Round 12 Day 2

I had hoped to go horse riding today. I set my alarm, I even got out of bed.

Then I went back to bed and stayed there until 11.30am.

The only reason I got up then was because I remembered I'm supposed to take my capecitabine (chemo) tablets at roughly the same time every day, and my morning dose was a bit late!

So I got up and had breakfast and then had my tablets. That done, that is my cue to get showered and dressed.....

It wasn't happening. I felt frustrated. Another fabulous autumn day passing me by.

So I went out - Mum offered to take me to Salamanca market. So I showered and dressed and went out. The market had quietened off which was good - I feel a little uncomfortable in crowds these days - it's silly really but I'm scared of catching a cold. The treatment I'm on now doesn't bash my immune system so hard but I'm still a bit paranoid.

It was nice to be out in Hobart on this beautiful day. I needed to buy some honey anyway. Tasmania produces some of the best honey in the world, we are spoilt for choice in local craft honeys at Salamanca market. I have a favorite stall I've been getting my honey from for years.

Before I got sick, I would take my pushbike to Salamanca market. I'd buy a 6kg tub of honey, and ride back home uphill with the extra weight, sometimes taking a detour to get more groceries. And if there was an event or protest on the Parliament Lawns that took my interest I'd just join in. I used to really enjoy soaking up Hobart life on a Saturday.

So it was really good to be back at the market buying honey, not quite in the way I used to, but still good, and still not sitting at home in my PJ's. And we bumped into a friend of mine while we were out.

I wasn't planning to blog today, or I would have taken some pictures of the market, but have a couple of slightly random photos I took while out today.

After a coffee I went home, and I've been reasonably productive in a small way - this blog to start. Also I've tidied the kitchen and done my home exercises. I'm playing my favorite songs of last year nice and loud.

Now I'm ready for a quiet evening. I was going to say a nap - but that would be a figure of speech, the fatigue has to be worse than this to have me fall asleep again in the afternoon.

Round 12 Day 1

I haven't blogged for 3 weeks - not since my last treatment.

I meant to a few times, but this last 3 weeks I've been struggling with fatigue. It's still not as bad as it was before, during my last treatment, but it's a bit more erratic. Whereas with the previous treatment I knew when I would be sleeping all day and when I would have nearly normal energy levels, this time it seems to strike at random. Which is a bit inconvenient. I've had to cancel quite a few commitments as a result.

I spent the last 2 weekends in bed. And the weeks doing the absolute minimum I could get away with. And sometimes that equates to spending all day in bed.

I felt pretty good yesterday, like I'd turned a corner, and was looking forward to going to yoga this morning.

This morning was a write off. First I cancelled yoga. Then I still couldn't get up so I cancelled the gym. Next was chemo, I wasn't going to cancel that, but if it wasn't for Dave I probably wouldn't have got myself there in time.

We even managed to walk in as usual. A little slower than usual. And it was a beautiful day. I was really happy to be out in the fresh air and sunshine walking with my husband.

We arrived just in time for my appointment. And that is when we remembered the Emla cream! The nurse let us put some on then and she dragged out the prep as long as she could to give it time to take effect. 

It didn't. Oh well.

Here I am looking quite sleepy while having treatment. I don't love this picture but I'm really pleased I'm not still wearing my pajamas - it was a bit of a close thing today. The dress I'm wearing is clearly not a cocktail dress, but it is actually my favorite dress, I've had it since the 90's - I bought it from C&A, I think it was 8 pounds (What's going on? My laptop seems to have no pound sign key?). 

After treatment we walked home again - the weather cooled off a little from earlier but still very nice, and then I took it easy for the rest of the day, resting at home and taking lots of pictures of the sunset.

Like this one.

Round 11 Day 1: LOL?

Round 11 started today. At 8.30am. That's super early for me these days.

Since getting sick, my old morning routine has changed. It used to take me an hour from getting out of bed in the morning to me being ready to walk out the door, sometimes less.

Now its 2 hours. But when I have to be out the door at 7.45am, I revert back to what is basically my old routine but with more drugs, and can get away with being ready in just over an hour.

As usual, we walked in. It was a warm cloudy morning, nice for a walk.

It was surprisingly busy in the chemo ward when we arrived, but we didn't have to wait long before I was called to my chair.

After the time I forgot my emla cream and had to go without, I always make sure I set an alarm on my phone to remind me to apply it an hour before my appointment, and by the time I'm ready for my infusion the numbed skin has gone white, which is reassuring to me as it means its worked.

However this time I could feel the needle as the nurse inserted it - which I told her. And the reason - she'd missed my port!

So we had to try again. I could still feel it going in - she was getting my port but had moved my skin so was missing the numbed area. I told her I could still feel it and she stopped.

Third time lucky. Needle in the port, through the numb bit of skin. Phew!

I feel a bit mean blogging about this because I don't want to make the nurse look bad - she is really good and really nice. She just missed my port, that's all. It's actually kind of funny and I can't resist sharing - I'm not valiant enough to get 3 jabs for the price of one without telling everyone!

After the drama with my port, it then transpired that my Avastin had not arrived yet. It turns out that, like the stuff they give me for a PET scan, it's delivered from Melbourne daily. The carbon footprint on my treatment must be terrible!

So I had to wait around for my drugs,  I could have spent longer in bed! But I had my lovely husband for company and double J on the TV and a big comfy chair so there are worse ways to spend a delay.

It's traditional for me to wear a dress to chemo, but  I thought I'd mix it up a bit this time and wear my Active Wear - as I was going to the gym later the same day, but also partly inspired by this funny video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYRENWT8lz8

Once my drugs arrived, treatment did not take long, and Dave and I walked home again.

Later I went to the gym, my first day at the gym with my new and improved exercise program. It went well - which means it went extra well, because chemo followed by the gym - how awesome!

I was very tired for the rest of the day, but mostly because I'd got up so early and walked to town and back and been to the gym, and less because of the avastin. I think. I'd like to think.