This is the week when the cumulative effects of the chemotherapy have finally started to hit. Well, I suppose I couldn't escape for ever...
I am feeling increasingly tired, both physically and especially mentally. I have also developed a permanent blistering headache. The irritating thing is that 2 paracetamol seem to keep it under control - paracetamol is contra-indicated because it brings your temperature down, risky for cancer patients for whom the clearest indicator of infection is a raised temperature. By Wednesday I had been prescribed codeine, which oddly does nothing for me. I spent the rest of Wednesday when I got back from hospital in bed.
Thursday was marginally better - had a visit from a work colleague (sorry I was so slow-witted, Kate) and only had a short nap after lunch - even had the energy to watch Gareth Malone's The Naked Choir in the evening.
Today I was expecting to go in at noon but was called in for extra blood tests earlier - today was the intrathecal chemo (via lumbar puncture) and my clotting levels were outside the safe range. The doctor I saw was concerned about the high dose of codeine I was taking and sent me for another ct head scan to check for a bleed on the brain. Thankfully no bleed present - phew! So she decided that since paracetamol works for me I should take my temperature and take paracetamol if in the normal range but try to take as little as possible. So I had tomorrow's chemo today and will have the intrathecal on Monday. So arrived at the hospital at 10:45 and left at 6:00.
The only other extra side-effect this week is that I am genuinely losing my appetite. Very sad state of affairs.
On the plus side I still have my hair and my sense of humour!
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