17th July 2012: Today is the day I carry the Olympic Torch along Crowborough Hill, Crowborough, Sussex, from Croft Road junction to the A26.
I hope it goes well, because it has not been a good week since my chemotherapy last Tuesday. The side effects were minimal really, but my persistent cough worsened, developing by yesterday into a chest infection and laryngitis. The gp had to visit me, as well as the nurse at a different time to do my PICC line dressing. I am on antibiotics yet again, and feel a bit better this morning, but have no voice at all - some would say this is a good thing!
I am looking forward to my 'moment to shine', with so many well-wishers, family and friends who will be there to cheer me on. Thanks to everyone for all your unfailing support. YOU deserve the honour too!
Monday, 16 July 2012
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
CHEMO 7 DAYS BEFORE CARRYING THE TORCH!
10th July 2012: Blood result was ok for having my 2nd chemo cycle today, thank goodness, or I might have had to drop out of carrying the Olympic Torch next week!
A much easier day - parked in the 'oncology' car park for £1.50 for the day, thanks to my sister who came last week and procured a permit for me! Also, I was seen in clinic fairly promptly by my oncologist, Aggie Michael and Fiona, my Macmillan nurse. We were all pleased that I can go ahead today. My doseage of the 'new to me' Gemcitabine chemo has been reduced because of all the side effects after the first cycle. Plus, I will not be having the day 8 session, so that gives me another week to recover before the next one. They wished me luck for my 300 metre carrying the torch next Tuesday, and would look out for me on the news!
There was plenty of time to relax, read a paper, have lunch, before my chemo appointment at 1pm.
Breezed through the chemotherapy in the afternoon, with it dripping painlessly through my fixed line, and no needles!
11th July 2012: Woke at about 4 am and the room started spinning when I got up - remembered I had some dissolving (on the gum) anti-vertigo tabs. This time it worked! Slept again for a couple of hours before getting up to make some tea. Not a bad day, compared to last month's cycle when I had to stay in bed for nearly a week. I suppose thanks to the reduced dose of chemo.
My newly altered London 2012 track suit was returned this morning. The legs had to have several inches taken off and hemmed up, and also the sleeves! It looks pretty good, but I have to tuck in the long top, or it comes almost to my knees - which is what happens if it is not a petite size! This LOCOG organisation only send out 'standard' size!
A much easier day - parked in the 'oncology' car park for £1.50 for the day, thanks to my sister who came last week and procured a permit for me! Also, I was seen in clinic fairly promptly by my oncologist, Aggie Michael and Fiona, my Macmillan nurse. We were all pleased that I can go ahead today. My doseage of the 'new to me' Gemcitabine chemo has been reduced because of all the side effects after the first cycle. Plus, I will not be having the day 8 session, so that gives me another week to recover before the next one. They wished me luck for my 300 metre carrying the torch next Tuesday, and would look out for me on the news!
There was plenty of time to relax, read a paper, have lunch, before my chemo appointment at 1pm.
Breezed through the chemotherapy in the afternoon, with it dripping painlessly through my fixed line, and no needles!
11th July 2012: Woke at about 4 am and the room started spinning when I got up - remembered I had some dissolving (on the gum) anti-vertigo tabs. This time it worked! Slept again for a couple of hours before getting up to make some tea. Not a bad day, compared to last month's cycle when I had to stay in bed for nearly a week. I suppose thanks to the reduced dose of chemo.
My newly altered London 2012 track suit was returned this morning. The legs had to have several inches taken off and hemmed up, and also the sleeves! It looks pretty good, but I have to tuck in the long top, or it comes almost to my knees - which is what happens if it is not a petite size! This LOCOG organisation only send out 'standard' size!
Friday, 6 July 2012
Not a good week!
3rd July 2012: I saw my oncology consultant, Aggie Michael, who was quite concerned that I had been having nose bleeds for two weeks after my chemo, as well as headaches and very painful mouth ulcers, which are still there and preventing me from eating properly. Aggie decided I had probably had too high a dose of the Gemcitabine, so has reduced it, and also cut out the day 8 chemo.
My blood results from yesterday were not good enough for me to have chemo today, so I had to have a repeat blood test this morning. The queue for the nurse clinic (so that I could have blood taken from the PICC line) was so long, that I decided to join the normal path lab queue which was shorter! I don't mind a needle in the vein they always use, as it has never had chemo directly through it and therefore is not so tender.
