Oh, yes! More symptoms of the Chemo-therapy drugs have started to display themselves. Itchy, streaming eyes combined with increased light sensitivity - fortunately, I have a pair of prescription sunglasses which I can drive in still, even though they are not the current prescription.
Yet more generous donations to the GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/PLUChris) coming in from both sides of the pond - really touching, but I'll blame my bursting into tears on the itchy, streaming eyes and increased light sensitivity!
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Busy Morning!
First down to Rohnert Park for cooking, followed by an update meeting with Dr Lee. The nurse, Annabelle, talked about a bakery in Windsor that does British pies and promised to see if they can do me a Pork and Stilton one! (Reckon I'll end up having to make my own, though! http://jo-pratt.com/archives/105 )
Dr Lee was pretty happy with progress, said to just keep looking after myself. So all is good!
Then drove back up to Santa Rosa for an update with Dr Akhtar in Oncology. Again, vital signs and blood test results all look just fine. He said with a wink, "What we are doing is trying to break you down, but your body's fighting back just fine!". He suggested that I ask Glynn in the infusion room to prescribe me a specific mouthwash rather than just using salty water - makes sense, I guess! The salt water rinse seems to work pretty well, even though it is quite remarkably unpleasant at the time!
Then to work! Ugh! It's hard to concentrate and keep focused - I'm worried that I'm going to do something stupid (I came close to updating the live environment rather than the test environment this morning, which is exactly the sort of stupid I can imagine committing!).
Dr Lee was pretty happy with progress, said to just keep looking after myself. So all is good!
Then drove back up to Santa Rosa for an update with Dr Akhtar in Oncology. Again, vital signs and blood test results all look just fine. He said with a wink, "What we are doing is trying to break you down, but your body's fighting back just fine!". He suggested that I ask Glynn in the infusion room to prescribe me a specific mouthwash rather than just using salty water - makes sense, I guess! The salt water rinse seems to work pretty well, even though it is quite remarkably unpleasant at the time!
Then to work! Ugh! It's hard to concentrate and keep focused - I'm worried that I'm going to do something stupid (I came close to updating the live environment rather than the test environment this morning, which is exactly the sort of stupid I can imagine committing!).
Monday, November 28, 2016
"We don't want to deprive you of all your fun!"
Re-attachment of the pump this morning and the infusion nurse is concerned that I have lost 5lbs over the last week. I told her that it was down to not drinking beer during the week. I'd been told by another nurse that a couple of beers would be OK on the days when I do not have the pump attached, but this one said that it wouldn't do any harm in moderation throughout the treatment - "We don't want to deprive you of all your fun!". Better check with Dr Akhtar! Either way, I think it is probably a good thing that I have cut back - it was getting to be a too regular thing, so sticking to a couple at the weekends is a better plan for me anyway. When I was riding regularly, I was weighing in at about 180lbs, so I think I can safely lose a good deal more without it impacting on my strength.
Sadly, my radiotherapy session was at a later time today, which made it impossible to attend the support group in Santa Rosa. Mouth is still sore, but the nurse looked it over and said it looks OK, just keep gargling the salted water! Temperature, blood pressure and heart rate all fine.
Progress meeting with Dr Akhtar scheduled for 9:00am tomorrow.
Sadly, my radiotherapy session was at a later time today, which made it impossible to attend the support group in Santa Rosa. Mouth is still sore, but the nurse looked it over and said it looks OK, just keep gargling the salted water! Temperature, blood pressure and heart rate all fine.
Progress meeting with Dr Akhtar scheduled for 9:00am tomorrow.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Mouth Sores
They warned me about mouth sores! They said most people complain of mouth sores because of the chemotherapy!
I now have mouth sores!
It's like toothache, but not severe, and pretty much generalized around the mouth - though for me, there's a concentration around the top right where it is more severe, which I think might be related to an area that my dental hygienist was nagging me about months ago.
They recommend salt-water gargling - I just tried it and I think I need to change the ratio of salt to water!
It seems churlish to complain, as it's really just a little thing - more of an inconvenience than anything. Same with the slow urinary flow - it's annoying and inconvenient, but it's just that and you deal with it (not chuffed that I had to get up 4 times overnight, though!). The nausea is controlled pretty well by the medication that Glynn, the infusion room's own dedicated pharmacist, prescribed - I just take a pill when I feel it coming on and it is sorted.
I published the GoFundMe page and have been thrilled with the response! A couple of people had already sent me cash independently and that emboldened me to go public with the plea - I love my friends!
