Having rejoiced greatly at the end of chemo, I am now becoming somewhat fed up with the ongoing physical side effects of the whole chemo process but more specifically the Taxotere treatments.
At the moment the fingernails on my left hand are starting to part company with the nail bed and I am hoping that the process stops before I actually lose the nails. On top of that, I have put on nearly a stone over the course of the chemo sessions and the Taxotere has made this even worse because of the fluid retention effect so I feel fat and have swollen ankles and feet, not to mention my left arm which is developing lymphedema. Aaaargh! I look like a Michelin woman.
On top of that, my eyes are streaming with tears most of the time – especially outside. Makes playing golf very tricky. The medical folks all say not to worry it – the effects will go and the weight will come off in time. Typically they won’t be pinned down as to how long all this will take.
I will just have to be patient.
I had a CT scan last week to get set up for radiotherapy. Very straightforward and I now have the two tiny tattoos. You can hardly see them – definitely no street cred to be had there.
Will start checking for hair regrowth when I get back from Venice.
Showing posts with label side effects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label side effects. Show all posts
Monday, 19 October 2009
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
26 August - I learn that I am not superwoman.
Wednesday 26 August - Feeling a great deal better but still not 100% right. So for the first time in many months I have cancelled my golf game today. I am simply going to fuddle about, read and rest.
When I got up yesterday I was worried because I still felt ghastly but as I was scheduled to be an observer referee at the Southern Regions Girls Amateur Championships, and I knew they were desperately short of people, I forced myself to get in the car and drive to Worplesdon. By the time I got there I actually felt OK and the gentle walk around the course wasn’t a problem. A few undemanding rulings and I was beginning to feel we were back on track.
But I am tired. So today I give in……Only temporarily mind you!
One thing this has highlighted is that Dr S and I are going to have words next time I see him. I am not prepared to go through this again especially as we are due to fly to Spain four days after the next chemo and I have every intention of enjoying my holiday. Somehow we will have to come up with a solution – whether that be ditching the Neulasta injection or finding something whizzy in the pain relief cupboard.
When I got up yesterday I was worried because I still felt ghastly but as I was scheduled to be an observer referee at the Southern Regions Girls Amateur Championships, and I knew they were desperately short of people, I forced myself to get in the car and drive to Worplesdon. By the time I got there I actually felt OK and the gentle walk around the course wasn’t a problem. A few undemanding rulings and I was beginning to feel we were back on track.
But I am tired. So today I give in……Only temporarily mind you!
One thing this has highlighted is that Dr S and I are going to have words next time I see him. I am not prepared to go through this again especially as we are due to fly to Spain four days after the next chemo and I have every intention of enjoying my holiday. Somehow we will have to come up with a solution – whether that be ditching the Neulasta injection or finding something whizzy in the pain relief cupboard.
Monday, 24 August 2009
24 August - I spoke too soon.
Monday 24 August. I feel like s**t. And am having to work from home again because there is no way I could stand the commute. I thought I would get away with the worst of the Taxotere side effects but I haven't. I have 'Bone Pain'. This means simply that all my bones ache like hell. It is a common side effect of the chemo and the Neulasta, the drug they give you to boost white blood cell count. As a result I haven't been able to sleep much, am swallowing Ibruprofen and Paracetamol as quickly as I can and wanting to sleep. It will pass and I probably over did it at the weekend by playing two rounds of golf. I've learned. Next time I will only play one round - with a buggy - at the LGC mixed open.
Saturday, 22 August 2009
22 August -The tasteless diet
Saturday 22 August. Reaction to this new bit of chemo isn't too bad except that it seems to have affected my sense of taste...I really can't taste much at all. The result of this is that I am simply not hungry. I have found the ultimate diet! Sadly it won't last. The Dr S, the oncologist, says it is a very short term effect.
As an aside - my surgeon Mr P rather neatly defined his friend Dr S as a physician when he was dealing with the seroma issue just after the second round of surgery - Mr P said I should ask Dr S to drain the seroma if it needed it while I was seeing him for the first consultation. I suggested this to Dr S but he declined and said he would rather leave it to Mr P. When I told Mr P about this he laughed and said that in his experience physicians didn't like getting their hands dirty and only admitted people to hospitals to 'think' about them.
The Wig's facebook site is proving popular.
As an aside - my surgeon Mr P rather neatly defined his friend Dr S as a physician when he was dealing with the seroma issue just after the second round of surgery - Mr P said I should ask Dr S to drain the seroma if it needed it while I was seeing him for the first consultation. I suggested this to Dr S but he declined and said he would rather leave it to Mr P. When I told Mr P about this he laughed and said that in his experience physicians didn't like getting their hands dirty and only admitted people to hospitals to 'think' about them.
The Wig's facebook site is proving popular.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
3 August - Chemo reaction
Monday 3 August. This last round of chemo has affected me much more than before. I haven’t been sick but the ‘blurgh’ feeling is still with me and I am very, very tired. I could sleep for Britain. I am hoping the fatigue will go in the next couple of days, as I have to work from home. If I had to do the hour forty commute I think I would be asleep at my desk by midday.
