You never know what’s round the corner!

[ShropshireJo]

It’s so true to say you never know what’s round the corner. Yesterday I met up with an old friend at a garden centre and had a good catch up over a cuppa, talking briefly about my diagnosis and chatting about how uncertain the future is for every human being. Then managed to trip over on my way to the Ladies, fall flat and hit my head on the wall so hard I ended up in an ambulance on the way to A and E. Spent ten hours there, waiting endlessly getting home at 3.45am with a bandaged head, 18 stitches in a 20cm gash right across the top of my head, glue and bandage over my right eye. Resting at home with my fantastic family rallying around again and both eyes blackening nicely. Have been told I’m in a state of shock. NHS at its best as exemplified by prompt call from acute oncology nurse who wanted me to see one of the oncology team today. The staff in A and E and the people who I’ve seen today were wonderful and reassuring. The upshot is they’ve decided I should stop taking Niraparib while the wound heals and my blood pressure and blood levels stabilise. I only had my first tablets on Thursday!! I think it’s a sensible decision though. Will see consultant in a couple of weeks or so then start again. Thanks for wading through this ramble. It helps to write it down. Love Jo xx 🌺🌼🌸🌻🌹

[MostlyHarmless]

Ouch!

[Lyndy]

Eeeek! Sorry to hear that Jo...hope it all stabilises soon. I also had a fall Sunday before last and head butted the pavement...I do wonder if chemo upsets the inner ear (and your balance) to some extent. I’m not doddery but I do seem more prone to falling now xx

[ShropshireJo in reply to Lyndy]

Oh no. Hope you are recovering well, Lyndy I think you may be right about the source of clumsiness. I’d attributed it to chemo but hadn’t worked out that the inner ear may be involved. xx

[Katmal-UK]

oh jo, hope you feel better soon ! xx

[Maus123]

Ouch! Get well soon, Jo. You'll be getting lots of bicycle helmets (or other helmetsl for xmas, I'm sure. Xx. Maus

[ShropshireJo in reply to Maus123]

Thanks Maus 😁 xx

[Coldethyl]

Hope you’re soon healing - and get.back on your PARP - maybe get a pantomime sumo suit for going out in x

[ShropshireJo in reply to Coldethyl]

Thanks for making me smile xx

[Flamingobeef18]

Oh Jo poor you!

I have always made a habit of falling over so probably cannot blame it on the chemo. In fact my family reminisce about many holidays, camping weekends and days out with the sentence “ you must remember because it was when mum fell over in the middle of the High Street/ night/ field etc”.

However my Psychologist was saying only yesterday that current research suggests we very much under estimate the systemic affects that chemo has. She particularly mentioned evidence that it interferes with chemical pathway in the brain which can have a major effect on how we think and our emotions. But it makes sense that it is going to affect just about everything.

Anyway please avoid flinging yourself to floor again at least until after we all meet up again in the New Year.

Lots of love

Juliax

[ShropshireJo in reply to Flamingobeef18]

Hi Julia. Just noticed that my reply yesterday didn’t register. Reassuring to know that I’m not alone in my clumsiness. I found your comments about research interesting as I have been noticeably clumsy ever since first chemo in 2008/9, flinging myself to the ground on at least six occasions☹️. I think I’ll be being very careful for the foreseeable future as long as I don’t forget. Lots of love Jo xx

[busbee3]

Oh, what a shame! Not what you need right now before the holidays. I hope it heals up quickly and it's good that you had just started Niraparib, rather than having to stop briefly when you were further into it. Fell better soon!

[ShropshireJo in reply to busbee3]

Thanks, that’s a good point

[Alifit]

Crikey Jo - I hope all heals well and that you are back on track soon. It’s unrelated, but I had a cold as I went for chemo which has now turned into blocked Eustachian tubes so I’m feeling very dizzy when the decongestants wear off. We all need to be better by Christmas so we can take our ‘falling down water’ of choice!

