Oh Christine, 

Thats so sad to hear :-( From what I hear at work, there are going to be more deaths from things like this. We have been saying how eerily quiet it is in the hospital and everyone is asking - where are all the cancer/heart attack/stroke etc patients! They suspect that people are staying at home because they are either too frightened to come into hospital or don't want to put pressure on the hospitals. People with lumps etc will leave it too late, surgeries/check ups are all being delayed. This might then result in people being too far down the cancer path to be successfully treated. The clinical lead for Cancer told me yesterday that you wouldn't want to be newly diagnosised right now!!! I'm just hoping that our "lack of effective" check ups is not going to of detriment to us!!! 
But, it's so lovely to keep in touch!!

Sam, your messages always make me chuckle!! When I went for my tattoos, I did ask for flowers or maybe little birds ;-) They told me they aren't that artistic :-0

But you are nearing the end now!! So soon you will have to peel yourself out of your pjs and get back into the real world - oh wait!! Everyone is in their pjs, unable to live in the real world!! ;-)

Well, off to drink my glass of Prosecco. Work in the morning. 
Take care lovelies xx

Christine,

That blummin app would do my head in...its one of the many reasons why I've never succumbed to a fit bit (and can't be bothered to think/learn app stuff..I am a Luddite) luckily have strong willpower when I put my mind to it.  Although my willpower re keeping fit has the potential of being slowly eroded by the numerous aches & pains that I have, I think they've somewhat plateaued now, though that said the knees seemed to be joining in yesterday! Must be in sympathy for you.  

It will be 6 weeks post last op next Thursday when I can (??) ride my bike (per physio instruction), I've been putting small amounts of pressure on duff arm in anticipation, although there's that many people out on bikes suspect may not enjoy it as much as i used to, although yesterday's  walk was good in the rain (numbers of people down by 99%...what a surprise!).  So cycling may be in the rain, the dark (love it!) or early in morning (less likely given my inability to surface pre 8 a.m.).

I'm with your brother, minus the drinking , its nearly midday & still in Jim jams...am so glad that I bought several new sets in anticipation of surgery, obviously just doing this to get value for money from my investment!

Your neighbours have certainly created a great community there, it definitely sounds like a place I'd like to live (there will be similar in Yorks. Am sure), and your neighbours sound determined that you'll get involved (ha!) even if you can't/won't fully participate...fancy not knowing the words!  Love a good sing song, make up the words generally when in church.

That Archie!  On the plus side ham is marginally better than fat balls...I do tell off Adrian for feeding his cats ham & bacon (which he does quite regularly), he thinks he's treating them (he's a real feeder) when he's destroying their kidneys the great big muppet! My cats are also pigs and would make like Archie given half a chance, and its worse as they can jump up, luckily I'm wise to their tricks and never leave food unattended anywhere, this does however mean, with my lack of memory, that I do find somewhat deteriorated food in high cupboards weeks later...doh!

I hadn't realised that you get "discharged" - in a normal world when does that happen?

So sorry to hear of the death of your mastectomy pal, there's so much that gets missed or mistaken for something else unfortunately that could probably be treated, and, as with Caroline, I suspect with cv that this may get worse before it gets better.  It does however remind me to get round to calling BCN re my ongoing aches & pains and will do so Monday (just been too busy doing..mmm..nothing, just for a change!).  And its so sad for her family given the current situation and that of her husband...I think that lack of contact from family at end of life & reduced funeral attendance are among the worst impact of this stupid cv.

Pandy

Hi there, sounds like you've got a very good contamination system on the go, although I have a go I think there's a few holes in my routine.  And am so lucky that it doesn't matter so much in my household as it does in yours...I would hate to have to use any alcohol for anything other than chucking down my throat!  And I'm not even drinking currently.

As Caroline says I think we managed to "time" our cancer well (!!) given the new disease in town, it didn't interfere with our treatment as it is with a number nowadays.

Caroline

I did have to read the end of your note twice to check you hadn't succumbed but am glad to see you're not having prosecco instead of milk on your cereal.  Working on a Saturday eh? Poor you, I am so lucky that when I do actually work that I'm a lazy office worker so just Monday-Friday sat on my bum all day long.

I spoke to an ex colleague this week and we both agree that my return to work will be probably be a bigger shock to my system than my cancer diagnosis (wasn't that surprised or upset).  That said who on earth knows, with the cv impact, when this may actually be.  Suspect I'll be "thinking" about a return to work around July and will do a phased return but who knows what the social distancing & economic situation will be by then eh?  Only time will tell.  And luckily I've got plenty to keep busy with (jigsaws, curtains and about a billion other things as well..).

