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Butter Side Up! |
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Ok so you’ve been dealt a pretty crap hand, it’s not fair, you don’t deserve it but what do you do? I suppose there are many ways to deal with the hard knocks, everyone is different thank goodness but until this ordeal is over every time I drop it my toast lands…. |
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John, Jane, Lydia & Miriam Widdowson (Click pic to enlarge) |
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You can LEAVE A COMMENT HERE or email Jane or myself at
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Date |
Treatment Blog - March 09 |
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31.03.09
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I was up and ready at 8.30 this morning and felt much better for it. Sleep was still a bit sparse, only about five hours in total but as predicted today brings that transformation from yukky week one to week two. Week two means tingling fingers, taste buds shot to bits, extra sensitive hearing and mouth ulcers - a welcome return! I managed to get in a bit of sun this afternoon before having to give in to just one brief doze of about 10 minutes. Hospital at 9.30 in the morning then I’ll see my Mum as it’s her birthday (April fool).
“Hello Flo! This is for you to race around on and feel the wind in your fur”.
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30.03.09 |
Tomorrow is the last day of the March Blog, last day of feeling rough, last day to get my redundancy figures, last chance to get my Mum a birthday present for Wednesday.
Slept in again this morning and by the time I’d surfaced Miriam was home from Nursery and Lydia & Jane were back from the doctors. Lydia came home from her weekend away with a bit of an ear / throat infection but she wants to be back at school tomorrow.
As the day passed I got more in to it and decided that as I’ve said before it’s all about flushing the toxins out of your system during and after chemotherapy and getting the kidneys working again and your wee back to a nice light straw colour. When I say we drink lots of tea, at the moment I just drink about a third of the cup then leave it. To make up for not taking clear fluid orally I’m flushing my NJ tube every hour with a good 200ml of coiled boiled water, that on top of what I can drink should see me good for at least 3 litres of fluid every day - that’s my advice to anyone, drink as much Corporation Wine, Adam’s Ale, call it whatever you will , as you can! |
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29.03.09 |
Slept better last night although Jane and I have long spells awake and drink lots of tea in the night! Better today a bit more up and about and lively. I’m sure I’ll be out and about tomorrow. It’s those first four days after chemotherapy that knock it out of you and with me continuing to drip feed the 5FU I’m not sure what that’s doing. Need to go back to hospital on Wednesday to have the pump changed. |
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28.03.09 |
Oh so tired today. Lydia is away with her Friday Youth Club in Oswestry, went at tea time yesterday and not back until Sunday evening, It’s like having an arm missing! I went to bed at 9 last night and got up at 8.30 but have just done a bit then rested, done a bit then napped, like that all day. Did manage to go dancing with Jane and Helen & Andy at tea time just for 45 minutes but was really out of breath by the end of it and guess what, ready for a lie down. It’s no different from the first cycle of chemotherapy you just forget how grotty it makes you feel. Casualty, Horlicks then bed for me!
Oh yes I did mange to find this photo but couldn’t remember where it was taken, Dave H sent it on to me so I assume it was of a couple of the nurses in hospital!! |
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27.03.09 |
Surprisingly OK this morning. Claire the Macmillan Nurse is visiting later. I tried to retrieve a sent mail from my work account but it seems it’s already been disabled - ho hum can’t dip in and do a bit then! Naso Jejunal Tube Feeding Going really well and I’ve put on four pounds since starting it just over a week ago. Swallowing is fine now as reported below. PICC Line The swelling at the entrance has gone down and not sore any more, working fine and the pump indicator shows the 5FU is going in as it should. Immune System well the ward I stayed on last week was a bit like ‘The Royal’, 10 beds down each side so I was open to anything and everything passing around. So all in all I don’t think it’s going too bad especially just the second day after chemotherapy and feeling upbeat. Claire the Macmillan Nurse Is going to get a financial advisor to visit to guide us through what is a bit of a minefield in the benefits you are and aren’t entitled to. I’ll post details of the things available but obviously they will be tailored to us but it may give a broader picture to others. Also, Claire is organising the alternative therapy sessions at the Treetops Hospice in Risley, there might be something in it for Jane as well, bit of pampering no doubt. Seems a shame not to take advantage since often if there is no take up then things like that get dropped when they are most needed. |
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26.03.09 (That you Mark?) |
In the night somebody let in the Karate Kid and under the eye of Mr Miyagi he gave me a right good kicking! Really tired, red faced and blurry eyed but picking up now as it gets toward midday. I’m not sure how the 5FU will affect me as the days go by. It has a seven day dose in it so I have to go back the hospital every Wednesday to have it renewed and the PICC line flushed and redressed.
