Hi,

You are impressively organised, although you have been waiting for this for a long time. I certainly had it easy just going straight for the surgery.  They wanted me to start the Letrozole two weeks after my second op, but I managed to avoid it for another six weeks or so.  Now I think I might be getting away easily with that, too, as my side effect symptoms are minor compared to the pain I had in my knee.   Pain, which I am delighted to say, is considerably diminished since Thursday. My wonderful doctor injected both knees and I woke up on Friday morning pain free!!! It still hurts a bit now and then but nothing like it was before. I think my knees are going to send him a valentine card!  In the afternoon I had to go for the new hearing aids and do some shopping so I didn't rest the knees as much as I was supposed to, but I am 90% better than I was so I'm not complaining.  I am so much better that yesterday Archie and I went for a long walk up the lane at the end of our cul de sac, leading to two fisheries, several fields of sheep and ending up at the deer farm.The horses have been taken indoors for the winter and there were only six deer outside, the rest were probably in their covered shelter, sensible creatures.

My new hearing aids are amazing, I can now hear myself saying words beginning with 's' whereas before I had lost all such high frequency sounds.  I don't need subtitles on the telly and the volume is down to normal!  The aids are being put away, religiously, at night and stashed on top of the wardrobe, way out of Archie's reach. I hope I remember to do that every time I remove them.

I had to go to a different hospital the day before the surgery to get my radioactive injection.  It was nothing, I didn't even go blue!  I had a letter telling me to phone the ward at 6pm the night before surgery to find out when I needed to go in. I was quite surprised the first time when they said come in at 8o'clock, we were in the pub!  By the time I went for the second op it was old hat. 

It was lucky that your sister came over when she did, she or she could be languishing in quarantine in China already. What a palaver getting her flight cancelled.  What are her plans now then?

My painting still has very vague features, in fact the man's have been wiped out as I realised I hadn't made his face quite long enough. He's wearing a smart jacket now, a decent shirt and a half done tie. It has a pattern on it that will need a small brush and steady hand to get even a rough likeness, so I will wait until everything else is finished and dry before doing that. The lady still has orange hair and vaguely recognisable features, not that they are hers, necessarily. Her jacket now looks ok but her dress has a pattern that I'm going to struggle with.  I might use artistic license and give her a different dress altogether. I'm only going to start her face and hair after her husband is done because he is easier to get a decent likeness as he has strong features, whereas she is quite pretty, not what an artist wants to paint, at all! I have to wait another day or two to see if today's efforts are dry.

Today I thought I was going to get away without walking Archie as every time I opened the door and offered him out he gave me a look and went back in. However, there was a window in the cloud for about half an hour and we went for a short walk. There was a lot of debris on the main road from old trees that border one side but the rain held off until we got blown back indoors. He looks funny in the wind with all his hair blowing in all directions.

Enjoy the next couple of days, and I hope all your preparation makes things easier for you come d-day.  If we don't hear from you before, all the best for your surgery and hope to hear from you after the event all bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Christine xxx

Hi ladies,

So my mood has lifted and feel ok again, just constantly tired but I can live with that. Might mention it at my 6 month check up in April, if still happening then.

Sam, count down now!! Are you feel a bit apprehensive? They were going to do the wire insertion before my surgery, which I was worried about but then there was no need as the surgeon was confident that the lump was big enough for her to find. 
My dog is a springer spaniel. He is 9 years old and quite a lazy but intelligent dog! He's a proper mummy's boy. 

Keep us informed with how it goes on Thursday! The day after my surgery I felt like pants, but due more to the anaesthetic I think. By the second day I was out walking the dog and making jam! I joined a fb breast cancer group but left after a week as I found it too depressive!!! I didn't want to hear all the awful stories and wanted to stay positive, so left. 
Christine, how wonderful to hear that your knee is so much better!! And that your painting is going well!! Good news about the new hearing aids too - just make sure you remember to put them away!! 
My hubby is taking my 3 boys away next week, snow boarding until next Sunday. I don't do snowboarding as broke my arm at the local practise dome!! I will miss them all terribly but will be in bed very early I reckon.  Then I'm off to Iceland in a couple of weeks, for a friend's 50th. So busy times ahead!! 
Take care lovely ladies and look forward to hearing your news soon.

Caroline xx
 

Hi Caroline, 

I find my mood has lifted since my knee stopped hurting so much, but, like you, I feel desperately tired. If I can get my *** into gear and start doing something, I'm ok but I could sit on it all day before it can move. I am sleeping very well, so that's a positive. I'm using a Fitbit that my daughter passed on to me when she got an upgrade. I only use it to see how much exercise I am getting in a day and how much sleep I get at night. My daily step count isn't fantastic but it is improving every week.

i am shocked to hear your Springer is lazy, is it just his age? When I had one I couldn't tire him out. I never knew such an active dog. They are smart though, not like my dozy bones Archie, who isn't interested if it isn't edible or expensive to replace.

You'll be able to rest a bit more when the family are off on their jollies. It sounds like you are really getting your life back together and it's good to hear.  I'm getting there, too. Now my knee is less troublesome I shall be doing far more then I have been.

Christine xx

Hi Sam,

Just wanted to send my love in preparation of tomorrow's surgery! Have everything crossed it all goes according to plan!! Hope the wire thingie went ok today!! Let us know how it all goes and how you are.

caroline xx

Hi Sam, 

Just wanted to send my best wishes for tomorrow, You might already be in hospital as I write this, so get your eye blinds on and earplugs in or you won't get any sleep, as you know. 

Look forward to hearing that everything has gone ok and you are facing the world in your own inimitable way!

Christine xxx

C&C

Cheers ladies, thanks for the wishes, really nice.  Especially on the back of a full day at the hospital, a near fainting incident (apparently it happens quite often) and one boob with wire in it (and outside of it too...its a bit painful when I use LHS) and the other with radiation in it (injection made me swear...so unlike me...yeah right).

So am well pooped after a full on day, on the plus side should hopefully sleep well.  In at 11 for surgery in the afternoon (no idea what time...what's new?).

The next time I write I will be down a DD!  And good blummin riddance. Bring on the morphine (I can but hope).

Sam X

Best of luck.  Have been following you but haven't contributed to chat.  I was lucky, lump found last July. Op to remove just the lump in August.  All clear and limph nodes clear too.  4 weeks of radiotherapy November/December.  Now on Letrozole with no ill effects.  See Consultant next Monday to be hopefully signed off all clear.  Stay positive.

Yay!!! Glad to hear it went well. Rest now and we'll catch up soon!

Christine

Oh brilliant to hear from you!!! And that all is going well. I'm sure the drain will be gone soon enough!

Caroline x