Yesterday was Chemo number 3, which also involved a visit to the oncologist for the first time for a while.
In between last post and treatment I started to feel a little better as my ulcer finally healed. We also spent a nice relaxing weekend at my parent's house, had my bloods dine and made some nice bread. Making bread is surprisingly tiring I've discovered, but worth it.
My sister came up on Monday night so that she can keep me company over the next few days, and also brought some rather lovely Red Velvet Cupcakes. We're a bit of a baking family...
So, as for treatment #3, it started as always with taking my blood pressure and weighing me in the chemo suit. I'm managing to maintain a steady weight, which is good, although my blood pressure has been lower each time I've been in. Maybe it's because I'm less stressed over the treatments, but 94 over 48 is pretty low!
Next up was a trip back over to the Parapet to see Dr Adams, and thankfully I didn't have to wait too long. He went through the symptoms I've had over the treatments, and recommended an ibuprofen gel to help my vein pain. He also examined me - it seems that the lump under my arm has gone, and the lump in my breast appears softer, which is good news. He has requested another MRI scan for before my next treatment so that they can check the progress of the tumour - it also can see blood flow, so hopefully they'll be able to see a noticeable change to show that the chemo is working. I'll see him next time round as well for the results.
Then it was back to the chemo suite for the treatment. Simon and Kate were with me, but apparently I'm only allowed one person accompanying me, so Simon said he'd wait elsewhere and Kate stayed with me. I was quite worried that because my veins were still sore in my hand that it would be more painful than last time out. However, they put a warm heat pad on my hand to help bring up the veins, and used the other side of my hand to insert the cannula. It was still painful, but not as bad as last time round. I also kept the heat pad on my arm through the treatment to stop my veins from contracting, and extra saline was pumped though to try and preserve my veins as much as possible. I also decided against using the cold cap this time round, which means that the rest of my head hair is likely to fall out over the next few weeks. It was pretty uncomfortable last time round, and as I'm not too bothered about being bald, I decided it wasn't worth it. Other than that the treatment passed without incident, and we were all done my about half past one.
We headed into Windsor for lunch and a little shopping. We found a nice Thai place doing a 2 course lunch for £7, and had a little wander around town until I started getting tired. Unfortunatly, I'd forgooten to take my sterois with my meal, so took them when I got home, which may have contributed to how sick I felt once I woke up from my nap. I took some more anti sickness tablets, but they didnlt seem to have any effect. By 8:30 I was feeling really sick, despite 3 lots of anti-sickness tablets, and I soon found out why. I was pretty violently ill, and given that it appeared that I hadn't digested lunch, so its likely that the anti-sickness tablets weren't absorbed either. After that I felt abot better, but couldn't manage any dinner. I have some tablets that go under your lip rather than swallowing, so I took those just before I went to bed, and as such I managed to sleep through the night.
This morning, I'm feeling a lot better. I'm enjoying feeling less tired thanks to the steroids, and I feel a lot less sick than last night. I've even managd to have a little breakfast.
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Thursday 22 September 2011
At home with Mrs Grumpypants
I've started writing several posts since my last one, but never finished them or got around to posting them. I've been a pretty grumpy Sarah for the last week or so - an epic combination of chemo tiredness, a massive mouth ulcer and PMS.
The tiredness has not been helped by the builders (we live on an under construction housing estate) who have come along to fix up all the pavements along the road outside my house. Which is great because the pavements were a mess, but it's bad because they start with the pneumatic drill and circular saw at 8:30 and finish about 5 - although the last few days they've packed up earlier. This doesn't make being in the house very restful, unless I close all the doors and windows and switch the TV up loud - which again is not very restful. I managed to have lie in this morning though, so I'm feeling a little less tired today.
The mouth ulcer has really been getting me down - it's a common side effect from the chemo, and I used to suffer from them a lot as a kid. This one is just inside my bottom lip and about half a centimetre across, it's been there about a week now and just won't heal - it's appearance coinciding nicely with the low point for my white blood cells. It hurts to eat and to talk and generally has made be very grumpy.
