I am still feeling really good so today Andrew and I went to visit no 2 daughter, Sarah, in her new abode in Wylde Green between Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield. She has a very nice room in a semi-detached house on a suburban street. The house is very pleasant and she has a very nice landlady. We took the books and DVDs that she couldn't fit in when she moved in January and took her out to lunch. It was a lovely sunny day so the journey there and back was also really enjoyable. It's good to be able to imagine Sarah in her new habitat!
Since Friday when I last posted we've been quite busy - friends to dinner on Saturday, more marmalade making, finishing off the hedge cutting (no accidents this time - I called Andrew to stand on the foot of the ladder when I started to feel unsafe on the slope!) and more sewing. Blood results on Monday were good and I go back tomorrow for blood tests which I hope will be equally good, and quick.
Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Friday, 19 February 2016
Friday 19 February - back from the hospital by 10:45!
I can hardly believe it. I arrived at the hospital just after 8:00 and was free to go at 09:45! Bloods all good, liver scan fine, rash subsiding (more on that below). And I only have to go twice for bloods next week - I've gone for early appointments in the hope of repeating today's feat. As I am driving myself at the moment there is no problem with lifts.
So the rest of the day - wonderfully sunny - is mine. I'm currently making marmalade and waiting for my new phone to arrive - finally getting into the 21st century with a smartphone. Will I be able to understand how to use it I wonder?
So the rash...well actually the slightly swollen right ankle and sore Achilles tendon and calf muscle that goes with it: it occurred to me this morning that of course while I was cutting the hedge earlier in the week I had slightly lost my balance coming down the stepladder. The only way to retrieve the situation was to step across to the edging stones on the far side of the pond. Unfortunately the stone has been undermined by the ants nests with the result that it and my foot slipped into the pond. Of course, I must have strained my Achilles tendon and calf when that happened although I didn't notice at the time. I carefully didn't give the doctor this story!
So the rest of the day - wonderfully sunny - is mine. I'm currently making marmalade and waiting for my new phone to arrive - finally getting into the 21st century with a smartphone. Will I be able to understand how to use it I wonder?
So the rash...well actually the slightly swollen right ankle and sore Achilles tendon and calf muscle that goes with it: it occurred to me this morning that of course while I was cutting the hedge earlier in the week I had slightly lost my balance coming down the stepladder. The only way to retrieve the situation was to step across to the edging stones on the far side of the pond. Unfortunately the stone has been undermined by the ants nests with the result that it and my foot slipped into the pond. Of course, I must have strained my Achilles tendon and calf when that happened although I didn't notice at the time. I carefully didn't give the doctor this story!
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Thursday 18 February - I've been out to lunch!
Sorry for the long gap since the last post...
I've been feeling pretty perky this week. I think it may have something to do with the half-dose of the chemo that the consultant decided on due to my puffy ankles. I feel really well and energetic - have been making marmalade and continuing to cut the beech hedge - 2/3 done now - and driving myself to the hospital. My blood results have been good too.
I had my liver scan on Monday. I got in early and was finished by 19:05 when my appointment was not until 19:00 - can't be bad. I haven't had the results yet, but the fact that no-one has been in touch leads me to hope everything was normal. On Wednesday I had an early appointment at 08:00 and was hoping to be home by 11:00, but the blood lab lost my sample so it had to be done again and I needed to see the doctor about a strange rash on my leg and then wait for the pharmacy to disgorge my tablets, so in fact I didn't get home until 13:00. Sigh! I am now taking antibiotics 4 times a day for the next 7 days - huge great 500mg things they are too. However, rash now less angry.
Today's big excitement was a trip out to Ikea in Milton Keynes for lunch and a little bit of retail therapy. This may not sound exciting to you, but this is the furthest I have been for the last 7 months and the first time I have had lunch out in the last 7 months, so I thought it was pretty exciting!
I've been feeling pretty perky this week. I think it may have something to do with the half-dose of the chemo that the consultant decided on due to my puffy ankles. I feel really well and energetic - have been making marmalade and continuing to cut the beech hedge - 2/3 done now - and driving myself to the hospital. My blood results have been good too.