A week after having the NJ Tube fitted the soreness has finally passed and swallowing is done without wincing. Mainly thanks to sucking and gargling with these. |
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25.03.09
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2nd Chemotherapy Infusion day Just Chillin’ - Dave H - Spot Flo You have a bay like in any ward but instead of a bed it’s just a Parker Knoll type recliner. I’ve seen people have three visitors, Dave stayed all the time with me, 8am to 6.30pm. You get lunch thrown in (not literally) and your visitors can use the Coffee City shops around the hospital for food, drinks are free in the day room next door, tea, coffee, cordials, water etc. You can pull the curtains around if you want and have a snooze, the larger bags take two hours to run through so more than enough time to grab a blanket and get your head down. Just be aware that the nurse won’t put up some drugs like Cisplatin unless your urine output is sufficient so get plenty of fluids down you early on then steady it out through the rest of the day. If you drink enough you’ll have done all the pink wees from the Epirubicin before you leave. You can use your mobile phones but I noticed a couple, including mine, interfered with the television so try not to call during the fight scene in Jeremy Kyle or the whodunit in Diagnosis Murder! Perhaps because it was a Wednesday this time but there seemed to be a different bunch of nurses on duty. Dave fetched tea and coffee and later my prescriptions from the pharmacy then fussed around the new pump and I’m sure we were taken for gay lovers, perhaps the slow dance in the corridor gave it away! But seriously, Jane appreciated the day off and Dave and I had a laugh and the day passed quite quickly. To round off the day as soon as I got in the door at home I followed through into my pants and best Lambretta jeans! Thought you’d like to know that.
Pump - Pump in a bum bag - Food Prep - Evening wear for the next 6 weeks |
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24.03.09 |
Slept a little better last night, still not sure if an unusual sleep pattern is down to the chemotherapy or just an over active mind. Pushed the night time feed through to finish at 7am and got through the traffic to the hospital on time. Saw the Consultant again and his registrar and had to sign consent as the drug regime has changed, he explained the 5FU and wants to see me back in two weeks then again a week later? Importantly for me tomorrow is the start of 2 out of 3 cycles which means I’m progressing towards May and surgery. After clinic I popped up to the Chemotherapy clinic to see Bernard, my ‘new patient’ and last time chemotherapy partner. He was in good spirits and pleased to see me, He too had struggled with the site as I think he used Firefox. Now the site has a more ‘global appeal’ I’ll look at changing what I use to publish it!
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23.03.09
Takes about 12 hours |
Didn’t sleep well last night, I woke automatically at 3am to flush the NJT then couldn’t get back to sleep. I did have a glass of red wine last night but won’t be doing that again while I have the tube in. The wine seemed to draw the tube down and it tightened considerably on my face so that I had to pull it back out of my nose! Back to the hospital this morning for bloods ready for Wednesday. Waited over an hour then asked the nurse who took the blood about the state of the PICC line, she said to swing by Chemotherapy outpatients and have a nurse look at it. Very glad I did as it was already blocked nothing would come out or go in. Those nurses know all the tricks and believe it or not a good cough cleared the blockage at the ‘heart end’ she cleaned and dressed it and it looks like this now. Just started feeding at 84ml per hour (7pm) to have it finished for 7am as I need to be at clinic for 9.10 in the morning. Oh yes last night I thought I’d got nits! My hair has started to fall out, a real strange itchy feeling and a pile of whiskers on the pillow and in the sink this morning. I got Jane to cut it real short to hide the wispy patches that looked a bit naff. I had a shave this morning but not sure I’ll need one tomorrow as there’s no stubble as yet. |
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22.03.09
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Feeding went well overnight last night although I forgot to change to a button up shirt before I connected up so had to sleep in my T shirt. If I were any good at Krypton Factor puzzles I’m sure I could have wriggled out of it but I was so tired I just slumped into bed. I’ve put two pound on last week and everyone I’ve seen today said I look much better. I think that’s more down to being hydrated again than just those two pounds in weight and now having the reassurance of proper nutrition without the pain of swallowing anything if I don’t want to |
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Pictures |
Naso Jejunal Tube
PICC Line |
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21.03.09 |
