Chemotherapy #9

I'm 3/4 of the way through chemo! Nine down, three more to go, it's a good feeling!

So how did it go this time? Well, it wasn't quite a smooth sailing as the previous two cycles but nothing too bad at all.

The chemo day was fine, no waiting around and sat in a private room. Got home and things were pretty standard for after chemo; incredibly tired and lots of tingly sensations. Later on in the evening I started to feel more nauseous than usual. I've been coping with nausea much better since taking Emend - however I was a little unwell Tuesday night. I took some Cyclizine and Levomepromazine quell that uncomfortable feeling.

Paul stayed awake until I feel asleep at around 3am, to make sure I was ok, bless him! I woke up periodically to take my usual antihistamine and paracetamol to prevent any reaction to the chemo and it all worked out to be an ok night.

Fast forward to Thursday 4pm which would have been 47 hours since my 5FU pump was attached. I like to give it a little extra than the required 46 hours, just to make sure I get every last drop of that "liquid gold." Unfortunately, the pump was on the go slow for this infusion. It hadn't finished in 46 hours, my picc line had a slight kink in it. Dammit, another night with the pump attached! The nurse moved my line so it now runs straight up my arm and the chemo pump was back in working order. I reckon it finished around 10 hours later than it should have. I wonder what Dr B will have to say about that? I'm sure he'll find some way to tell me off!

To be honest, I should have noticed this kink in my line when I was having the Oxaliplatin infusion on Tuesday. Everytime I bent my arm there was an occlusion in the line which stopped the chemo being pumped through. This meant that Nurse S had to keep coming in everytime it beeped to start it up again. Nevermind, the pump has been disconnected now and I can look forward to 11 days of freedom.

It was a sad day yesterday. It was a year since we said goodbye to Autumn. Paul and I wanted to go to where she rests, a beautiful part of The South Downs in a corner of a very peaceful forest. It's  quite a walk whilst the chemo is still coursing through my body, but I'm so glad that I got to talk to her. I talk to her all the time, but standing there, where life is so abundant due to her energy is such beautiful poetry to me.

Autumn continues to give so much even though she's been gone a year. Amazing.

Hayley x