I had my liver scan on Monday. I got in early and was finished by 19:05 when my appointment was not until 19:00 - can't be bad. I haven't had the results yet, but the fact that no-one has been in touch leads me to hope everything was normal. On Wednesday I had an early appointment at 08:00 and was hoping to be home by 11:00, but the blood lab lost my sample so it had to be done again and I needed to see the doctor about a strange rash on my leg and then wait for the pharmacy to disgorge my tablets, so in fact I didn't get home until 13:00. Sigh! I am now taking antibiotics 4 times a day for the next 7 days - huge great 500mg things they are too. However, rash now less angry.
Today's big excitement was a trip out to Ikea in Milton Keynes for lunch and a little bit of retail therapy. This may not sound exciting to you, but this is the furthest I have been for the last 7 months and the first time I have had lunch out in the last 7 months, so I thought it was pretty exciting!
Saturday, 13 February 2016
Saturday 13 February - gosh, Saturday already
It's been a relatively hospital-free week, just blood tests on Thursday which were all ok. I have to go again for blood tests on Monday and for a liver scan.
Lovely time yesterday and today with my cousin here and also an old friend of ours. We had a very noisy and cheerful evening (probably helped by the excellent bottle of port - I only had a small glass!) and then a pleasant morning with my cousin before I took her back to the train in Cambridge after lunch. She is a splendid house guest - just mucks in and always brings something to do in any down time.
I have another funny story about something that got lost...Andrew has a favourite small wooden spoon which he has had for over 35 years and which is particularly good for making sauces as the tip has worn away slightly giving a flatter end. On Thursday we had cauliflower in cheese sauce, he wanted to use the spoon and couldn't find it. Well, we turned out the wooden spoon pot 3 times, the cutlery drawer twice, looked in the dishwasher...no spoon. On Friday morning while we were drinking our tea Andrew said to me quite out of the blue: 'When did I make the hummous?' There followed a 15 minute conversation about what we had had for every lunch and dinner for the last week, trying to work out when we had last used the spoon (the Thursday before if you want to know). A little later I was in the kitchen when Andrew came downstairs, put something in the dishwasher and turned to me in triumph brandishing the missing spoon! It was on the bottom of the dishwasher and had been obscured by the dishes the night before. Relief all round...
Lovely time yesterday and today with my cousin here and also an old friend of ours. We had a very noisy and cheerful evening (probably helped by the excellent bottle of port - I only had a small glass!) and then a pleasant morning with my cousin before I took her back to the train in Cambridge after lunch. She is a splendid house guest - just mucks in and always brings something to do in any down time.
I have another funny story about something that got lost...Andrew has a favourite small wooden spoon which he has had for over 35 years and which is particularly good for making sauces as the tip has worn away slightly giving a flatter end. On Thursday we had cauliflower in cheese sauce, he wanted to use the spoon and couldn't find it. Well, we turned out the wooden spoon pot 3 times, the cutlery drawer twice, looked in the dishwasher...no spoon. On Friday morning while we were drinking our tea Andrew said to me quite out of the blue: 'When did I make the hummous?' There followed a 15 minute conversation about what we had had for every lunch and dinner for the last week, trying to work out when we had last used the spoon (the Thursday before if you want to know). A little later I was in the kitchen when Andrew came downstairs, put something in the dishwasher and turned to me in triumph brandishing the missing spoon! It was on the bottom of the dishwasher and had been obscured by the dishes the night before. Relief all round...
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Tuesday 9 February - blood...
This lot of chemotherapy finished on Sunday. Sunday on E10 is very peaceful - there weren't many of us there and there was time for a chat and a laugh with the staff. I seem to have withstood this round of chemo reasonably well so far, though I know that I may feel more tired in the 7-10 days to come.
Yesterday we had a visit from no 1 daughter. It was lovely to see her - she is very faithful about popping up to see us when she has a free day - yesterday was her last free day until the end of March! She did my hovering too (can't be bad).
