Hi

i had a similar visit 5 days ago, except I've never been through this before, I'm still waiting on CT as my lymph nodes were also affected 

I don't know how I'm meant to feel, I just feel like I need all the results now and the wait is excruciating 

I have a 3 week wait for CT due to coronavirus although I am on an emergency cancellation list

i would welcome any advice at all on how best to deal with this, I'm 43 and have 3 young children 

xxx

Hi AMil,

I am sorry to hear you are joining the club no one wants to join!! I think my advice would be to always try and remain positive. Medicine has moved on so much that breast cancer has a really high survival rate - in the 90%'s. Talk to people - friends/family or even us. I found that people who had been through/were going through BC had a better understanding of what I was going through but my friends and family were still amazing. Try and keep busy, between appointments. Waiting for scans/results is definitely one of the hardest parts!!! 
Remember, this is just a 'blip' The 3 of us all had very different journeys but we were there to talk about it and share worries and advice. Happy to do the same for you.

Caroline

Hi
So one week and counting...

I had a lovely week off work, despite the self isolating (like it makes a real difference nowadays), been painting the kitchen units, half are now a nice shade of light blue ( having had 2 coats), the remainder are dark blueish and definitely need at least another coat.  The preparation took sooo long, not helped by the most rubbish masking tape and need to undercoat several times, no blue cats yet amazingly. 
I now have a pair of support pants that are easy to put on and a pair (in my size) that I will need help to squeeze into (like those delightful DVT socks).  They are like torture.
I've also been filling up my freezer...there is no space whatsoever left, I have 11 portions of butternut squash & sweetcorn soup and 20 very hot pasta sauce so don't think I'll starve any time soon.
My hair is making me look more Aunt Maud every passing day, not a good look and unlikely I'll get to the hairdressers before mid Jan...great!  On the plus side am in tier 2 but no chance to avail myself of all the excitement that offers. 
 Monday was a hastily arranged CT scan (I think they forgot to do this before!), get the results tomorrow, pre op assessment was today & CV test, obs and more blood tests Friday...and then (assuming no-one gets CV) we're on!

Hope that you're both awaiting to emerge from the lockdown into...another lockdown! Not sure Christmas will be too exciting here as reliant on the boyfriend who can be a right grinch...  I will make up for it when allowed back oop north.

And am soon to get Mummy no. 3!  The father & his partner are getting wed, which is lovely, despite the fact its only for inheritance tax purposes (ah, the romance...).  They need to await the queue at the local registry office to clear though.  Am glad that the father has decided not to have the chemo or immunotherapy that was on offer, turns out he's just like me and values quality of life over longevity.

Christine hope your knee is benefitting from confinement and that your German missive is now complete (my favourite German word is kreuzwortratsel FYI).

Caroline - hope you're not working too hard and that the puddle monster is improving.

Sam X

Hi Sam, 

I was wondering when you were having the DIEP, there's certainly a lot of prep for things these days. I hope it's an easy recovery for you.
Happy new mummy! I think a lot of long term couples get married for that reason. It makes sense not to pass your money to the government.

I go to see an orthopaedic surgeon tomorrow about my knee. Shocked at getting an appointment so quickly. It hasn't been too bad lately since I became a druggie. I finally gave in and take painkillers on a regular basis, although I've ditched the Tramadol for my new best friend Amytriptaline. I take one very tiny tablet at bedtime and I sleep pain free all night. It makes me sleepy during the day, too, which is no hardship while under lockdown, although I think that might be wearing off now I've been taking it for a couple of weeks and have got used to it, because today I did a few hours clearing all the perennials and weeds out of the garden ready for tomorrow's promised snow!

I'm going to bed now, Good luck for your surgery.
Love 

Christine xx

Caroline, hope you are well and looking forward to Christmas xx 

Cheers Christine,

As I hate being late (!!) have been at the hospital since 6.15, the blummin unit doesn't open till 7.30.  Luckily its a comfy & warm hospital eh?

So we're all set, cats in cattery, overnight bag packed to the max (am sure 20 pairs of pants and 5 books will all be used..mm), never been one for travelling light.  House is as clean as I can bare it.  I did have a lovely friend asking for my house keys whilst I was in hospital so she could come around with her cleaner & clean my hovel...I told her 'not on your Nelly'!  If I can't do it then it won't get done but how kind (have also told her that if my house gets broken into and its cleaner than it is now I'll dob her into the coppers).

The boyfriend is in mad worry mode, it doesn't take a lot.  He's also worrying about the covid vaccinations as he really hates needles, poor lad ...all that and having to put up with me too. Some people have all the luck eh?

Right better get my *** in gear and get prepped for 8 hrs blissful nothingness, hopefully make up for the fact that I didn't get my required beauty kip last night.

Caroline - hope everything is good with you.

XX

Hi Sam and Christine!

Sam - how did it go yesterday?? You got a lovely new boob now? How are you feeling? Have they let you go home? And what a lovely friend! I would of gladly given her the keys and told her to crack on!! :laugh: So you just need to take it easy now - hope you've got all your Christmas jobs done so you can veg and just watch naff Christmas films!! 
Christine, I hope you are feeling brighter? How did you appointment about your knee go? Hopefully they can do something to help ease the pain. Such a debilitating pain to have, especially if affecting your sleep.

