Rolling Down the Green Hill Towards REtirement 😊🌄💚💜

Alchemilla

Well done you! xxx

Fortune_Smiles

Well done on getting through that first session Greent.  Cheering you on.

Fortune x

killerpeaty

Pretty sure that the unis will do their best to accommodate for you, your kids should be able to contact the graduation department but if they struggle then asking their head of department would be good.

Good work on the goody bag from the hospital, I found that there was always a long wait for mine. You are doing so well.

Karmacat

The first big step on this latest round is done and dusted - good!  And yes, there *are* good things in your life, you're so wonderful at managing to keep some sort of perspective.  

greent

Awww - you lot are lovely!

So it's now day 9 and it's certainly been a rollercoaster! The steroids bring on some crazy wake up times (3am seems popular) and the sweatiest sleep ever and then the crash when coming off them.... urgh! I took all my 'must take' tablets and injections and have managed so far without the 'optional-if-needed' extra anti sickness ones - I've had a lot of very low-level nausea, but nothing too bad - and I figure it's not going to get easier, so I'd rather avoid extra meds now if it's just a case of feeling slightly 'off' and take them when I do actually need them. Energy levels have been mainly through the floor after day 3 - and my breathing is a bit duff at times, but in that 'I suspect I'm mildly anaemic' way like when pregnant (in fact, there are several things about chemo side effects which remind me of being pregnant! ) 

Apparently now is when it all starts getting better - I certainly feel more optimistic/ less down. I might even offer to do some work next week (only short hours and not necessarily every day)

Things I didn't realise at the start of April that I'd be doing by the end of the month:

1. not washing my hair more than once every 5-7 days.... and then in barely-tepid water and with sulphate free, paraben free, dye free, fragrance free and essentially lather free shampoo (and not being able to rub the shampoo and conditioner in) (and remember what I said above about sweaty steroid sleep.... grim!)
2. wearing a hair net to sleep in!!!!
3. buying a wig just-in-case I need it! (they are way more expensive than I realised - and we don't get free ones on NHS in England unless you get certain benefits or are young) Not planning on wearing it much - but for things like graduation ceremonies, maybe (and for back to work next academic year maybe... not sure I can face the students with a super short hairstyle straight off if it ends up that way)
4. using the softest toothbrush known to mankind - not a fan, but needs must

However, I've had so many lovely messages from people, some visits, deliveries of lovely flowers....

Enough of that. Onto MSE.


Payday for me today, Paid CC bill (high for me but had money in sinking fund for the 2 big ticket items on there) Bought DH some more PBs. Did the end of month figures for the past 3 months for net worth on the spreadsheet. Opened DH a FD c/ac for switch bonus - but (more importantly) the 3.5% regular savings account to go with it (@ £300/ mth for 12 months) - will open a new savings account there for me, too (my existing reg saver with them is 1% and matures in less than 1 month) 

DH and I have car insurance to sort out over the weekend - he has upped his annual mileage by 5k post Covid and renewal quote jumped by £100 - there are plenty of big names willing to give same cover for much less (and with cashback ) I just need to change my job title and see what that does to mine (I genuinely forgot to do it part way through the year)

DH is taking DS1 back to uni on Saturday. I haven't done my usual and made him lots of stuff so DH will take him to the big Tesc0 there and get him some shopping. I'm actually kind of relieved there will be less laundry (my current contribution to housework has been putting WM on and setting robovac off, baking bread and not too much else!)

Am looking forward to the long weekend - Saturday is a write off because of back-to-uni, but at least it means DH still gets a breather. He is super stressed at the mo - organisational rationalisation at his work means he is in very real danger of losing his job in a month If it happens we will cope - but it might break him

newgirly

Hi greent, I’m glad the first session is done and it’s good you feel less down and have lots of support 🙂 sounds like taking it easy around the time of the graduations is a must! Fingers crossed things work out ok work wise for your dh, I’m sure that’s the last things he needs to be worrying about right now x

killerpeaty

Well done on how well you're doing. On the topic of your energy levels, you know there is a reason to it and the medication will end so I recommend that you (in the main) give into th fatigue. Books can be hard, so try easier options such as teenager books or magazines. I don't know if it tickles your fancy but you can get a DS pretty cheap and they have a huge variety of easy games and puzzles.

I suffer from fatigue and when my mum first became ill last year, she kept trying to work through it. Theres an argument for it to an extent but sometimes you just have to accept that the washing up is going to hang around!

Proud of you.

savingholmes

Just caught up on your diary and wanted to wish you and yours all the best. 

Karmacat

Well, good to hear that things might well start getting better for you now, and that you've got a rest day today (is that true?  ) with DH taking DS1 back to uni.  But very sorry to hear about DH's stress around his job, the potential situation sounds bad  

killerpeaty makes a really good point about letting the fatigue have its way with you - you know why you've got it, and you pretty much know you're on the up now, use your spoons to cushion your own recovery  

Busy_Mee

Aw GreenT.  I am just catching up and realise that the universe has sent you some proper !!!!!! to deal with.
Sending you the biggest, most positive, healing virtual hug I can muster xxx