Brief update

Sorry it's been so long, but here I am.


The chemo session was actually quite good on Friday.  We had a joke with the nurses and it was much more relaxed.  This was just as well, as I'd spent the previous night on the sofa again (hope this isn't going to become a habit!) - a combination of me not being able to fall asleep and Chris' snoring and strange noises!
We managed to go out for a meal with Vaughan in the evening (I had no intention of letting him down), but I was glad when we got home.  I was feeling a bit queasy and tired.

The day after wasn't too bad again.  Wasn't feeling brilliant, but managed ok.  Gave myself the Neulasta injection (brave eh?) and carried on with the meds. Had a few unexpected visitors and Mum acted as my guardian. Progress continued the same as last time i.e. I really felt it over the next 2 days.  Was it better than last time?  Mmmmm.......didn't feel like it, but on the plus side, I was eating and drinking better.  To be honest, I spent most of the time alternating between bed and the sofa.  When you feel like that, you just want it to finish.  Every time I tried to compare it with last episode, it just made me feel worse (what a wuss!).

I expected to feel better on the Tuesday than I did.  The extra meds made me feel drowsy, so I only took them when I felt it necessary.  As the nausea wasn't as acute and only coming in waves, I didn't take many!

Wednesday was better again, apart from feeling absolutely knackered.  God it really takes it out of me.  I wish I was stronger.  Had a bit of a down day as a result.  Every time I look in the mirror I see a person with cancer, who's going through chemo and looks ill and I don't want to be that person.  Solution: don't look in the mirror until I'm feeling better!! Yay!

Today I expected another improvement, but got up this morning and didn't find it.  Even showering tires me out!  I'd had problems yesterday with acid reflux, so decided to take some Omeprazole today, which has helped.  Had another sleep mid morning and after lunch felt better.  I just felt so drained this morning and had a fuzzy head again.  Of course, my first thoughts are my neutrophils!  It's day 7 now and it was day 9 when I was hospitalised last time.  Is my count going down, is that why I'm feeling so tired.............Has the injection worked..................Am I going to get another infection................????  I'm probably being over cautious with food - no salad, all veg and fruit cooked.  Daft really, but I couldn't stomach that bloody awful sterilised water in hospital again!  The boys came home yesterday with tales of a diarrhoea and vomiting bug going round at school - just what I need.  Ah well.....
One of Chris' colleagues sent round a lasagne and a crumble for tea last night.  They were delish - thanks Michelle - and enjoyed by all who ate them.

Life in the Tinsley house continues as normal.  Mum does the school and college runs, cooking, cleaning, keeping a warm and watchful eye on all of us. Chris isn't feeling too bright and thinks he may be coming down with something.  We've hardly seen Livi, she's out most of the time.  The boys (all the boys!) still need reminding to close the doors, turn the lights out, not to stomp up the stairs - the usual.  It's all going on around me at the moment - I still have a voice though and put my two penn'orth in occasionally (more than some would like at times, eh Chris!).

Thank you again for the messages of support, especially when they make me giggle (see comment from the other Auntie Rita), the texts, phone calls and picture messages.

Finally, Emma, who inspired me to do this blog has reached her year anniversary of her mastectomy.  She's finished chemo and radiotherapy, just has a few months of Herceptin to get through.  She looks and feels fantastic and it's a reminder that there is an end to this and I will get better.