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  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2014

    Whiskey and lemon mmmmm........ I don't have a cold but so what???  I am actually celebrating, I went to my oncologist today and my liver function tests are almost back to normal and my bone scan and abdominal ultrasound are OK!

    Trish, keep warm!

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2014

    Yay Tammy!!  That's great news!

    Yeah, I'd go for a little warm whiskey and lemon myself if I had any........hahahaha!  Used to keep all that stuff when I was young but just don;t think about it anymore.......maybe that's coz I'm old.......lol.

    Love n hugs all, stay warm where ever you are!   Chrissy

  • aussie12
    aussie12 Member Posts: 421
    edited July 2014

    Hi all

    I haven't been on the net since Friday as I got a bad cold, I worked all day Saturday and just kept feeling worse throughout the day. I was supposed to work Sunday but was too sick, went to the Doctor's Sunday, you can't book you just wait, 16 people in front of me but I needed a Medical Certificate for work.

    I had today off my usual RDO so back at work tomorrow, actually ate a meal tonight, have just had soup and toast since Saturday. Friday morning's meeting at work the Manager was going on about sickies and virtually accused staff of faking sickness. Maybe if they treated staff nicer they wouldn't fake it and would be happy to go to work !!!

    Carol

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2014

    Carol, get well soon.....

    Virgin Australia have a flight sale to NZ for the next 48 hours if anyone wants to book for the Auckland get together.

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited July 2014

    Cold day here and big storm forecast so I am staying put today. RA really playing up and have problem with my shoulder again- does it never stop.I am just a bundle of grumps.

    OK Aussies who is coming over that last week of November at the moment its Chrissie and me plus Rae. Please let me know so I can look for accommodation.

    Big hugs

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited July 2014

    Carol it's terrible that you have to wait so long just to get a dr's cert isn't it.  I've seen some chemists that can give a cert and charge around $30 - it might be worth looking into that for next time?

    All is good here, nothing much to report, except for yesterday - I had the whole office laughing.  Someone looked down at my feet and said "You have two different shoes on!".  Yep - never done that before in my life. And can't blame getting dressed in the dark, well it was a bit dark, but I took the shoes out the night before ready for the next day along with what I was going to wear. They were very similar - in that they were flats, they actually felt exactly the same on, but one was black and one was blue! lol  at least it cheered the office up for the day Smile

    Trish

    xoxo

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited July 2014

    Cold day here and big storm forecast so I am staying put today. RA really playing up and have problem with my shoulder again- does it never stop.I am just a bundle of grumps.

    OK Aussies who is coming over that last week of November at the moment its Chrissie and me plus Rae. Please let me know so I can look for accommodation.

    Big hugs

  • mclark55
    mclark55 Member Posts: 92
    edited July 2014

    Hello all you lovely people.  I'm really embarrassed that I haven't posted anything here since last November.  I had NO IDEA that much time had passed.  My goodness, where does it go?  So nice to see all of your familiar names, and a few new ones as well.  I haven't paid you all a visit - not because I wasn't thinking of you - but mostly because I get so much email from my website every single day and answering it takes me nearly all day, it doesn't leave much time left over for anything else.  For those of you who don't know me, I'm a breast cancer coach and I am helping ladies from Argentina to Zimbabwe these days.  At least - if they can speak English!  

    I visited this site today because one of my ladies wanted to know what might help with the associated pain and discomfort of tissue expanders - those refills are causing her some grief.  I recommended applications of moist heat to help the tissues expand.  But I also came here and was looking around on the reconstruction thread for some information, but it takes me so long to read through everything and I just don't have that luxury at the moment.  Any ideas?

    Any good tips would be welcomed, and thanks so much.  Good to see you're all ticking along.  Has anyone heard from Kate?

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2014

    Hi McClark!  The only thing I can think of is what we used to used for a expanding belly through pregnancy when the skin felt really tight and that was massage gently with warm olive oil........it seemed to work for me and it might work for the discomfort of expanders. 

