Bowel cancer CARERS, FAMILY & FRIENDS chat

Hi Jkee I agree. Covid changed a lot.  I was working during covid and that was worrying. I have had palpitations badly for the past 3 days as well which worries me. I should be so thankful but feel so flat with my back and palpitations but don’t moan to Les as he is much worse. Daughter gone to do a bit of shopping for us so will see her later. We must look after ourselves.  I think the palpitations are due to drinking too much tea as I know that does not help. Just laying down in bed and taking 5 since I have been up since 5. The joys but I am thankful.

take care all Maggie xx

Maggie we are not robots I realised this after my shoulders have been up and tight chest all day it is just anxiety but unless you suffer people don't understand how awful it is . I also seems to be drinking a lot of tea trying to increase my water and cut down on tea it will help the palpitations and deep breathing don't have time for the mindfulness app anymore we have got this xx

I used to do mindfulness every day just to stay calm but have not done it for ages. We need to make sure we do something to get back on track. Your right people don’t understand especially when we cope on our own trying to do too much. We will get there one way or another. Granddaughters just called in for 10 mins and it was lovely with the 7 year old as she loves watching cake programmes and sat on the bed with me. I really miss that.  She said she was sad grandad not going pumpkin picking as he gets the best pumpkins. What a lot we are missing xxx

Evening Ladies!

Oh dear you are having it rough with your husbands aren't you?? I am so sorry to read what you are going through. What a carry on Jkee yes the consultant should just have done a phone consultation with you for that. A lot of things were cancelled or postponed because of that horrible weather. Maggie hope you are feeling better and Les is keeping ok now. I had my little granddaughter over on Friday for a couple of hours. I really could have done without her because I just got Margaret home from hospital on Thursday and was looking forward to a `quiet day` but Nicole had to cover a shift and William was on dayshift so they needed someone last minute but it was fine. Once she was here it was ok and she is becoming a cheeky wee besom but in a comical way she pulls wee faces at you and just can't help but laugh at her. I took her back home at 2p.m. when her mum finished work. Margaret is doing ok. She was in bed most of the day on Friday but I made allowances for that after all she had been through. She ate a kids `Happy Meal` from Macdonalds last night as her appetite is still coming back so there isn't that much in that and she ate it all. I made us a little beef stew tonight and she had some of that. I invested in one of those small slow cookers just enough for two people so I made us a stew and she ate that as well so her appetite is slowly coming back. The ward nurse has been phoning here the last couple of days just to make sure she is ok it's like an aftercare thing they do I think when someone has had an operation they did it with Jay as well I remember when he came home from having his op. The only thing I'm pleased about is that she doesn't have to give herself injections for three weeks to stop blood clots I would needed to have done that. She is back on blood thinning tablets so these do the same thing. Jay had to do those injections too but he managed to do them himself. I spoke to the nurse today and said that Margaret has been staying in bed longer than normal. She is not one for early rises usually but this time we are talking past lunchtime but the nurse said she will feel that bit more tired just now but not to let this become habit forming and she needs to get up and moving again. But she seems ok otherwise. Well tomorrow is the beginning of another week just need to see what this one brings. Take Care All sending hugs

Vicky xx

Vicky I am so pleased margaret is doing well. I hate cooking bur would appreciate some easy recipes as I really cannot cook. Having the wee one is lovely and they do come out with some funny things and looks. We missed pumpkin picking for the first time yesterday and Les won’t be able to make the faces as his fingers are numb. Our lives really have changed this year but we have to get on with it. 

take care everyone Maggie xx

Hi everyone. How are you all coping. This weather is awful. Well I walked out on Les as he went back to bed and would not take any painkillers or go in the bath or wear the cotton shorts I got for his fissure. I was so fed up of him not listening to me. Came back just after an hour and he went in the bath, changed his tight undies and out the cotton ones on. Then I gave him some painkillers. He said there is no point in getting ready and dressed etc.  the Sitz bath gets too cold quickly. I said just leave your dressing gown on as no one is coming. Hopefully this works. He knew I was fuming especially as my back is starting to feel better and going for physio next Wednesday.  

hope you are all coping not too bad. Sending huge hugs to all.  Maggie xx

Hi Everyone!

Hope you're week has been sort of ok. I have horrible sinusitis just now where I feel as though I have been hit over the head with a hammer but I get it a lot usually this time of the year it will pass in a couple of days. I had some good news for a change yesterday. Margaret's colorectal nurse phoned to say that they have had the pathology results back from her surgery and everything is clear and they are very pleased with everything. There were no lymph nodes affected so no need for chemo or radiotherapy. I'm so pleased for her but at the same time hope the happiness isn't short lived because this is what happened with Jay when they said they got all his tumour and his came back, and well look what happened. That is always going to be at the back of my mind but the way the nurse spoke it seems everything is fine and they will just follow her up at the outpatient's clinic so I need to just take their word for it for now. It's a bit bittersweet as well as she has `kicked cancer's ass` twice and Jay couldn't- well did the first time but it decided it was coming back for him but I suppose I need to be grateful for small mercies. I hope now I can start to move forward and hopefully end the year in a much better place and frame of mind. I won't forget 2023 in a hurry that's for sure! William and Nicole took the wee one pumpkin picking last weekend Maggie and sent me some lovely pictures looks as though they had a great time. Well it's the weekend once again. I've decided to take Margaret home on Sunday she needs to get back to some kind of routine and she is healing well and feeling a lot better and I need my own space for a little while. Hope everything goes well with the physio Maggie. Take Care everyone. 

Vicky xx

Hi Maggie bless like Simon they can be like children at times stubborn and just won't listen but glad you got through to him. Been hectic here decided to help my daughter who had no childcare yesterday oh my goodness never again planned in my head go to the lake feed ducks take dog come back children play outside another walk to park oh no it decides to rain couldn't go out 6 year old would not leave the puppy alone then starts screaming when the puppy was jumping up in the end had to keep puppy on lead which he hated 11year old was bored wanted his xbox normally grandad is the one entertaining we got through but I can't remember falling to sleep last night we are both tired today poor Simon looks like he has been to a party all nigh back to just us today . Try and have a decent weekend xx

Hi Vicky gosh you have not had time to grieve since you lost Jay it really has been terrible what you and your body has gone through. Now when your sister has gone back you will have time to relax and reflect a bit life can be so unfair not sure why some people just sail through but I know you have been really strong but now is the time for you have a quiet weekend xx

Good afternoon ladies, weather has been rubbish this last week and clocks change tomorrow night so dark nights coming. Pleased Margaret has the all clear and you can maybe take some time for yourself when she goes home. Sometimes Maggie you have to walk away or explode but keeping going you are doing a good job.

Six months today since I lost Kevin and had bad news yesterday that one of our best friends passed away. What a terrible year it’s been for all of us in here. Kevin’s sister is starting tests as they found something in her lung so she is very worried. I feel for Kevin’s parents as their youngest son died 7 years ago with lung cancer then Kevin with bowel cancer although they said it wasn’t related you do wonder and now his sister having tests.She has addisons disease so an added concern. Surely they can find a cure with all the money pouring into research.

Hope everyone coping ok

Helen x