All is good with me. First one of the first times ever, I am more or less ready for Christmas - or I've just forgotten lots of things. My brain has been struggling a lot, recently. Feels like it's surrounded by cotton wool!!! The puppy is growing - fast!! We had to cut down on his food portions as he was gaining weight at a rate of knots. Still a bit bity but calmed down most of the time. Not sure I'd want to do it again!! 
Not sure if you have read it, but I've just finished reading Victoria Derbyshire's book about her breast cancer journey. It's called Dear Cancer, Love Victoria. I binge read it. She talks about her mastectomy, chemo, radiotherapy and how she feels/copes along the way. I think people who have had cancer will read it differently to those who haven't been along the path.  
I have settled back into  "normality"  Cancer isn't crowding my thoughts and I don't really think about it or worry about it very often! Long may it continue! 
Work is keeping me busy - I am having to test myself for Covid twice a week and report it to work. It's not too pleasant but reassuring to get the results.

Anyway - I had better crack on with some work. Take care ladies - let me know how you both are.

Caroline xx

Hi Caroline 

Yep, all really good here. Told the team this morning that I was looking to leave Friday and luckily for them they've agreed!

New boob is very healthy though does feel a little odd given was used to having nowt there, funny how quickly we get used to things I guess, and am amazed at how little stomach I have left (they removed 444 grams FYI!).

Having a great time here as the team are all lovely but will be glad to get home, even if its with the mother nursing me!  Been told several times by plastic surgeon to slow down...me, impatient??

Managed to wean myself off the oxycodone fine as don't want constipation for too long (jury's still out on that one) so just on ibuprofen & paracetamol now. 

Oh believe you me I have tonnes of crap awaiting my viewing that needs clearing from the TV recorder, it will be consumed over the progression of the next weeks. The TV and tonnes of pillows will be very close pals of mine indeed.

I'm glad you're sounding so upbeat and are ready for the onslaught of the festive period.  I try & avoid cancer books/films etc, find them quite depressing (not surprisingly!).  I generally only watch read funny/horror or murder stuff...forget real life stuff!

Twice a week covid testing...that's quite full on isn't it but given you're in the profession makes sense. 

So tomorrow get my final drain out and have to try & squeeze myself into stupid support pants...really looking forward to that!  Am however looking forward to being waited on hand & foot of course and going round to a pals of Adrian's (who are great cooks) for Christmas so belly may not be quite as flat come the eve of 25th Dec...

Sam X

Hi girls,

I'm delighted to hear you are both doing well. I hope your recovery is continuing well, Sam. if you are in pain, take the Oxycodone, you can always take stool softeners to counteract the constipation. I just eat liquorice if I have that problem!

Caroline, you sound to be well on the way to normality, as much as 2020 would allow, anyway.  I'm so glad!   I think my dodgy knee stopped me thinking about cancer a long time ago.

My visit to the orthopaedic surgeon was mixed. I really liked him and his manner, but he hadn't seen my X-rays so couldn't really give me a definitive recommendation. He had an old MRI scan from 2017, which showed my cartilage damage was at stage 3 and the only higher stage was four which meant bone on bone.  He said he was quite sure that in three years it hadn't got any better but wanted to see the recent X-rays before advising me one way or another.  He then proceeded to list all the dangers associated with replacement surgery, about a dozen I think.  I told him I just want to be pain free and if he can do that without surgery I'd be more than happy. He said he could give me a new injection in the right knee because the last one didn't take, so I don't have to wait another four months, which is great and I have an appointment with him on 16th. Hopefully he won't change his mind and tell me to go for surgery once he's seen the X-rays.  

I have been really sad this week, though. My lovely next door neighbour has lost her eldest son, not to Covid, but suddenly, to pneumonia and sepsis. I want to give her a hug but can't. He was only in his forties. So sad!  

Is it my imagination or have people started their Christmas preparations early this year as an antidote to Covid misery? I was even driven to drag out some lights and a small artificial tree this week and I'm supposed to have sacked Christmas!  They won't be switched on until nearer the time, though.  I've always waited until the weekend before to put up decorations because I get fed up of them by New Year.

Take care, both of you!  Sam, rest!!!  Let yourself be taken care of.  
 

lots of love

Christine xxx
 

Christine,

Thats really sad re your neighbours loss, 40 is so young, I'm sure they know how much you'd like to support them and know that you care...and that counts for lots, and you'll be able to go mad with hugs, as we all will before Easter I reckon (don't forget my Nostradamus tendencies!).

Totally agree with you re people definitely upping their game on the festive front, I've been making the most of my very short and exceedingly slow shuffles around my neighbourhood to be the nosy old crone that I am destined to be and have a top and bottom 5 of tasteful decorations, in and outside houses, thankfully most houses have done a nice job, the more  'interesting' festive displays have been reserved for other, less celubrious neighbourhoods ...ha!!! I've had mine up since mid November, more to get personal value for money and to get it out of the way well before the op, and it does amuse me that the female cat likes to marmalise the tree...bl00dy idiot.  So I am glad you've seen all the festive light and have seen fit to go a wee bit Christmassy...well done!!