I now have mouth sores!
It's like toothache, but not severe, and pretty much generalized around the mouth - though for me, there's a concentration around the top right where it is more severe, which I think might be related to an area that my dental hygienist was nagging me about months ago.
They recommend salt-water gargling - I just tried it and I think I need to change the ratio of salt to water!
It seems churlish to complain, as it's really just a little thing - more of an inconvenience than anything. Same with the slow urinary flow - it's annoying and inconvenient, but it's just that and you deal with it (not chuffed that I had to get up 4 times overnight, though!). The nausea is controlled pretty well by the medication that Glynn, the infusion room's own dedicated pharmacist, prescribed - I just take a pill when I feel it coming on and it is sorted.
I published the GoFundMe page and have been thrilled with the response! A couple of people had already sent me cash independently and that emboldened me to go public with the plea - I love my friends!
Saturday, November 26, 2016
One of the big advantages...
...of having a picc line installed in your arm, at least for the patient (and, I think, the nurses), is that you can have blood drawn for lab work really easily and quickly. I go in to the infusion center on a Saturday morning, get the pump disconnected (YAY!), get the dressing changed, get a couple of test tubes of blood taken and skip merrily on my way.
Except this morning, when apparently a blood clot was blocking the end of the catheter - things were going in just fine, but they couldn't draw any blood out the other way. So, they pump in some stuff which sorts out the clot, you sit and wait for 1/2 an hour and they try again. Today, it failed again at this point, so they tried another dose, followed by another 1/2 hour wait, after which everything was hunky dory!
Now, obviously, in this connected day and age, I'm able to sit there with my phone, check Facebook, write a blog post, listen to footie on the radio, all that sort of stuff - except this morning was the morning that I managed to drop my phone once too often and all I have is a very slender paperweight which shows a strange pattern of multicoloured lines when you turn it on and doesn't respond to any tapping, shaking or anything! Good job I took out the replacement insurance! And luckily I have a back-up phone to use in the meantime (if the darn thing will ever finish charging!)
Except this morning, when apparently a blood clot was blocking the end of the catheter - things were going in just fine, but they couldn't draw any blood out the other way. So, they pump in some stuff which sorts out the clot, you sit and wait for 1/2 an hour and they try again. Today, it failed again at this point, so they tried another dose, followed by another 1/2 hour wait, after which everything was hunky dory!
Now, obviously, in this connected day and age, I'm able to sit there with my phone, check Facebook, write a blog post, listen to footie on the radio, all that sort of stuff - except this morning was the morning that I managed to drop my phone once too often and all I have is a very slender paperweight which shows a strange pattern of multicoloured lines when you turn it on and doesn't respond to any tapping, shaking or anything! Good job I took out the replacement insurance! And luckily I have a back-up phone to use in the meantime (if the darn thing will ever finish charging!)
Friday, November 25, 2016
Thanksgiving
2 consecutive days with no appointments! Wonderful!
Woke up this morning to an unexpected email from PayPal. I have some wonderful friends! Money is always an issue with us, as I'm sure it is with everyone on the planet, and it's going to be more so when I have to take extended time off work later, but things like that make me believe that things will work out!
Smoking the turkey today as yesterday sort of got away from us - Finn finally showed some symptoms of the virus that has been hanging around him for the last few weeks. He lost his voice and had a temperature up over 100, so our traditional trip to Kathy's had to be broken into two - Evan went on his own, then Jean and I went down later when he got back. We then performed the traditional watching of the Bob Newhart, Snoopy and Buffy Thanksgiving specials.
Nice to have nothing medical to report for me! Tomorrow it's back to the infusion unit to disconnect the pump and change the dressing on the PICC line, but aside from that, I am free until Monday - how nice!
OK - back to the turkey!
Woke up this morning to an unexpected email from PayPal. I have some wonderful friends! Money is always an issue with us, as I'm sure it is with everyone on the planet, and it's going to be more so when I have to take extended time off work later, but things like that make me believe that things will work out!
Smoking the turkey today as yesterday sort of got away from us - Finn finally showed some symptoms of the virus that has been hanging around him for the last few weeks. He lost his voice and had a temperature up over 100, so our traditional trip to Kathy's had to be broken into two - Evan went on his own, then Jean and I went down later when he got back. We then performed the traditional watching of the Bob Newhart, Snoopy and Buffy Thanksgiving specials.