29 July - 3rd Chemo
Wednesday 29 July. 3rd Chemo day. After this I will be half way through and this is the last of the FEC treatments. The chemo nurses say these are the worst ones and that the next three are not normally so bad. Hooray!
Today I drive myself as my partner has another engagement and I know I am OK afterwards. I get there at 10.00 thinking that things will be quicker this time….but they aren’t. The vampires in the path lab have trouble getting a vein to take the blood samples from and have to call for superior help. SO I end up with two plasters from that.
Then the chemo nurse finds the lovely vein we have used the last two times for the canula is not in good shape either. Apparently this is usual as the chemo damages the veins. Great. She eventually finds a deeper one elsewhere and we start the process.
They all like the wig. More fans!
It is all becoming so normal now. I have lunch, I read, I listen to my iPod and I do Sudoku. Eventually we finish and I get my anti sickness drugs. The only thing different is that I am given additional steroids, which I will have to start taking before the next chemo session as part of the protocol for the Taxotere drug. No Dr S this time as he is on holiday.
My head hair is very patchy now – more and more comes out each day. It won’t be long until it is all gone but so far, touch wood; I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes. The up side is I don’t have to wax or shave my pits and bits!
So on we go.
Today I drive myself as my partner has another engagement and I know I am OK afterwards. I get there at 10.00 thinking that things will be quicker this time….but they aren’t. The vampires in the path lab have trouble getting a vein to take the blood samples from and have to call for superior help. SO I end up with two plasters from that.
Then the chemo nurse finds the lovely vein we have used the last two times for the canula is not in good shape either. Apparently this is usual as the chemo damages the veins. Great. She eventually finds a deeper one elsewhere and we start the process.
They all like the wig. More fans!
It is all becoming so normal now. I have lunch, I read, I listen to my iPod and I do Sudoku. Eventually we finish and I get my anti sickness drugs. The only thing different is that I am given additional steroids, which I will have to start taking before the next chemo session as part of the protocol for the Taxotere drug. No Dr S this time as he is on holiday.
My head hair is very patchy now – more and more comes out each day. It won’t be long until it is all gone but so far, touch wood; I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes. The up side is I don’t have to wax or shave my pits and bits!
So on we go.
July scrapbook - normalcy, friends and birthdays
11 July. Saturday. This is the day of the big Open competition my partner and I were so keen to play. We know we probably won’t play wonderfully but you need to show up to have a chance of getting into next year’s comp (when I should be more on form).
It is 36 holes around two different courses. I am walking as we hadn’t thought to order a buggy and it is too late now. Our friends who we are playing with have a buggy so the option is there for me to ride if I get too tired.
The wig performs well although it gets a bit hot. I glad to get home and get it off.
As predicted we don’t play well but it is a great day out including a lunch that started with as much lobster as one could eat. I am exhausted and know I will crash the next day….which I do.
Tuesday 14 July. I am pretty well back to normal and am able to do my stint in refereeing at the Regional Ladies Amateur Championships. All went well so no problem there and it keeps my hand in, as I have to ‘swot’ the rules and decisions before I go.
My hair continues to slowly fall out.
Wednesday 15 July. It is the invitation day at my club and I have a friend and colleague from work attending. S has arrived the previous night from Manchester via Sweden dragging her clubs with her. The wig has its first real outing among people I know and gets a great response. Once again it performs well even staying on in the strong winds of the day. We play reasonably although not well enough to get into the main prizes. My Guest wins the longest drive by a mile and is very pleased with herself.
Thursday 16 July. My son and his girlfriend come for supper. She and I share a birthday the next day. My partner is taking me out and she and my son will be with friends so we have an early present swap. We have bought her some crystal earrings on the advice of our son. My partner has been in cahoots with the family and to my complete surprise, I am presented with a Wii system including the Wii fitness board etc. My son and his girlfriend have bought me the Tiger Woods game to go with it. My partner has also bought me the latest iPod shuffle. So tiny I am scared I will lose it but it will be great on the train and during chemo. It was a lovely lot of presents and I feel very spoiled.
Friday 17 July. Aaaaargh, I am 58 years old. I don’t feel it - does one ever feel one’s age? It is still a working day for me so we don’t celebrate until the evening. We have booked to have dinner at a lovely old Elizabethan hotel. The one we visited after we got the news about needing the second operation. One of the reasons we wanted to go back there is that during the weeks after the diagnosis we had both come to the conclusion that after living together for over 15 years, we might like to get married and this hotel ‘did’ weddings. It was a good opportunity to check it out again.
Tuesday 21 July. I’m in town at work and am meeting an old colleague at the RAC in Pall Mall for lunch. He has never been there so I am treating him.
The wig performs well and he doesn’t even realize until I tell him.
Wednesday 22 July. More golf. This time at a very prestigious club of one of my partner’s friends. I play with the guys….not too badly. The wig performs well.
Thursday 23 July. Friends from Poland who we haven’t seen for months arrive for supper and a stay over. They are amazed by the kitchen, which they have followed via facebook photos. They are gratifyingly awed by the kitchen and the wig.
