Friday, March 3, 2023

I haven’t yet recovered from my latest treatment. It seems to me that these side effects are going on longer than they did last time but I may just be forgetting the details.

Because of the steroid in the pre-treatment I was awake for a couple of days. I expected that to be the case and had a book and some stitching at the ready. Even after all that time with only a couple of hours of sleep I wasn’t able to get a good night’s rest.

On day three, right on schedule, the bone pains started. I’m taking Tylenol which seemed to help the last time but it isn’t doing much this time around. I still have leg and foot pains and, again, it seems to me to be lasting longer.

As well as the aches and pains I’m noticing that my legs are very weak and I have to be careful walking and I’m especially careful going up and down the stairs. I had one day of weakness the last round but it came later in the week. Maybe I’m just getting it all over and done with earlier this time.

Sleep continues to be a big problem. I was listening to an audio book thinking that would put me to sleep and it did, but not for several hours after I went to bed. I tried listening to CBC radio but, surprisingly, that didn’t work either. Today I downloaded my audio book as an e-book from the library and I’m hoping that actually reading might be better (I wasn’t able to get the printed book from the library).

I had some anxiety in the past regarding library books and their due dates but, thanks to Emma, I have a coping mechanism for that. With the e-book I’m likely to read more during the day so the looming deadline might not even be a problem.

If I wasn’t so tired I wouldn’t mind having extra long days to get things done but I need some sleep.

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Last Saturday around lunchtime I noticed that there was no hot water coming from the bathroom sink. After a quick check at the other sinks with the same results we called the maintenance people. Something inside the tankless unit had sprung a leak and we were going to have to wait for parts. Originally we thought the part would come from Vancouver or the Island but it had to be shipped from Ontario.

This morning the part was installed and we’re good. It was inconvenient having to heat water for everything but we managed.

Even better news – we have booked accommodation for the three weeks in Vancouver while I have radiation treatments. Early on we received a listing of places to stay while undergoing treatment. We looked at this particular place but someone or something in the literature led us to believe it was only for patients.

Pat went to the Cranberry Hall Coffee House last Sunday and was chatting with a friend who also had three weeks of radiation. He couldn’t remember where he stayed but he promised to get us the information. It turned out to be the spot we originally looked at.

This is a great deal. They provide three meals a day plus snacks, we have a private room, free parking, there are laundry facilities and several lounges. We will be very close to the Cancer Clinic and at the end of our stay we will get a tax receipt for at least some of the expense. We’ll each pay $52 a day but that is so much less than even the cheapest hotels around.

We’re booked in from May 7th to May 30th. Although we don’t have firm dates from the radiologist when we called the office they seemed very willing to work around our booking.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Just a few more days until my next treatment. Although it won’t necessarily be the same as it was the last time, I’m dreading that first week and all the various side effects I went through. I am better prepared this time though; I know more or less what to expect and I have ways to mitigate some of the issues.

I’ve had a couple of really good weeks; this past week I’ve felt as close to “normal” as I have since this whole process started. I’ve done some sewing – with the neuropathy in my fingers it is difficult to nest seams but I haven’t lost too many points. I’ve also been working on the border of one of my Peppermint Purple projects; if I have a sleepless night as I did after my last treatment it will be done.

I have a sewing day arranged with Stacia and Deloise for Sunday. While they are both moving on to a different pattern in the book I’ll be working to finish the project I started the last time we sewed together. The only quilting I’ve done since summer has been small cards so it will be interesting to see how a larger project goes – assuming I get that far.

We’ve had a real spell of cold weather – well cold for us. We had snow one day earlier in the week and we are expecting quite a bit on Saturday night. I’m glad we don’t have to go anywhere until Monday by which time I expect it will all be gone.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

My sleep apnea test kit came yesterday so before heading to bed last night Pat got all the bits and bobs connected and I attempted to have a “normal” sleep. The equipment wasn’t at all cumbersome but I was certainly aware of it all night. They said they need five hours of data for the test but they didn’t say whether it had to be five hours of continuous sleep. If that is the case I already know I failed because the most they got at a stretch was about three. The courier picked the equipment up this afternoon to return it to Courtenay; I don’t know how long it will be before I get any results.

Over the last couple of days I’ve had enough energy to try a bit of stitching. I did some work on my cross stitch project but found, with my numb fingers, I was rather clumsy at threading the needle and dropped it several times. But I will keep at it.

I’ve done some knitting as well. I made a hat that I hoped would fit me a bit tighter than the ones I have (they were made while I still had hair) but the new one is too small. I’ve decided I’ll manage with the hats I have; Spring is coming and the scarves I have will soon be warm enough. I started a scarf pattern (for donation) this afternoon just to use up the remainder of the yarn I had in that particular bin.

I also tried some sewing – not much but enough to know that the numbness affects that as well. I made one small block that involved some cutting; I still have all my fingers so I guess it was a success. I’ve planned a sewing day with Stacia and Deloise at the end of the month and they are both concerned about me cutting fabric. I never finished the project I worked on the last time we sewed together so I’ll be finishing that and almost all the cutting is already done.

Time now to switch some laundry and have a rest.