Light and Shade

It is obvious from the tone of the blog this week that this period has been difficult.

There can be no surprises here being deep into the fifth cycle of chemotherapy and two and a half weeks into some heavy duty radiotherapy.

The radiotherapy was always likely to affect my physical condition, especially when in conjunction with chemotherapy, but I am a little surprised by how quickly it has impacted.

Eating is not only difficult now but it is painful too.  There is nothing that I can eat or drink in comfort.   There is constant pain in my chest and back and in any swallowing action in the oesophagus.  This pain is at perfectly tolerable level though.

Yesterday was a bad day because whilst at work I got into trouble just trying to swallow half a painkiller, so it is a good job that I had covered this base at my clinic appointment on Thursday.  Whilst I spent yesterday morning from 10 until 1 in a lot of discomfort I was at least able to pick up some  heavy duty soluble painkillers yesterday afternoon.

At this stage I don't want to take painkillers regularly.   I would rather do what I said that I was going to do and rest more and just take painkillers when necessary.  I can be my own worst enemy and have just put in another sizeable shift this week at work, but now even I recognise that it is time reign things in.

Whilst the week has been difficult, it has been so due most probably to the treatment, so there is no cause for concern.  Whilst I breezed though the first 3 cycles of chemotherapy on my way to a supposed operation date in July this is now much tougher but the spirits are still raised even though the energy levels may not be, courtesy of the anaemia and the effects of the programme.

Tomorrow we will have a gentle celebration of my forthcoming 45th bithday, so that should be good fun for the family and we expect to be joined by the Notoplip clan.  We are yet to finalise arrangements but, if the weather is good, I fancy something simple like a boat trip down the Thames and a walk down the riverside or some time in Richmond park having a stroll and a picnic.  We will see what the consensus is.

I have taken Huffty to football this morning whereas Kitten has taken Boogle ice-skating as I didn't feel up to it but even standing for a couple of hours  has left me a little drained.  It's time to pull the "man flu" mindset and get some service around here :-)

I'll probably get "lumped" for that last comment as Kitten looks after me well.  I still haven't put a duvet cover on!