Diary - July

That is another month ticked off. I am still doing well and although I know I am not one hundred percent I can live a reasonably normal life. I do notice that my skin is a bit more sensitive e.g. taking toast out of the toaster. I also feel that I have to wait until hot drinks cool a bit.
Here comes July:-

Wednesday 1st July, 2009
Feeling a bit of a fraud again but I am into my third week of chemo number 3 so I should be on an upswing again - theoretically! The second week after each chemo is supposed to be the difficult one but I have to say that I have not particularly noticed although, in general, some days are better than others regardless of the week.
Had a lovely lunch in Moray Place Gardens to celebrate Andrew Cubie's knighthood.


Thursday 2nd July, 2009
Popped round to see Sheila J who has just come out of hospital and looking great. Went on to meet Heather for lunch at the "Loch Fyne". Was feeling a bit out of sorts as the day progressed mainly due to the heat.


Friday 3rd July, 2009
Business meeting in Glasgow in the morning. Watched Andy Murray's semi final at Wimbledon- sadly! Exercises p.m.


Saturday 4th July, 2009
Cycled to Musselburgh and back. Found a shady spot for a sandwich and ice-cream from Luca. Great "American" evening with the McCreadies.


Sunday 5th July, 2009
Made it to Church this morning as I should be at my most resilient just before next chemo. Seem to have a bit of a rash on my neck and upper chest even although I was covered from the sun yesterday. May have been my cycling top was not quite sun proof or maybe just the heat. I am afraid that peely-wally is the new bronze for me this year! Domestic things in the p.m. as I may not feel like doing anything later in the week ....and on a Sunday, tut, tut!


Monday, 6th July, 2009
Had my blood test to check the white blood cells prior to Wednesday's chemo. Went into town later in the morning and had a visit from Mhairi and the boys in the afternoon. We stayed outside and had tea under the gazebo even through the showers. It is rather sad that I have to keep the grandchildren out of the house in case of infection as they always have a runny something....or about to. Gym late afternoon.


Tuesday, 7th July, 2009
Phoned Ward 1 for my blood test results to find the same problem again! Neutrofils 0.95 and they won't administer chemo unless they are over 1. Will have to go in early tomorrow to get another test which will hopefully be O.K. I am told that the chemo is responsible for attacking the neutrofils but that they should be back over 1 after three weeks. My theory is that perhaps my personal cycle is just a day or two more than that. I note that although I have always been under 1 two days before schedule it is improving i.e. 0.75; 0.85; 0.95. Maybe next time I will make it? Did lots of cooking for my freezer today and gym in the late afternoon.


Wednesday, 8th July, 2009
Chemo day and another blood test around 1 p.m. Neutrofils now over one i.e. 1.22 which was enough to get my chemo. The hospital do like them to be over 1.25 so I am again armed with antibiotics for a week along with the usual 3 days of steroids and anti sickness pills. Never mind it is the last of the Epirubicin and I am doing fine!


Thursday, 9th July, 2009
Forecast was good and we decided to go to Pitlochry to do some gardening. Unfortunately too many showers stopped us doing all we wanted but we had a nice lunch at Killicrankie and a scout round Bruar. Did not have time for any exercises.


Friday, 10th July, 2009
Still on the steroids so cleaned the house while I was "high". John was busy digging a trench for a field drain to create a border at the far side of the tennis court this morning. We took a walk to Cramond in the p.m. and had a coffee.


Saturday 11th July, 2009
Took spare bike in for servicing first thing. Cycled to Almondell and Calderwood Country Park which I always find very atmospheric. Took a sandwich and had a coffee "to go". Had a barbeque at home in the evening. Hope to sleep well tonight!


Sunday, 12th July, 2009
Having had a three (ish) hour cycle yesterday have had a "pottering" day although am none the worse of yesterday's exercise. Bit of acid after lunch but that seems to happen for a few days after chemo probably because of the steroids. I did take one of the pills for it today but find that iced water is probably just as helpful. Have my midway appointment with the Oncology Doctor tomorrow a.m. so will talk through my lsit of inevitable questions.


Monday, 13th July, 2009
Met with the Oncology Doctor this morning and went over my questions. She assured me that the fact that the neurofils are low shows that the chemo is doing what it is supposed to do. Was checked over and all seems well.
Dropped off Jim's bike which I collected along with my own from the cycle shop. Enjoyed meeting his son, Gordon who has been through a horrendous cancer journey. Makes me very humble with my mamby-pamby problems!
I think I have a bit of a cold today so was not feeling my best and only did small bit of exercise. No temperature though so hopefully I will be able to exercise tomorrow all being well.


Tuesday, 14th July, 2009
Yep - have got a cold but managed to sleep not too badly last night. Decided to have a lazy day so no exercise. Feeling a little under the weather (as one does with a cold) but no temperature so far. John has been playing with his cement mixer....between showers which is a bit frustrating for him. Caught up with some paperwork.


Wednesday, 15th July, 2009
Slept quite well as I was spoiled with a hot toddy before going to bed. Still have the cold which has probably improved marginally. Nevertheless had a jolly lunch with the "walking" girls at Loch Fyne Restaurant. Hotfooted it over to Mhairi's flat later in the afternoon as the engineeer called to say he was arriving to service the boiler which we thought was happening tomorrow.


Thursday 16th July, 2009
Met John in town after his business meeting and had lunch in the New Club. Felt a bit tired but had a cycle in the afternoon taking in an ice-cream at the Granton Road. Managed to shake off the rest of the cobwebs coming home via Cramond foreshore! Feel I am on top of the cold which is better again today.


