Over the past couple of weeks I have been scanned, dyed, monitored, squeezed and any number of other interesting things that the medical profession can think of.
I had a CT scan which involved drinking half a litre of barium sulphate – slightly citrus flavoured and about the same consistency as lemon squash. I was also injected with dye, whilst I was being scanned which has the interesting effect of making you feel as though you are wetting yourself!!! The scan itself involves lying still and holding your breath when told so to do.
The following week I had a bone scan which involved being injected with some radioactive dye going away for 3 hours coming back and then lying down with my feet tied together (I don’t think it was to stop me running away!) and lying very still for 20 minutes.
Overall the scans were quite uneventful, however (you just knew there was going to be a however) I am extremely right handed indeed my left hand is really only used to scratch my right elbow, but it does have one saving grace, it is intravenously very obliging. You can stick hypodermics in to push stuff in and to draw blood out. Sadly not anymore. Since I have had some of my lymph nodes removed I am not allowed to use my left arm for anything even vaguely medical, not even blood pressure. So I have to be injected in my right arm which to be honest has so few useful veins it is a wonder to me that blood circulates at all. Anyway, the only place that could be used for both of the scans’ injections was the side of my wrist just below my thumb. Yes it does hurt and I had a quite decent bruise.
So today I went to see the chemotherapy nurse, who weighed me (thankfully in kilos so I still have no idea how exceptionally overweight I am!!!), measured me, took my blood pressure and temperature. I then had to go for an ECG which involved “sanding” off the hair on my ankles, wrists and chest then sticking very sticky electrodes to the bald patches. Apart from the machine dying (at least I think it was the machine) it was all over quickly but not painlessly as even without hair the removal of the sticky things was quite painful. I now have some very smooth patches in some interesting places.
I start chemo on Wednesday 13th October. Days 1 – 8 I might feel tired (so no housework!!! J) days 9 – 14 I should stay away from public transport, busy shops (quite easy really) and other germ infested places. Days 14 – 21 I think I should be getting back to normal ready for the whole rigmarole to start again.
Interesting side effects:
Nausea for which they give you anti-emetic tablets to swallow assuming you can keep them down.
One of the drugs has a red dye and yes you guessed it I will be peeing bright red for a few days after treatment. I think that by the end of all this I shan’t remember what colour I’m supposed to pee.
Tiredness so plenty of rest but not to overdo it and I must get out for some gentle exercise, this apparently will counteract the tiredness.
Bruising and bleeding, so I must be careful not to bash or cut myself. So no housework!!! J
Reduced immunity so keep away from germ ridden people. Really easy!
Loss of hair, I shall be going to get myself a fetching wig in the next week or so from Paddington (that would be the place rather than the bear!)
To mitigate this I have opted for the cold cap therapy which involves putting a frozen “swimming” hat affair on for the best part of two hours during chemotherapy. I’ll let you know how well that goes!
I have six rounds of chemo and by my reckoning I will be finished by the end of January, which currently seems a long way off.
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