Now, where were we? - Round 2. Day 6

Happy New Year! - Catching up on round 1.

I guess I’m not the most regular blogger, but I do think about it often - does that count?

My chemo round 1 is complete and it wasn’t as bad as I feared, started feeling better after about day 10. The new anti-sickness drugs really work which means I’ve been able to eat well and kept my weight up. Thanks for all the food donations, it made a huge difference.

Day 6 (today) is when the fatigue has started to kick in big time, but I was really pleased to have got a bit of writing done in the last couple of weeks, so a little bit of what I’d like to be my normal getting some attention.

Cx

Nice Things

What’s going on - Round 1 Day #12

I feel well! Not very strong, a bit wobbly, but I’m just back from a walk to the shop (1.33miles) to buy eggs and refried beans.

Thanks to Elaine and Simon, the family xmas get-together took place on Sunday. I was able to join in due to the wonders of tech, as was my niece Clare from Columbia! Chatting to Clare about some of my experiences in Guatemala, I was reminded of the wonderful breakfasts we sometimes had; blue corn bread, refried beans, and poached eggs. Since then I have been craving that meal - which, if you know me, is astonishing - I never feel hungry! I even got up at 2 in the morning to order the blue cornmeal online - arriving today - was ever a bag of flour so eagerly anticipated?

I know that each chemo cycle will start with a grim week, and that it may get tougher as effects accumulate, but for today it’s good and I’m looking forward to enjoying some nice things, especially Xmas day with LEIA, and E,M, and S of course. :) - (Please note the Oxford comma if you’re into that sort of thing!)

In other news - the hat I have been crocheting for the last 3 months is coming along well, and I will keep you posted on it’s progress.

Chemo #1 - Day 6

Hopefully nearing the bottom of this week

Thanks to friend Linda, and staff who have helped me prepare for a rough few days, but also tell me that nastiest symptoms should ease off soon.

Anti-sickness drugs working really well, so I can eat and keep my strength up.

1pm and I’ve just got up for a very nice bowl of Chicken Soup (thanks Kaz), and put the bins out. Result!

Back to bed now with a cup of tea and podcasts/videos.

Chemo #1

A bit about my first experience - Friday 6th Dec.

Many thanks to chaufeusse Kaz who got me there in good time.

Lovely, lovely staff who talked me through everything. Had a bit of a reaction to the chemo at first, so everything was slowed down and I ended up tubed up from 8.30 till almost 4.

Did a lot of dozing and listening to podcasts, the new wireless cans worked really well.

Thanks again to Kaz for bringing me home with my carrier bag of meds, and to Morgan who stayed overnight - very reassuring - and cooked me a steak lunch on Saturday, then left me to sleep most of the rest of the day.

Diagnosis and treatment

Let's get this out of the way.  It's Stage 4 Ovarian, and I shall be doing the standard protocol, which is 3 rounds of Chemo, followed by an op, then 3 more rounds of chemo.

I have my first chemo session booked for Friday 6th December. If things follow the usual course I’m expecting to feel OK for 2 days, then a week of feeling grim, followed by a week feeling not too bad, then a week of OK. Then start on round 2 just after Xmas. Immune system compromise is greatest between 7 and 10 days after the chemo, but I’ll be avoiding any contact with coughs and colds throughout. As brother Pete says, this is the time for a zero risk strategy.

That’s all the detail I want to share.  I know what I need to know, and I'm concentrating on maintaining a positive outlook, and doing nice stuff.