14/33 Sunday 13 April: Weight 74.8 kilos. Up at 7.00 am and out the door by 9.00 am. Arrived early at 9.50, so checked in and went straight into bowel prep. No one called me so back into the toilet at 10.15. When comfortable, I sat in reception waiting for my name to be called. Nothing by 10.40, so checked with reception. Yes, they had called my name but hadn’t seen me so gone back inside. Jane at reception buzzed through and told them I was there but had been ‘in the restroom’ (I think she’s Canadian). Called me through and told me to start drinking my three cups of water. Finished by 10.50 but struggled to wait the 40 minutes to 11.30 and had to use the loo. Told the young radiographer what had happened, so she said to drink two more cups and they would call me in 15 minutes. Drank just 1 and ½ cups but struggled again and had to take a leak after 10 minutes. She came as I was drinking another ½ cup which I said was the second. As I didn’t feel full, we waited another 5 minutes before she took me into the R/T room. Everything then went as per usual. My problem was caused, I realized, by using larger tumblers at home than usual, for my regular two glasses of warm water before breakfast. Instead of 250 mls per glass, these took 350 mls per glass, an extra 200 mls more than normal. I should have compensated by only drinking two cups before treatment. Getting quite tired now the treatment is close to half way. Should really have rested for an hour when I got home. Still, went early to bed to make up for it.
15/33 Monday 14 April: Weight 74.7 kilos. Arrived at 11.40 am, exactly one hour prior to appointment as usual. Again, some difficulty with water today, for same reasons as yesterday. Otherwise, a routine Monday scan plus x-ray plus R/T. Out of the hospital by 1.30 pm. Needed an hour’s rest when I got home. Nightly toilet visits back to my normal 3 to 4, down from 5 to 6.
16/33 Tuesday 15 April: Weight 75.3 kilos. Had 3 very loose bowel movements before I even got out of the house, probably related to the antibiotic which I finished yesterday. Arrived very early, 1 ¼ hours before my appointment, so was able to get straight into the bowel prep. Mostly gas today as all the serious work had already been done at home. Had my weekly review with Mitch and Beata. Apart from the tiredness, which is expected, everything going well. I asked for a prescription for more mini enemas as I am down to my last one. She gave me an order for 12 and suggested I hand the script into the hospital pharmacy and collect it tomorrow, to save hanging around. Good advice. My water drinking was controlled today, just, as I’ve gone back to the smaller tumblers, 2 x 250 mls. Hannah moved me to a different machine as the original one was having problems with the set up. Emptied my bladder immediately after treatment, waited 10 minutes and emptied again. Met up with the wife in Tottenham Court Road, as she is looking for a dress for a party at the weekend. Ate lunch at Macdonald’s and, after some more searching, she chose and bought a dress and we got home around 5.00 pm. Needed a rest, but 30 minutes seemed to do the trick.
17/33 Wednesday 16 April: Weight 75.4 kilos. Trouble, again, controlling bladder. Had to pee after 50 minutes from last cup of three. Drank another cup to replace but kept quiet. Was not called for another 10 minutes but bladder felt full. Certainly needed emptying afterwards. Made my way home, ate lunch then had to sleep for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
18/33 Thursday 16 April Weight 74.5 kilos. Bladder control (or lack thereof) similar to yesterday but confessed when called. Drank an extra cup to replace. Made to wait another 15 minutes then R/T as usual. Just managed to get to the toilet in time afterwards. At least, will be able to relax for four days over the Easter weekend, although I have a Saturday appointment next week to make up for Bank Holiday Monday.