Keep well ladies & Christine I expect to see you doing your stint on The One World:Together at Home show, maybe sandwiched between Taylor Swift & the Rolling Stones...I'll be looking out for your set.

Sam X

Sam, you are a tonic! 

In my defence, I only have a Fitbit because my daughter gave me the quite basic one I bought her Christmas 2018, her specification I must add.  Christmas 2019 her brother and his partner bought her a newer, more advanced model, and, as usual, I inherited the now defunct tech. It's only defunct as far as they are concerned but I'm quite happy to receive iPhones and iPads etc that were new a few years ago.  The Fitbit does dictate what you do, though. The first thing I check on in the morning is how well I slept. It is surprising how many times it says I have been awake or restless during the night, even when I've had a full 8 hours sleep in my mind.  I'm glad I set my sleep goal for 7 hours, not 8, as I usually manage to reach that and feel ridiculously pleased when it tells me I have achieved my goal. Similarly with the number of steps and exercise. I set my goals a bit lower than I aim for just to get the congratulations when I meet the goals.  Psychology of tech!  You are a strong woman to resist!  

Caroline, The professional opinion at my hospital seems to be that the extra few months before having our checkup and, hopefully, discharge won't make much difference to us as we are, to all intents and purposes, cancer free after our treatment and recurrence or mets take longer than a few months to present themselves. Fingers crossed!

Sam,  when I asked the nurse who called me, for my telephone checkup, what would normally have happened, she said that I would have been examined, given a date for my annual mammogram and, all being well, discharged! Presumably that will now happen in July.  

You are not the only one struggling to get up before 8am, these days.  Under normal circumstances, my alarm sounds at 7am, although I have usually been awake and having a cuddle with Archie for about 20 minutes, as we wake up when the heating comes on. My daughter brings Smudge for day care, Monday to Thursday and they can arrive at any time from 7am  so I always get up when the alarm goes.  I switch off the alarm for the remaining three days but get up at more or less the same time with no problem. Now, the heating comes on and Archie comes for a cuddle and I tell him to lie down because I'm tired, it can then be another hour or more before my brain surfaces to consciousness, despite going to bed the same time as always. If Imdidnt have Archie, I probably would lose all structure to my day.  I would be reading into the small hours and sleeping during the day.

Hi Pandy,  hope all is well with you.

Stay safe, all of you, stay well!

Christine xxx

Hi Pandy,

Just re-reading your message to us and I have a question. Are you disinfecting your shopping externally or internally?  It seems to me that it would be a sinful waste of whisky to wipe your packages with it!  I do hope you aren't being sinful :)!

Christine xxx

Hi Christine 

Just a quick note brens specialist reckons it is brens sleeping tablet that's caused parkinsons.. To say i was gobsmacked is an understatement. 

So sorry about your friend. Hope everyone else is well as can be.. 

Love to all..... Billy xxx 

Hi Billy,

It seems that medical science is as much a guessing game now as it has ever been or perhaps I should say it's a continuous learning curve!  We get too complacent thinking doctors have all the answers, and they don't. It only takes something new like this Covid19 to show us how helpless we really are against everything out there!

xxx

Christine
I have similar hand me downs from the boyfriend who is into his tech so haven't bought a TV, digi box or anything in the past 20 years...he's also, luckily for Luddite me, my tech support, it does however mean that I never apply myself to fix any tech issues..happy days!  Had a terrible incident over the week, managed to drop the freeview remote control into a glass full of drink - oops!- and it wasn't even alcohol-bl00dy-holic! My personal help desk (called ever-suffering Adrian) gave me appropriate instructions (no press 1 for this, 2 for that nonsense when you've got your own IT help desk thankfully).  In addition, like you needed any convincing, I only got a smart (not convinced it is) phone as my old Nokia finally gave up the ghost, the boyfriend does despair. Strong or tight woman re resisting the tech onslaught - take your pick!

Ah so discharge is post first check up once all treatment is complete, so in theory I should be discharged mid Sept all being well.
I love that you and dat daft dog have a morning cuddle, I usually have one cat baying and another nibbling on me in their efforts to get me up quicker and therefore fill their fat bellies.  Can't lie in for too long or would lose a limb and eardrums...dogs are so much easier..

