All I can say is Brrrrrrrrrr..!

Minus 5 here at mo, tho somewhere in Scotland hit -16 last night and London is due to hit -8 this week.  I  think we're due a -9 wind chill this evening.    Thank goodness for a high tog duvet. 

Just watched the funniest news report about a viral video of an American judge, I think, who had a cat filter on, which he couldn't turn off during an important Zoom meeting.

Glad to learn your neck is recovering.   I can only see your last post so I can't refer back to the last but one so my apologies if I ask something you have already answered...   Most importantly,  how are you today?    Any idea when you'll get your biopsy results? The noise is loud when they take the slices isn't it, you have to do your best not to jump... especially when you know they're near your cartoid.  I joked that at least I'm in the right place lol.

If I had replied to you yesterday I would have cried that I just want my head taken away.   On top of everything else I'm now suffering with light sensitivity which in turn is giving me migraine Grrrrr.   Of course it could be the migraine affecting my eyes.  Anyway they sorted my meds out yesterday,  started on the good stuff.  I was weary of taking it, but oh my goodness it made a huge difference to my day.  Even managed 7 hours sleep last night.  And when I woke I woke with manageable pain... First time in what feels like forever. 

Off to the cancer hospital for bloods today,  then back there tomorrow for CT Set Up and mask fitting.   Apparently you can keep your mask at the end of treatment, the artist in me is filled with ideas of what to do with it lol.

Any way, really hope you're feeling even slightly better today. 

May every step be in the right direction. 

Al

Hi Al

so glad you are now on the good stuff and managed to get a decent amount of sleep thats good. sounds like you really needed it after yesterday. i hope they start sorting out the radiotherapy soon not good that the pain has got worse this quickly. fingers crossed. love the idea of your own mask at the end of the treatment will have to stay in touch to find out what you do with it. 

any ideas whats causing your light sensitivity?

hows the mouth?

boy felt ill yesterday and still feel lousy today have not wanted to do anything. Neck is still swollen and uncomfortable but still on my high painkillers so tolerable. swallowing not brilliant and affects breathing. dont feel the tonsilectomy has had any effect.

presuming results will be another two weeks. 

got up at 3.30am for meds and was disappointed because they showed the same programme hat had already been repeated once a couple of days ago about a female detective. 

i saw that zoom too it was hilarioous especially when he had to say "i am not a cat!" i would not have any idea how to do that. reminds me of the wicks advert and the kitchen where she puts the fairy tle unicorn picture behind her. the ending of that advert keeps getting missed of which is a shame since the other ladies all put up backgrounds when she shows of her new kitchen lol. 

your right it has been cold the snow has turned to ice here and the animals water bowls are all frozen over. the hedgehogs who were not hibernating have decided enough is enough we will try and sleep through this - what a good idea! the only reason tortoise is awake is because of my heating in my bedroom. the cats have hardly moved of the bed! 

newest fad is watching casualty 24/7 real life - no idea why perhaps makes me feel better lol last night had to cringe poor man fell over a plant pot took the lawn mower with him that then fell on his foot taking ovr his big toe and two other toe tips was totally yuck! there were alwo a lot of drunkards who made me feel a bit annoyed when you consider the time they were taking away from needy people. 

also been watching the supermarket show talking about foods etc she mentioned that a lot of foods had increased in size over the yers. had to smile since i had thought the opposite - remember the wagon wheel, the curly wurly and snickers surley they were bigger when we were younger? 

good luck with the bloods and ct. 

take care x

hope your being careful with this ice wow its lethal outside!!! 

throat being controlled better now with painkillers albeit still swollen and neck feels nobbly lol. 

hope things are going ok with appointments. 

i hope youve got a good ice cream for valentines day! i am trying for the tesco cookie dough again - fingers crossed!! 

take care Al

Hello you and your nobbly neck lol 

Cookie Dough one of my favourites...  although to be fair had you mentioned any flavour I would have said 'one of my favourites ' lol, except rum and raisin,  don't even know if you can still get that flavour.    I myself have gone for a traditional raspberry ripple this time,  which hopefully we will be picking up today.   I say hopefully as we've booked a click and collect for between 12 and 1pm today, but its supposed to start snowing in a bit. (Its now 7am ish)

We live 600ft up a mountain valley which has its own micro climate,  the mountains either trap weather in or hold it out.  Fortunately they are good at keeping the main roads clear here and we do have an old Jeep which enjoys the challenge of adverse weather lol.

