Day 29 - 1 session remaining and today's has been tough

The day started okay, although I woke up at 5am! - we dropped my daughter off to her friends for the day so we could head to the hospital. I say the day started .... For me, my ability to get out and about means a 10am start by the time I have got up, started with pain killers, done the oral hygiene bit, let mum or my husband tackle the dried seeping mess behind and inside my ear (this is a twice-a-day cleansing job). I still haven't been able to muster the strength to wash my hair. It has been a week now and I can't face the cling film over the broken skin and the risk of stinging skin. Thank goodness for dry shampoo (and I must be thankful for still have 98% of my hair, as I realise that lots of people undergoing cancer treatment cannot say this). Treatment was on time and I suggested to mum that we popped to Primark to get some warm weather bits for my ever lengthening daughter. Of course we also did a swift stop at a couple of other shops. By the time I got back to the car, I had skipped an ibuprofen dose and this coupled with the shop stop rendered me useless for the rest of the evening! I managed to stay awake to see my daughter for a while but had to snooze while my mum took over for the rest of the evening. My ear is still blocked and weeping and I am getting fed up of it now .... Been like this for almost a week. I hope the swab results are back tomorrow for my End of Treatment appointment. I am convinced I will need antibiotics to get it sorted (once they know what the problem is). When my body has to fight off any kind of trauma or infection I always get tired and I can see this happening at the moment. That's the ear trauma on too of the trauma my body is already handling for the RT. The skin on my face feels really right and the Nu Gel continues to look most 'appealing' (NOT). Mum said she had noticed someone coming out of treatment earlier today and her skin reaction looked different to mine. Admittedly is was in a different area of the neck, but she said it was brown rather than red. I am wondering whether this difference is due to our skin's own different responses to sun radiation? Mine always goes red before brown whereas some people go straight to tan (those lucky folk amongst us). I have attempted to attach a photo to this post showing my lovely!! Skin complete with peeling Nu Gel, and a dark red, tiny scab. At the bottom of my neck you can see the difference between my usual skin colour and the treated area - definitely a red burn. I thought this may be an interesting photo to add into the blog. Someone today asked me on text message how I am feeling .... Here's what I replied (I think it sums things up really well ..... Because I am resilient by nature and also very determined - I don't like things getting the better of me ..... But I don't want to deceive anyone reading this blog .... So my in a nutshell is as follows..... I am feeling tired, my mouth is sore, don't enjoy food and finally Losing some weight. My ear has split and it is leaking fluid .... Apart from that I'm alive at least (well you did ask 😉). I expected it to be shit and it is.