Today I was in Addenbrookes for a blood transfusion as the chemo has knocked my haemoglobin levels. Two units of blood takes 3 hours, so I arrived just before 8:30 and escaped at 12:30 - thanks to the two friends for lifts. A colleague from work popped in to see me while I was tethered to the pump, so that helped to pass the time. I'll be back at Addenbrookes on Thursday for more blood tests.
Funny story from the weekend: I made a cup of tea for Andrew, his mother and me in the afternoon and couldn't find my current favourite monster mug. We all looked for it in all the usual places I leave things - no mug. So I had to use a different one. Later on when Andrew was cooking dinner he opened the microwave to put the vegetables in and ... there was my mug full of cold tea! Brain, what brain?!
Yesterday we had a visit from no 1 daughter. It was lovely to see her - she is very faithful about popping up to see us when she has a free day - yesterday was her last free day until the end of March! She did my hovering too (can't be bad).
Today I was in Addenbrookes for a blood transfusion as the chemo has knocked my haemoglobin levels. Two units of blood takes 3 hours, so I arrived just before 8:30 and escaped at 12:30 - thanks to the two friends for lifts. A colleague from work popped in to see me while I was tethered to the pump, so that helped to pass the time. I'll be back at Addenbrookes on Thursday for more blood tests.
Funny story from the weekend: I made a cup of tea for Andrew, his mother and me in the afternoon and couldn't find my current favourite monster mug. We all looked for it in all the usual places I leave things - no mug. So I had to use a different one. Later on when Andrew was cooking dinner he opened the microwave to put the vegetables in and ... there was my mug full of cold tea! Brain, what brain?!
Saturday, 6 February 2016
Saturday 6 February - it's the weekend...more chemo
The days certainly whizz by when you are going to the hospital every day as I am this week. So far 3 lots of chemo and an intrathecal yesterday. Chemo today and tomorrow to follow. Earlier in the week I had visits from lovely colleagues to distract me, but yesterday was a long day because I managed to arrive an hour and a half early for my intrathecal (mix up over appointment times) and then it wasn't entirely straightforward so I spent from 2 - 7pm in the hospital. Shorter visit today I hope!
Andrew's contribution to my treatment is to cook wonderful food as you know (oh, and uncomplainingly come to fetch me from Addenbrookes). He's been experimenting with some new recipes this week from Nigel Slater's latest book. We had fabulous dill, parmesan and bacon pasta on Thursday evening. Earlier in the week he decided to try the smoked mackerel, beetroot and horseradish fishcakes. On Wednesday they were absolutely sublime, served on a bed of pak choi with yoghourt and home-pickled vegetables (carrot, bamboo shoots and ginger) as accompaniments. This was however the second attempt. Things didn't go quite so smoothly on Tuesday. The fishcakes are potato based and the recipe doesn't use an egg to bind them. Sadly due to this and also overcrowding the pan we ended up with the crust looking like Teflon and the insides dissolving into hash. For one horrible moment (since I was really hungry) I thought Andrew was going to bin the lot, but he decided to rescue the insides which were delicious if lacking somewhat in structural integrity! The next day, determined to crack this one, he added an egg and cooked them in small batches in a lighter pan - result!
Andrew's contribution to my treatment is to cook wonderful food as you know (oh, and uncomplainingly come to fetch me from Addenbrookes). He's been experimenting with some new recipes this week from Nigel Slater's latest book. We had fabulous dill, parmesan and bacon pasta on Thursday evening. Earlier in the week he decided to try the smoked mackerel, beetroot and horseradish fishcakes. On Wednesday they were absolutely sublime, served on a bed of pak choi with yoghourt and home-pickled vegetables (carrot, bamboo shoots and ginger) as accompaniments. This was however the second attempt. Things didn't go quite so smoothly on Tuesday. The fishcakes are potato based and the recipe doesn't use an egg to bind them. Sadly due to this and also overcrowding the pan we ended up with the crust looking like Teflon and the insides dissolving into hash. For one horrible moment (since I was really hungry) I thought Andrew was going to bin the lot, but he decided to rescue the insides which were delicious if lacking somewhat in structural integrity! The next day, determined to crack this one, he added an egg and cooked them in small batches in a lighter pan - result!