Friday, 17th July, 2009
Horrible wet day so took a trip down to Dirleton and had lunch at the "Open Arms". Still feeling a bit tired but it is the middle week of my 4th chemo. Will do some exercise which usually perks me up a bit.


Saturday, 18th July, 2009
Had a fairly lazy day as I had felt a bit tired over the last two days but enjoyed an evening with the neighbours at the golf club in the evening.


Sunday, 19th July, 2009
Exercises in the morning. Mhairi came over in the p.m. with the children for afternoon tea and a trip down to the swing park. Felt generally more energy today.


Monday, 20th July, 2009
Fairly standard domestic day with me working on the inside and John on the outside. Did not do any additional exercise today.


Tuesday, 21st July, 2009
Trying to sort out a problem at Mhairi's flat with the neighbour downstairs. Meeting with two of the other neighbours (one today and one tomorrow) to see if we can resolve things. Reminiscent of the "stair heid brawl". Feeling fine in myself and completed exercises quite easily this afternoon.


Wednesday 22nd July, 2009
Dropped John off at the airport and went on to visit Liz Wood's midden! Had a coffee with she and Denise and a demonstration on how to proceed with my new compost equipment. Met with second neighbour today, both having been very supportive. Gym in the p.m.


Thursday, 23rd July, 2009
Woke up this morning to find myself with some serious vertigo. It became manageable and I drove to Collessie as planned to have lunch with Irene Springham. Had a really lovely day talking over old times and listening to our favouite Country Music. The dizziness returned at bedtime again when I tried to lie down. Seemed to affect me seriously only when moving from standing to lying or vice versa.


Friday, 24th July, 2009
Managed to get an appointment with the doctor first thing who prescribed me some pills for the dizziness which I could keep as a standby. He said that 4 doses of Epirubicin was significant and would attack my whole system so I am feeling reassured. Have not had to take the pills so far and did my gym exercises with Heather who also joined us for lunch. Had a mild problem with sit-ups.


Saturday 25th July, 2009
Still a bit of dizziness on standing up first thing but balance was OK on my bike. Cycled almost 4 hours today firstly to Almondell Country Park for a coffee to go and then along the tow paths to Fountainbridge where we had a pasta in "Izzi's".


Sunday, 26th July, 2009
Dizziness still there but less. Think I am getting another infection so have been in touch with NHS 24 who have made an appoinment at the Western General. Yes - more antibiotics prescribed although they did not have the same ones as before. I will check that this is OK as I am at Cramond tomorrow anyway for my 3 weekly blood test.


Monday 27th July, 2009
Went for my pre chemo blood test this morning. I have just noticed that my infection has happened 5 days before my chemo. One benefit of keeping this diary is that I can look back and I note that the last infection occurred also 5 days before a chemo. I think I must be out of sync as one is supposed to be less vulnerable during the 3rd week. This may also explain the low neutrofils during my 3rd week. Perhaps my natural cycle for processing the chemo is e.g. 3 weeks and 2 days? (Just a theory). Shopping in the morning and met Mhairi and the boys at Craigie for a coffee in the p.m. Gym late afternoon.


Tuesday 28th July, 2009
Phoned to check my blood results and glad to hear they are 1.59 this time which means I do not have to get another test before the chemo. Am a bit apprehensive about my new "cocktail" tomorrow as although it is considered generally less vicious it could be the hammer blow for me.
Went into town for shopping and had lunch at Cafe Andaluz. Found ourselves at the next table to Allan and Jette so we were able to put the world to right.


Wednesday, 29th July, 2009
Did stint in the gym followed by a visit from NFU re house insurance. Big chemo day so had a substantial lunch. Dizziness is still with me (hasn't it always been!) to some extent but the medical people are insistent that it has nothing to do with the chemo and have suggested that it may be to do with the disc narrowing in my neck which is a separate issue. I have been aware that I have cricked my neck so am trying to get an appointment with Tanya to "straighten" me out.
The chemo session, although a new "cocktail", was administered in the same way as before. The only difference was that the liquid was yellow and clear which was a bit less alarming than the previous vibrant red toxic substance. So far so good but early days yet.


Thursday, 30th July, 2009
I am definitely not playing the "Glad Game" today as it would read, "I kicked the neighbours cat!" ((just joking Irene M - I would not do that to Ginger!).
Was sick after breakfast then again mid morning in spite of having taken more anti-sickness pills. I have managed to keep down my lunch which was only 1 egg scrambled and a small fruit yoghurt. Our theory today is that they left me rather long on the saline drip yesterday (a whole bag more than usual). I had put on 4 lbs. this morning which suggests that my system was clogged. Am feeling better now having had a lazy day and I am again able to process liquid.
Have not had any reply from Tanya, the "back quack", with a suggested appointment but maybe she is on holiday.


Friday, 31st July, 2009
Having gained 4 lbs. yesterday I have lost 5 lbs. today which fits with the theory of being clogged. In great spirits today although the dizziness is still with me when I change position from lying to standing. Managed to get an appointment with Tanya who is an ".......ist" specialising in soft tissue. Although the session was useful in many ways I do not think it has addressed the dizziness but at least I have moved on in the process of elimination. I think my problem must be "laborinthitis" which I have experienced twice before in my adult years. I have not taken the pills the doctor gave me for the dizziness (as I am already rattling) and I can manage very well without. I will, however, make a further appointment with him to discuss.


That's the end of July - back to the top again for August, 2009