Im loving my mother (the agency staff as she's now referred to) being here and seeing to my every exacting need, she's quite rubbish at following directions though and can't make a cup of tea for toffee but beggars and choosers and all that.  My main issues remain, in order, being vvvv painful when coughing/sneezing (why is it so difficult to stop yourself coughing?), the annoyance of having to plan to go to the loo (the support pants are soooo cumbersome and if the band rests on where the magician tried to saw me in half I certainly know about it), our old friend constipation ( thus was also one of my worst aspects about chemo, maybe the worst actually) and now lack of sleep, hence sending this early on a Sunday morning. Sleeping in my back is not a natural position, and neither is being surrounded/elevated by 57 pillows....my lack of much needed beauty sleep will start to show soon.

So as you can tell am actually doing very well! First appointment with nurse to remove bandage next Friday.

Hope your knee injection works this time Christine, I'll be thinking of you whilst gassing with the lovely chemo unit nurses as having my zolodex shot that day....nice to get out but not relishing the need to wash my hair ...it's developing an 'interesting' look day by day...much like some of the dodgier Christmas decs above.

Id like to think that come the 20th Dec your house will be adorned with flashing lights, inflatable snow men, life size reindeer and one of those Santas climbing up the wall, oh and tonnes of icicles that light up from top to bottom....the whole 9 yards and a little bit more. I would personally be so worried about my electrical bill, such a tight northerner!!!

Stay safe but go mad.

X

Hi Girls,

I hope yesterday's news from BoJo hasn't knocked your Christmas plans into touch.  My daughter and I are not being affected by it, I'm pleased to say and we have our Chinese banquet booked for delivery on Christmas Eve, for us to zap the next day for our Christmas Day dinner. 
I was actually, very lucky to see my son the other day. He had to drive North to make a delivery to a customer so carried on to sunny Lancashire. Strictly he shouldn't have been allowed in, nor, God forbid, given a hug, but he was and I did!  He has been extremely careful during the pandemic because his partner is quite vulnerable.  I felt like my Christmas had come early because my daughter came round, too. We are in a bubble so that was quite legal, and sitting in my lounge with both my kids and all three dogs felt wonderful.

I'm going to make a confession to you guys, because I know it won't get back to them, but I lied to my kids.  I wanted to give them money for Christmas as my bank account was a lot healthier this year than last, due to not having done anything enjoyable and they had both had a lot of expense this year. My daughter had to have a new roof on her house and my son had had to spend a lot of money on trips to his in-laws to help out with a sick parent.  I spent quite a few sleepless nights thinking how to give it to them. I knew that they wouldn't accept it if I just tried to give it to them, so I lied.  I had a small lottery win, the week before, so I showed them the email announcing a win, but exaggerated the amount ( £3 became £3000) and paid a thousand pounds into each of their bank accounts. We have always shared any windfalls, so they were delighted to think this was lucky money!  I'm still smiling about it! I even switched on my Christmas lights while they were here!

I hope your discomfort post surgery is lessening, Sam,  the thought of that, alone, would be enough to put me off having reconstruction, fortunately I can use my age as an excuse for not going down that route. I don't like to try to sleep on my back, either, but find it helps if I have to, to put pillows under my knees as well as under my shoulders/head, to give a sun lounger effect.

My knee injection seems to have worked, I just get the odd twinge now, but am walking without limping! Yay!!!   Just before I had it my daughter reminded me that I had gone mad doing housework and gardening after the last one, while the local anaesthetic was still working, and she's convinced I bu@@ared it up, so I had to promise to rest up for a day. I did a grocery shop on my way to the hospital so I was able to just go home and take it easy after the jab.  I'm now trying to ease myself off the painkillers- no easy task. I've reduced the codeine to twice a day, and so far so good. I had a bad headache the first day, but not so bad subsequently, I'll go down to one a day from tomorrow. I have never been one for taking tablets and it has freaked me out taking15 a day with my Lansoprazole and Letrozole. I might hang on the the Amitriptyline, though, I love the way it helps my sleep!

Today is Smudge's tenth birthday! He still looks like a puppy but is slowing down a bit now, although you wouldn't think so if you saw the delight he showed when he got his Rupert Bear birthday present. He has chased it and chewed it all morning. He didn't appreciate my singing Happy Birthday on FaceTime though. 

Caroline, I'm sure you are busy with Christmas preparations, I was always quite a last minute person when the kids were young, working full time doesn't help, as well as being the family driver, so as well as getting everything organised I was the one going to pick up grandparents etc.  Christmas has got smaller and smaller as years go by and families get smaller, and this year I have really cut down on preparations although it was nice to sit down and organise my donations to my charities. I gave a bit more  to a few more, this year, rather than buying and posting dozens of cards and gifts people didn't really want and certainly didn't need, just from habit.  I did warn people that I was only giving to charity this year, and I hope they don't end up buying me something and make me feel guilty.  Not being able to have visits helps that, actually, 

Have a lovely Christmas despite the restrictions, and here's to a 2021 with a bit more normality!
 

lots of love

Christine xxx

Hi Christine 

You are like me in so many ways, I too am a darn good and consistent liar and quite inventive with it too.  I mean I'm honest about lying, I tell the boyfriend quite regularly about my lieing prowess, he tells me that he really doesn't want to know...he's far too good and principled for me you know! But that's a lovely thing to do for your kids and so glad you got to see both of them.  Bring on some more, larger wins eh?

