Pills,Lotions and Potions

Thursday 2nd April Have had a really bad two days with the PITA. Why does it vary so much from day to day? Mornings are my worst time. Usually the PITA wakes me around 3-4 am, I toss and turn position like a demented dervish and hope for sleep to overcome me again! Poor hubby he must be getting used to being bounced around. Sometimes I eventually manage to get back to sleep but by 6 or 7 ( a good day!) I eventually have to brave getting up and ‘going’ for the first time of the day. Yesterday and today this has resulted in a really painfulstinging burning that lasts for at least an hour or so at best, as if I have eaten a 7 course Indian menu! This is followed by a deep aching pain that stays on and off all day and is worse if I sit down- even driving has become a painful experience too . When it does settle sure as eggs before long the need to go again starts the whole process off again! At least by 6 or 7am I can start the regime of pain killers. Don’t like to start too early as only being able to take 8 paracetamol and 6 ibuprofen in 24 hours means if I start too early it means that it is too painful come bed time. Speaking of curry, I do enjoy a good curry but to be honest have not dared to eat one since before Christmas! Actually been getting cravings for the stuff and am sure I am not pregnant! So for tonight have made a chicken bhuna using one of those jars of Indian sauces you can buy at a well know supermarket chain which hubby and I have both regularly enjoyed in the past. This may be a big mistake and tomorrow’s PITA could be even worse than any before but it as it seems that it burns so badly now then a few spices aren’t going to make much more difference I reckon. I did buy the mild version, ever hopeful! My mouth is watering now even at the thought of supper time already! Fingers crossed everyone please! Went to the GP yesterday for her to sign the exemption certificate and also write up the prescriptions for the suggested pills, lotions and potions recommended by the nurse at the centre at my last appointment. When my name was called at the pharmacy counter and I hobbled to collect the goods, I was rather taken a back that for the first time in my life I was handed a carrier bag full of the various goodies!!!!! I could see the waiting throng casting puzzled glances at each other probably wondering what on earth was wrong with me to warrant such a large bag! I think I look quite well and in fact am really, but I expect because I have rather a strange hobbling walk especially after I have been sat on a hard wooden chair in a pharmacy waiting area for a while, they probably surmised it was a bad back or hip or other! Or may be paranoia is now setting in and no one else even noticed! This part order came to over £30.00 pounds worth in one go! Thank goodness for exemption! My GP also gave me a prescription for Drew’s magic gel but unfortunately this had to be ordered in and won’t be in till tomorrow morning. I was really hoping it would bring some relief today as I have been told I can use it pre treatment to help too. Peachy you don't know how much your advice, experience and best wishes have helped me and I can’t thank you enough. The best of which so far is the leaning back to go! Works much better for me. Even passed it onto the nurse specialist who says she will pass it on- the leaning back method I mean! That along with taking Movicol instead of that awful sickly sweet lactulose, that made me gag, as I tried to get 30 mls down at a time but didn’t dare stop taking! I was wondering how long these symptoms were going to take to go once the treatment started and find it hard to believe it will be so quickly but that is very comforting! Not quite sure what you mean Peachy by ‘the output’ perhaps you may need to send me a pm to explain as we don’t want to bore others with too much information!!!! I think I can imagine though but it is useful to be prepared! I have been advised to use an aqueous cream to help the skin healing. My GP has prescribed a huge bottle of something called cetraben to slather on. Any advice if this is any good or not? And if so how often should I put it on etc? My GP has also suggested I may need to stake a claim on hubby’s boxer shorts as treatment progresses as they are light and airy! The fact that he will only wear ‘briefs’ (distinctly not the thong type by the way, God forbid!) means I might have to get on line and see what M&S have to offer! Anyone else got helpful suggestions or a spare pair of boxers or two! The waterproof protector for the PICC line I ordered over the internet arrived yesterday and looks as if it will do the job! If it means I can still enjoy my daily shower then I am happy. Monday sees me back at the hospital for the PICC line insertion and then a chat for an hour with the chemotherapy nurses. I need to check up on the side effects to look out for. I am wondering if I will be able to have a glass or two of wine whilst having the chemo or not. May not even feel like it I suppose. Will have to wait and see! Meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow at the local in the village. Let’s hope it is a good bottom day! May be the gel will have helped as I can collect it after 10.30! Despite chicken bhuna! The plan for the weekend is for hubby and I tackle some of the gardening jobs that are desperately waiting to be done. It’s either now or a few months down the line as I gather I will be feeling a bit tired out during the treatment for tasks like that! If the weeds sitting in the gravel of our driveway aren’t pulled soon in another 2 months it will be like fighting our away through the Amazon rain forest to reach the back door! May even take a trip to the garden centre for a browse ( PITA permitting) to buy a few plants to put in to cheer up the border that is looking a bit drab, now that the daffies are over. Let’s hope the weather stays fine!