Nice to have nothing medical to report for me! Tomorrow it's back to the infusion unit to disconnect the pump and change the dressing on the PICC line, but aside from that, I am free until Monday - how nice!
OK - back to the turkey!
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
I've just made this blog public
Seems pointless to just keep talking to myself - if my experiences can be of help to anyone else, then they should be able to find them! Not advertised it's existence yet, but may give a Facebook mention later.
Just had a quick chat with DK at work - his daughter in law has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and has had her first chemo session. I emphasised to him how much the support group has helped me and encouraged him to encourage her to get involved if there is such a thing at her location.
Thanksgiving tomorrow - and 4 whole days off of the radiation treatment! Yay!
Just had a quick chat with DK at work - his daughter in law has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and has had her first chemo session. I emphasised to him how much the support group has helped me and encouraged him to encourage her to get involved if there is such a thing at her location.
Thanksgiving tomorrow - and 4 whole days off of the radiation treatment! Yay!
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Nearly half-way.
Dr Lee is on vacation, so I saw a different specialist at RPCC this morning - Dr Fields who looks disconcertingly like Saul Goodman's brother in Better Call Saul! He was very encouraging - said that I was "coping remarkably well" with the treatment so far.
He advised me to expect a deterioration in the next few weeks, then when the treatment is done there may be a couple of weeks during which time it (the fatigue and whatever other side effects develop) worsens before the body can recover enough for surgery - which is why there's the 8 week gap between completing treatment and undergoing surgery.
I think I knew all that already, but it was good to get it underlined.
Tomorrow is the half-way point of this stage of the radiation treatment - just 14 more to go starting Monday 28th.
The haircut is being remarked upon all over the office - few have asked about the pump, though. Again, I want to talk about it and want to tell people what's going on, but I don't want to burden people! I know that people do still run away from the "C" word and are unsure of how to react, so I'm still being reticent and will only discuss it with people who give me the impression that they actually want to know!
He advised me to expect a deterioration in the next few weeks, then when the treatment is done there may be a couple of weeks during which time it (the fatigue and whatever other side effects develop) worsens before the body can recover enough for surgery - which is why there's the 8 week gap between completing treatment and undergoing surgery.
I think I knew all that already, but it was good to get it underlined.
Tomorrow is the half-way point of this stage of the radiation treatment - just 14 more to go starting Monday 28th.
The haircut is being remarked upon all over the office - few have asked about the pump, though. Again, I want to talk about it and want to tell people what's going on, but I don't want to burden people! I know that people do still run away from the "C" word and are unsure of how to react, so I'm still being reticent and will only discuss it with people who give me the impression that they actually want to know!
Sunday, November 20, 2016
The Weekend Starts Here!
Well, the weekend starts with a dressing change, but at least I get to remove the pump until Monday morning.
The nausea is getting worse - I've woken up at about 4:00am the last 2 nights and had to go get a tablet. Plus, I have to pee 2 or 3 times a night - no wonder I'm tired during the day. Again, this was all predicted and I was forewarned - doesn't make the reality easier to deal with, though!
Took Finn with me to the infusion lab so that we could head straight from there to Flying Frogs.
Sunday was a bonus radiation session - they are closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, so they saw everyone today so that we only miss one session on the week. Music was Aretha's RESPECT - which I found quite amusing as they taped open my buttocks!
On the way back, I decided to bite the bullet and get my hair clipped - a 3 on the back and sides and a 4 on top - which will make it easier to take care of, and not be so messy if it starts falling out in any quantity!
The nausea is getting worse - I've woken up at about 4:00am the last 2 nights and had to go get a tablet. Plus, I have to pee 2 or 3 times a night - no wonder I'm tired during the day. Again, this was all predicted and I was forewarned - doesn't make the reality easier to deal with, though!
Took Finn with me to the infusion lab so that we could head straight from there to Flying Frogs.
Sunday was a bonus radiation session - they are closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, so they saw everyone today so that we only miss one session on the week. Music was Aretha's RESPECT - which I found quite amusing as they taped open my buttocks!
On the way back, I decided to bite the bullet and get my hair clipped - a 3 on the back and sides and a 4 on top - which will make it easier to take care of, and not be so messy if it starts falling out in any quantity!
Friday, November 18, 2016
2 Weeks of Radiotherapy in the bag!
Just 3 and a half more to go! "Getting through it" pretty much describes it.
Side-effects still minimal - although the frequent urination and slow slow slow flow are not my idea of fun!
