside of it all. Meeting my financial advisor on my return so he can get one of my old work pensions cashed. It was worth much more than I thought so I thought it was the best way to go. I’ve only spoken to him on the phone but he has a lovely voice! I don’t want to work again...some lasting issues from radiotherapy with my hips and bladder mean it just wouldn’t be good-and I have forgotten all I ever knew about spreadsheets...it’s like algebra...learned it in school but have never needed to calculate the radius of a circle or use any equations since then.
Hope your port makes chemo straightforward...I had many cracking bruises from cannula attempts...one time I think 3 staff tried but it just didn’t want to go until they stuck it in my wrist which made toilet visits even more problematic. Glad you’re feeling ok though...you’re a stoic bird! And more sympathy is always good...I use my walking stick in much the same way.
The sun here is doing my old bones some good...and trying to exercise my poorly hip in the pool. There are all these golden limbed and lithe Europeans in their little bikinis, and I appear, shockingly white, in my Asda swimsuit. C’est la vie. We specifically asked for a particular room and then discovered it was spring break for Australians who had numerous kids with no volume control, so off to reception to moan. They moved us to the posh adult only bit, much more expensive but for free since we are repeat visitors-result! Four poster bed and a “dressing area” where I can don Matalan’s finest gear in peace. It’s nice and peaceful...but there are lots of steps around the pool so I’m terrified of falling over-done that twice so far while out and about so my right knee is unlikely to take any more bashings now. I was rescued by a hunky American from Little Rock tonight who decided to hold my hand for a while as I was sat on the floor, thankful that no-one knows me here. He was very kind. I went down like a sack of tattles, despite my walking stick!
Have a great weekend with your mates...bet the afternoon tea is a lot dearer down with you! xx
Minska
On dear, your lovely accountant is a Liverpool supporter eh - my lovely boyfriend is from Southport but is a good catholic (??) boy so supports Everton and lovingly refers to Liverpool as the red sh*te...delightful eh? Me, I'm not that bothered about football, think its taken far too seriously and should be much more of a laugh (yeah, right like that's going to happen), strangely enough never get invited to matches any more (thankfully).
Was on a MacMillan "relaxation & visualisation" course this week, was suitably sceptical but it was quite enjoyable, especially meeting new people with their various stories, love a good yack with anyone me. Did manage a spot of retail therapy whilst in town so have some lovely soft woolly beanies and a new scarf that will see me through a lovely winter (this my favourite season, summer least so - am quite abnormal I know).
Hope you get your finances sorted, I too would really like not to be working as full time as I do in non-cancer times and also would like to step down to a role that wasn't so challenging but need to get pension pot built up a little more firstly, will combine the former with a move back up north most likely. Miss the homeland and its lovely people and sensible house prices.
Do you use your stick to "accidentally" bash people's legs when they cut you off or are just ignorant..ah fond memories for me when I broke my pelvis.
I always say every could has a silver lining and sounds like your upgrade was one, I do think its a little excessive to have to fall over to get some Aussie to your rescue...do be careful, last time I went down like a sack of spuds was the pelvis incident above followed by 2 years of being an Olympian couch potato!
Afternoon tea was fab, always good to catch up with pals, am lucky to have a really good family & friend network, and its times like this when you really realise & cherish that (my lord am getting soft - blame the chemo!). I think I wore them out with all my tales rather than vice versa. Off round to another pals tonight for risotto (yummy, especially when someone else is cooking).
All super good here, so much so was in work yesterday and shortly on my 2nd bike ride of the week (ref Olympian comment above...). Think am actually feeling better than before all this shenanigans started.
Am hoping you're still lapping up the sun and R&R out there, I do hope so.
Sam X