Well here I am back at home after an extended stay! Jane collected me this morning about 10.30. I’ll tell all by the end of the weekend but just for now many thanks for the comments on the site and to those who visited me in hospital or sent their wishes by post email or word of mouth. Had some lovely emails this week (esp Ted & his wife) and I’ll be replying to them all over the next couple of days. Also got some nice photos that might make you wince a bit! In advance, many thanks to the nursing, support & catering staff of Simpson 2 Nottingham City Hospital. |
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20.03.09 |
At 10am I saw the Consultant Oncologist for the first time ever! The ‘man’. He said I looked good quickly followed by how he wanted to be more aggressive with the chemotherapy and would change the dreaded Xeloda to another drug. 5FU which changes my combination from ECX to ECF. I ‘ll be having the drip infusion so would need a PICC line. He wanted that done today, the ward sister shook her head and started making plans to send me home. The 5FU is dispensed through a ‘walkman’ sized cartridge on my waist which has to be changed every week at the hospital and the PICC line flushed and redressed. Once I have it I’ll put some pictures on. Jane arrived for our training on the feeding machine and a week of supplies arrived with Laura. The remainder will be delivered by courier and placed by the gate if we’re out, a bit like wine from Lathwaites except instead of a 14% Shiraz it’s a 1ml = 1.5Kcal litre bag of Energy Multi Fibre Nutrition. The ward sister would have lost her wages - she placed a gown on my bed in readiness for the PICC line. Jane waited with me until around 6pm then I assumed it wasn’t going to happen after all. News came I was on the evening emergency list and could go to theatre any time up until midnight. Jane went home, I’d be in another night. At 7 pm an anaesthetist assistant came to discuss the procedure then a little later a doctor came to get consent for it. He seemed a bit miffed I was taking an emergency slot and did a bit of quizzing, I’d picked up a fact sheet from the cancerbackup unit earlier and I reckon I knew more about it than he did. At 8pm two porters arrived and took me to theatre on my bed. The staff there were excellent just as all the staff had been during my stay. Dr Andy Sharman - a real top bloke did the procedure and said if I had a consultant behind me who could swing something like that then I ought to stick with him. By 10pm I was back on the ward absolutely knackered, after a cup of sweet tea sleep wasn’t long coming. |
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19.03.09 |
Slept a bit better I have to flush the tube every four hours and was awake for that anyway. There’s time for naps in the day to make up for it. Lots of medical visitors again today, Dietician, Oncologist and Cathy again who had bumped into Liz at the QMC, one of my personal medical tem leading up to diagnosis. Cathy walked with me while I was unfettered from the feed machine and we passed Edward 2 ward where I’ll stay after surgery. Simpson, Edward all very monarchical names for the wards, just as long as I don’t end up on Prince Albert ward! Helen & Andy visited in the evening they were outwardly themselves but I sensed the anger and shock. Lydia had tagged along with them - she’s a star! I tried to watch the footie later but fell asleep so soundly that the nurse flushed my tube twice in the night without waking me. |
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18.03.09 update |
Saw the Oncology nutritionist, I can take the dreaded Xeloda via the NJ tube. I have to have bloods taken daily for now and but should be home on Friday after a training session on feeding from the Nutritionist. All the nursing staff commented on the kids and how beautiful they are and how informed Lydia was about the NJ tube - she’s dealing with stuff an eleven year old shouldn’t have to but coping very well (if that’s not true Lydia then tell me!) Dr Mansey, Oncology Registrar, came to see me, he needs to keep an eye on my weight as he wants to get me to surgery in May with no outward sign of illness and fighting fit. My brother visited in the afternoon - looked like a consultant with his suit on and I’m sure one or two of the nurses were visibly swooning at his good looks, gets them from me you know! |
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18.03.09 |
Sorry for not putting anything yesterday but we got home quite late and I was tired. Went to see dad yesterday and today and he looks fine. He has had a few visitors and a card off his mate Darren and his family (Lynne, Ben, Katie and Jack). Lots of people send him love and big kisses. |
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17.03.09 |