I had to wait 3 hours for the result, and, unfortunately, my white cell count (neutraphils) for immunity was still too low, so I could not have my chemotherapy today. No wonder I am so tired, and still have mouth ulcers. It is difficult to eat as they are so sore. I am now using Anbesol Liquid (2% lignocaine) which helps to numb it slightly before I eat, but it soon wears off. The 'gel' should last longer, but is difficult to apply to the tongue, because it just slides off!
Disappointed that I was not having my chemo this week, because it means, if I have chemo next week, on the 10th, that only gives me a week to recover before carrying the Olympic Torch on 17th July! My friends have offered to accompany me, even if they have to push me in a wheelchair! However, it will not come to that, because I will definitely be walking my 300 metres, and if necessary, I will be allowed to ask a family member, or a close friend, to walk with me.
7th July 2012: One good thing about not feeling like doing very much is that I can enjoy watching Wimbledon without feeling guilty! Another good thing is that I am eating better now that my last tongue ulcer has subsided. So, tomorrow, on men's final day, I will be able to (painlessly) eat my strawberries and cream whilst watching Andy Murray v Roger Federer on TV! But, whom will I cheer on - obviously I want Andy to win his first Grand Slam final, but I also want Roger to achieve yet another record! Go Andy! Go Roger!
My blood results from yesterday were not good enough for me to have chemo today, so I had to have a repeat blood test this morning. The queue for the nurse clinic (so that I could have blood taken from the PICC line) was so long, that I decided to join the normal path lab queue which was shorter! I don't mind a needle in the vein they always use, as it has never had chemo directly through it and therefore is not so tender.
I had to wait 3 hours for the result, and, unfortunately, my white cell count (neutraphils) for immunity was still too low, so I could not have my chemotherapy today. No wonder I am so tired, and still have mouth ulcers. It is difficult to eat as they are so sore. I am now using Anbesol Liquid (2% lignocaine) which helps to numb it slightly before I eat, but it soon wears off. The 'gel' should last longer, but is difficult to apply to the tongue, because it just slides off!
Disappointed that I was not having my chemo this week, because it means, if I have chemo next week, on the 10th, that only gives me a week to recover before carrying the Olympic Torch on 17th July! My friends have offered to accompany me, even if they have to push me in a wheelchair! However, it will not come to that, because I will definitely be walking my 300 metres, and if necessary, I will be allowed to ask a family member, or a close friend, to walk with me.
7th July 2012: One good thing about not feeling like doing very much is that I can enjoy watching Wimbledon without feeling guilty! Another good thing is that I am eating better now that my last tongue ulcer has subsided. So, tomorrow, on men's final day, I will be able to (painlessly) eat my strawberries and cream whilst watching Andy Murray v Roger Federer on TV! But, whom will I cheer on - obviously I want Andy to win his first Grand Slam final, but I also want Roger to achieve yet another record! Go Andy! Go Roger!
Monday, 2 July 2012
Another chapter
2nd July 2012: Had my PICC Line fitted. I was somewhat nervous of having this peripheral insertion of a catheter into a deeper vein. It was with a local anaesthetic into my upper arm, over the area where the ultra-sound showed the vein into which they wish to insert the tube. So, not really painful after the L.A. but a very uncomfortable feeling as they pushed the catheter along the vein, until it reached the larger vein into the heart!
The good news is that I do not have to have any more probing of surface veins, which had become very sore, and of course it was difficult for the nurses to find a vein for my chemotherapy. I now have a ready-made connection for the duration of this treatment. Having a dressing over the insertion once a week will be no problem, but having a shower without wetting it might be!
Today is my consultant clinic in the morning, and off to have lunch with my sister, who is taking me, then return for the afternoon when I have my chemotherapy, attached through my new PICC line! Hooray! No more needles!
There could be a a slight problem in that my white cell count is slightly down, and usually they delay giving the chemo until it gets back to normal. However, this is crucially timed to allow me to carry the torch on 17th July in my chemo-free week, so if possible I do not wish to defer it, or I will be walking my 300 metres attached to the chemo drip!
The good news is that I do not have to have any more probing of surface veins, which had become very sore, and of course it was difficult for the nurses to find a vein for my chemotherapy. I now have a ready-made connection for the duration of this treatment. Having a dressing over the insertion once a week will be no problem, but having a shower without wetting it might be!
Today is my consultant clinic in the morning, and off to have lunch with my sister, who is taking me, then return for the afternoon when I have my chemotherapy, attached through my new PICC line! Hooray! No more needles!
There could be a a slight problem in that my white cell count is slightly down, and usually they delay giving the chemo until it gets back to normal. However, this is crucially timed to allow me to carry the torch on 17th July in my chemo-free week, so if possible I do not wish to defer it, or I will be walking my 300 metres attached to the chemo drip!
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