Boris has indeed ruined my Christmas plans...what a surprise!  That man is no good at managing expectations, something I tell the boyfriend is very important to me.  We were due to go round to some friends of his (who are very good cooks) for the day and dinner but alas no more...boo!  Not quite sure what we'll do now...I mean even if I was fighting fit I couldn't be bothered with the cooking palaver so the onus is on the poor, ever suffering boyfriend...I'd be quite happy with a pizza just be nice to be out of these (tier) 4 walls for a bit.  Christine your Chinese banquet idea is becoming more appetising as the days pass, late Boris news will no doubt mean that such opportunities have been snapped up but we'll see...

Recovery still doing really well, had the thick bandages off Friday and was told my scars are amongst the best ever seen, love to be teachers pet! The surgeons work is very neat & tidy and barely a scab to be seen. Am still slow and its cumbersome to move but getting quicker and easier every day. Thankfully sleeping better of late and bowels back in good order (nice!).  My father reckons I have his very quick healing genes, that may be so but I reckon my healthy lifestyle is a large contributory factor too.

Good news re knee, how long will the good news  last? Will it need topping up every so often? I think its a good idea to wean self off pain killers, I'm not a fan of drugs per se and made a point of stopping oxycodone soonish in hospital and am now also free of ibuprofen and paracetamol...luckily I have a very high plain threshold anyway so paracetamol does buggar all anyway.  And some of the heavy hitters cause my worst nightmare...constipation!  I think I may be on the lansaprazole too but want to kick that into touch too (not altogether sure what its doing but no energy to be that interested!).

Happy Birthday fluffy Smudge, am hoping Rupert was from Archie too or is Archie going to be giving his pal a special gift? You whatsapp'd a dog...am impressed with Smudge's grasp of technology.  Its taken me 2 weeks and the help of boyfriend and sister in Taiwan to fathom out how to post photos on facebook (for my DIEP group pals to see plastic surgeons fine work & needed to cover up body parts not permitted)....it was a technology challenge too far but finally succeeded.  I put up before and after photos and not one person questioned how the plastic surgeon managed to improve on perfection!! Ha!

Like you my father (who is doing well) gave money to McMillan rather than cards, its actually a blessing as his card includes an annual 'poem' which is always terrible but he thinks is quite good.

Caroline - hope naughty Eddie is good and not marmalising Christmas decorations (like my female cat), I think you're outside tier 4 so hope your plans aren't too affected for the festive period.  I was debating going to see the mother near you Boxing Day but Boris has put paid to that too (probably just as well, saves her cooking and the boyfriend worrying that we've passed on something).  How's your positivity? its crap that all that's going on is battering it and hope that the Christmas announcement hasn't further impacted it, I know how important it is as its carried me through since diagnosis.

Hope your decorations are filling you with festive cheer, I'm loving the extra effort made in my neighbourhood (well apart from some..), my effort is comparable with previous years, don't want to overdo it plus just more for the boyfriend to take down in Jan (see, I'm thoughtful like that...yeah right!!).

Right, have a good festive Chinese with the daughter Christine and Caroline with the family (and maybe others - you lucky lady!) XX

Hi ladies,

Lovely to hear how well you are both doing - knee wise, new boob wise!!! We are tough cookies aren't we!!

Sam, yes we are narrowly avoid being in tier 4 by the skin of our teeth, half a mile up the road are not so lucky. My mum and dad made the decision a while ago, not to come down for Christmas, which I am gutted about but understand. Haven't seen them since New Year. My sister lives in South Wales and was due to come and visit on Boxing Day for the night but that has now been cancelled. I thank my lucky stars that I do have my kids and husband here so not alone. 
Eddie is ok but we had a major scare on Thursday when he had a funny turn. Lost his sense of balance, had the shakes and lost bladder control. Came on very suddenly. So we rushed him to the vets and they suspected sepis/meningitis and told us he was in a very bad way and to prepare for the worst. We had to rush him to a specialist neurologist vets near Winchester, for tests and an MRI. They rushed him in and then came back out 20 min later with a normal looking dog!!! Walking normally, tail wagging! They didn't do an MRI as couldn't see any reason to do so!! And touch wood, since then he has been his normal little *** self!! 
I feel very sad that everyone has had Christmas plans cancelled but I think a quiet Christmas / New Year will be time for us all to appreciate what we have. I feel sad for people who will be alone and whose mental health is going to suffer. I think if you need to break the rules in order to help someone's well being - so be it! My friend's mum has terminal cancer and might not be here next Christmas. I've told my friend to go round to see her - just maybe stay in the garden.

Christine, what a lovely gesture to your kids!! And very crafty!! 
Well, I need to crack on with some housework - so if don't catch up before Christmas, have a lovely, quiet and chilled one. Lots of walks and pj days I reckon. And a peaceful New Year and to hopes we can party again next year!!!

Love Caroline xx

Hi ladies,

Lovely to hear how well you are both doing - knee wise, new boob wise!!! We are tough cookies aren't we!!

