Escape to the country & living off savings

Tresinia511

Enjoy your lunch. Good luck with scan. Can't beat some sister time x

SuzeQStan

Hey SYA - re the self cleaning glass - wouldn’t really bother with it - it’s more an application for industrial buildings etc. One of those optional extras that likely won’t pay for itself.

Hoping all the best for your scan here too xx

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks Tresinia and Suze 😊

Had a lovely lunch out with my friend yesterday. Dropped a few items off at the charity shop. Then had a mooch round the shops. Picked up a new face cream to try with spf15 on half price offer £3 and a small bottle of sun cream that will fit in my handbag.

Phoned the hospital to see if I could move my 2nd scan forward but they are fully/over booked so no chance of a cancellation. My breast cancer nurse phoned me so had a long chat with her. This diagnosis feels like a kick in the teeth, after what dad went through it’s so hard to enter the hospital again. She was very kind but another worry as I didn’t realise they don’t have my biopsy results from 1 May yet! They are “hoping” they will be back for my next appointment 😔 It’s hard to stay positive sometimes.

It’s raining this morning. Aquafit later then I will pop into asd@ on the way home and see if they have a hot roast chicken ☺️ Round to friends for a cuppa later. She’s going on holiday soon so I will tell her when she gets back and hopefully I will know more by then.

Tomorrow’s weather forecast looks sunny and breezy so I’m hoping to get a couple of loads of washing done and get more bark on the garden border. I need a warm but not windy day so I can spray the weeds coming up through the gravel.

I’ve started to stock up on store cupboard items for after my op. I will be able to get shopping delivered or I’m sure my friends and neighbours will help if I ask them.

So far I have bought toilet rolls, shower gel, shampoo (might not need this if I have chemo 🫣) boxes of tissues, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid I already have a pack of toothbrushes and a couple of toothpaste. The nurse suggested baby wipes for when I’m not allowed to shower and I have flannels for strip washes. I’m thinking about a shower chair for the bathroom and I already have a non-slip shower mat which I bought ages ago and never used. Never expected to need it for this. I will have a think about what else I might need, grateful for any suggestions.

Tresinia511

SYa, you can buy those oversized wipes for body washing, they're really foamy and do the job but imo not as good as a flannel and a sink or bowl of water, any one can get properly clean. I see why hospitals might use them but at home you can do better.

I think it depends on your surgery type. If keyhole, it will be less trauma recovery wise. If not consider re organising and moving all your regular cupboard stuff to the counter top as you will have difficulty lifting your arms high.

Pre cook and freeze meals which can be put in microwave.

Remove any loose rugs or anything you might trip on.

Find a favourite chair and set up a little workstation so you can operate easily without getting up and down too many times.

A wedge pillow was great for my friend when she had it. Oh, and a backscratcher😁

Tresinia511

Also, if you haven't already, start a diary. Keep a record of every single communication you have from the nhs from your gp to your cancer team support team. Every question you ask, every answer you were given. Every phone call including time and person name. Every delay. Every promise or plan. It will guide and comfort you to do this as its hard even when you are well to remember events. The nhs is good but can be disjointed with it's actions. A diary will help you understand where you are are in the journey and will allow you to successfully and confidently challenge them if needed. Get phone numbers where you can of places you can chase things up. And never allow a timescale to go past without immediately following it up yourself. You are you own best advocate while you are well. If you become unwell it allows a trusted person take over on your behalf. It sounds a lot but your mindset is ideal and more than equal to this task. This is what I would do. Good luck. And don't be afraid to chase, chase,chase when you think you need answers.

Arrietty

Dear SyA,

I'm just catching up with your diary and so sorry to hear your diagnosis, that is really crappy. I am sending you love, hugs, strength and positivity 😘

I wholeheartedly agree with everything @Tresinia511 has said - excellent advice.

Whenever I'm poorly and don't feel like eating I always want fresh or fruity and tasty juice drinks; usually gives me a bit of a boost.

Thinking of you

A x

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks Tresinia and Arrietty ❤️

So far I have found timescales & nhs targets meaningless and despite asking about chasing things up have just been told this is not possible. PALS was no help either. 😔 The hospital is failing it’s targets but I checked an it is the best on the league tables in this area

I am writing information down & questions as they come to me. They have said no genetic testing despite a lot of my family having/ dying of cancer due to most being above 40 years old.

I enjoyed aquafit today although I struggled with my arms above my head. I think it’s from the two biopsies taken underneath. Good news is that asd@ have a new deli counter and are doing hot roast chickens again ☺️ Had some on a sandwich with cucumber and tomatoes. Cooked chicken tikka masala with cauli and broccoli rice (in a pack) tonight. Trying to lose a bit of weight and control my sugars but have fancied chocolate all day 🫣 Went to friends for cuppa this afternoon.

Out with my niece and little lad tomorrow 😍

Skint_yet_Again

Feel like I’m moaning a lot. Sorry 😡

Tresinia511

Sya, sharing is not moaning. Is a good outlet for anyone who needs an ear. Always here for you x

SuzeQStan

sorry to hear PALS were of no help - there appear to be a lot of online forums & online resource for BC.

It’s such a shame we have to chase for to get what we are due with NHS but when I worked at our local hosp it was always the squeaky wheel got the grease.