Hi All.
An update on my treatment. Arrived slightly early and after checking in with chemo suite reception was directed to go into a fairly full waiting room as they were waiting for chairs to free up. Had to have an ECG before we started. This had to be signed off by a Doctor which seemd to take ages. Then had BP, temperature, pulse taken and weight checked. The staff nurse went through all the paperwork with me which I mostly already had. Then MRSA test. Cannula inserted, flush through, 30 minute infusion and another flush all done! Given the Lenvatinib tablets, anti nausea and Loperimide and went home - All a bit of an anti-climax! Didn't even get offered a cuppa. Nice to see some of the staff I already knew but they were so busy, 2 on maternity leave, 2 retiring and 2 off sick!
Last night I had pretty bad pain in my tummy, not too much different to what I've already been putting up with, resolved if it was still as bad today would contact the chemo suite. Trouble is you don't know if it's pain caused by new treatment or ongoing.
Having another quiet day today!
Hugs to all, Barb xx
Well ladies, after a pretty rubbish few days I'm feeling a lot better I'm glad to say. Saturday and Sunday night the pain in my tummy was pretty intense but upping the Oramorph and a hot water bottle on my tum help a lot.
Monday morning by 8am I'd already booked an Econsult with my GP and was waiting for one of the Chemo team nurses to call me back. She wanted me to go to the Acute Oncology Assessment Unit at Lincoln. I was in agony and just wanted someone to knock me out for 24 hours, wake me up and the pain would all be gone!
Was just leaving for the Hospital when my GP called. He wanted to stick with the pain meds to be morphine based rather than any codeine so my scrip was changed to 2 x Zomorph at day, 12 hours apart they're low releasing and Oramorph to top up, quick acting as needed up to 4 times daily. Both meds cause constipation so that need to be more fully controlled so up to 6 sachets daily of Laxidol, problem is that makes your nauseous so likelihood of explosions both ends. I obviously can't afford explosions of any kind and the risk of losing the Lenvatinib. So think we're sorted! He'd put the scrip through to the local pharmacy so fingers crossed they'd have the stock in.
Half-way to Lincoln the phone rang, no bed available in AOAU so, sorry, they'd had to cancel. I was in lots of pain, floods of tears but they could only say sorry. I never rave at the NHS but wavered.
Anyway, hubby turned the car around, stopped at the Pharmacy who fortunately had the drugs in. The young lady was so thoughtful, she could remember me from the previous week, sat me down, gave me a bottle of water and insisted I sat for a few minutes, she offered to walk me back to my car which I declined but she stood at the door watching until I reached the car. She was worried because I was sweating freely and mentioned my colour was pearly green!!
Anyway back home back to relax. Apparently the pain is so bad as my tumours are widespread thus the targeted cancer therapy is also widespread.
My nurse was horrified that AOAU had no beds when we spoke later that same day. She suggested I made up a jug of laxidol, kept it in the fridge and take sips on a regular basis. I find drinking a glass unbearable.
Tuesday pain is a bit more bearable. Still no bowel movements.
Wednesday motion passed, what relief! Trouble is I've very little appetite so nothing really in there to get constipated about. Suffered borborygmus all afternoon then diarrhoea! Hope the Lenvatinib survived!
Thursday still suffering with diarrhoea and vomited 3 times. The worst thing is not knowing if they're side effects of the treatments or by-products of the constipation/diarrhoea situation.
Eating a very bland diet, very little dairy, no fibre. Last night had 3 chips with some crispy fish and a few leaves of salad with tomatoes.
Having to use mouthwash for ulcers developing again.
GP called to discuss my pain situation (can't believe what a brilliant surgery we have!). I'm now going to take 1 slow release Zomorph at 10 in the morning and 2xZomorph at 10pm - hopefully that'll give me a good night's sleep (Haven't had one of them for years) The Oramorph up to 4 times daily when needed but fingers crossed, haven't needed any so far today. So, being solely on Morphine for pain relief is helping whereas Co-Codamol took too long to kick in.
The other positive in all of this, not, is I've lost over 5 kilos in just over 6 weeks. Not the weight loss plan I'd have hoped for. Could've killed hubby, he said in a normal insensitive moment, he wouldn't be surprised if I was making myself vomit to lose weight plus I'm starving myself. How f*****g (s'cuse me) is that - he's such an idiot sometimes. I walked out of the room but I know he won't apologise, he doesn't think he's said anything wrong.
Anyway, sorry for the long rant (very informative though) In addition we've been back to vet with our deerhound, it's not good news. He hopes he's temporarily has trapped a nerve in his neck as he occasionally whimpers when he gets up. If it's not temporary and migrates to a slipped disc or spinal damage.... Put it this way we paid over £2,500 for Toby's unsuccessful perineal hernia op 2 years ago. If we start with a MRI scan who know where that'll lead except to extreme financial hardship. We always used to have our Pets insured then one case a follow-up treatment was declined (see the small print!)
Anyway, love and hugs to all, Barbxx
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