I had no more than 3 hours sleep, turfed out of bed at 6.30 had a few checks for the ‘inner tube’ fitting (thanks Bro!) and got through another couple of litres of intravenous fluid. I was offered a side room but I love people watching and the 1940s style ward layout and my position at the top end gave me a brilliant opportunity to do just that so I declined. I had a visit from the Oncologist Registrar, my bloods from that morning were perfect, the best she’d seen in a patient and hinted that the consultant was looking at toughening up the treatment. A gown arrived for me, I was commando under my lounge wear so had to be careful but I’m wise to that now, tie the gown before you put it on and keep the bits tucked away. Cathy came to see me, a friendly face after she’d seen me she introduced herself to one of the nurses on the ward, how Upper GI specialist can translate to Vagina specialist is beyond me but we did laugh about it. Had a visit from Laura the Dietician At 3.15 I was taken to Interventional Radiology to have the NJ tube fitted I’ll add some pictures above but briefly it went like this: A nurse to hold my head, a nurse to hold my hand - boy must she have drawn the short straw and the Doctor to perform the procedure and a couple of onlookers. No anaesthetic or sedation just some gel on the tube then in she goes. Going in was not too bad but when it spiralled and curled and had to be withdrawn that did smart a bit. Unlike an endoscopy you can still talk and I did let out a few expletives. The tube goes up your nose then down the back of your throat and into the oesophagus then on through the stomach and into the small intestine leaving a short length outside to hook around your ear. As you can see I upgraded and went for the one with the Bluetooth attachment. I came back to the ward and realised I had to just lie still for a bit so stumped up £7 for three days television and just chilled for a while. Jane and the kids visited in the evening then I just passed out I was so tired ______________________________________
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16.03.09 Update |
Well thanks to Lydia for bravely keeping the blog going while I was away, not bad for an 11 year old and the only one to visit every day. She’s a real treasure and has been a true mate this week. I look at her sometimes and realise I don’t appreciate her enough she too is going through the mill a bit just now.
We arrived at the hospital around 2.30 and I was settled in to a Urology ward, a bit of a cuckoo in the nest but was made welcome by the staff and other patients. I slipped into my ‘lounge wear’ (you can’t buy simple pyjamas any more, well not unless you really want to look like your Grandad.) I saw an ‘on call’ doctor at 5.30 who fitted a canula after trying both hands and an arm only to find that it wasn’t seated correctly when the nurse hooked me up to some fluids. I waited a couple of hours for the vampire doctor, it took her no more than 60 seconds to have the canula in and working in the back of my hand. I took fluids and minerals all night and most of the next day the lack of them was what had made me look so drawn because I looked and felt better on Tuesday. The night Sister had already read the blog via the Evening Post (spooky). |
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16.03.09 |
I had a call from the Hospital at lunchtime and I will be going in later this afternoon. I think the plan is to get topped up with liquids tonight and then have the tube fitted tomorrow bit I might be wrong. That was the phone going - I have a bed on ward Simpson 2 (Homer ward!) for tonight then will be transferred to an Oncology ward in the morning. Not sure if Lydia can post anything here while I’m indisposed but if not I’ll be out in a couple of days. Lydia here I will be writing most days when dads not here. If you want to tell me anything e-mail me on lydia.widdowson@ntlworld.com and I will be happy to reply. |
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15.03.09 |
Here I am so no midnight getaway on the back of a lottery win - not one number! I’m still getting some emails from the Advertiser article with very kind comments and offers of help and support. Darren popped round to make sure the Dream had petrol in it, I’m not going to live that one down am I? Sleeping much better this second week in and had a lazy day today, shopping for pyjamas tomorrow ready for Tuesday and expecting a call from the bed manager to tell me when and where to be on the day. I’ve been looking for pictures of the NJT to show the kids so they know what to expect when they see me with it in and know what it’s for. I’ll do that tomorrow evening |
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14.03.09 |
11 days now since the first Chemotherapy session but don’t forget I’m taking the third of the combination twice a day at home. Poisoning yourself like that each day does have an effect on you so while the mood is still good there’s always that little bit of fuzziness there although I did blow it all away on my bike this afternoon, nothing but a clear head will do on the Dream - filled up with petrol to be on the safe side! I need some pyjamas for next week, I usually go commando! Forest got beat 5-0 my Dad & Brother didn’t pick a winner between them at Cheltenham yesterday but somehow I fancy my luck on the lottery tonight - so if there’s no blog tomorrow you’ll know why. |
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13.03.09 |