I've also been having some bad vein pain over the last week or so. It started out as a sore elbow (I thought I'd tweaked a ligament), but the pain began to spread all down my arm and up to my shoulder. It's apparently quite a common side effect of the chemo, and is another that can get progressivly worse over the course of treatments. It seems to be the Epirubicin that causes it (the same one that causes necrosis if it goes outside of the vein) - it may be that there wasn't enough saline going through at the same time it was being injected. Thankfully in the last day or so it has got a bit better - its still sore around my elbow and wrist - as it hardens the veins I suppose it makes sense that it hurts more around the joints. I also got in trouble because I didn't ring the nurse as soon as I knew it was an issue - Simon had to keep pestering me to speak to them but I didn't want to bother the nurses with what might have been a stupid question. Simon quite rightly pointed out that they're there in part to answer the "stupid questions" to stop you worrying.
I have managed to do a few useful things though - in particular I've hired a cleaner to come once a week, which will help a lot. Also, the lady is lovely and very easy to chat to. I've been continuing to make bread and have baked some nice cakes as well. I had a visit a few days ago from my friend Sam, and we walked to the pub for lunch and generally had a good natter which helped to cheer me up. It surprises me how doing little things like that can tire me out though - yesterday I was pretty much wiped out and feeling very low. I'm feeling a bit cheerier today.
The tiredness has not been helped by the builders (we live on an under construction housing estate) who have come along to fix up all the pavements along the road outside my house. Which is great because the pavements were a mess, but it's bad because they start with the pneumatic drill and circular saw at 8:30 and finish about 5 - although the last few days they've packed up earlier. This doesn't make being in the house very restful, unless I close all the doors and windows and switch the TV up loud - which again is not very restful. I managed to have lie in this morning though, so I'm feeling a little less tired today.
The mouth ulcer has really been getting me down - it's a common side effect from the chemo, and I used to suffer from them a lot as a kid. This one is just inside my bottom lip and about half a centimetre across, it's been there about a week now and just won't heal - it's appearance coinciding nicely with the low point for my white blood cells. It hurts to eat and to talk and generally has made be very grumpy.
I've also been having some bad vein pain over the last week or so. It started out as a sore elbow (I thought I'd tweaked a ligament), but the pain began to spread all down my arm and up to my shoulder. It's apparently quite a common side effect of the chemo, and is another that can get progressivly worse over the course of treatments. It seems to be the Epirubicin that causes it (the same one that causes necrosis if it goes outside of the vein) - it may be that there wasn't enough saline going through at the same time it was being injected. Thankfully in the last day or so it has got a bit better - its still sore around my elbow and wrist - as it hardens the veins I suppose it makes sense that it hurts more around the joints. I also got in trouble because I didn't ring the nurse as soon as I knew it was an issue - Simon had to keep pestering me to speak to them but I didn't want to bother the nurses with what might have been a stupid question. Simon quite rightly pointed out that they're there in part to answer the "stupid questions" to stop you worrying.
I have managed to do a few useful things though - in particular I've hired a cleaner to come once a week, which will help a lot. Also, the lady is lovely and very easy to chat to. I've been continuing to make bread and have baked some nice cakes as well. I had a visit a few days ago from my friend Sam, and we walked to the pub for lunch and generally had a good natter which helped to cheer me up. It surprises me how doing little things like that can tire me out though - yesterday I was pretty much wiped out and feeling very low. I'm feeling a bit cheerier today.
Monday 12 September 2011
The Big Wig Debut
I seem to be pretty much over the worst of treatment number 2, and the overall verdict is that I felt less sick, but more tired. I cope better with tired than sickly, so I don't mind too much.
My hair has started to fall out more, and was becoming a pain, so on Thursday night I took the plunge and Simon and Mum helped me shave my hair off - not completely, just down to an inch or so, but it means I won't clog up drains everywhere I go. I can't say its the most flattering hair cut I've ever had, but it's serviceable. My hair defaults to vertical when short, so I look a bit like a fluffy hedgehog.