    Have you used the search bar here on BCO?  That might just narrow your search somewhat.

    Lol Trish, I'm giggle like a right Gertie with your odd shoe story........lol.......that will teach you not to double check in the day light........lol.  Glad everything else is going okay for you........it's always good to hear that things are the same ole as the means no dramas.

    Just got home from a couple of days down in the city catching up with younger bro and nieces from Canbera.  My first long distance foray driving .....yipeeeee!.......and it went well.  The knee and whole leg is aching like crazy now as I think I just may have over done just a little but other than that I'm good.  Thank goodness I have nothing pressing for the next week so I can rest up........maybe....hahahahaha!

    Have a great night and stay warm!

    Love n hugs.    Chrissy

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2014

    Oh girls.........I am really sad to add this to our thread but I just found it on FB.

    It is with a heavy heart that I have to tell you all Karen has been a admitted into palliative care today with the expectations of her not coming home.

    We are expecting it will take her in days as her liver is failing massively and she is off with the fairies. She also has a large tumour between both of her but muscles that is causing a lot of pain.

    We are expecting days to a week.

    I know we will all miss her terribly and feel deeply for her impending loss.

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

  • aussie12
    aussie12 Member Posts: 421
    edited July 2014


    Hi all

    Chrissy this is such sad news about Karen, I'll stop complaining and bitching for the next few days and think about her and her family.

    Carol

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027
    edited July 2014

    Thank you for posting Chrissy, I had been wondering if Karen was OK, since she hadn't posted in a while.

    My thoughts are with her family and that beautiful Grand baby she longed for. I am so glad they got some quality time together. Hugs from me too.

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2014

    Thanks for posting Chrissy, very sad.....

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited July 2014

    I was wondering about Karen too, kept meaning to go onto fb and look to see if she'd posted anything. While we are all expecting this, it's still a blow. I'll be thinking of her family too.  

    Thanks for letting us know Chrissy.

    Trish

    xoxo

  • Alyson
    Alyson Member Posts: 3,737
    edited July 2014

    Chrissy I hadn't picked that up on FB all I can say is shit and as you know I don't swear much. 

    Bloody Cancer. 

    I am sitting in my favourite cafe having a coffee before going to look at a rest home. No not for me for my MiL. She has been going down ever since a car accident a couple of years ago. Her latest escapade happened the other night when she woke the retirement village where she lives. She woke in the night with a loud buzzing in her ear and so she pressed the emergency button. This has happened before but she didn't remember what it was. It was her radio which she has bumped while trying to see the time. Everyone came rushing of course. They have taken her radio off her so I have to look for a clock for her as well today. While I was away she managed to get conned by a bogus workman who took her bank card. Luckily DH and SiL manages to get it stopped before anything happened. She has been like a spoilt child about her radio- she has one but wants her old one back. She rang five times one morning wanting to know when I was going to get one for her. In the end I lost my cool as I was feeling rotten with an RA flare and a frozen shoulder. It's interesting the way she behaves as an old friend of hers once said that Muriel was an extremely spoilt child who threw tantrums to get her own way. I do feel sorry for her as up until a couple of years ago she was very active and was an extremely intelligent woman. 

    Must drink this coffee and get moving. 

    Big hugs

  • midnight1327
    midnight1327 Member Posts: 1,331
    edited July 2014

    Poor dear Karen.  We have  been expecting it, but not any easier when it is happening. very sad to hear, thanks chrissy for telling us. xxxxxx

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027
    edited July 2014

    I feel for you Alyson, I looked after my Mother at home for several years, through various illnesses and BC. The Doctors kept telling me that her dementia was advancing and she should go into care. I couldn't do it, while she was still lucid. Finally, she was in Hospital, with the confusion getting worse and I was told that this had to be time for her, to go into care.