Sam, yes we are narrowly avoid being in tier 4 by the skin of our teeth, half a mile up the road are not so lucky. My mum and dad made the decision a while ago, not to come down for Christmas, which I am gutted about but understand. Haven't seen them since New Year. My sister lives in South Wales and was due to come and visit on Boxing Day for the night but that has now been cancelled. I thank my lucky stars that I do have my kids and husband here so not alone. 
Eddie is ok but we had a major scare on Thursday when he had a funny turn. Lost his sense of balance, had the shakes and lost bladder control. Came on very suddenly. So we rushed him to the vets and they suspected sepis/meningitis and told us he was in a very bad way and to prepare for the worst. We had to rush him to a specialist neurologist vets near Winchester, for tests and an MRI. They rushed him in and then came back out 20 min later with a normal looking dog!!! Walking normally, tail wagging! They didn't do an MRI as couldn't see any reason to do so!! And touch wood, since then he has been his normal little *** self!! 
I feel very sad that everyone has had Christmas plans cancelled but I think a quiet Christmas / New Year will be time for us all to appreciate what we have. I feel sad for people who will be alone and whose mental health is going to suffer. I think if you need to break the rules in order to help someone's well being - so be it! My friend's mum has terminal cancer and might not be here next Christmas. I've told my friend to go round to see her - just maybe stay in the garden.

Christine, what a lovely gesture to your kids!! And very crafty!! 
Well, I need to crack on with some housework - so if don't catch up before Christmas, have a lovely, quiet and chilled one. Lots of walks and pj days I reckon. And a peaceful New Year and to hopes we can party again next year!!!

Love Caroline xx

Hi Girls,

Happy New Year to you and yours. I'm working on the belief that it must be better than last year, but actually last year was better than 2019 because that's when we all got cancer!

I hope you had a nIce Christmas and New Year's Eve. It was my birthday yesterday and it was just me and Archie because my daughter was snowed in. I planned a lovely quiet reading day as I am so over the rubbish TV we've had over Christmas. Did I manage that? No! The world and his wife decided to telephone or FaceTime or text me. I felt like I'd been to a party by the time night came. Then my neighbours decided they were going to have drinks at the end of their drive at midnight and put it on our friends and neighbours Messenger group, so People were replying and commenting and making jokes all night. Each time another one replied my iPad would ping, so even though I went to bed at my usual 10 - 10.30, I couldn't get to sleep. Then the fireworks started. Fortunately Archie isn't bothered by them but sleep was totally out of the question for another hour or so. 
My daughter lives in a small village on a quiet, narrow road where houses only line one side opposite a fishing lake. She phoned me about 9.30 to tell me a police car had cruised slowly up and down her street. We laughed our socks off because most of her neighbours are pensioners older than me and they never see a police car from one year to another. I bet the police were cruising all the quiet areas looking for parties they didn't want to find rather than where they would be guaranteed to find someone breaking the rules. I don't blame them but I warned my neighbours that they were about.  That would be the worst end to the worst year, wouldn't it, getting fined for having a drink at the end of your drive!

I have my next checkup on Tuesday. I got the letter yesterday telling me not to go to the hospital, it would be a telephone checkup. Whoopidoo! I am supposed to be going to the gym at the hospital to continue the keep fit course I started last year before lockdown. I suspect I'll be getting a phone call cancelling that, too.  

Sam, I hope you are more comfortable now, and up for your usual active life, and Caroline stay safe, it is harder for you to stay home, I guess, so be really careful. 
 

Love

Christine xxx

Hi Christine and Sam,

Happy New Year!! Your New Years Eve story made me chuckle!! We are in tier 4 here so more or less locked down and then one of the boys tested positive for Covid on the 27th after losing his sense of smell and taste. So we have ended up in isolation!!! We are locked up until the 6th. But it's not been too bad. We have a big garden and a field that we rent at the back, so have been able to walk the dogs daily. We had spent Christmas Day with my in laws and sister in law, so they are also having to isolate. 
We had a lovely New Years Eve. We played on the wii, darts, pool and family fortunes with all the boys, but then I crashed and burned just after midnight. 
Well, let's hope this is the year we can all get back to seeing friends/family and travel again!! I wish you lots of happiness for 2021. 
Have to shoot off, as my sister's birthday is today and we have a zoom quiz to attend!! 
Caroline xx

Hi Caroline,

Sorry to hear you're having to isolate, but at least you're all together. It sounds like you're really making the best of it. Hope no one else tests positive! Enjoy your quiz!

love

Christine xx

Hi and happy new year & all that!!

I'll just be happy to keep my body fairly intact this year and not lose the odd (albeit mainly naughty) bit to the surgeon's scalpel...that said will hopefully be having symmetry surgery to the god given boob at some point but that will be a walk in the park vs ops in 2020.

Christine - glad you had such an eventful new year & Happy Birthday!  Am quite jealous all round of your virtual social life, probably just as well those coppers are patrolling the quiet backwaters around you...ha!

Hope your hospital appointment goes as well as it can and that face-to-face is soon resumed, its so annoying isn't it.  I'm lucky in that I have pretty much a full week of hospital appointments mid Jan which all require me being there in person so get it all over & done with, hopefully no side effects from 2nd bisphosphonate and good school report/sign off from plastic surgeon, suspect will need some physio however and not sure that will be face-to-face but we'll see.