Done the ‘mood pictures’ on the front page today and the mood in camp is good. Had a nice visit from Leon and then the neighbours and then the debate on the plan for next week was finally settled. Not a stent or PEG but an NJT (Naso Jejunal Tube). Yep, Naso means it goes up yer nose! That will stay in until after surgery at which time I have to be nil by mouth for 7 to 10 days so something like this would have to be done anyway. Having it done now means I can regulate nutrition and fluid intake a lot more easily and stick to the timetable I was given. That happens next Tuesday and I’ll have to stay in for a couple of nights. In thirteen years that will be only the second time I’ve been away from Jane for the night. |
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12.03.09 |
Week two of the cycle is definitely better than week one. It does still take a while to wind up in the morning but once the first dose of anti emetics has kicked in and any feelings of nausea has subsided then the days are relatively problem free. Not eating at all now and have an idea the stent will be passed over for another option, a PEG tube, we’ll see in the next few days. I was expecting a call today and you know how it is you make sure you’re by the phone all day and then no-one rings! |
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11.03.09 |
Article in the local newspaper http://www.ilkestonadvertiser.co.uk/news/Ilkeston-man-raising-cancer-awareness.5059901.jp That’s what you get for participating in telephone interviews with the local reporter. I did ask if I’d have opportunity to review it before it went to press but alas no. I like how liberal they are with quote marks and the fact they can even give you a local accent in print! The link from that page back here is also wrong but hey ho that’s that. We saw Claire from Macmillan this morning she a real gem. I have a feeling I’ll be having the stent done in the next few days. I do need it though, struggling more so today even with drinks like tea & coffee. Did a bit of tweaking to the web site, paginating the comments pages and linking the photos above to larger versions, just need to get donations coming in and I’ll be happy with it! |
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10.03.09 |
Keeping any mouth ulcers at bay but I could strip the skin off the inside of my mouth three times a day. We dropped Miriam off early at Nursery and made the trip around the ring road for my 9.40 appointment at the City Hospital, the consultant was away again but we spoke with one off his Registrars who was surprised that I hadn’t already got a stent fitted. I explained that some dilation was attempted once but then the diagnosis took over and it was never done. He too was concerned about my weight as I’ll lose a lot more during and after surgery. He didn’t say it would be done ‘soon’ - I think word has got around - he ticked the box to say get it done inside 2 weeks. That is before my next scheduled appointment at the City so if it is done by then I’ll be happy with that. That doesn’t mean I won’t be chasing them up the day after tomorrow! Here’s a bit more on ‘stenting’ from Cancer Backup who have merged with Macmillan to provide an invaluable resource. We’re seeing Claire, one of their community nurses in the morning. (Thanks for the call Barb) I also had a call from the Advertiser, our local paper, followed by a flying visit from the photographer so more infamy awaits no doubt - watch this space it’s bound to be something to rival Red Nose Day! |
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09.03.09 |
Slept a little better last night, at least a bit longer! I had to get out of bed to drink my cuppa so I knew I wouldn’t be eating again today. I had to go over to Basford this morning to pick up some windscreen wipers from a man with a mask at Sandicliffe Mazda, he never even blushed when taking the £27.07 from me. While I was that way I decided to call in and ask one of the Nurses on the Chemotherapy ward for some advice. As a Chemotherapy patient you get a free parking permit for the City Hospital. I don’t have any favourites there, they are all excellent nurses, I just walked in and said I was a bit concerned and that I had some ideas that something could be done, some sort of dilation or even a stent, rather than wait another two weeks for my next scheduled appointment. My info source for some of the info was the OPA website - As I’ve said before, make yourself the number 1 priority, don’t sit in patient mode if you’re not happy. I’ll now see the consultant tomorrow morning and get something sorted, I need to get some food inside me in preparation for surgery, even the bloody Wii Fit tells me to stop losing weight! ‘In myself’ following on from yesterday and now a week after the first infusion I’m feeling OK - even managed fifteen minutes on the ‘Dream’ - without running out of petrol. |
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08.03.09 |