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
Wednesday 3 February - not a domestic goddess!
Boring stuff first. Saw the consultant yesterday - she was pleased with progress so next lot of chemo started yesterday afternoon. It runs every day until Sunday. It's the same as January's so I will feel ok while I'm having it but probably pretty tired by about a week to 10 days afterwards and then pick up gradually (I hope I won't catch another cold). I have my next consultant appointment on 1 March after which we should move on to Consolidation 3 which includes rather a lot of the steroid that made me fairly manic last August - you have been warned.
I thought you might be amused by this tale of domestic non-goddess status...
Last week I decided to change the sheet on our bed, a 5 minute job in theory. So I stripped the bed and got a clean sheet out of the airing cupboard - it didn't fit. I remembered then that of course our bed is king-size but we also have two small doubles in Eleanor and Rebecca's rooms so this must have been one of their sheets. Back to the airing cupboard...next sheet doesn't fit either, same problem. Back again to the airing cupboard...the last sheet doesn't fit either, same problem. After some head-scratching and checking of the washing basket I work out that I must have put our clean sheet on one of the girls' beds. So I take the sheet off Rebecca's bed - wrong size. By this time I am wishing I had never decided to change the wretched sheet! So I return the sheet to Rebecca's bed and take the sheet off Eleanor's bed - huzzah, it fits! So I make our bed, make up Eleanor's bed with one of the smaller sheets and return the two other sheets (neatly folded of course) to the airing cupboard. I need a rest after this!
On Sunday I did the sensible thing and sewed a piece of spotty ribbon on to the labels on the sheets that fit our bed so that this does not happen again.
I will never be a domestic goddess!
I thought you might be amused by this tale of domestic non-goddess status...
Last week I decided to change the sheet on our bed, a 5 minute job in theory. So I stripped the bed and got a clean sheet out of the airing cupboard - it didn't fit. I remembered then that of course our bed is king-size but we also have two small doubles in Eleanor and Rebecca's rooms so this must have been one of their sheets. Back to the airing cupboard...next sheet doesn't fit either, same problem. Back again to the airing cupboard...the last sheet doesn't fit either, same problem. After some head-scratching and checking of the washing basket I work out that I must have put our clean sheet on one of the girls' beds. So I take the sheet off Rebecca's bed - wrong size. By this time I am wishing I had never decided to change the wretched sheet! So I return the sheet to Rebecca's bed and take the sheet off Eleanor's bed - huzzah, it fits! So I make our bed, make up Eleanor's bed with one of the smaller sheets and return the two other sheets (neatly folded of course) to the airing cupboard. I need a rest after this!
On Sunday I did the sensible thing and sewed a piece of spotty ribbon on to the labels on the sheets that fit our bed so that this does not happen again.
I will never be a domestic goddess!
Monday, 1 February 2016
Monday 1 February - it's been a lovely few days off
I was at the hospital on Friday for blood tests (all fine) and have since then had a few days off! It's been lovely. We've had time to see family, have coffee with friends in the village and have other friends to lunch - and I've felt well enough to do it. Because my neutrophils are good at the moment I have also been eating all those things which will doubtless be on the forbidden list in a few days time as the chemo knocks the neutrophils down - salami, stuffed olives, Brie, blue Stilton, grapes... Unfortunately I am of course paying the price for my overindulgence with the occasional stomach ache, but it's worth it!
Andrew and I have also been making chutney, to use up the last of our own apples, and marmalade, because it's that time of year. The marmalade turned out ok if a little runny - it doesn't do to tilt the bread/toast too far off the horizontal!
So it's back to clinic tomorrow morning and then chemo starts in the afternoon, every day until Sunday this week. Onwards and upwards!
Andrew and I have also been making chutney, to use up the last of our own apples, and marmalade, because it's that time of year. The marmalade turned out ok if a little runny - it doesn't do to tilt the bread/toast too far off the horizontal!
So it's back to clinic tomorrow morning and then chemo starts in the afternoon, every day until Sunday this week. Onwards and upwards!
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