Caroline - glad you're ok with isolation and you have sizeable garden/fields at your disposal, always a big plus of living out of the big city - and something I hanker for..

Hope you haven't got any symptoms, I've got a couple of pals whose kids at school have contracted the lurgi and are now self isolating, its no wonder the covid rates are going through the roof re schools.

All good here, moving better and think I am actually upright now at times though still have an Ozzy Osbourne stance & shuffle after sitting down.  It will be 4 weeks post op on Tuesday and am getting decidedly antsy here...will try some gentle yoga gubbins next week to break the monotony of my daily walk.  I love walking but with the amount of people walking down here who generally have no respect for one another its not as enjoyable as it should be, it would get better when schools return of course but god knows when that will be mmm..I have however, as am a positive and proactive person, invested in some well-sexy gaiters enabling me to walk the REALLY muddy footpaths that others tend to avoid...love it! And only fallen over once ( well it was a very slow slip but did end in quite an impressive muddy ar5e!), no wet socks yet so hurrah.  And as I look so 'interesting' with my gaiters, 20 yr old lavender ski jacket (now with a muddy bum), pink leggings and hair that is now a mash-up between Nicholas Parsons & Jeffrey Howe's spitting image puppet lots of people naturally avoid me...happy days!

So its Dullsville here, I do need to finish a really good book (Mudlarking) as the neighbour who lent me it in July 2019 (you know how long it took me to make my initial cushion cover--these things just can't and shouldn't be rushed!!) is moving house on Thursday...so inconsiderate these good neighbours leaving, he provides me with veg from his allotment, brings my bins in and always stops for a good chin-wag...I'll have to explain my expectations to the new lot early doors to make sure they're fully up to speed in a timely fashion.

Good to see you're both in good spirits, are you both classed as extremely vulnerable by govt?  I am as it was early days post chemo when first list pulled together that the govt doesn't seem to have updated ( I do wonder how they are adding new people to it who are going through chemo & other treatments now), my GP has told me to stay as is given soon after surgery so I now want to join Lionel Blair at the Epsom racecourse vaccination centre...nice to know I'm in good company...

Sam X

Hello both

Just checking in that you're not having too much fun mmm?

All good here, am now upright (hurrah!) and able to stomp around my woodland muddy puddles at quite a pace ( doesn't do my legging much good re mud splatters) and haven't fallen over recently so who can hope for more eh...

Busy week here, out & about every day (get me!), dentist Mon (all clear yay!) in advance of 2nd bisphosphonate later today and blood test for that yesterday.  Then I have first post op appointment with plastic surgeon Thurs, a few questions await him (he's quite used to the interrogation now).

Other than that, surprisingly, not a lot going on...arm exercises still progressing (are you both still doing yours?  I've never stopped since mx) and planning on a gentle bike ride next week (it will be 6 wks post op), that's if the bike is up to it...it was on its last legs the last time I rode it with transition to the gears that you need to get up hills proving challenging, far from ideal in the surrey hills but think it will be some time yet before they are part of my routine.  Been watching loads of TV that I had recorded (just as well as lots of repeats on now - I mean as much as I love Jessica Fletcher...ha!) and lots of gruesome horror films (love em).  I even did a bit of sewing the other day - mending holes in stuff, I really resent throwing stuff away nowadays and buying new stuff...how will the economy cope?

Am loving that the bulbs are really poking through now, I even have alliums that have a lot of leaf growth, hope it doesn't get too cold for the purple bee loving beauties!

 I'm still feigning weakness so the boyfriend is doing many of the household chores...how long can I keep it going this time I wonder?  He's such a worry pants he'll do it forever (the fool!), I told him I'd have a go at driving next week (which I will) and the response was 'I wouldn't, give it another month or so"..ha!  Its not like I actually need to drive anywhere (or have anywhere to go until next zolodex shot mid Feb) just want to check that I can, plus with my memory want to check I can remember how the car (as well as me) works.

Hopefully out of some support gear next week too, think I can stop wearing chest high pants & bra overnight.  It will be odd without them though, I imagine that my body will do a very relaxed Nutty Professor and all the currently bound up flesh will just ooze...now that would be a picture.

How's your lymphodema Christine?  I'm massaging twice a day and in the compression garments 24/7 but would really like it to be gone by summer when short sleeves would be nice as well as fewer layers, particularly when those blummin hot flushes abound...not looking forward to that combo.

Right, hope all is well with you, your hounds and loved ones XX

Hi Girls,

Sam, It's good to know you are up and about again. Crikey, all that having to go out in lockdown.  I'm quite happy to stay home again. Although, having said that, I drove the long way round to my daughter's today - emergency assistance needed - and came back the long way, too, to give my car a bit of a run to give the battery a boost as it hasn't been off the drive for weeks.  We have had snow since before New Year until Tuesday, so I haven't even tried to drive anywhere!  I was needed today, to take a tiny screwdriver round to fix her glasses that had popped a lens while she was cleaning them. She thought she had one but couldn't see to find it. She also needed me to actually screw the side together for the same reason! It was quite funny, after she had FaceTimed me to ask for help she then called again to say, "Do not pass GO, do not collect £200 and do not go anywhere else! ".  She doesn't trust me!  I have used necessary journeys as an excuse to do a bit of shopping on the way, in the past, but I'm a bit more wary this time as the infection rates are getting scary. I was supposed to be going to the hospital Women's fitness class on Monday, and last week I was waiting for a phone call cancelling it, but none came.  In the end I phoned them at nine o'clock on Monday to ask if the class was still going ahead at ten and they said, yes! I asked to be excused! It didn't really seem a sensible thing to do and the physio agreed with me. She said they had been waiting for it to be cancelled, but the hospital is supposed to be a Covid safe environment and it could go ahead.

I haven't bothered with arm exercises since last New Year, I had full movement very early on.  I still do the lymphoedema exercises, though, although I haven't seen any change for months, not much swelling and the ridge that is the scar is so hard it looks like I'm stuck with it. I will be getting some arm exercises to do on my right arm, this week, from a physiotherapist. I was referred after an ultrasound showed arthritis and torn ligaments, unfortunately, it has taken so long to get any treatment,  I think the ligaments have healed themselves, although I still get pain when typing - as in NOW! 

You are being trendy mending clothes. Apparently not buying new clothes is really good for the environment!  I won't need to buy anything new for years, except for leggings and fleeces, as that's all I seem to have worn for the last year. 

Caroline, I am hoping you haven't succumbed to the lurgy and have got back to normal, or what passes for normal these days. My friend has just got a new puppy, having paid an obscene amount of money for him and is now going through the joys of potty training and trying to keep up with him. He's very cute though!   She is exhausted!  Archie is getting better and better as he grows older, I can't say it was worth all the things he destroyed and all the times I had to redecorate etc, but I'm glad I've got him.

My telephone checkup was short and sweet  The nurse just wanted to know if I was still taking the Letrozole. I have another one booked for April.

I hope you get your questions answered, tomorrow, Sam, and you continue to improve at a rate of knots. Don't go too far for your bike ride, you might get fined!!!

Take care, both of you  

Christine x

Hello both

Just checking in.  All good here and quite dull! Think that's reflective of 99% of the poulation though.

Still having some discomfort and get tired at times but otherwise on an upwards trajectory. I've even ( as I do need to have things to look forward to!) signed myself and some pals up for the MacMillan mighty hike (13 miles) in theYorks dales in the summer...how exciting,  Need to start stocking up on blister plasters.

My busy hospital week passed without incident and plastic surgeon happy with his work, now have appointment April for next phase (lift the god-given boob and liposuction my delightful side boob!) so will soon be able to emulate Sam Fox (do they still have page 3 stunnas I wonder?).

I now officially have a Mother no 3 as the father got married last week, a very small affair as I'm sure you can imagine - 5 of them inc registrar.  They had some socially distanced cake & champers are enjoying their honeymoon in the front room under a 60 watt bulb.  The father may be starting immunotherapy, currently having tests & scans, we'll see if a) it happens and b)it agrees with him...time will tell. He's also the first in the family to get his covid jab so is the guinea pig and we have yet to see him turn into a zombie so all is good for me I reckon!  The Southampton mother had been summoned for her jab but reckons 40 mins is too far to travel to get it so will wait...she's odd that one.

I'm really jealous of my overseas sister who is living it up in Taiwan celebrating Chinese New Year...lucky lass!  She dose think it amusing to keep sending me photos of her and her pals living it up - we are not amused.

So the excitement of this week is taking the cats for their annual jabs, its an oft repeated scene where I get told off for them being overweight...this year will be no different unfortunately.  It does mean I have to drive for the first time since op...let's hope I have some memory.

I was going to go for a walk but its chucking it down so will have a rest up instead and watch some rubbish on the TV that doesn't require too much brain power (leaves a lot to choose from).  Still struggling to concentrate on things that require effort, tried reading and had to keep re-reading as was missing the story....think I've actually lost the plot!

Hope you've got your covid calling Christine, the north is doing a good job of being better organised judging by the fact that all my pals parents >80 have now had 1st and are about to have 2nd jab. Glad to see you're there to assist daughter in her spectacle hour of need!

Chrsitine - hope all is well if not a tad dull eh and hope that work is behaving.

Sam X

Hi Sam,

Glad to hear you are doing ok.  I am in awe of you going through all the extra surgery after everything else. I can totally relate to your tiredness, I slept for almost 8 hours last night and still dozed off this morning. If I'm not actually doing something physical, I just fall asleep, that's whether watching Tv, which seems to be particularly soporific during lockdown, or trying to read. I have deleted the News app off all my devices, as I used to spend all day reading about stupid stuff I hated. Once Trump had gone, I thought that would be the last I heard of him but NO!  They were still writing about him every day, so that was it. No reading my phone, find something else to do.  The trouble is, once I've done the essentials, such as cooking, cleaning, dog walking, I have no inclination to do anything else. To be honest I don't do much of the first two. Yesterday I lived on granola bars, fruit and liquorice. I didn't feel hungry so didn't bother with anything else. I drink my coffee with loads of milk, so I'm getting nourishment. Some days I go mad and cook for a family of four, and I do get fed up of the same meal by the fourth day!