So good to learn that your neck is improving  You do have days where you wonder if it'll ever end, but then you dig deep for a resolve you never knew you had and fight through each minute,  each hour and each day.  Often you see on TV survivors with a grit and determination that no one else has, I am beginning to understand that now.  I for one will definitely be a different person after all this, how could you not be.

Last few days I have felt really fatigued and poorly.   I said to my wife how could someone feel this ill and not have a temperature lol.  I think I have all the adverse effects from the covid vacs (I had the Oxford one) probably in some part due to my body already feeling rubbish and fighting the big one.  In my 51 years on this planet, other than my neurological disorder, never had so much as a cold, I think I'm paying for that luxury now lol.

Mask fitting went well,  in fact I quite enjoyed it!  It was like having a warm face massage.   Also had a meeting with my oncologist who suggested I now take 2 types of morph, an instant hit one and a slow release one.  They weighed me, I've never been weighed so much, and told me that this is now the weight I have to try and stick to.  One of the reasons for this is if I lose too much weight the mask won't be any good as it has to fit snug.  I have invested in a set of scales, which hopefully will arrive today.... snow permitting. 

Only a blood test to have in the coming week and then Radiochemotherapy starts on the 22nd.  As long as my rogue non tooth heals properly.   They may have to delay treatment by a week if it doesn't sort itself out.

Any type of scissors you can recommend for trimming hobbit feet? (Anyone else reading this, its my dogs not mine :laugh:)

Wagon Wheels....  I watched a programme about them and the ceo had a glass trophy kind of thing with an original Wagon Wheel encased inside.   He offered up a new Wagon Wheel to it and they were both the same size!  Don't think that's true for most of the others.  Remember when Snickers were Marathons?

When life gives you lemons,...  Send them back and exchange them for oranges 

Al

Morning Elona

Hope you are feeling better today

My scales arrived yay!  Not a fan of  bathroom scales, especially having 3 daughters.  I'm also dubious of their accuracy,  but fortunately these ones showed the same weight as the medical ones at the hospital so that's good.   Plus the girls are all grown up now so there shouldn't be any end of the world sagas because someone ate some kale and put in an ounce.

Talking of bathrooms how's yours coming along?  Or is that a sore subject?

I looked into starting a blog yesterday,  not something I've done before.  I want to record mine and others journeys for people in a similar situation to find and hopefully bring some reassurance,  advice and answers.  I for one struggled to find any meaningful help and info, I think myself lucky to have found you.  No one can really understand unless they have been  or going, through it themselves. I also want to add stories of people who faced the tests and agonising wait for results that fortunately came back negative.  So many go through that stage. 

I have also noticed a heartbreaking theme of 20 somethings whith health anxiety who believe they have neck cancer, I found more of those than people with true symptoms.  I want to include links and help for those soles also.

What started out as an idea for a simple blog has already boomed into a complex online help centre and I've only got as far as designing the front page lol!

Still if it helps just one person it'll be worth it.

Happy valentines day, I hope you and your husband can enjoy it.

Remember if at first you don't succeed... pay a professional. 

Al

Hi Al

what a great idea doing a blog. I had thought of recording my experience but had no idea where to start! am pretty useless as said before on computers. My brother did my behaviourist page. needs changing and have not got a clue. Quite happy to contribute if  wanted. Glad we have met it has been great talking to someone else about our experiences and comparisons and differences. I am also glad we are still keeping in touch here, thanks. 

not a fan of raspberry ripple must admit but have found a new one from tesco called piggy ice cream have ordered it for next week lol sounds intriguing with marshmellows and chocolate in piggy shapes lol. 

i have not weighed myself for a long time but i know i have lost some weight - for me thats good need it lol. glad you have your scales they do say with the radiotherapy you have to make sure you maintain your weight. - good exscuse for all those wonderful fattening things lol if you can manage them. 

bathroom - was actually kitchen and that has been a pallava! the two stud walls i wanted replacing and moving turned out to be weight bearing - one the water tanks hahaha found out when the wall was taken down and the ceiling bowed and water started to drip down. the other was the corner of the ceiling. the old people had basically covered the ceiling with another ceiling underneath that had looked nice and new so we had to get this propped up and wall replaced. plans never work out well do they lol at least compomise was made and i was able to get an L shaped kitchen so a bit more open out making it easier to move about and for hubbys wheelchair. now i have a mammoth task in cleaning and decorating but at least hubby says i have his permission to move a tin at a time!! 

glad the mask fitting went well and you quite enjoyed it. hope that tooth gets better soon. 

now i cannot believe the wagon wheels being same size - must be because i was a kid hmm never did get the grips with name changes like the marathon to snickers as mentioned and opal fruits came starburst, dime bar came daim, jiff came cif. you cant say starburst made to make your mouth water can you! doesnt sound right. 

