Monday is a special da. The family all pile into my partners car loaded with Christmas presents and we head of to an arboretum in Morton in the Marsh. w\e crawled along behind the worlds worst and slowest driver for much of the Fosse Way until finally we manged to get lost at the destination and found ourselves on private property on the wrong side of the car park gates. It was the difference between an A and a B at the end of the post code, that’s Satnav for you. MY youngest daughter and family were there to greet us. After a swapping of bags we found the restaurant and sat and had a meal. The youngest grandson was in fine form and a delight. So we sat and chatted and compared news and plans. At one point my youngest daughter took my hand and placed it on her bump and I had the exquisite pleasure of feeling the new to come grandson moving around. A magical moment, the best possible Christmas present I could ever have this year.
After meal and more drinks we went our different ways home before the night drew in. I arrived home with my crew as it became dark and the fog descended. The evening was full of streamed TV and a bit of football before everyone went off to bed. i am so pleased that the family got to see each other before Christmas, and all thanks to my youngest daughters partners dad stepping up and driving them to the meal. He really gave us a great present. Probably the best one we could have asked for, Christmas without family is a bit flat.
Tuesday and I wakeup to a worm drink and the taking of my vitals, all good there. When I get up for breakfast there are meds to take and chores to do. First up I check the time the nurse is to ring me today, its 1pm. I then reads the meters and get my readings off on the App. Next comes the cleaning of the shower head to see if it will cure the low pressure warning and non functioning shower. I replace the plate and the fancy little beads. To my surprise it works so I whip of my clothes and have a shower while the going is good. Perversely when I turn the shower of it flashes up the sign to say the shower head needs cleaning, sometimes you just cannot win.
Feeling fresh and pleased with myself I finally look at my blood results from Friday. They are as I expected them to be but these will be the base line set for the chemotherapy. As the nurse said last time we spoke, she had seen worse. So here they are this is what I am going into Chemo with:
Just as I finish my blood results chart the chemo nurse rings me. She has clearly read my notes and we proceed to talk through what to expect this time round. it can be summarised by the following:
- Drink 2 litres of water a day
- Have bloods done 5 days pre oncology review appointment
- Take steroids with food
- On day of chemo bring afternoon steroids
- Will be dispensed Prednisolone on the day with instructions
- Give chemo card to reception downstairs
- Collect chemo card on way out at reception.
- Ring emergency chemo card 24/7 if ill at all immediately.
- Do not let sick people near you as immune system shit
- Check you have masks.
- Will get anti nausea pills in case needed.
This is what 1.5 litres of water looks like. Needless to say I am going to be pissing for a large amount of my life for a while.
Having spoken to the jolly chemo nurse I help make my partner change the bedding and then return to the blog. Its just turned 1:30 pm so there is lots of time to take the car to the car wash and tick off another task of the day. Before anything else though I order some non alcohol mouthwash as recommended for chemo. I continue to draft the blog before setting off on the afternoons fun. With one or two things done I get a text message to say my regular drugs are ready for collection from the chemist. Not wanting to put things off I get myself down to the village chemist and pickup my drugs. By the time I am home I am out of energy so settle down to watch some of the African nations cup and to do more on the blog.
The evening arrives and there is tea to eat and the rest of the episodes of the series that is being watched. A lazy evening before my night meds and then bed early. Tomorrow the oncologist is ringing me for a final check before I start chemo on Boxing day. There are other things to do tomorrow but whether they happen depends on whether the oncologist rings on time.
