All entries for October 2006

Taxol is taxing!

As previously, I spent a foul week feeling sorry for myself as I started to ache. My legs are particularly bad and I don’t manage to get much sleep. All right for me as I am not working, but my poor husband is also getting sleepless nights as he often keeps me company with a cup of tea in the middle of the night.

Not only is ther the physical pain, like a really bad dose of flu, but I feel quite depressed. I must say it is really helped by acupuncture and also the active chi therapy, like reiki. Both are about building up energy and believe me this chemotherapy uses it up. I have horrible mood swings that my family have to put up with, they are very good.

I still try to do too much when I am feeling OK, and I know I need to rest more. I had some notion of returning to work, but that has been knocked on the head as I am emotionally and physically not ready for it. I have agreed with occupational health that it is unrealistic as I am often tired and emotional, no, I have not been hitting the bottle!

Energy is like a yo-yo, and my brain is somewhere off with the fairies. Some days I find reading really difficult, even the simplest of detectives. It is also frustrating when I can’t do the Sudoku’s I can usually manage. I have to make sure I don’t start things I can’t finish. So very short term goals. I am doing a lot of baking because it is really satisfying and achievable, so our house smells wonderful and I am exploring new recipes. All healthy cakes with organic ingredients. Even the children are eating them.

Another week to go before the next chemotherapy, Number 4, so over half way which will be a relief, although I know the effects are likely to be more intense.

: 12 Oct 2006 10:09 |  Tags: Breast Cancer |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

3rd chemotherapy

Last friday I had my 3rd chemotherapy. It was touch and go as my white blood cell count was below 1 on wednesday. Luckily I saw my oncologist on thursday and he suggested am emergency test on thursday. If the white blood cell count was above 1 then they would go ahead. The nurses instructions are to wait until it is 1.5, which would mean a week’s delay. I think the oncologist could see that I was really well. I put this down to the chinese herbal remedies I am taking, acupuncture and also the active chi therapy I am doing.

The whole ting is that while I have not as much energy as usual and my brain is working less well, I am generally quite lively in weeks 2 and 3. I know week 1 will be hard week, but I am generally well. I have problem with holing things, increased clumsiness is frustrating. Mind you I can still do up buttons which is apparently a major problem with taxol.

The chemotherapy went well this time. I had no problems with my blood pressure which was a relief. It still took a long time. But I was out by about 5.00 p.m.. I felt pretty dopey as the Piriton kicked in more than last time. I spent a lot of the time fast asleep. We decided that it was pointless Michael sitting with me all day. I am not much company dozing off all the time. We spent a quiet evening and I was fine on saturday.

We went to hear Bryn Terfel in a gala concert at Warwick Arts Centre on saturday evening. I brilliant experience. He has a beautiful voice and an amazing presence. He was accompanied by the Machester Camerata and Caitlin Finch was playing the harp..She is also amazing, realy make the harp come alive. With Michael’s help, lots of nudging, I managed to stay awake!

: 01 Oct 2006 12:35 |  Tags: Breast Cancer |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem