Post 259: New Year: thinking ahead positively.
Anima: Right shoulder needs a fix. 
Email Oncology about an HT second opinion. 
PIP needs planning. 
Passport and insurance needs renewing if holidays are to be considered.
Call the Captain.
Friday all day without oramorph.
Cat sitting in the sun.
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All of these barring the Passport and holiday thinking was done today in a useful use of my day. I even talked bikes briefly which was nice.
So the Anima webpage was a perfect use of resources whereby my interaction with a digital triage window was all I needed to get by with my gammy shoulder. I’m fed up with its lack of mobility dragging down an already poorly body.
I have an appointment on the 19th and that is near enough; it’s been just over a year now but reasonably has been superseded by cancer treatments and therefore left to fester.
It’s annoying that the body seems to be cycling troubles around and all the while the muscle wastage means a weaker me and weaker recovery.
I rang the Captain, who I haven’t spoken to for ages and comfortably chatted an hour and more without a blink. Not only was this normal or perhaps particularly quick to some of our marathons, but it was a useful whizz around the world of people, medicals and on and on as we do.
He mentioned the PIP in passing and I filled him in on it as well as the Blue Badge I’ve received and ESA I’ve applied for.
The PIP needed more work and that bothered me because there was a lot to do to get that filled in within a month, even though I’ve not received it in the post yet.
There’s a handy Citizens Advice webpage of good advice in how to fill in this important form, one (the form that is) that I’ve not seen before and has got me slightly rattled.
I did a bit of groundwork both on the web and in my note pad but also had a bit of advice about getting advice from two other pals that have inner knowledge and connections to the dealings of the local CAB and Age Concern.
This means on Monday I have a few avenues of opportunity regarding that expert help.
So I’ll put that to bed and think on another issue.
My three month sabbatical from the cancer treatments are a jolly time for me and my Darling to enjoy a bit of peace. However my health decline since the end of chemo 29th September (the 6th cycle that was cancelled) means that It’ll be after three months of rest after treatment already and one month after my official start by my oncologist.
This hasn’t been the return to fitness and fun I thought it would be and in the last three months I’ve had a couple of black days for sure.
But getting that poison out of my system was not going to be a walk in the park.
But, in the meantime I keep wondering if the HT (hormone treatment) that I was summarily put on by the urology Dr, who was first to see me at the hospital in September 2022, and gave me that physical test, ouch! was the right thing for me to stay on after a year of disaster not helped by chemo or anything.
So what is the HT doing for me right now?
So I’ve asked for a second opinion of my new oncologist about its importance and usefulness now, because I want out.
I would rather stave off the dribbling Mr U that requires help with eating puréed foods, due to a lack of muscle causing eating for oneself impossible. I’m not ready for that sort of situation and want to build myself up with the release from HT hell.
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It was nice to see snow today but also have the window open most of the day.
Even the cat fell into the sun’s restful warm rays pouring in the bedroom windows giving a brief pause to the low temperatures outside… (pun unintended)
My wellness could be gauged by many things but one would be the amount of extra pain relief I’m having. So I’m delighted to say that there was no extra oramorph today.
That is an achievement of sorts and a quick turnaround. Just over a week ago I stepped off that chair (Xmas day) and suffered hardly any injury, which was lucky and unbelievable. But actually might have caused the spike in oramorph use if I’m honest.
Whatever it was I’m through the worst of it and that’s great.
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The Captain in one of his more light and reflective moments, before I released him back to the canal he lives his life on, said that the last call he had from me was from an animated and emotional Mr U and not this positive happy and forward thinking Mr U that he was speaking to today.
Now that’s a step in the right direction.
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My Darling has gone to town with ladies and there’s lunch ready when needed in the fridge.
I doubt we will talk about the many of today’s events when she gets back, little events bringing life and longing to my home-hospital-bed.
I’ll get up and get downstairs tomorrow.
I’m ready for it. It’s Saturday. Why ever not.
Sleep well,
Good night all.
