19th March
Today wasn't a good day. I woke up feeling very sick and didn’t actually know which end to point at the Ioo first! Thankfully I wasn’t sick but didn't feel I could actually get out of bed until gone midday. My father visited for an hour or so which was nice. Later in the day I had stomach ache and there was a little bit of blood in my urine. Before bed I had to take some Oramorph (liquid morphine) for the first time in a week as I have pain all the way around my middle :(
20th March
I had a reasonably good night’s sleep and the blood in my urine seems to have stopped. Hubby went off to the Dr's to get a sample pot so they can check for a water infection as well as pick up some new anti-sickness tablets (as the ones I am taking do not appear to be working). Unfortunately they won't be in until later today which is annoying, especially as I was then sick for the first time in ages this morning. I managed to get up about 10 and have a little toast but I still feel sick.
After reading the leaflet on the new tablets it stated they were for hallucinations and other mental health problems – a tad weird. However, good ‘ole Google also stated they were used for anti-sickness as well. I took one immediately but it didn’t seem to have much effect.
The water sample suggested that the infection had not cleared up so I was given some different antibiotics which smell (and taste?) like cat wee!
21st March
Woke up once again feeling sick as a parrot. Hubby decided that ‘enough was enough’ and called the chemo team as my temperature was 37.5 on more than one occasion as well. The chemo team scheduled an appointment for midday. Thankfully I managed to get myself out of bed in time as I was due to see some medical students early morning as part of their training package (although as it turned out they didn’t show due to mixed communication!).
The chemo nurse reviewed all my symptoms and ‘berated’ me for not calling sooner. I naturally assumed that sickness was part and parcel of chemo but not to the level I was experiencing ….. They took bloods and hooked me up to an IV anti-sickness and drip (Ondansetron – the only thing that seems to work for me). 6 hours later I was feeling so much better. So much so that I was starving and could only think about McDonalds (other fast food chains are available!!!). Went home feeling much relieved and rather stupid for having left it so long.
Lesson learnt – always call the chemo team first (rather than the GP); they know what they are dealing with and don’t leave it so long!