    I found the most beautiful place, near where we were building our home, which wasn't even open yet and she was the first resident to actually move in. I set up her room with art work and favorite things that she recognised and then the home used her room, with my Mum sitting proudly on her 2 seater couch by the window, for the brochures to advertise the place. 

    The real kicker, and the reason I tell you this story is that once Mum was settled, she actually improved, both the confusion and general health, because of the stimulation of having so much contact with others and also seeing the Physio and the other rehab professionals who were there all the time.

    The wonderful part for me. was that she actually loved the place. I would visit every day on my way home from work and after the first week or so, Mum asked me for more cash, I told her she didn't need any money, because I was looking after her bills, but she tut tutted at me and said she needed to tip the waiters! She never knew she was in a Nursing Home, she always thought she was staying in a lovely Hotel. She lived out her last few years there, happy and very well looked after.

    I empathise with you, I have RA too and when a bad one hits with the shoulders freezing too, is the worst. I had one a few weeks ago, when I was very busy, that nearly did my head in.

    I wish you all the best in your search for a place and hope you feel better soon. M

  • mclark55
    mclark55 Member Posts: 92
    edited July 2014

    Oh, gosh - so sorry to hear about Karen.  I will be thinking of her and her family.  So difficult and a sad time for everyone except Karen, who will soon shuffle off this mortal coil (to quote Hamlet) and be with the angels.

    Alyson, I have a similar MiL, I know just what you're going through and it ain't fun!  My sympathy.

    Chrissy, thanks for the warm olive oil idea.  Great idea, and I suspect one could also use warm coconut oil to help the expanding tissue stretch out.

    Anyone else with tissue expanders out there with some favourite tips on how to get past the discomfort?  Not for me, for a friend.

    Did anyone see my question about Kate?  Status?  I'm sorry to ask but I don't have the luxury of going back through all of the messages here to see how she is.  

    Sending hugs to everyone.

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2014

    McClark, I haven't heard from Kate for ages but your question prompts me to send her an SMS and ask the question..........whether she answers or not is her choice, I will let you know.

    Yes, its very sad about Karen but I am so glad she got to spend some quality time with her beautiful grandson........she was so worried that she wouldn't be around long enough to even greet him but she did better than that, she got time to give many, many cuddles and kisses and I know there were a ton of photos taken with him so he will have a sense of who she was as he grows.

    Aly, it wasn't posted on the open FB it was on a closed stage IV group so you wouldn't have seen the post anyway.

    It's awful when our olds get to the stage of regressing........not much can be done about it other than understanding but having said that, sometimes they do try the patience!  Good luck with finding another care facility for your MIL Aly.

    I went for a lovely lunch today with another BC lady from our Adelaide support group.  It was the first time I had met her and her family but it was such fun and I'm sure we will meet up again as she lives about an hour away from me at a place called Red Hill. Now I am just relaxing in my chair with feet raised.....must admit, I think I have over done in the walking department over the last few days so I need to take it easy for a while........we'll see how long it lasts!...hahahahaha!

    Have a great weekend girls!

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

  • Delvzy
    Delvzy Member Posts: 454
    edited July 2014

    so sad to hear of Karen. I used to take panedol to help with the discomfort of my expanders . I used to ask my surgeon not to put too much fluid in. Does anyone still get  small sharp pains in their breasts? I have had implants for 2 years and still get the odd pain. It has been nearly 6 years since my first surgery 

  • melp27
    melp27 Member Posts: 295
    edited July 2014

    Saddened to hear about Karen's passing. Glad she got some time with her grandbaby before she had to go into care. Ive had a rough few weeks my nanna passed away last Monday fortnight at a palliative care facility here in Adelaide. 

    She had been declining for a while though. She was 93. We had her funeral yesterday it was sort of a relief that she isnt in pain anymore. She wasn't really conscious for a few days before she passed her body was shutting down. I was able to see her a few days before she passed and she looked peaceful. 

    its freezing here for the last week or so but i guess its winter..

