A beautiful day and feeling fine after chemo yesterday!

20th June 2012: What a wonderful day! I thought I would feel terrible after last week's episode, and was pleased and surprised to wake up feeling ok. 

If I had known this, I might have gone with my midwife friends to Selsey, where we planned to spend a few days in Jo's new-build bungalow on the Beach! They have gone without me (aahh), but we will work out another time to go! It was wishful thinking this week though, because this afternoon I was back to bed and sleeping off too much exertion this morning (I have not really done much - had breakfast, back to bed for an hour, showered and dressed, lain down again, had lunch, lain down again, had tea, gone to bed!).

I have been replying to an email from the West Sussex Ahead of Game team who are promoting the local Olympic Torch Relay. They want to use my story to publish in their E-bulletin. I was also asked to send some photos, so that took up an hour or so, as I searched, then had to figure out how to download and then upload, and attach a choice of photos to her email. It can be so slow when you are not really sure! I have also heard from the East Sussex team (to cover Crowborough), so hopefully they will have heard about me too, and will not line up saying 'who on earth is this'! A silence would be embarrassing!

I will not go into how awful yesterday was with the needle-probing to find a non-existent vein! They have all been used up! I have now opted to have a PICC line inserted at my next visit in two weeks' time! It is a permanent venous line, into a deeper vein, done under local anaesthetic, then left in, held by a dressing, until I do not need it anymore (16 weeks). I will have to figure out a way of showering without getting it wet, but I am sure there are ways, because a lot of people have them. It will save me any more needles for the duration!

Called in to see my friend Helen for cup of tea on way home from chemo, and my sister Val took these photos with her new ipad - she loves it and takes it everywhere with her, now using it and emailing the photos instead of using a camera - so instant!

Me and my 'little' sister Val

Me and Helen

Chemotherapy commenced 12th June 2012

15th June 2012: Have had a fragile few days following chemotherapy, but feel a bit more human since yesterday, when I managed to feel just about ok to go to our Mad Racquets Farewell Lunch for Carolin, who is moving to Somerset!


We will all miss her very much, for her kindness and generosity and genteel manner - hence we called her Lady C! We sincerely hope she will come back to see us all for any major events, such as big birthdays! We will certainly descend upon the quiet shires and stir them up with a good Mad Racquets get together once they are all settled in! Farewell Carolin, until we all meet again.

Marie, Liz, Dolly, Lady C, June, Lynn and Helen

The lunch was very enjoyable, but unfortunately I had to miss the tennis morning!

Helen, Carolin, Dolly, Lynn, Me, Marie, Liz and June
in Helen's amazing garden!

Jane added on right, Lynn now taking photo

Carolin took this one - guess why Marie, June and Liz
had their eyes shut - yup a great time at Queens yesterday!

Lady C in her new farewell gift of Queens T-shirt
Very Glam!

Altogether worth drugging and dragging myself up for the occasion - I thought I scrubbed up quite well really! I went home shortly after this, as the party atmosphere and sitting up for so long was beginning to tire me. Jane gave me a lift home, whilst everyone else helped Helen to clear up! What a good way to get out of the washing up! Thanks Helen for a lovely lunch, buzzing atmosphere, amazing food and beautiful garden!

To start chemotherapy soon...

6th June 2012: I managed to get seen as an urgent 'extra' at a busy clinic yesterday because of the abdominal pains I have been having since last Thursday. As a result, instead of having a month to relax after my walk, or to catch up in the garden and house, I am to start chemotherapy next week! I have also had to take hefty doses of anti-inflammatories and analgesics, which have helped the pain.

In the meantime, this awful cough I have had since last December, has turned into a chest infection, so I now have a course of strong antibiotics to clear it up before my chemotherapy starts. It never rains but it pours!


This is the end of the medical bulletin! Hopefully it will be better news next time!