I suppose it’s about time I finally updated this again, it’s been a month but a very productive month and a lot of progress has been made I guess but still more to go. After a while at my pitstop I was able to go for the odd walk, without pushing things and taking my time I was comfortable with what I was able to do. The weather wasn’t the greatest and so I wasn’t able to get out as much as I would have liked to. It was nice to be able to eat more things that I liked and taste some unhealthy food again.
After a couple of weeks I started to gradually move and get my things sorted to get back to my own house, it was a bit of an unorganized mess and so had to start trying to get that into shape again but when your energy levels are limited it’s a slow process but once I get back here it will be easier to improve things. And a few days later I moved back home home and finally to sleep in my own bed.
A big step forward was getting the exercise bike set up, with the weather being pretty poor and not wanting to take any chances outside with infections and knowing that if I got tired I didn’t have to make my way back home, using the exercise bike I just needed to stop and step off it, a positive with that also is that I could read or watch tv etc while on it so a bit of multitasking.
I’ve noticed a fair difference in my physical ability to do things, it has improved dramatically and I’m much more able, but then other times it’s not that great.
My first visit to hospital to get my chemo was a bit of a waste and probably a sign of things to come, I got the blood taken and all was grand and waited to get the chemo brought up from pharmacy but it was near 2 until they decided that they wouldn’t have enough time to get it all infused that day and would either not get the full dose or if I was to come back again tomorrow I’d be able to get the full lot. I thought coming back the next day was the better option, I don’t mind coming back as it gives me time to sit about and relax and not feel like I should be doing something.
The following week was a rest week and the next chemo was being changed to a Thursday as that is the day for my doctor’s surgery, a bit of a break, but it turned out that every day in my rest week I was busy doing something and running about here and there. During this hereing and thereing I seem to have picked up a cough and runny nose. I’ve been very careful with infections and been avoiding people as much as possible and having as little contact with others as much as I can. Using antibacterial wash, face coved and wearing gloves and touching as little as possible when out and yet still I get something.
I’ve been having issues with the PICC line the last few times the district nurse has been out to change the dressing it has been blocked up and I’ve ended up having to go up the hospital to get it unblocked. The first time they wanted me to wait till the evening to go up, I went to get an xray to make sure it was in the right place, then some fluid into it, not sure the name of it but I was told it does a similar job as to what bleach does down the sink. It’s left in for 30 mins and they try it again to see if it’s cleared which this time it did. I think I was there for 4 hours in total that evening. Quite frustrating considering I had things to organize for a meeting the next morning, a meeting where I think I picked up the cold.
One of the hereing and thereing was to the GP for a bit of an update on things and general enquiries, I had a list, sore arm, cold, repeat tablets, hearing, sick line I was surprised she let me discuss all of them as its normally for only one ailment but she’s getting in touch with ENT to try and get me pushed up the list as my hearing is getting worse and been waiting for over 2 years now. With the cough and runny nose she didn’t particularly want to get involved like usual and said if it gets any worse to get in touch with the hospital. It was a little bit worse the next day (Saturday) and Sunday a bit worse again so I phoned the hospital, they were happy that the snots and what I was bringing up wasn’t green and no temperatures, just to do what I’m doing.
It was nice to see a proper sunset again the first in a while and was just by chance when I was walking home from the GP, was setting straight down the road and had a wet surface reflecting the colors.
The weekend and the pre-chemo few days I kept quiet, a couple of walks but nothing much else, trying to keep a low profile and relax which I’m struggling to be able to do lately. After a few months of constant interruptions and not really being able to just switch off, I just want some me time and do things at my own pace, it may seem antisocial and it is, that’s what I like though.