Side Effects, Half Way There & The Problem of Oddness Appears to Disappear

Wednesday 28th September

Side Effects

I have had some interesting but not too intrusive side effects. I am not entirely certain if they relate to the Herceptin or to the Tamoxifen. In any event they are as follows:

Flaky fingernails - think I might invest in some Sally Hansen Hard as Nails. Let you know how that works out.

Painful feet and leg joint - have been taking super strength cod liver oil and that seems to alleviate the problem which means I don't tend to resemble a 90 year old arthritic woman first thing in the morning or when I first get up from sitting down for a while - which is good.

Cramping muscles in my legs - this hasn't happened a lot but it can be really quite painful when it does. Not sure what I can do to relieve this, any suggests most welcome.

Hot flushes and cold chills - this is because all the treatment I have been receiving has pushed me into the menopause. The upshot of the hot flushes and the following chills is that my sleep is hugely interrupted as I spend virtually all night fluctuating between being spread eagled with no duvet on or snuggled up with the duvet pulled up around my ears!

Immediately after the Herceptin my taste buds play up for a day or so making things taste different.
I also suffer the following day only from hot, red itchy cheeks on my face!

So that's the side effects dealt with, as previously mentioned any suggestions for a little light relief will be gratefully received, especially with regard to the hot flushes!

So today I had my 9th round of Herceptin only another 9 to go. Those readers who have been following closely will know by now that I feel more than a little trepidatious about my "odd" visits. However today was hitchless and given that I went by bicycle this was all the more joyful.

The reason for the bike is that I have been advised not to drive because I have Piriton as an anti allergy pre-med and my usual ride wasn't available. I have walked before but I thought it would be quicker if I cycled and in the event I wasn't up to riding back, wheeling the bike home wouldn't be too arduous. As it happens I appear to be developing a tolerance to the side effects of Piriton so I was not at all sleepy.

I was also seen at my appointed time and was in and out in under 3 hours which was fantastic. I can only hope that this has now set a new trend for my visits.

Routine and Mundane!

Wednesday 7th September

This is my eighth round of Herceptin, only another 10 to go!

Apart from a very long wait for a chair this visit, being an even event, went without a hitch. I really I starting to get very twitchy about the "odd" visits.

Anyway, as luck would have it I got to sit in one of the new, all-singing, all-dancing chairs. They are much higher than the old versions, but you can adjust the back and the foot rest to your heart's content. I found it immensely comfortable, although I did feel a bit like a three year with my legs dangling above the floor when I first sat down.

There was no trouble finding a vein and apart from the fact that it seemed to take much longer than previously it really was a most boring visit.

Still never mind there's always number 9 to look forward to!