I’ll just amend the comment that everything tastes the same. Those dissolved tablets still have that individual ‘green death’ flavour no matter what I take them with. I was looking at the side effects yesterday and thought about what the actual effects of the Chemotherapy are or should be. Neither Jane or I have slept very well since Tuesday, in fairness Jane hasn’t slept well for months. I thought it might be the steroids altering my sleep pattern as one of the nurses had suggested, I stopped taking them yesterday so I’ll see how it goes tonight. Something is happening at the site of the cancer I just know it. Especially noticeable at night, not a cramp or pain more like something just beavering away inside. As long as it’s the cancer shrinking and twisting I’m not bothered how little sleep I get. I’ve not been able to take anything remotely solid today and even regurgitated my cream of chicken soup at lunchtime. That’s OK as long as it doesn’t go on too long, I did have trouble with a cup of tea in the night as well so if it gets any worse I’ll go and see the Oncologist in the week and get it sorted. We had my Mum for lunch (very tasty but Dad stayed at home he’s got a cold) then my brother, niece and nephew (Tom & Jess) came over to see the kids. It at least kept Jane & I from falling asleep on the sofa and I feel better for it now. So if someone asked me ‘how I feel in myself’ because that’s the question people ask then I’d have to say ‘quite good’ today. |
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07.03.09 |
I suppose I’m a bit over eager in thinking that I ought to be able to eat something by now not even a week after starting the treatment or at least that it should be getting better rather than worse. It’s either that the chemotherapy hasn’t kicked in yet or that the way in which the cancer has begun to shrink is making it worse before it gets better! Managed to go dancing with Jane this evening for a 45 minute lesson with Helen & Andy we missed out the jive though I think the instructor was in a forgiving mood. Here’s the list of side effects as it stands today. Out of the list of side effects I think the taste change is the strangest, everything tastes of steel if that makes any sense. The tip I had of eating pineapple in juice might work if I can eat the pineapple at some point. I’ll definitely try the juice tomorrow. Loving the Egg Nog Wayne! |
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06.03.09 |
Took it all a bit slower this morning and managed to get down the ‘to do’ list no problem. I dissolved the Xeloda in warm water then added pink grapefruit juice, it went down that’s all I can say. Eating is no better yet I suppose it is early days yet and now I have the extra goodies from Wayne (pictured) I’ll just bide my time. I also had a chat today with my boss about redundancies and it looks good to me - Looks like I’m in boys so push the boat out! I’ve finished the course of steroids for this time, just three days, tomorrow I’ll examine the side effects that are beginning to show up and see how they match up to what is forecast against each drug some could point to the dosages being too high so I must do that. There are ups and downs throughout the day but if this is the worst it gets after the intense dosage on Tuesday then I’m sure I’ll cope Here’s something - about a dream I had and I don’t dream all that often, that I remember. It was after Christmas and I dreamt a hand reached inside and took hold of me, it was painful at least in the dream if not in reality. I don’t know if the hand belonged to a medical or spiritual body whether something was meant to be going in or coming out I just know what I dreamt. But away from getting maudlin - and you can ask Jane this ‘coz it’s true - one cool dream I had last year was when I dreamt I was - let me get this all on one line though - Where I dreamt I was a dog dreaming! Lying on my side running on all fours! Try re-enacting it in bed but if your partner thinks it’s foreplay then you’d better look out! |
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05.03.09 |
When I said those tablets tasted revolting dissolved in water just imagine you let a paracetamol tablet sit on your tongue for just a bit too long and it goes all bitter. Well times that by about one hundred and that’s what I tried to get away from this morning by swallowing the tablet whole. Big mistake - I’d intended to go to Tesco with Jane but had to stay behind and wait for the tablet to go one way or the other, it came back out after about half an hour but it had taken it out of me a bit so I’ve been a bit sulky all day. Some thoughts on the restructure at work are starting to filter through, I can’t see an obvious slot for me but I’ve heard the boss would like a word so if I’m OK tomorrow I’ll arrange something. Thanks for the comments again and for some more personal messages via email, they really do help a lot. |
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04.03.09 |
The day after! Arrived at the Hospital in good time to avoid the traffic and met up with a chap Jane and I had met on the ‘New Patient Day’, Bernard from Sandiacre. Keith kindly stayed for an hour or so while I got all wired up. Dave H who was going to come with me was apparently having fun on a plane trying to land in Scotland! The bags went up thick and fast and I noted what was going in so for the record and for anyone interested in googling any of them here’s what went in over the day—roughly.