We have a great supper and we play with the Wii. Very good fun!
Friday 24 July. Working from home but I find time to have lunch with some girls from my old club. Its good to catch up and introduce them to the wig. They become great fans. I will have to set up a special facebook page for the wig at this rate.
It is 36 holes around two different courses. I am walking as we hadn’t thought to order a buggy and it is too late now. Our friends who we are playing with have a buggy so the option is there for me to ride if I get too tired.
The wig performs well although it gets a bit hot. I glad to get home and get it off.
As predicted we don’t play well but it is a great day out including a lunch that started with as much lobster as one could eat. I am exhausted and know I will crash the next day….which I do.
Tuesday 14 July. I am pretty well back to normal and am able to do my stint in refereeing at the Regional Ladies Amateur Championships. All went well so no problem there and it keeps my hand in, as I have to ‘swot’ the rules and decisions before I go.
My hair continues to slowly fall out.
Wednesday 15 July. It is the invitation day at my club and I have a friend and colleague from work attending. S has arrived the previous night from Manchester via Sweden dragging her clubs with her. The wig has its first real outing among people I know and gets a great response. Once again it performs well even staying on in the strong winds of the day. We play reasonably although not well enough to get into the main prizes. My Guest wins the longest drive by a mile and is very pleased with herself.
Thursday 16 July. My son and his girlfriend come for supper. She and I share a birthday the next day. My partner is taking me out and she and my son will be with friends so we have an early present swap. We have bought her some crystal earrings on the advice of our son. My partner has been in cahoots with the family and to my complete surprise, I am presented with a Wii system including the Wii fitness board etc. My son and his girlfriend have bought me the Tiger Woods game to go with it. My partner has also bought me the latest iPod shuffle. So tiny I am scared I will lose it but it will be great on the train and during chemo. It was a lovely lot of presents and I feel very spoiled.
Friday 17 July. Aaaaargh, I am 58 years old. I don’t feel it - does one ever feel one’s age? It is still a working day for me so we don’t celebrate until the evening. We have booked to have dinner at a lovely old Elizabethan hotel. The one we visited after we got the news about needing the second operation. One of the reasons we wanted to go back there is that during the weeks after the diagnosis we had both come to the conclusion that after living together for over 15 years, we might like to get married and this hotel ‘did’ weddings. It was a good opportunity to check it out again.
Tuesday 21 July. I’m in town at work and am meeting an old colleague at the RAC in Pall Mall for lunch. He has never been there so I am treating him.
The wig performs well and he doesn’t even realize until I tell him.
Wednesday 22 July. More golf. This time at a very prestigious club of one of my partner’s friends. I play with the guys….not too badly. The wig performs well.
Thursday 23 July. Friends from Poland who we haven’t seen for months arrive for supper and a stay over. They are amazed by the kitchen, which they have followed via facebook photos. They are gratifyingly awed by the kitchen and the wig.
We have a great supper and we play with the Wii. Very good fun!
Friday 24 July. Working from home but I find time to have lunch with some girls from my old club. Its good to catch up and introduce them to the wig. They become great fans. I will have to set up a special facebook page for the wig at this rate.
9 July - Hair goes!
9 July. No queasiness and I feel well enough to go to a Pilates class in the morning. The afternoon is scheduled for the hair cut. I walk into my hairdressers carrying the wig. G comes up and I demonstrate the problem by pulling a couple of handfuls of hair out. She gets the message. We agree that she won’t shave it but cut what is left down to about half an inch. That done I put the wig on. She is amazed. It does look good. She even gives it a few snips to even up the back and the fringe. The receptionist, who wasn’t around when I came, in is in raptures thinking it is a new style from G. She can’t get over the fact it is a wig. I feel really good as I walk back to the car. I stop at a retro clothes chop that sell really fabulous old clothes and buy a couple of hats and scarves to treat myself.
I have a big week next week.
I have a big week next week.
5 July - Hair today, gone tomorrow
Sunday 5 July.
I am running my hands through my hair to get it out of my face and shock, horror….I have loose hairs in my fingers. Damn. During the afternoon I keep getting more loose hair. Not great chunks of it, just a few strands each time but it is definitely coming out. The question is will it all drop out or is it just going to get thinner? Either way something needs to be done so I book a session with my hairdresser to cut it shorter. This will be on the day after my next chemo in 3 days time. I will try the cold cap again in case this is just a thinning rather than complete alopecia but I am not holding out too much hope. Still, I have the wig waiting in the wings and have decided just to use a baseball cap for golf if it is too hot.
I am running my hands through my hair to get it out of my face and shock, horror….I have loose hairs in my fingers. Damn. During the afternoon I keep getting more loose hair. Not great chunks of it, just a few strands each time but it is definitely coming out. The question is will it all drop out or is it just going to get thinner? Either way something needs to be done so I book a session with my hairdresser to cut it shorter. This will be on the day after my next chemo in 3 days time. I will try the cold cap again in case this is just a thinning rather than complete alopecia but I am not holding out too much hope. Still, I have the wig waiting in the wings and have decided just to use a baseball cap for golf if it is too hot.
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