It's been great to get contact from various friends old and new, mainly through Facebook, and now I'm debating whether to open up this blog to everyone. Not really sure how many people would care, or whether anything I've been writing down would be useful to anyone. Maybe! I've tried to be honest and informative.
Maybe, maybe not!
Side-effects still minimal - although the frequent urination and slow slow slow flow are not my idea of fun!
It's been great to get contact from various friends old and new, mainly through Facebook, and now I'm debating whether to open up this blog to everyone. Not really sure how many people would care, or whether anything I've been writing down would be useful to anyone. Maybe! I've tried to be honest and informative.
Maybe, maybe not!
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Self-pity
Feeling sorry for myself today! Felt a pain in my shoulder when I reached to catch a falling coffee cup and it sent me into a funk - a month ago, that was the worst of my health issues!
Nurse visit at RPCC today, blood pressure and temperature still fine - weight still hovering around 200lbs, so really nothing to report. I'm still tiring fast - yesterday I got home from work around 2:00, lay down and then woke up after 6:00. Was back in bed by 9:30! I guess it's to be expected, but I still need to pull my weight around the house. Will make sure I cook tonight.
Nothing else, really. Oh, but I had a quick FB chat with Little Steve Hickman. We were talking about the days at the Spread and I mentioned Ross - he said "Oh, was he the guy who had never been to a football match, but came with us to the Aldershot/Wolves game?" I had to disabuse him of the notion (Ross being a Chelsea season-ticket holder for years!) Classic Ross wind-up - the pay-off coming nearly 20 years down the road! It's a talent, that's for sure!
Nurse visit at RPCC today, blood pressure and temperature still fine - weight still hovering around 200lbs, so really nothing to report. I'm still tiring fast - yesterday I got home from work around 2:00, lay down and then woke up after 6:00. Was back in bed by 9:30! I guess it's to be expected, but I still need to pull my weight around the house. Will make sure I cook tonight.
Nothing else, really. Oh, but I had a quick FB chat with Little Steve Hickman. We were talking about the days at the Spread and I mentioned Ross - he said "Oh, was he the guy who had never been to a football match, but came with us to the Aldershot/Wolves game?" I had to disabuse him of the notion (Ross being a Chelsea season-ticket holder for years!) Classic Ross wind-up - the pay-off coming nearly 20 years down the road! It's a talent, that's for sure!
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
I'm slacking!
Meant to keep this up daily, but I've not posted since Thursday! What has happened? Let's think....
Friday was pretty much like the rest of the week, except that I got to sit down with Dave Kilat and tell him about my diagnosis. I've always liked and respected Dave. He was sympathetic and kind, as expected. Turns out that he has a daughter-in-law who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer (at only 31), Sad sad sad! Hopefully they have caught her early.
Saturday should have been Flying Frogs day, but Finn had a dress rehearsal for his Suessical on Sunday. I dashed to the Infusion unit to get my dressing changed, which went fine - nurses are all kind and generous with their time. Took Finn to rehearsal, but he didn't know where he was supposed to be! We eventually found the rehearsal already started in the gym - a little late, but it didn't matter. Rest of Saturday, went for a walk, cooked and played on the PC.
Sunday - phoned home via skype as usual. I think it's helpful to talk about things to everyone I can, and Mum and Dad both went through similar treatment, though Dad may not remember. Not too many technical difficulties this time, which was nice - they had had Jon and his family, plus Coral, over to visit on Saturday, so there was a lot of news.
Then the Suessical. A lot of technical issues with sound dropping out and disappearing altogether, but it was a lot of fun. Finn looked like he was enjoying himself (though taking it very seriously!) and was in time with the rest of his group during his performance (they were army cadets at military reform school, appropriately!). Had 2 beers on Sunday night while cooking - I confirmed with one of the nurses that it would do no harm, while the pump was not attached, although she warned me it may not taste right! It was fine, and I enjoyed it! I think for future Sundays, I shall invest in something a bit more special than Brew Free or Die, although that is perfectly fine!
Monday was the re-attachment of the pump. It had been nice to be free of it for a couple of days. Then radiotherapy as usual, and then back to Santa Rosa for the Cancer Support Group. Really glad I went - also glad that Kathy was there to break me in! There are people there who have been suffering for a long time and with far worse conditions than mine, but everyone is positive and forward-looking. I'm going to enjoy attending, I think!
