Hi Alana, I totally get the 'spooky' bit of significant events eg. diagnosis, happening on other significant dates. Greg was diagnosed on my Dad's birthday, and so many other things since have happened on a 'significant' date. Hope you had some quiet moments of reflection of your Grandad and were able to find some memories of him that were able to bring you some joy amongst the sadness. Will be thinking of you Tuesday (19th??) on what I imagine will be a very difficult day for you. Take care, Jill. ... View more

Hi there, Just thought I would mention a product Greg used which was very helpful, Amosan, it is a mouthwash in a sachet, found it in the toothpaste section of the pharmacy, Biotene didn't work for Greg but the Amosan was great. Jill. ... View more

Hi caring partner, The waiting game is certainly not a fun 'game'. Do whatever you can that gets you through, I have always found it best to keep as busy as possible (not that I have had a lot of choice in that!) A motorhome travelling around Australia sounds wonderful. Where would you go first? Kind regards, Jill. ... View more

Hi Julie, I read your reply and immediately got the image of Cher on the navy ship belting out her song!!! Not even sure if it was that title but that was the image I got. It put a smile on my face!! Thanks!! Jill. ... View more

Hi Sammycat, I second that!! Definitely wish that time would stand still. Either that or a magic wand.......... Jill xx ... View more

Dasher and Vixen???? Poor old Rudolph doesn't get a mention!! Jill ... View more

Hi Emily, I really feel for you, when friends abandon you it can be so very isolating. Friends 'in the flesh' are really important and I hope that you can find someone to support you that can give you the cuddle that you need and can just 'hang out' with you, doing whatever it is that you enjoy. For the times when you don't have the 'real-life' person, come online and share with us, your 'cyber' friends. As Linda (jodielee12) and Alana (larn75) have said, you are amongst friends here and I hope that you can FEEL that very soon. Nicole, you crack me up, the doof doof music and flashing lights comment really does make you sound soooo OLD!!!!! LOL Emily, take care and keep sharing your feelings with us OLDIES, we'll do our best to help out and try not to be too 'uncool'! (I don't even know what the 'teen language' is these days!! - maybe you can help us out with that Emily!!) Take care and best wishes, Jill. ... View more

Welcome Robert, Well done on your first post. You have just demonstrated that you are already 'soldiering' on, despite 5 heart attacks. The fear of the unknown can be overwhelming and obviously with your heart condition, you need to do everything you can to reduce your stress levels. I hope by using this site and sharing your feelings that will be an outlet for you to lower your stress/anxiety. Good luck with your appointment on Wednesday, I would suggest that you start writing your questions down now, as they come to you and if at all possible, take someone to the appointment with you. Having someone there as moral support and also as an extra pair of ears and possibly voice, should you require it is always helpful. There are times when we don't hear or may misunderstand what is being said and that moral support person can help to fill in the gaps and make sense of stuff you might miss. Trust your instincts, follow up any queries you may have, be honest with your doctors, give them the whole story, even if you are not sure if it is relevant. If you don't understand something, calmly ask them to explain it until you do. Your journey has just begun and I hope that it can be as smooth as is possible. Keep us up to date on how you are going. Kind regards, Mrs Elton ... View more

Hi Robert, Thank you for your thoughts for our family, they are appreciated. Please, Please, Please don't think that my situation is more important than your own diagnosis. Your feelings of confusion, sadness, fear, feeling low, are all perfectly normal given your diagnosis. Your world as you knew it has been turned upside down. Those feelings are REAL, for the sake of you and especially your family, I truly hope that you will return to this site and contribute and start to FEEL the empathy and understanding and caring that all who contribute here have. You will need someone that you can share your feelings of frustration, anger, fear and anxiety with, and sometimes it is harder to share those with friends and family because we don't want to 'burden' them. People on this site do not judge, they understand the EXTREME range of emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis, they can offer suggestions on how they handled certain issues but more importantly, I found that by sharing here, it took away the isolation that I was feeling. Whilst people's cancer may be different to your own, the emotions experienced are a common thread. Please, please use this site, think of your precious daughters' and understand that this site will help you by providing an opportunity to 'unload' your worries without loading up your daughters/family. Kind regards, Mrs Elton ... View more

Nicole, I don't think for a minute that your blog is trivial, so stop right there on that one, no need to apologize/feel bad, I didn't mean that at all. Each time any of us post something on this site it is because it is REAL to us at that time, there is no 'rating' on whose 'issue' is more important than another's issue. Each issue is important on it's own merits. Each issue is REAL to the person who is experiencing it. NEVER FORGET THAT. I see this site and the postings on it as an opportunity to share/offload/learn and 'manage' (rather than cope with)the many challenges/experiences we each face when cancer invades the body and/or life (as in the carer and family) of someone. Once all the 'legal/paperwork' necessary stuff is out of the way, then we will be taking a short 'get-away', right now, I can't relax till that is done. Things went downhill so quickly with Greg the last time, basically 5 days, that I can't take the chance to take a break first and then do all that. It has to be the other way. Cuddle your precious daughter, take strength from her smiles and laughter and all the 'chatting' she is catching up on!! Jill xx ... View more