Been out for my second (very cautious) bike ride today and crikey, my bum hurt so much...I knew it would after the initial return, it got to the stage that I couldn't actually leave the saddle for fear of not being able to get back on it!  But all is good & most importantly ark behaved, it was just the hips, back and knees that didn't!  I blame that blummin Letrazole, however talking to my BCN yesterday she tells me the best thing for naughty joints is exercise...mmm.

I did however, on the advice of my mother (whose advice I never take...that's how desperate to try anything I am I guess) start glucosamine yesterday and my morning stiffness & hobbles were noticeably improved this morning...coincidence?  I think not.  It was worth running the Boots queue gauntlet yesterday after all!!

Today is tidy the house day...yes, after over 6 wks the cleaning needs doing, its too grim to contemplate even for my magma low standards.  Whilst the boyfriend is good at hoovering/washing/changing beds he doesn't see anything else so will have to get my lazy ar5e in gear I guess.  So this mail is part of my procrastinating...

Hope all are well and are planning to have a better day than mine (bl00dy cleaning).

Sam X

Hi ladies,

Sam - i, like you have spent my day cleaning. My eldest son had a row with his dad yesterday so has packed a suitcase and gone to his girlfriend's house. I felt very torn about it yesterday but figure we all need a bit of space. So I have deep cleaned his room!! I keep going back in there now, to marvel at how clean it looks and smells!!!  Also cut son No.2's hair. All I can say is thank god we are on lock down ;-) 

Ive been getting a lot of cramp in my legs and feet. Didn't really twig until was reading about sign effects of tamoxifen and cramps is one!!  Suggests I stretch before bed!! My desire to exercise seems to have fallen off the face of the world!! But I am always busy so not just sitting. Few extra pounds have sneaked on but just need a careful week, not eating chocolate and drinking alcohol :-).

Well, Im off to clean my kitchen then the bathroom to do before I collapse in the chair. Hope you are all doing well. 
Caroline xx
 

Hi girls,

Not a lot to report ​​​​these days. My virtual physiotherapist has given me another two exercises on top of the others to do and was pleased when I said the app behaves like a drill sergeant.  She's a lovely girl who looks to glow with health so I will continue to do as she says.

Sam, I laughed at your description of your aches and pains post bike ride.  Once my son and his partner did a charity bike ride, he just did the one way, 45 miles and gave up, but she went on to do the whole route, 90 miles, tough girl!  When I asked many months later, how the bike riding was going, he said they had never been on them since!  

I used to have glucosamine on prescription on the recommendation of the orthopaedic specialist who gave me my first steroid injection, in my knee, many years ago.  I took it daily for a couple of years, then I got a letter from the NHS to say I couldn't have it on prescription any more as there was no evidence that the stuff worked, however, if I wanted to keep taking it, I could buy it!  Talk about mixed messages!  I don't think one dose would do anything, though, it is one of those things that need to be absorbed over time, so I suspect you have enjoyed a placebo effect!

 I am so used to having aches and pains over the last fifteen years that I don't really know if I'm getting more from the Letrozole or if it's just old age. When I saw what you said that cramps might be a side effect of Tamoxifen, Caroline, I thought about the cramps I have been getting. I thought they might be related to the Letrozole, and seeing the connection with Tamoxifen, I checked to see if there was a recognised connection with Letrozole.  What a mistake!  I found a site for professionals and now believe that anything I EVER suffer in the rest of my life  will be traced back to Letrozole.  The least encouraging  thing I read was that one effect can be secondary breast cancer. I thought I was taking the stuff to stop that! That'll teach me to Google!!  Never again!!

I hope family harmony is restored by now, Caroline. I had to smile when I read about cleaning your son's room.  My son had to be threatened with death before he could see that his room needed cleaning and, invariably, the mess would get to me before the threats got to him. I have distinct memories of finding cups full of fur under his bed. Beneath the fur would be apple cores!!! They had probably been there since the last time I had given in and cleaned. You made me think back to those days of never standing still for a minute, with husband and kids to look after, a job to hold down, a house to clean, meals to cook.  For a minute I felt nostalgic, then I thought thank goodness those days don't last forever or our life spans would be much shorter!!! Nowadays he is a completely different man. He got quite stressed when I went out into his garden in my slippers and trailed wet footprints behind me when I came back in. He was there with the mop before I knew it. 

Today has felt like winter! On Monday I wore a tee shirt, sunglasses and baseball cap to walk Archie. Yesterday I wore a fleece over the tee, didn't need the sunglasses or visor. Today I was back to leather coat and gloves and woolly bobble cap.  No wonder Brits talk about the weather all the time!

Stay safe, stay well,

Christine xxx