Where you live sounds lovely, bet you have some amazing scenery around you. Must be interesting finding things for the garden - unless you are not that interested? it is very flat here in essex but at least i have some countryside near me being in a village. we have a field at the back of the garden and in the summer you can sometimes see the family of foxes going past to see what they can forage. its also ideal to release some of my hedgehogs. 

Sorry you have not been well. there are several incidents of people who have had the covid injection being ill for a few days with the symptoms. I am unfortunately down in group 9 despite being a carer, key worker etc so probably wont get mine until May. I am glad in one way as i am still suffereing from this with either some anxiety/blood pressure. I think because neck and throat is still swollen I am getting a bit congested but as you said there has been some improvement. 

Personally to trim fur I use clippers because you are less likely to cut the skin so if you use scissors try and get a small pair of curved ones and rounded blunt ended so theyy cannot get caught. Work from the toes up the feet a bit and then inbetween toes. If able try and cut inbetween the pads underneath the feet. I trained Pedro to give me his paw to clip by lots of little treats. 

Well typically i fancy some icecream so of cours the delivery has not arrived yet - whats the betting it is out of stock!! 

happy valentines to you both too. 

hope your feeling better 

Ahhhhhhrrrrggggg!

I had just composed a reply to you, sat in bed using my phone.  I pressed the wrong button and came out of chat.  Came back and my whole reply had disappeared.  :cry:

Going to get up, make a coffee  get the laptop fired up and try again.

Al

Hello Again

Laptop fired up,  I'm not saying its old but the valves took a while to warm up!

Now where was I?  Ah yes...

Well my ice cream was sadly missing from the order, still I do have a box of Mini Milks in the freezer so they will have to surfice for now.  Your Piggy ice cream sounds interesting, you'll have to let me know what its like.

I remember when we had our kitchen done, there was dust in places for days I never knew could get dust  We were so glad when they were finished and we could have the house back to ourselves.  The decorating after was fun though.

Yes this is a very scenic and beautiful place to live, we have a mountain views from the house, we are very lucky.  Waterfall country, they were all frozen at the weekend like something from a fantasy story.  We only moved here in 2019, the property being a doer upper.  The front and back gardens were all concrete slabs which we spent the first lock down sorting out.  Hopefully when all is back to a relative normal we can find the weird and wonderful to add, we did manage to collect a few mountain stones which are dotted about.  We moved from the south coast of Hampshire, only looked at this house as one of tthe ones we had travelled to see was sold en route!  this one didn't match our wish list at all, but we both fell in love with it when we walked through the door.  Still much to do to it.

I have an array of clippers from over the years.  Don't know why I never thought of it before.  Fortunately she is trained to lie on her back for me to check all her toes so hopefully she should be ok with the clippers...  Though she does have tickelish feet lol.

The effects of the covid jab have all but worn off, just left with a bit of an itchy arm.  The meds seem to be working as yesterday I had a day of little pain and the pain I did have was managable.  I was praying for some let up before I start radiochomo.  All i wanted was a few peacful days and I think I'm going to get them Yay!   All I need now is for yesterdays covid test to come back negative and I can get on with treatment.  I would love for my gums to heal up though so I can at least have some proper food before my throat decides otherwise.  Still on relativly soft easy to chew food such as roast veg and swedish meatballs.

I would love you to contribute to the blog, I was rather hoping that you would.  It's hard work at the mo, getting my head around it all.  Wish I had started it earlier so I could record things as they happened.  Aiming for it to go live before my radiochemo starts.  I've created the home page, an about page and a useful links page.  I think all i need to do now is log the journey to date then we're good to go.  Of course it will need tweeking along the way.   As soon as I publish it I will send you the link.

Hope your Piggy ice cream arrived

Al

hi so releived the ice has now gone - shame about the snow always looks lovely reminds me of Ashdown forest down south where i grew up. 

things much the same today - hope your still pain controlled.