There's one guy, Jay, who had Colo-rectal cancer and underwent the same treatment as me, even down to the same surgeon (although neither of us could remember his name!). It was interesting to talk to him and get some insight. He's 74 and has weathered the treatment just fine, so it should be a breeze for a youngster like me, right!!!
The rest of Monday was spent sleeping! I decided not to head back to Petaluma and headed home - described the meeting to Jean and then fell asleep! Evan went to get Finn, so I basically just stayed in bed until about 5:30!
Tuesday is the regular check in with the doctor day at the Rohnert Park Center. Weight was pretty much stable (although I'm expecting it to drop just because I'm not drinking), temperature and blood pressure fine. I described my toilet habits, which are definitely changing, but not dramatically as yet - although I have started taking precautionary nausea meds and have bought some wet wipes.
Now it's Wednesday and HR are making a fuss about the form that we gave to Dr Akhtar and that he appears to have lost! I've got a copy and they've given me a week to get it sorted - no idea what they would do if I don't do anything about it! Tired, but I have been able to get some work done! I don't think I can take on any major projects, though - I think my most useful role at the moment is as a sounding board for Luke/Tatiane and to just fix data here and there!
Friday was pretty much like the rest of the week, except that I got to sit down with Dave Kilat and tell him about my diagnosis. I've always liked and respected Dave. He was sympathetic and kind, as expected. Turns out that he has a daughter-in-law who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer (at only 31), Sad sad sad! Hopefully they have caught her early.
Saturday should have been Flying Frogs day, but Finn had a dress rehearsal for his Suessical on Sunday. I dashed to the Infusion unit to get my dressing changed, which went fine - nurses are all kind and generous with their time. Took Finn to rehearsal, but he didn't know where he was supposed to be! We eventually found the rehearsal already started in the gym - a little late, but it didn't matter. Rest of Saturday, went for a walk, cooked and played on the PC.
Sunday - phoned home via skype as usual. I think it's helpful to talk about things to everyone I can, and Mum and Dad both went through similar treatment, though Dad may not remember. Not too many technical difficulties this time, which was nice - they had had Jon and his family, plus Coral, over to visit on Saturday, so there was a lot of news.
Then the Suessical. A lot of technical issues with sound dropping out and disappearing altogether, but it was a lot of fun. Finn looked like he was enjoying himself (though taking it very seriously!) and was in time with the rest of his group during his performance (they were army cadets at military reform school, appropriately!). Had 2 beers on Sunday night while cooking - I confirmed with one of the nurses that it would do no harm, while the pump was not attached, although she warned me it may not taste right! It was fine, and I enjoyed it! I think for future Sundays, I shall invest in something a bit more special than Brew Free or Die, although that is perfectly fine!
Monday was the re-attachment of the pump. It had been nice to be free of it for a couple of days. Then radiotherapy as usual, and then back to Santa Rosa for the Cancer Support Group. Really glad I went - also glad that Kathy was there to break me in! There are people there who have been suffering for a long time and with far worse conditions than mine, but everyone is positive and forward-looking. I'm going to enjoy attending, I think!
There's one guy, Jay, who had Colo-rectal cancer and underwent the same treatment as me, even down to the same surgeon (although neither of us could remember his name!). It was interesting to talk to him and get some insight. He's 74 and has weathered the treatment just fine, so it should be a breeze for a youngster like me, right!!!
The rest of Monday was spent sleeping! I decided not to head back to Petaluma and headed home - described the meeting to Jean and then fell asleep! Evan went to get Finn, so I basically just stayed in bed until about 5:30!
Tuesday is the regular check in with the doctor day at the Rohnert Park Center. Weight was pretty much stable (although I'm expecting it to drop just because I'm not drinking), temperature and blood pressure fine. I described my toilet habits, which are definitely changing, but not dramatically as yet - although I have started taking precautionary nausea meds and have bought some wet wipes.
Now it's Wednesday and HR are making a fuss about the form that we gave to Dr Akhtar and that he appears to have lost! I've got a copy and they've given me a week to get it sorted - no idea what they would do if I don't do anything about it! Tired, but I have been able to get some work done! I don't think I can take on any major projects, though - I think my most useful role at the moment is as a sounding board for Luke/Tatiane and to just fix data here and there!
Friday, November 11, 2016
Change of Plan
Didn't go to the Support Group after all - Jean needed to get the pension documents in. I should be able to make it to Monday's session in Santa Rosa, so that may be better as it happens.