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2014

    Melp, sorry to hear that you have lost your nanna.........it's always hard to say goodbye to those we love and share so many memories with.  Karen is still with us although her days are numbered and counting down.  She is in hospice under sedation as her liver is is failing quickly but I will let everyone know of her passing as soon as I know.

    Delvzy those sharp pains are nerve pains and they can happen anywhere in the body for seemingly no reason......I get loads of them.

    Take care!

    Love n hugs.   Chrissy

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2014

    Alyson, re the get together in NZ, I will be coming and I think a Racy too.

    Melp, glad you got to see your Nanna before she passed and that she in now in peace ((( hugs)))

  • Delvzy
    Delvzy Member Posts: 454
    edited July 2014

    thanks for that Chrissy every time I get pain nowadays I worry you have put my mind at ease 

  • Evgeniya
    Evgeniya Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2014

    oh girls! NEWLY  diagnosed already preatty well treated with rads to the point when your skin does not exist enymore really... hellow to all of you!!!  my heart goes out for all of us! i am 36 single mother of frightened 8 year old boy.....  i am from sydney pls can we meet? i ended up in some kind of parralell world with everithing around me familier but not mine enymore. i should fightthe wore. i am tired 

  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 565
    edited July 2014

    Evgeniya, so sorry about your diagnosis but you have come to the right place for support.  The strong women here help sooo much.

    Where in Sydney do you live?

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2014

    Hi Evgeniya and welcome.  being dx with Breast Cancer is such a shock to our systems and before we can get our heads properly around what is happening to us we are full on into the treatment which really turns our world upside down.  

    Be kind to yourself, it will get better but right now time is your friend as it is only time that will put things in your world back where you can once again recognize them.

    I would love to meet up in person but I live in country SA.   We can however meet up anytime you like right here as these forums never close and they bring people together from all over the world.  Keep coming here as letting us know how you are doing be it good or bad and we will endeavor to help you through.  Please know that you are not alone in this journey, there are many who have walked the same path.

    Love n warm (((((((hugs)))))).    Chrissy

  • aussie12
    aussie12 Member Posts: 421
    edited July 2014


    Hi all

    Tomorrow I go to the hospital to see my Plastic Surgeon, haven't seen him since my operation in November, just a checkup.

    I had my period as normal on 26th June then since Friday I got my period again, it finished this afternoon. I have never had this before, maybe the start of menopause ? I will see what happens over the next month and see my GP if I have to. I'm on Tamoxifen. Not sure if I should go to the Breast Clinic tomorrow while I'm at the hospital and ask them. I'll look up my info on Tamoxifen, that may say something about periods.

    Carol

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 11,438
    edited July 2014

    Hi Carol, good luck with your visit to the PS!  Yeah, I have heard that Tamoxifen can cause this sort of thing but best to get it checked just to make sure.  Maybe you are starting with menopause and good luck with that one as well........lol.......that one can be a rollercoaster ride from hell.

    Love n hugs.    Chrissy

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited July 2014

    Melp, I'm so sorry to hear that you've lost your Nana (((hugs)))

    Evgeniya, welcome to these boards, I'm sorry you've had to join us, but you'll find lots of support here.

    There are a couple of girls in Sydney, so you might be able to catch up with them easily. It's hard going through the early parts of treatment and trying to get your head around what is happening to you. I didn't have rads, but it sounds like you are having a rough time with treatment.

    Carol good luck with seeing your PS, hope all is well.

    Marnie - I was wondering how you were doing - are you settled in Perth? I had a message from Kate a few weeks ago - she's going ok, but isn't coping well. She says she's got herself in a hole, and can't see to be able talk to anyone, I think she's really struggling to accept the stage IV dx.

    My thoughts and prayers are with Karen and her family at the moment, I'm sure she's surrounded by love.

    Trish

    xoxoxo

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