Lovely morning chit chat thread - April 2026

Hiya Lucy, my most sincere apologies to you. I put your name per accident into the message for Stella. Had a few bad nights sleep and it must have made me a tad careless when writing . 
have a lovely Easter Weekend. Hug from 

Angie and Lilly xxx

Just for half a day I'm feeling better. Almost great  And then I realise and can't believe it!

It was sunny, the back pain has minorly lessened, the pain relief drugs are helping, the back isn't collapsing on me every 30 seconds, and I can walk slowly with a pole and lumbar brace wrap - so, hey, I was determined to get up my local small fell.

And I did. I could even breathe - enough. Slow, but we made it with only a few 'what's that; weird new pain' anxieties.

Felt so good, and I feel less pain afterwards too, not more

Diagnoses out of the blue 6 weeks ago. Been in so much pain since then (spinal mets), stuck on a sofa or in pain in bed.

But a brilliant palliative nurse, even if awful GPs (fighting and delays and constant chasing and travelling to get meds).

1. So a great day....  A normal day. For how much longer???

How to make the best of it? Maybe starting chemo/immuno in a month - and then it feels like I'll lose it all again. But if I don't try..?

Oh God!

Sorry. Don't know how to feel.

I understand. You go from thinking things are fine or at least moving along just fine. Then the next thing you know it's all gone... how did it just disappear?  

You know you have to try... it's expected. You can't just give up but in your deepest heart you fear it's wasted effort. 

I'm facing a big surgery recovery and afraid it's too little to late. But I can't give up that sliver of hope because it's all I have.

We keep on because that's what it means to be alive. 

Good morning Group and MacMillan staff

Wishing each and everyone of you a happy and peaceful Easter Weekend. Enjoy it the way you like best, or just use it as an excuse to dig into your chocolate stash xxx 

Angie and Lilly xxx

Good morning and welcome to the new members.  Nice to hear from you Lucy, I love being at home too.  Can't wait for the summer so can sit in the garden and we can BBQ.  Lovely picture Angie, did Lilly get a kitty easter egg? 

Lee x

Morning Lee, goodness me no to the kitty Easter Egg and no Easter Bonnet either.  She is getting her 3 monthly flea, tick and worm drops on her neck later. Might not be a treat but far better for her  . It has gone up again in price and is now £48.00. The Vet certainly knows how to charge, but is very effective and that is what counts. Of course I will be most unpopular for a couple of hours after it goes on. It will be the cold shoulder for a bit. Stay safe with the bad weather coming in xx love 

Angie and Lilly xx

Hi Stella,

Yes, thankfully I was freed from one of the wound vacs on Wednesday, so just one to go. I've had a difficult couple of days with severe phantom pain, so I've been an emotional mess lost in my own thoughts, since all I can seem to focus on is the pain. I have playlists that I listen to a lot during the day with my eyes closed, just trying to keep my mind on something else, but it's easier said than done...

No candy for me, but I had my sisters buy Reese's peanut butter eggs for my niece and nephews, so they'll love that as they always do. Our family likes the holidays ones better than the cups.

That's exactly the way I feel about the treatments, surgery, and time spent in the hospital back when I was in high school, the PTSD from that experience never really leaves. I don't even want to think about how this time is going to affect me long term, it's hard enough just getting through the day sometimes.

My mom said we have more storms on the way for this weekend, so Easter egg hunting might have to be indoors for a lot of families in the midwest this year. The storm that went through a week ago on Thursday produced 3 confirmed tornados in central Ohio. I guess they're saying that tornado alley is shifting more to the east, so the north states like Indiana, Kentucky, southern Michigan, and Ohio are seeing more tornados, high wind, hail, and severe thunderstorms. Macy hates the loud lightning cracks, thunder, and heavy rain, my heart aches for her during all of these storms when I can't be there. 

I hope you have a happy Easter weekend!

~Stacy

Susan, 

I echo your thoughts to Ursula, all we can do sometimes is try and put our complete trust in the hands of others especially the surgeons and hope for a much more positive outcome.

It's that sliver of hope that changes things for a lot of people who feel as if the weight of the world is on them, but as you said we somehow make our peace with these life changing decisions and keep going if there's hope.

Lord knows not too many people would agree to the surgery I went through, and the only reason I finally accepted it was for my family. They supported me with whatever decision I wanted to make, but I wanted to be here for as long as I can to see my niece and nephews grow up.

It's an awful place to find yourself in, but forums like this one with the amazing love and support of the members here helps. I find it easier to express myself more on here, versus with my family sometimes. I try to keep a smile on my face for them, when deep down I'm such an emotional mess. Rest assured they can always see through the empty smiles and know when I'm struggling, yet I still feel the need to be positive when I can.

I truly hope that your upcoming surgery on the 6th will be successful, and just know that you have a Buckeye keeping you in their thoughts and prayers!

~Stacy

With all you've been through and at such a young age, you are my role model. Thank you for your kind words. 

Having someplace to speak my truth makes all the difference to me. Yeah people see through my lies but it's like we are trying so hard to believe that we don't question it. 

And another Buckeye on my side is always welcome! I am in Michigan and going to University of Michigan for the surgery but, confidentially, I am an Ohio State fan since that was my father's Alma mater. So go Buckeyes! 

A pair of Mallard ducks and a pair of Canada Geese by our pond a week or so ago. Welcome spring. 

Spring is always good news and a symbolic new beginning, whatever we happen to be going through right now