Stomach is making strange sounds and I do feel a little burning around the anus, which must be down to the radiation. I'm peeing frequently, but not huge amounts. I'm not having much fun!
Stomach is making strange sounds and I do feel a little burning around the anus, which must be down to the radiation. I'm peeing frequently, but not huge amounts. I'm not having much fun!
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Support
There's a "Living with Cancer" support group on a Monday morning that Kathy went (and still goes occasionally) to in Santa Rosa - sadly, this clashes with my Radiation treatment, so if I go to that, I will have to show up late, which I don't really want to have to do. The alternative is one in Petaluma this afternoon at 3:00, which I'm planning to attend today.
Things are OK at the moment. I'm getting odd feelings in the stomach occasionally - like I was really nervous about something (which I am, but anyway...) - and I am pretty tired most of the time, and head-achey, but that is how I have been anyway in the wake of the various shoulder operations and the lingering pain from that, so I am not sure if I am imagining things that are not there. I'm right now, for the first time, experiencing a bit of a burning sensation in my arse, and I do constantly feel like I need to poo, even immediately after pooing! Need to get some wet wipes! I'm expecting the worst, but have not yet experienced anything that out of the ordinary.
Will try to update this after the support group meeting.
Still taking daily photos at the bottom of the stairs. Not sure that I look any different yet, and not sure if I will - may as well keep it up and see if it becomes interesting at all.
Things are OK at the moment. I'm getting odd feelings in the stomach occasionally - like I was really nervous about something (which I am, but anyway...) - and I am pretty tired most of the time, and head-achey, but that is how I have been anyway in the wake of the various shoulder operations and the lingering pain from that, so I am not sure if I am imagining things that are not there. I'm right now, for the first time, experiencing a bit of a burning sensation in my arse, and I do constantly feel like I need to poo, even immediately after pooing! Need to get some wet wipes! I'm expecting the worst, but have not yet experienced anything that out of the ordinary.
Will try to update this after the support group meeting.
Still taking daily photos at the bottom of the stairs. Not sure that I look any different yet, and not sure if I will - may as well keep it up and see if it becomes interesting at all.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Education
Chemo education session. As the only one there to have actually started it, I assumed that people would be more interested in asking me what was happening and how it was going, but only one person asked and she seemed to be in no mood to listen to the answers - which I guess is fair enough! I should go to the support group and hear what people have to say there. The Monday one is tricky because it generally clashes with my radiation appointments, although I may be able to make it this coming Monday.
Fucking Trump won! Unbelievable! One of the "jokey" things I'd thought of saying on Facebook was that if he wins, I'll turn down any treatment - that's not so funny now! We need to stand up and fight!
The next three days are pretty nothing-y - just going for the radiation treatment and coming to work. Dressing change on Saturday and then back to the infusion center for the refilled pump on Monday and back to the grind! I think that the support group would help to break that up a bit - maybe the Petaluma one would work better? I think that is on Thursdays. I have the booklet in the car! I can check! 3:00pm tomorrow. David Martin is the leader and it is at 3900 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma.
Fucking Trump won! Unbelievable! One of the "jokey" things I'd thought of saying on Facebook was that if he wins, I'll turn down any treatment - that's not so funny now! We need to stand up and fight!
The next three days are pretty nothing-y - just going for the radiation treatment and coming to work. Dressing change on Saturday and then back to the infusion center for the refilled pump on Monday and back to the grind! I think that the support group would help to break that up a bit - maybe the Petaluma one would work better? I think that is on Thursdays. I have the booklet in the car! I can check! 3:00pm tomorrow. David Martin is the leader and it is at 3900 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Chemo and Radiation start
9:00am appointment at Kaiser to get my pump fitted. Nurse had a bit of trouble with air in the line, so it took a bit longer than expected, but got there in the end. Then got sent up to the upstairs pharmacy to pick up some nausea meds. In line, I heard a beeping sound and looked around to try to see the cause - turned out that it was me, of course! I hit reset, but 2 minutes later, it went off again, so I headed back to the infusion center where another nurse loosened the clamp which was causing it!
It's all fun!
Then drove down to work - didn't get there until about 11:20 and had my first radiation appointment in Rohnert Park set for 12:30, so I ended up just spending about 40 minutes at work (my kind of day!).
Radiation was pretty straightforward, apart from having to deal with the pump, which I am getting used to having there. It really only took a minute or two once they had lined me up on the gurney. Boombox was playing "Spirit in the Sky". Decided to head home afterwards and glad I did, I was pretty worn out - mainly from the stress of it all.
