Chemo and shielding during CV

Hi Janet, don't know what has happened to the font on the type, it has changed by itself??

I started isolating on the 13th March when I had to refuse a visit from my nephew who travels to and from London on the train most days for work.  I was put on the NHS extremely vulnerable list on the 23rd of March and have not been out to a shop since then.   I am lucky to have a supportive partner who, although he is 75, is fit and active.  I have just managed to get on the Sainsbury home delivery system which Im going to try and use just once a fortnight.  There seem to be plenty of other help agencies here in Southampton but I don't need them at the moment.

Does your son still live at home?  How are you managing for supplies and do you still go to work?  I am always interested to know how others are coping.

An hour ago an ambulance arrived at the block of flats next door but one to us, since then a hospital mortuary van has arrived and left, all the staff are wearing full PPE gear.  Please stay safe everyone xxx  Penny

Hi Penny,

Yes I have had trouble with the font! thought it was me!

My son is 16 so still at home, one of the fallout from the GCSE debacle unfortunately.   I managed before all the madness started when I knew my chemo dates to put in a lot of home delivery shops, so am okay until the end of April, after that , my husband is in charge to go to sainsburys!   I work at John Lewis so was already on sick leave, but all my colleagues are on furlough now, quite good cos they get 80% from government and JL is matching the 20% thank goodness for them, but only until the end of May.

I registered on that government site because I didn't received anything from them saying I was extremely vulnerable, and Sainsburys picked it up on my delivery saver, identifying me as vulnerable,   but there still are not any slots available.

I am just really bored, same as everyone, sitting in the garden a lot and watching the birds nest building seems to be my day now!

stay safe all,

Love 

Hi All,

I also had to register on the Gov.Uk site as I did not receive a letter but I have not had any contact from Sainsbury’s as yet. Did you ladies tick to say that you needed assistance with obtaining assistance with food etc when you registered? I wonder if that’s where I went wrong. I thought that would mean I was requesting food parcels!  We’ve been doing click & collect which seems quite well organised at our Sainsbury’s but it still means my husband having to risk outside contact.

Best wishes, Nell x

Hi Nell,

When I registered with the Gov site, I said that I had help at home, so don't think sainsbury's picked up on that.  I think that they are just inundated with people at the moment ordering, maybe it will improve after this 12 week  shielding thing ends.  I still can't get a slot though!  I was a bit lucky, when I found out my chemo dates before all the CV stuff started properly, I had put in online deliveries up till 25th April, so after that my husband will be doing battle at sainsburys as well!

On a different note, I had a chat with my specialist nurse today, who confirmed that I am not BRCA1/2   Just really unlucky to have this 7 years after breast cancer.  Quite relieved cos I would hate it if my Son was a carrier and he had daughters.  

She also said that my chemo would continue, because i have already started my 6 cycles, and have hopefully they will be able to do  a ct during the process, they can still do the operation at the end of the chemo.  Quite relieved I know my plan now. At least I know the treatment is still there.  Some people have not even started treatment yet.  Must be so stressful.for them.  I feel sad for people who still have to have other treatments, kidney dialysis etc, this CV has taken over everything.  

Take care all, and enjoy the good weather.

Love 

Hi Janet,

Thanks for your reply - I’ll stop bleating on about supermarket delivery slots now, I’m boring myself!  We’re ok, still eating well.

Your BRCA test result is good news, though you must feel rather hard done by for this cancer to appear so random.  I was also tested as my dad had prostate cancer but I haven’t been told the result yet.  I have three daughters so I think it would be good to know.  My clinic appointment this week will be over the phone so I’ll have to be super organised with a notepad and pen - I always find phone conversations more difficult than face to face.  I had my CT scan last week (after chemo 3) so I’m hoping to hear the results.  I have the appointments for the remaining three chemo cycles so hopefully that is all going ahead. You are right, some people will be in worse situations and must so worried.

On a slightly lighter note, I lost a filling the other day when brushing my teeth.  I don’t have any pain or swelling so it is classed as non-urgent and the dental receptionist advised me to buy a diy kit to do my own temporary filling!  I had no idea such a thing existed so dispatched husband to Boots only for him to be told they had sold the last one that morning. There is obviously a demand for such things as they were all sold out online everywhere I looked. Anyway I now have one on order, so looking forward to that to liven up one of my days this week!

Best wishes, Nell x

Hi Nell,

Ha ha! yes I think that lack of delivery slots has replaced moaning about the weather!  My husband says I am obsessed because I sat on my Tesco account until 1.30am trying to get a slot on Thursday!  I did get a Sainsburys one for next Saturday though!

I am waiting for a filling to be done on 5th May, am annoyed with myself because I should have had it on 19th March, but it was the 2nd week after chemo and all the madness was just starting so thought it better  I wait as it wasn't urgent, my gums were ok then as well.  

On a lighter note,  we  found a baby blackbird in our garden that had fallen out of it's nest, the cat was going mad trying to get it wherever we put it, parents nowhere to be seen, it lasted the night cos we locked the cat indoors.  so I rang our local wildlife hospital in Orsett, who said bring it down to them, so yesterday afternoon me and my husband took it down there. 

They took my details  so hopefully  they will keep me posted if it  survived cos is needs to be hand reared.  Probably get a bill!  I don't mind contributing to their funds though.  Thought as I am a member of RSPB it was my duty!  Think that was my Act of Random Kindness for Easter.

Take care and enjoy the sunshine, think today is the best day for sitting in the garden. Am gonna make a Simnel cake today.

Love