Much love and see you soon, Ali x

[gmc920]

Hi Jo, I hope you have a speedy recovery and a very Happy Christmas! 😊🎄

All the best,

xx Gina

[ShropshireJo in reply to gmc920]

Thanks. Hope uou have a good Christmas too. xx

[lorraine71-Australia]

Hi Jo , Sorry you had such a bad end to you day out,hope you are on the mend soon ,,take care Lorraine Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones xx

[ShropshireJo in reply to lorraine71-Australia]

Thanks Lorraine. Do hope you and your family have a good Christmas too. xx

[purejoy12]

Sorry to hear Jo. I hope you feel better soon. 💐

[ShropshireJo in reply to purejoy12]

Thank you 🙂

[harpist_UK]

Oh I'm so sorry - but I am glad they have put you together again and I hope the healing process isn't too slow. At least it diverted attention from the cancer Rest and take care in the run-up to Christmas xx

[ShropshireJo in reply to harpist_UK]

Thank you. All the best. Jo xx

[DianesK]

Oh my days Jo.... you need bubble wrap.

Wishing you a speedy recovery

Di xx 🌻

[LittleSan]

Oh my goodness Jo, you did that good and proper! Hope it heals well and you're back on track soon.

I had a fall this week and hurt my ankle - nothing like the style you did it in though! I think chemo has had a massive impact on my balance this time.

Speedy recovery to you.

Sandra xx

[ShropshireJo]

I definitely need bubble wrap 😁 xx

[Cropcrop]

Youch poor you Jo, it’s done in a second isn’t it? I fell out of the front door once , I’v always been a bit clumsy but I found that when on chemo my sense of balance was out of kilter and I tumbled/tripped more than once, just thought it was me but maybe the chemicals play a part? Hope you’re not too sore, that the bruising settles very soon and you feel better very soon. Take lots of care lovely, heal well ❤️Xx Jane

[ShropshireJo]

That sounds nasty. I’ve definitely been much more clumsy since my first chemo. I’ve tripped or lost my balance and fallen overat least five times since my first chemo. As Julia pointed out at least they are researching more now about how it affects our brains. Thank you for your kind words. Jo 🌺🌼🌸🌻🌹

[ZenaJ]

It all turned out alright in the end thank goodness. xxx

[Seasun36-uk]

Oh Jo! Your poor thing! I’m sure you are in a state of shock....please take it easy and let your family look after you. I bet your friend was shocked too!

Sending love & get well wishes,

Linda xoxo 🌺🌼🌸🌻

[ShropshireJo]

Thank you for your kind words, Linda. The shock is certainly messing with my head! Family are being very kind. My friend was shocked, she told me yesterday. As a retired headteacher she was very experienced in handling everything with calm efficiency. Just the kind of person you need. Love Jo xx 🌺🌼🌸🌻🌹

[January-2016-UK]

Wow! Now that I call style. I can even fall down the bottom step when I’m in chemo so I do think chemo interferes with our senses.

Hope you feel better soon and it doesn’t stop you going to garden centres!

[ShropshireJo in reply to January-2016-UK]

Thanks for your good wishes. Chemo interferes with far too much sometimes but am grateful when it works. May be a while before I visit a garden centre! Jo xx

[Katiebairdie]

Hello,

Perhaps when you wrap yourself in bubble wrap and put a helmet on your family might think about buying you a walking stick as well.

A very exciting day for the customers in the cafe.

Kathy x

[ShropshireJo in reply to Katiebairdie]

I don’t think they’ll allow me out of the house with all that! 😁 xx

[delia2]

I'm so sorry that happened to you! But get rested and soon you'll be back to Niraparib! Don't rush it though. xoxo

[ShropshireJo]

Thanks. Won’t be rushing anywhere anytime soon! xx

[Solange]

Oh dear, Jo. What a horrible experience!! Hope you heal quickly and can soon get back on Niraparib.

Love, Solange 😊💐

[ShropshireJo]

Thank you Solange for your kind words. Love Jo xx

[Yoshbosh]

Argh! Oh Jo, what a disaster! I hope your shiners have faded by Christmas and that the cut doesn’t leave a nasty scar. Keep your feet up and let the family run around after you.

Vicki xxx

[ShropshireJo in reply to Yoshbosh]

Thanks Vicki. At least the scar should be covered by my hair when it grows back. The good side was that they didn’t have to shave my head before they stitched it! The black eyes must fade by Christmas. Don’t want to frighten my young grandchildren!! xx

[marylondon]

Really feeling for you . I can imagine you are in a state of shock . Rest up well - thank goodness for lovely families.

I fell on the ice last Dec & spent Xmas in hospital having a hip replacement. As you say , we never know what’s round the corner!

🎄Love ,

Mary x

[ShropshireJo]

What a horrid way to spend Christmas, Mary. This Christmas will be much better 🙏.