Slept for a couple of hours while Jean went down to her old office to try to sort out the pension stuff. Bad news on that score, we're not going to be getting the dosh until the end of the year! Will need to talk to ASC to explain that we are planning to pay them!! Not looking forward to that at all!
Robbie replied to my message and it was lovely to hear from him. If there's one good thing from this whole affair it is demonstrating to me how much people do care about us!
Overnight, got woken up by the pump alarm 4 times! I'm assuming because I was lying on the tube. Need to get that sorted - don't want to be losing sleep!
Tuesday I needed to be at the Rohnert Park Cancer Center at 8:10 for an 8:20 session. This meant forcing Finn out of the house early, which was fine - he was very good. The session seemed to be longer, I should ask the doctor if it is going to be consistent lengths of treatment everyday or if there is a variable pattern.
Not really feeling any side effects yet, although I do have that metallic taste in my mouth and am pretty tired all the time.
Class this afternoon on dealing with Chemotherapy and the side effects. 
It's all fun!
Then drove down to work - didn't get there until about 11:20 and had my first radiation appointment in Rohnert Park set for 12:30, so I ended up just spending about 40 minutes at work (my kind of day!).
Radiation was pretty straightforward, apart from having to deal with the pump, which I am getting used to having there. It really only took a minute or two once they had lined me up on the gurney. Boombox was playing "Spirit in the Sky". Decided to head home afterwards and glad I did, I was pretty worn out - mainly from the stress of it all.
Slept for a couple of hours while Jean went down to her old office to try to sort out the pension stuff. Bad news on that score, we're not going to be getting the dosh until the end of the year! Will need to talk to ASC to explain that we are planning to pay them!! Not looking forward to that at all!
Robbie replied to my message and it was lovely to hear from him. If there's one good thing from this whole affair it is demonstrating to me how much people do care about us!
Overnight, got woken up by the pump alarm 4 times! I'm assuming because I was lying on the tube. Need to get that sorted - don't want to be losing sleep!
Tuesday I needed to be at the Rohnert Park Cancer Center at 8:10 for an 8:20 session. This meant forcing Finn out of the house early, which was fine - he was very good. The session seemed to be longer, I should ask the doctor if it is going to be consistent lengths of treatment everyday or if there is a variable pattern.
Not really feeling any side effects yet, although I do have that metallic taste in my mouth and am pretty tired all the time.
Class this afternoon on dealing with Chemotherapy and the side effects.
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Dramatic Saturday
Finn was off school for a couple of days with some sort of virus. When he gets sick, he never really shows any symptoms, just gets a bit of a fever and slows down a bit - and it always seems to be worse come the evening. By Saturday morning, he seemed right as rain, so we set off to Flying Frogs in the morning.
I went to Raleys to get a couple of things, then went back to the gym and sat on the sofa. Finn came over and said he thought he was going to throw up - I told him to get some water, which he did and then he went into the restroom. He seemed to recover ok, without throwing up and then went back to join his group. 2 minutes later he was back saying he wanted to go home, so we headed out. Just as we were about to leave the building, he said he couldn't see, started throwing up and passed out in my arms! With help from one of the Flying Frog guys, we laid him on another sofa and he came round after about 30 seconds, but was still bugle-y and obviously not well.
2 minutes later and he was just fine - right back to his usual self!
It was pretty scary at the time. We called Kaiser and I spoke to a duty nurse who said we should take him in, so we got an appointment for the afternoon - sadly, I couldn't get it to coincide with my existing dressing-changing appointment, so I had to make 2 trips down.
Dressing change went fine and Finn's appointment put our minds at ease. Doctor said he was obviously fighting a virus and the activity at the gym had just been too much, so the body just shut down for a few seconds. Said to keep an eye on him and drink plenty of fluids.
So, tomorrow is my big day! Get issued with my pump and then at 12:30 it is down to Rohnert Park for the first radio-therapy session!
I can't say I'm not scared, but the logical part of my brain knows that the chances are everything will work out! I just need to do what they tell me and keep positive!
I went to Raleys to get a couple of things, then went back to the gym and sat on the sofa. Finn came over and said he thought he was going to throw up - I told him to get some water, which he did and then he went into the restroom. He seemed to recover ok, without throwing up and then went back to join his group. 2 minutes later he was back saying he wanted to go home, so we headed out. Just as we were about to leave the building, he said he couldn't see, started throwing up and passed out in my arms! With help from one of the Flying Frog guys, we laid him on another sofa and he came round after about 30 seconds, but was still bugle-y and obviously not well.