There was a leaving lunch for some guys at work on Friday, and I decided that I felt well enough to head into the office a bit to say hello and sort out a few admin bits. I decided to debut the wig to see how I got along with it, and found it quite comfortable. People didn't point and stare either, so I'll take that as a victory. I did feel slightly self-conscious at first, but got such a nice reception from people in the office that I quickly felt at ease and stopped worrying. I had a lot of comments to say that I looked well and had a very pleasant afternoon catching up and getting a few bits done. By the time I got home though, I was knackered and had to go to bed, but I was glad to get out and about.
It's one of those weird things when you're ill - you feel perfectly fine and well whilst your curled up on the sofa or in bed, and then as soon as you try and do anything, it hits you again. So you end up feeling lazy for not doing anything, but as soon as you do something you have to stop. The worst is when you get up and get ready, and simply the act of having a shower and getting dressed has tired you out so that you have to have another little lie down.
My hair has started to fall out more, and was becoming a pain, so on Thursday night I took the plunge and Simon and Mum helped me shave my hair off - not completely, just down to an inch or so, but it means I won't clog up drains everywhere I go. I can't say its the most flattering hair cut I've ever had, but it's serviceable. My hair defaults to vertical when short, so I look a bit like a fluffy hedgehog.
There was a leaving lunch for some guys at work on Friday, and I decided that I felt well enough to head into the office a bit to say hello and sort out a few admin bits. I decided to debut the wig to see how I got along with it, and found it quite comfortable. People didn't point and stare either, so I'll take that as a victory. I did feel slightly self-conscious at first, but got such a nice reception from people in the office that I quickly felt at ease and stopped worrying. I had a lot of comments to say that I looked well and had a very pleasant afternoon catching up and getting a few bits done. By the time I got home though, I was knackered and had to go to bed, but I was glad to get out and about.
It's one of those weird things when you're ill - you feel perfectly fine and well whilst your curled up on the sofa or in bed, and then as soon as you try and do anything, it hits you again. So you end up feeling lazy for not doing anything, but as soon as you do something you have to stop. The worst is when you get up and get ready, and simply the act of having a shower and getting dressed has tired you out so that you have to have another little lie down.
Wednesday 7 September 2011
Round 2 Report
Second round of chemo is done, as my white blood cell test came back looking "very good". Appointment was at 9:15am, so with it being the first day back to school and a conference in the centre on Windsor, it was a bit of a slog getting to the hospital.
Still, I think everyone was running a bit late, so it didn't cause a problem. I sat myself down in one of the comfy chairs and started to adjust it, but got told off by one of the nurses, as the chair got tangled with the IV stand... After getting settled in, blood pressure taken, side effects from the last treatment noted and speaking to the pharmacist it was time for the needle to go in. My veins have never been particularly robust, and this time round it was much more difficult to get the cannula in, not helped by the fact that the newbie nurse was doing it. He's very nice, but not particularly skilled unfortunately. It was quite painful, I may have cried a little, but I'm good at that at the moment.
Still once it was in it was only a little bit sore, mostly when the cannula was inspected to change drugs, or check that it was still in the vein. Steroids went in without any problems though, and from the side effects they give you (one makes you a bit dizzy, the other gives you ants in your pants for a minute or so), it was obvious that the needle was in OK. It took a bit longer than last time to get all the drugs in, and as it was colder yesterday, the cold cap was more uncomfortable than last time. The drugs are also refrigerated before they go in so I ended up with a cold arm as well as a cold head - I was glad I'd brought a blanket with me.
I was all finished by about 12:30, and feeling OK, so Simon and I headed into Windsor to get some lunch and run a few errands. By the time we'd done this though, I was starting to feel a bit ill, so we headed home and I had a nice nap.
As the treatment was in the morning I was able to spread my drugs out well, so didn't feel as sick overnight as I did last time. Today I'm suffering a little with a headache, but I have the nausea under control. Again, I'll be taking it as it comes, but so far, I'm feeling no worse than last time out. I think keeping pretty active has helped, even if I did overdo it a little last week. I'm actually less tired than I was before the treatment, as the steroids boost your energy levels. I think I'll probably still treat myself to a nap later though.
Also, just a quick note to say thanks again to everyone who has sent me messages,I know I've been rubbish at replying, but it's been lovely to hear from so many people, it really does cheer me up. I've also opened up the comments on here - the default was set to people with Gmail IDs, but they're now open to anyone.
