A trip to Carlisle for my brain to have its picture taken. Nothing to report. I think we will have to wait until our next appointment with the oncologist for the results. So we'll be on tenterhooks with crossed fingers for more than a fortnight. The doctor told us that MRI scans have to be discussed with doctors in Newcastle first.
I still have diarrhea, though Imodium seems to help. I'm feeling extra light-headed and dizzy and have no energy for just about any activity at the moment. I think that last cycle of chemo just about finished me off.
17 April - Still got diarrhea
Received the appointment for my next MRI scan at Carlisle in a week's time. Unfortunately it's at 9am which is impossible to manage from Cockermouth without our own transport. Even by taxi it would be impossible as the local taxi firms are doing school runs at that time in the morning.
I'm not noticing much improvement in my energy level since I stopped the chemotherapy and I have had diarrhea for the last few weeks. I understand it's not unusual to have diarrhea after chemo because the chemo kills fast-multiplying cells which include the bacteria in the gut. It's supposed to clear up on its own. But I have decided reluctantly to take Imodium in the hope that will put a stop to it.
I'm not noticing much improvement in my energy level since I stopped the chemotherapy and I have had diarrhea for the last few weeks. I understand it's not unusual to have diarrhea after chemo because the chemo kills fast-multiplying cells which include the bacteria in the gut. It's supposed to clear up on its own. But I have decided reluctantly to take Imodium in the hope that will put a stop to it.
10 April - A setback
Bit of a setback to my hopes of coming off the steroids. We had got down to 1mg (half a tablet) but I had a headache last night which persisted until morning. It went after I took one dexamethasone (2mg) after breakfast. So it looks as if I'll need to keep taking them for the time being.
8 April - No improvement
I've been off the chemo for more than a week now, but because of the way it builds up in the body and the cumulative effects I'm not starting to feel any better. In fact I feel weaker and more tired than at any time since I came out of hospital after the brain op last summer. Yesterday I managed to walk down into the town and back with Olga but I had to stop and sit down on a bench at a couple of points along the way.
Next weekend is the NARSA show at Blackpool. I had really been hoping to go. But unless I make a dramatic improvement in the next few days I don't think I'm up to it yet.
Next weekend is the NARSA show at Blackpool. I had really been hoping to go. But unless I make a dramatic improvement in the next few days I don't think I'm up to it yet.
3 April - Weight gain
Had a shock when I stood on the bathroom scales this morning. My weight was more than 96 kilos! That's the heaviest I've even been. No wonder walking seems such an effort these days.
Before I started the cancer treatment my weight was around 88 kilos. Even that was a couple of kilos more than I'd really like it to be. But it has slowly increased over the ensuing months. "It's the steroids" says everyone, offering the hope that my weight (and other treatment side effects) will eventually get back to normal once the treatment is over. My oncologist has already said that we can start reducing the dose and eventually stop the dexamethazone. I'm half way there but success depends on not experiencing any headaches or other symptoms - if I do then I have to go back to 4mg a day.
I became concerned about my weight after looking at my feet and noticing that they were puffy and my ankles were swollen. Olga examined them and concluded that it is water retention. I did some Googling and "swollen ankles after chemotherapy" appeared to be a not uncommon search term. The consensus seemed to be that it is not something to worry too much about and that it will eventually clear up of its own accord. But one woman's oncologist had prescribed a diuretic. I wasn't keen on another trip to the doctor's surgery nor on taking yet another tablet so we have decided to try spilanthes - a herbal remedy that has diuretic properties which Olga already has in her medicine cabinet. We'll see how that goes.
Before I started the cancer treatment my weight was around 88 kilos. Even that was a couple of kilos more than I'd really like it to be. But it has slowly increased over the ensuing months. "It's the steroids" says everyone, offering the hope that my weight (and other treatment side effects) will eventually get back to normal once the treatment is over. My oncologist has already said that we can start reducing the dose and eventually stop the dexamethazone. I'm half way there but success depends on not experiencing any headaches or other symptoms - if I do then I have to go back to 4mg a day.
I became concerned about my weight after looking at my feet and noticing that they were puffy and my ankles were swollen. Olga examined them and concluded that it is water retention. I did some Googling and "swollen ankles after chemotherapy" appeared to be a not uncommon search term. The consensus seemed to be that it is not something to worry too much about and that it will eventually clear up of its own accord. But one woman's oncologist had prescribed a diuretic. I wasn't keen on another trip to the doctor's surgery nor on taking yet another tablet so we have decided to try spilanthes - a herbal remedy that has diuretic properties which Olga already has in her medicine cabinet. We'll see how that goes.
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