2 minutes later and he was just fine - right back to his usual self!
It was pretty scary at the time. We called Kaiser and I spoke to a duty nurse who said we should take him in, so we got an appointment for the afternoon - sadly, I couldn't get it to coincide with my existing dressing-changing appointment, so I had to make 2 trips down.
Dressing change went fine and Finn's appointment put our minds at ease. Doctor said he was obviously fighting a virus and the activity at the gym had just been too much, so the body just shut down for a few seconds. Said to keep an eye on him and drink plenty of fluids.
So, tomorrow is my big day! Get issued with my pump and then at 12:30 it is down to Rohnert Park for the first radio-therapy session!
I can't say I'm not scared, but the logical part of my brain knows that the chances are everything will work out! I just need to do what they tell me and keep positive!
Friday, November 4, 2016
I'm connected
I've obviously got tough old veins! Last time I had to have a PICC line put in, they took 3 or 4 attempts and I ended up getting wheeled down to an x-ray room to have the task completed. This time, the nurse took 3 attempts on 2 different veins before it finally slid in. Perfectly positioned, though - as confirmed by a quick x-ray.
Nurse afterwards showed me where my blood had spurted out all over the computer during one of the unsuccessful attempts! Really glad I wasn't aware of that at the time!
Also got shown the sort of pump I'm going to be given on Monday. It's pretty bulky, but there is a long connector, so it can be handled pretty easily.
Nurse afterwards showed me where my blood had spurted out all over the computer during one of the unsuccessful attempts! Really glad I wasn't aware of that at the time!
Also got shown the sort of pump I'm going to be given on Monday. It's pretty bulky, but there is a long connector, so it can be handled pretty easily.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
No teeth cleaning allowed!
Seems that one of the things that they discourage when you are on Chemotherapy is tooth cleaning! I had an appointment set for next Thursday at Dr Bauer's so had to reschedule for today. So, the hygienist was the first 'stranger' that I have had to tell about the diagnosis. Very strange feeling having to tell someone! I hardly understand it myself and when she asked details it was hard to decide what to say - I don't want to go into all the details, but she asked about the diagnosis (whether it was because of symptoms or because of a routine test), so that was easy to answer.
Tomorrow is the picc line installation. Went through that before after the last shoulder operation, as I recall it wasn't very pleasant, and they had to have 2 or 3 goes at it before they got it in position correctly. Hopefully it will be less eventful this time.
Tomorrow is the picc line installation. Went through that before after the last shoulder operation, as I recall it wasn't very pleasant, and they had to have 2 or 3 goes at it before they got it in position correctly. Hopefully it will be less eventful this time.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Waiting waiting waiting
Everything is confirmed - PICC line will be inserted on Friday morning, then on Monday I get the first pump and then it's down to Rohnert Park for the radiation. I'm trying to find more information about what the pump is going to look like and how it is carried around and all that stuff, but my Googling skills are letting me down! Wait and see, I guess!
Nurse at Kaiser said that I will not need anyone to drive me on Friday, so I guess I will be on my own getting the PICC line inserted. I think I want Jean around when I get the first treatments, though!
Advice is not to have any teeth cleaning while doing chemotherapy, so I have managed to re-schedule next Thursday's appointment to this week.
Nurse at Kaiser said that I will not need anyone to drive me on Friday, so I guess I will be on my own getting the PICC line inserted. I think I want Jean around when I get the first treatments, though!
Advice is not to have any teeth cleaning while doing chemotherapy, so I have managed to re-schedule next Thursday's appointment to this week.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Under starter's orders...
Have been able to move up the start date of the radio- and chemo- therapy to Monday 7th instead of Monday 14th - that's great, the less waiting around.
Just got called back to say I have to get blood work done and my port installed before then (and also that the Chemotherapy Class has been cancelled, which is a bummer, but they have booked me in for next week's class). Just realised that we didn't talk about support groups at yesterday's meeting with Dr Akhtar - wonder who I should be asking about that!
Just got called back to say I have to get blood work done and my port installed before then (and also that the Chemotherapy Class has been cancelled, which is a bummer, but they have booked me in for next week's class). Just realised that we didn't talk about support groups at yesterday's meeting with Dr Akhtar - wonder who I should be asking about that!
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