Second Cycle

Had the second infusion today.  We left before eight for our nine 0 clock appoinment, because of the Royal Norfolk Show. Made good time, and my infusion was up and running by 9.20.  The coffee supplied by the volunteer team was very good, and the mini-electric blanket wraapped round my drip arm kept the symptoms at bay, although I was aware of tingling when I had to walk to the loo.  I should have remembered that people with high blood sugars make loads of wee!  What with that and the coffee I had to make three trips.  Experienced people walked their own drip-set, but Dave pushed mine and came with me, which was a great help once I started to get cold sensitive, as all the handles and taps are metal, giving an unpleasant shock when you forget.

After the first hour the electric blanket started to cool off and my whole left arm became very sore and tingling.  I did wonder about asking for a re-charged one, but didn't want to make a fuss.  At least this time it was  my left arm, so I carried on trying to solve a Codeword and waited until the last drops had been run through and the glucose washout bag was dripping. Altogether it was about 3 hours before I was disconnected and the nurse sent me on a little trial walk.  I knew when I came back that I was going to be a long time getting out of there.

Same symptoms as last time, but worse.  Voice croaky, dry crisps in the throat, hot flush, and this time very trembly and wobbly.  On came the anaphylaxis pack and this time I had the intravenous piriton and yet more steroid.  How come after all these years in medicine I didn't know intravenous steroid given quickly gives you tingling in your scalp and bottom?  No adrenaline though, so it was all precautionary.  The nurse said it isn't an allergy, more of a variable side-effect, but she did call the doc who suggested next time I should have two days of steroids in advance, and be seen in the oncology clinic before my next infusion to discuss whether I need any changes.  The dose is worked out on surface area, calculated as a factor of height and weight.  Those measurements were done at the first oncology appointment which was way before my anastomosis got stretched, and I am pretty sure I lost weight since then.  While all this stuff was going on the nurse mentioned that the hot blanket is on a one hour timer and just needs to be switched off and on again to re-heat it!  Good news for next time!

We eventually got away just before two, and I went straight to bed for a couple of hours.  I had difficulty walking at first, a bit drunk on the 10mg piriton, but had a sleep and feel not too bad.  My lovely warm laptop has allowed me to catch up with my blog.  I know this is too much information, but it will help me to monitor how things are going.  I feel a bit like an invalid today, and it is nice to be able to look back and see that I did in fact shovel gravel last week!

I have been very brave and had a photo taken of me actually on chemo day.  I think I did look better last week out in the sun, but I am by no means fading away!