What has helped you through your journey?

Probiotics for tummy problems and thrush.  I found yoghurt every day wasn't enough, especially as I have been on antibiotics for so long doesn't help.

There is a probiotic that doesn't need to be in the fridge now which is great so you can take it with you if travelling and having to stay over somewhere for treatments etc.  or just to have it on your bench for when you take your other meds in the morning.. I just take one a day.

Mich xo

Donna

Here! Here! perfectly said in your blog... :)

Love to you Julie XX

Things that have got me through:

My wonderful new husband who never stops reminding me that he loves and married me and not my breasts.

My gorgeous daughter who cleaned and watered and did all the things I couldnt do for so long.

The best boss and workmates in the world, who let me come back in my own time and tolerated my ups and downs.

Learning to ask for help which I found INCREDIBLY difficult.

And the wonderful staff at the Cairns ROQ clinic, so caring and human in their treatment of me.

Hope all goes well for all of us from here on,

Vicki

Things that have got me through:

My wonderful new husband who never stops reminding me that he loves and married me and not my breasts.

My gorgeous daughter who cleaned and watered and did all the things I couldnt do for so long.

The best boss and workmates in the world, who let me come back in my own time and tolerated my ups and downs.

Learning to ask for help which I found INCREDIBLY difficult.

And the wonderful staff at the Cairns ROQ clinic, so caring and human in their treatment of me.

Hope all goes well for all of us from here on,

Vicki

• Napping - The fatigue has been really bad, this 2nd cycle of TCH, and I would be done in without being able to have naps when I need them. If I do pretty much anythign I then need to nap for 1-2 hrs to recharge myself.
• My Laptop & internet connection - where would we be witout our internet connections, and my laptop means I can bring the computer to me, instead of having to go to my computer. A real life and sanity saver.
• My Dog - she is amazing, she knows when I am not 100% and gets all snuggly. She lies with me, next to me, or under my bed, NEVER on top of me (like she used to). (She is an AMAZING girl -  Boo (her name - as her pedigree name is STUPID - it is Dream On, and I am NOT calling her that) is a 9 1/2 yr old Norwegian Elkhound bitch, and our fur baby (child substitute) who has also been my assistance dog since she was 12 weeks old - to help me with my pre-exisiting medical conditions (although she has had most of this year off due to surgery and chemo etc).
• My hospital bed & over bed table (hospital table) - I had severe side effects from y mastectomy and immediate slicone implant reconstruction (caused by my pre-exisitng conditions - this is is NO WAY a normal reaction and is becuase I was born with faulty connective tissue and nerve wiring), and was only allowed to come home from my 14 day hospital stay if a hosptial bed was delivered to my house (this is set up in our loungeroom), I was unable to get into or out of bed alone (even with the electric bed) for over a month - about 6 weeks) and still 3months later need the back up to help me (or I get SHOCKING muscle spasms etc), and I STILL cannot sleep flat on my back, I have to sleep in a slightly upright position, the bed makes this better, becasue I can change position to reliev my back etc as well. And now with chemo and the fatigue etc, having the bed makes life easier. It is on free hire from the local equipment loans service for 3 motnhs and they just extended it for another 3 months to take me through to 17th August (and when chemo is all over and done with) If I don't need it before then, I just call and they will come and pick it up and put it back into there hire pool.
• The TV, and movies etc -  with chemo brain and the fatigue I am finding reading hard, because I get stuck on sentences and read it over and over and over.... again, still not understanding what I have read. TV or movie watching is easier, because I don't have to put so much effort in.
• Meeting fellow Breast Cancer sufferers and survivors - ESPECIALLY those around my own age. I met some LOVELY ladies yesterday and we had a great time, meeting and having brunch together, and are going to do it again in 2 weeks time (we are all in our 40's - ranging from 48 to 41 (me the baby of the group so far ?)). This really helps, knowing that other women are going through it and are out the other side (they have all finished their chemo and some have finished radio too).

• Napping - The fatigue has been really bad, this 2nd cycle of TCH, and I would be done in without being able to have naps when I need them. If I do pretty much anythign I then need to nap for 1-2 hrs to recharge myself.
• My Laptop & internet connection - where would we be witout our internet connections, and my laptop means I can bring the computer to me, instead of having to go to my computer. A real life and sanity saver.
• My Dog - she is amazing, she knows when I am not 100% and gets all snuggly. She lies with me, next to me, or under my bed, NEVER on top of me (like she used to). (She is an AMAZING girl -  Boo (her name - as her pedigree name is STUPID - it is Dream On, and I am NOT calling her that) is a 9 1/2 yr old Norwegian Elkhound bitch, and our fur baby (child substitute) who has also been my assistance dog since she was 12 weeks old - to help me with my pre-exisiting medical conditions (although she has had most of this year off due to surgery and chemo etc).
• My hospital bed & over bed table (hospital table) - I had severe side effects from y mastectomy and immediate slicone implant reconstruction (caused by my pre-exisitng conditions - this is is NO WAY a normal reaction and is becuase I was born with faulty connective tissue and nerve wiring), and was only allowed to come home from my 14 day hospital stay if a hosptial bed was delivered to my house (this is set up in our loungeroom), I was unable to get into or out of bed alone (even with the electric bed) for over a month - about 6 weeks) and still 3months later need the back up to help me (or I get SHOCKING muscle spasms etc), and I STILL cannot sleep flat on my back, I have to sleep in a slightly upright position, the bed makes this better, becasue I can change position to reliev my back etc as well. And now with chemo and the fatigue etc, having the bed makes life easier. It is on free hire from the local equipment loans service for 3 motnhs and they just extended it for another 3 months to take me through to 17th August (and when chemo is all over and done with) If I don't need it before then, I just call and they will come and pick it up and put it back into there hire pool.
• The TV, and movies etc -  with chemo brain and the fatigue I am finding reading hard, because I get stuck on sentences and read it over and over and over.... again, still not understanding what I have read. TV or movie watching is easier, because I don't have to put so much effort in.
• Meeting fellow Breast Cancer sufferers and survivors - ESPECIALLY those around my own age. I met some LOVELY ladies yesterday and we had a great time, meeting and having brunch together, and are going to do it again in 2 weeks time (we are all in our 40's - ranging from 48 to 41 (me the baby of the group so far ?)). This really helps, knowing that other women are going through it and are out the other side (they have all finished their chemo and some have finished radio too).

I have a great list of things to take to hospital that I should find and post here for those who have yet to have their surgery (lumpectomy,mastecomy, revisions, reconstructions or infections etc etc). Will post it here as soo as I find it. OK I found it. But decided to make a separeate post with this stuff in it because there is a LOT of stuff.

See that list at Things to pack and do for Hospital Stays

Four years on and I'd have to say, with a clarity of it being like yesterday:

*  My beautiful labrador who didn't mind if we only got 100 meters on a walk and had to turn around - he made me get out in the fresh air every day

*  Tea! Strong, black and plenty of it

*  My friends who would check on me, visit, leave sticks the right length for the fire and cheerful reading material

*  The garden, it's my sanctuary.  It's the place I feel most connected to, a place to get lost in.

* Oats - raw oats, cooked oats, any way oats!  At the end of chemo the only thing I could eat, along with aspargus (I grow it) and eggs fresh from the hens.

Stay strong.