Third Time.........Tough

June 11 2013 - Day 1  to Day 20

On the day of the last treatment (June 11) I was pretty tired. The nurse for the second time wasn't that great with the needle into the arm routine and placed it low on my wrist where it sat uncomfortably for the whole process. I was unable to move my arm throughout the infusion as any movement caused it to block the flow. And it left a pretty bad bruise. And this was after she had used heat bags to raise the veins having caused pretty bad bruising into and up my upper arm from her last efforts, which restricted my arm movement for two weeks it was that tender!!

Anyway, not looking forward to tomorrow's effort. hope I get another nurse! No temperature exceeding 36.7 following the last treatment. But the points of interest was that it affected me noticeably different from my first and second treatments.

Following the treatment I headed home where I just was knocked out and slept for three hours solidly during the day. This is unusual......if one can say that a pattern established over two chemo treatments is "usual"...........

From there it went down hill and I was rather unwell from Friday onwards. In the past two treatments, I have not felt unwell until the following Monday. The usual suspects were all present. Significant body chills, temperature surges and hot flushes. Nausea was quite strong particularly after my two days of the first lot of anti-nausea tablets I take. The daily meds thereafter kept it at bay but not as well.

I experienced significant diarrhoea on the Monday evening for at least 30 minutes wherein I felt almost concave from the loss of crap from my body. I sweated profusely and had terrible gut pain. I was exhausted afterwards. I experienced less intense diarrhoea over the following four days but nothing anywhere near as bad.

The unwellness lasted significantly longer this time. Normally by the end of one week I have bounced back to complete feeling of well being by the seventh day following treatment. this time I did not recover until day 10. Even since feeling better at Day 10 I have not felt as good or as positive.

This may be due to the fact that I am in the middle of treatment where the "novelty" has worn off and its psychologically affecting me that I have at least the same length of process ahead of me before I can even look at returning to some kind of normality. Perhaps this is affecting my well being but my positivity has taken a beating this time.

So I dont forget to ask I want to know what happens at the end of treatment number 6. What is the process? What will you be looking for? What will I need to undergo? And can I go to Broom in late October for 2 weeks as this cold weather is pissing me off big time?

I went to get my bloods done yesterday but the nurse went home sick and I was unable to get it done so I am only going in this afternoon so my results probablywont come through today on time.

Cycle 2 - Remaining Two Weeks All Good

Day 9 - Day 24                      27 June2013 - 10 June 2013

Action                                    The second and third weeks post chemo were similar to the first cycle. 

                                                I was in good robust health with occassional hot flushes. I did notice

                                                a greater or pervading sense of fatigue even during this period after I 

                                                had undertaken something physical like gargening that I didnt 

                                                experience last time.

Drugs                                     I did not have the need for any medications during this period.

Outcome                               Psychologically felt terrific as well as physically. So was able to 

                                              undertake many small jobs around the house which in turn fed my sense 

                                              of well-being and usefulness. 

Sleep                                     Still had occassional  nights where sleep is interrupted by quick changes 

                                              in body temperature but on the whole, feel very good. Am exercising 

                                              regularly.                                

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Day 7 & 8 Starting to Improve

Day 7                                   25 June2013

Action                                    Woke at around 6.00am. Temperature was 35.9. Temperature at 7pm 

                                               was 36 degrees

Drugs                                     Took anti nausea meds at four hourly intervals through out the day. 

                                              General better sense of well being today and felt more motivated.

Outcome                               Got through the day  with some activity and purpose. Still felt quite 

                                              nauseous throughout the day. Fewer chills and temperature swings.

Sleep                                     Ok night sleep still had some residual chills that woke me throughout the 
                                               night followed by a surge feeling hot, sweaty and uncomfortable.                                     

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Day 8                                     26June 2013

Action                                    Woke at 5.30am

Temperature                          Took temperature at 7.30am. 34.7degrees. Temperature at 7pm was

                                                under 37 degrees

Drugs                                    Took one anit-nausea and then didnt require anymore

                                      

Outcome                              Started to feel good again 

Sleep                                    Slept well.

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