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500 ml Saline & Potassium - 500 ml Mannitol (clean the kidneys)- 50ml Saline - 95mg Epirubicin (Chemotherapy drug E) - 10mg Dexamethasone (anti inflammatory steroid) - Saline flush - 8 mg Ondansetron (sickness preventer) - 112 mg Cisplatiin (Chemotherapy drug C) in 1 Ltr saline - 500 ml Saline and magnesium - 8 mg Ondansetron and 100ml saline flush to finish. |
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As well as all that lot I drank 3.5 litres of water, two litres of Evian that I took with me and then 1.5 litres from one of those water cooler things, you know, the ones that make a really cool noise when you launch the empties down the corridor - or is that just me then? Well actually it can’t be because look what I found here. |
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My Chemotherapy drug X was given to me to take at home, different from the one I expected, Capecitabine or Xeloda 1150 mg twice a day dissolved in water until I can swallow them whole, it tastes revolting. While Jane was there she managed to sort out my next appointment with the consultant on Tue 24 Mar and next Chemotherapy session on the Wed 25th if the blood tests I have on Mon 23rd are OK. Jane also collected my prescription with 21 days of Drug X, 3 days worth of steroids and enough anti sickness medicine to sink a ship. |
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That did speed up things a bit and the day ended for me at about 6.30. I ‘ll pop in and see Bernard when I visit the consultant as my Chemotherapy day has to move to Wednesdays. The two of us were there all day but others did come and go. Some treatments lasted a few minutes some a few hours. One old boy hadn’t had his blood test done until he arrived, got started after an age to find a vein only to be told about three hours in that his blood results weren’t good enough and he’d have to come back next week. Hopefully my planning and preparation will avoid that scenario. |
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I had some calls last night for which I was grateful, including a late one after the football from Barry my brother - come on you Reds! and the comments page is coming along nicely The steroids are meant to be taken at breakfast and lunch so as not to upset your sleep pattern. I think that’s why I was wide awake at 1.30 am making tea for Jane and myself. But - at the moment I’m feeling surprisingly OK and I’m going to walk to the shop before lunch to see if I can get some colour in my cheeks because that’s what my Mum likes to see and she knows best! |
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03.03.09 |
Chemotherapy starts at 8am a 12 hour session. I’ll do the log for this day on Wednesday assuming I’m up and about but just let me add this in here now. There are 200 types of cancer and 50 Chemotherapy drugs and everyone is different. I’m no bookmaker and can’t perm that one out but all I’m saying is what I write here is to do with me and my circumstances and although its possible other sufferers will have similar experiences they won’t be the same. |
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02.03.09 |
Miriam had 2 parties to go to this weekend. I managed to fix the speedo on my bike with a £2.50 part from Granby Jacks, rode it legal then for the first time and after about 15 miles I had a fuel related incident which left me pushing it for some distance. I’m not saying I ran out of fuel oh no - just that the Super Dream likes a full tank! The comments page is filling up nicely, I score them a vote just to show that we’ve read them. Finally treatment starts tomorrow! Not a day too soon, this morning my even runnier than usual porridge took half an hour to eat and even then with some difficulty. I’ll pack my bag for tomorrow later and just take liquids for the day and a few boiled sweets to suck on, Keith is picking me up around 7am. I stopped smoking on Saturday at 10am. I had one that morning to bid them farewell. I did stop last year for about three months after reading Allen Carr’s Easy Way, why I started again I don’t know but kicking it this time was easy, I can remember what helped me from the book last time around and I have my own additional motivations this time. |