Still, I think everyone was running a bit late, so it didn't cause a problem. I sat myself down in one of the comfy chairs and started to adjust it, but got told off by one of the nurses, as the chair got tangled with the IV stand... After getting settled in, blood pressure taken, side effects from the last treatment noted and speaking to the pharmacist it was time for the needle to go in. My veins have never been particularly robust, and this time round it was much more difficult to get the cannula in, not helped by the fact that the newbie nurse was doing it. He's very nice, but not particularly skilled unfortunately. It was quite painful, I may have cried a little, but I'm good at that at the moment.
Still once it was in it was only a little bit sore, mostly when the cannula was inspected to change drugs, or check that it was still in the vein. Steroids went in without any problems though, and from the side effects they give you (one makes you a bit dizzy, the other gives you ants in your pants for a minute or so), it was obvious that the needle was in OK. It took a bit longer than last time to get all the drugs in, and as it was colder yesterday, the cold cap was more uncomfortable than last time. The drugs are also refrigerated before they go in so I ended up with a cold arm as well as a cold head - I was glad I'd brought a blanket with me.
I was all finished by about 12:30, and feeling OK, so Simon and I headed into Windsor to get some lunch and run a few errands. By the time we'd done this though, I was starting to feel a bit ill, so we headed home and I had a nice nap.
As the treatment was in the morning I was able to spread my drugs out well, so didn't feel as sick overnight as I did last time. Today I'm suffering a little with a headache, but I have the nausea under control. Again, I'll be taking it as it comes, but so far, I'm feeling no worse than last time out. I think keeping pretty active has helped, even if I did overdo it a little last week. I'm actually less tired than I was before the treatment, as the steroids boost your energy levels. I think I'll probably still treat myself to a nap later though.
Also, just a quick note to say thanks again to everyone who has sent me messages,I know I've been rubbish at replying, but it's been lovely to hear from so many people, it really does cheer me up. I've also opened up the comments on here - the default was set to people with Gmail IDs, but they're now open to anyone.
Monday 5 September 2011
Getting ready for treatment #2
Chemo #2 is scheduled for 09:15 tomorrow, assuming that the blood tests I've just had show that I have recovered enough white blood cells and that my liver isn't failing. I'm hoping that the side effects are no worse than last time, but that may well be a vain hope.
Generally, I've been feeling pretty well the last week or so, although I get very tired. I had a busy few days last week - my friend David came over on Thursday and we went to Wisley gardens. We took a picnic and must have walked miles, but it was lovely to be outside in the sunshine. On Friday I met up with my bosses from work for lunch and caught up on the latest office intrigue, and on Saturday my sister-in-law and her fiancée came to visit and we went for a walk in Windsor Great Park (nice enough but noisy from the planes) and cooked dinner - Simon was in charge of the main course, I looked after dessert. I've also started making my own bread, which is going surprisingly well, and doing some studying.
Yesterday I mostly spent asleep, as the previous 3 days had pretty much exhausted me.
In other news, my hair has begun to fall out. Body hair started first, but now the head hair is staring to fall out as well - not much so far, and you can't tell by looking, but it's definitely started. With the cold cap, it may not all go, but depending on how much comes out at some point I'll bit the bullet and shave what's left off.
Generally, I've been feeling pretty well the last week or so, although I get very tired. I had a busy few days last week - my friend David came over on Thursday and we went to Wisley gardens. We took a picnic and must have walked miles, but it was lovely to be outside in the sunshine. On Friday I met up with my bosses from work for lunch and caught up on the latest office intrigue, and on Saturday my sister-in-law and her fiancée came to visit and we went for a walk in Windsor Great Park (nice enough but noisy from the planes) and cooked dinner - Simon was in charge of the main course, I looked after dessert. I've also started making my own bread, which is going surprisingly well, and doing some studying.
Yesterday I mostly spent asleep, as the previous 3 days had pretty much exhausted me.
In other news, my hair has begun to fall out. Body hair started first, but now the head hair is staring to fall out as well - not much so far, and you can't tell by looking, but it's definitely started. With the cold cap, it may not all go, but depending on how much comes out at some point I'll bit the bullet and shave what's left off.
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