My daughter puts ithe sleepiness down to the Amitryptaline I'm taking for my painful knee but there's no way I'm giving it up, I love sleeping all night, it's quite a novelty still. The knee used to have fun by spiking at three am, waking me up, never to sleep again. I put the sleepiness down to boredom.  I haven't even been inspired to paint since Christmas.

I hope the immunotherapy works for your father. I read daily blogs on here from someone whose husband is doing quite well on it. Making an honest woman of his partner at last eh?  Good on them!

I go for my vaccination tomorrow.  It is so exciting to be going out somewhere - anywhere!  I actually took the car out for petrol last week, it was running really low, not having been filled for months. I decided to take it to Sainsbury's at the end of the motorway- much to my daughter's dismay, but it needed a run and I wanted to be sure I could remember how to drive. I had to promise to wear disposable gloves, pay at the pump and come straight home, without speaking to anyone. Tyrant!  She knows that I will pop in the supermarket tomorrow as I have to pass right by it, so I'm under orders to wear a mask and a see through face covering. A friend who has already had her jab said they give you a mask as you sign in, so I don't know how much armour I'll be wearing in the end.

I think it has stopped raining so I will soon be going out to feed the birds, they are fighting over the crumbs. It was too slippery under foot yesterday, after yet more snow, to refill the feeders before they were completely empty and they are literally fighting over the remnants. The fact that every other garden on the street has bird feeders seems to have gone unnoticed.

Dont go mad with your exercise, your body needs time to recover from the thrashing it's had. Keep the boyfriend busy, you need the rest and recouperation. 

Take care, 

love

Christine xx

Hi Caroline, hope you are ok, too. xxx

Hi Ladies,

Have to say I felt a slight pang of anxiety when I saw one of you had written something - almost as though I was expected bad news so was very thankful to hear you are both doing well. Although Christine, you do sound quite low at the moment :neutral. 
I think we are all struggling a lot more this lockdown than the other 2. It just feels as thought it is never going to end, doesn't it. 
I have had my vaccine, a few weeks ago. I had the Pfizer one, through work. No side effects other than a sore arm. 
Work is very busy and I am helping out a lot more, with the bereavement team.

We have also gained a family member as my niece has come to live with us. She is 18 and lives up in County Durham but had a falling out with dad and his partner back in Dec. She's been staying in someone's spare room but has been struggling with her mental health, so we drove up to Darlington, to pick her up the other week. She has good and bad days but seems to be getting more good than bad as time goes on. Her mum was my sister, who died of breast cancer at the age of 32. My niece was only 2 years old so doesn't remember her mum but has always craved a mother figure but her dad seems to have a way of picking the most unmaternal females going. My sister left 3 children behind and they have had a tough life, which breaks my heart but hopefully I can try and makes things a bit better for my youngest niece. 
Well, I am off to go and do a 30 min fitness online class, in my utility room - i am missing going to the gym!! 
Take care, both of you. And Christine, sort that diet out!! Try to do some new types of cooking/meals or bake a cake - nothing beats a crap day more than a cuppa and piece of cake. I hope your mojo comes back soon.

Caroline xx

Hi Caroline, 

Thank you for caring, but I don't believe the odd day of eating rubbish will kill me.  I am usually a very healthy eater but my stocks were low because I didn't order online groceries as I planned to shop personally today. I did, too! So now my fridge is full, my cupboard is stocked up and the poor little freezer is groaning it's so full.   I'll still cook too much, never got out of the habit of cooking for four. Chicken and vegetable stir fry tonight (and tomorrow and tomorrow etc) 

I am sure your niece will thrive now she's in your care.  She's a lucky girl to have an aunt who cares.  I'm sorry to hear about your sister. I can only imagine how you felt when you also got breast cancer! 

I had the Oxford vaccine, which I was quite happy with, despite the rumours about it not working on over 65's.  I watched the programme on TV about the making of it and was impressed. There had been reports of three hour queues at my vaccination centre so I was a bit worried about standing around in the cold, so I wore lots of  layers and my warmest coat and then the flipping queues were minimal. The whole process was very well organised, and there seemed to be more volunteers than recipients.  I had divested myself of coat and top fleece even before I reached the bay for my jab as I was roasting! On the way out I wasn't alone in struggling to get into my big coat before going back out in the cold. Then, joy of joys I went to the supermarket and stocked up on all the things I forget when ordering food online!

I will get my mojo back as soon as it's warm enough to do things out of doors again and the news becomes less boring.  I stopped enjoying snow the first year we came back to live in UK from Saudi Arabia and got snowed in for a week.  There have been some days when even Archie hasn't wanted to go out, and others when it wasn't safe to do so. I believe it is forecast again later in the week .  :(  

In the meantime I shall continue to watch rubbish telly and fall asleep while trying to read a book!

It could be worse! As the lamented and amazing Captain Sir Tom said " Tomorrow will be a good day,!"

Enjoy getting to know what 18 year old girls do, these days, I wonder,  have the boys changed in any way since being at such close quarters with a young female. I had an Ex, once, whose taste in women was totally influenced by his slightly older girl cousin, who stayed with his family for a summer when he was obviously at an impressionable age!  Of course I didn't find this out until I met said cousin many years later and saw she could have been my twin! He was already an Ex by then!

Dont work too hard, 

Love

Christine xxx