Update regarding my chemotherapy (not all miserable)

[Pluto46]

I had my first chemotherapy session yesterday. An initial check found fluid had accumulated around the lung, which I've been suspecting since I've quite short of breath for the past week, but which was too little to order a drain at the moment. The idea being that if the chemo checks the activity rate of the cancer cells, the fluid may be reabsorbed naturally.

I was half expecting an attack of rls while I lay on the bed with an intravenous needle in the back of my left hand, but it was obviously asleep at the wheel, and failed to grasp its opportunity. Not so later in the day, however, from about 4 pm when I sat in my easy (non-easy) chair/recliner before mowing the lawn in the back, and afterwards. Rls taking revenge. I tried my whole-back massager for about 20-30 minutes with little immediate effect, then tried sitting on it to massage buttocks and upper thighs, with the same lack of immediate effect. I also did some of the leg exercises, taught me by my osteopath, for the first time since dropping off my perch with the collapsed lung. With no effect there either, I got so frustrated I took a pramipexole (sifrol), and rls abated somewhat, though whether it was due to the massaging, leg exercises or pramipexole I wouldn't know.

When you're given chemotherapy - as I expect some of you know better than I - you're medicines to counter the side effects. These pills have their own side effects of course, one of which they highlight in particular being constipation. Being forwarned and forearmed I started drinking from Wednesday copious amounts of the lovely versions of cultured milk they have in Norway (kefir, kulturmelk, biola, yoghurt with prunes etc.).

I'd also decided this time to park in a street a km or so from the hospital to avoid the exorbitant parking fees, and walk the distance. One of the side effects of the pills they didn't mention however was the opposite of constipation, i.e. diarrhoea, and I only just managed to get to the loo in the hospital before exploding. That was the first of five aftershocks in that department, by which time my backside was red as a traffic light stuck on stop.

Things seem calmer so far today though.

Another side effect, which is more humorous than annoying or even much use at my age and situation in life is also one they didn't mention. The viagra-like effect. I've never taken viagra so haven't a clue how it works. But the pills (or the chemotherapy drugs) certainly increased the blood flow to the nether regions. Just thought I'd mention it as a way of smuggling in viagra through the back door, so to speak.

The actual infusion of the drugs took about an hour, and apart from wanting to go to the loo most of the time - you get so much liquid into the blood stream, you're bladder gets full to overflowing - there was no discomfort and I was very relieved to get started on the course.

I did get a hot flush back at home around 2 pm (or are they called hot flashes?). Bit scary, but it didn't last more than a minute or two. Perhaps my body thought it was going through a belated menopause, poor thing.

The doctor prescribed vival to help me sleep (which has been a constant pain in the neck for years). I said I wasn't too keen on taking sleeping pills, and that last two I took, one at the hospital a week or two ago, and one back home, had the opposite of the intended effect, but she said don't be a sissy, your body is undergoing major changes and you need to get a good night's sleep.

I didn't collect the vival on the way home, believing that all the excitement of the day would knock me out, but was sorely disappointed not to sleep until 4 am and wake up at 7.30 am, just in time , however, to hear the roundup of the week's Farming Today programmes on BBC Radio 4 (7.30 here being 6.30 in the UK).

So I'll probably go to the chemist's today and get the vival. I'll start on half a tablet. Do not want to get addicted.

I have tried herbal sleep inducers, the last one is made in Denmark I believe, and it tastes so foul it almost acts as an emetic. No noticeable effect in the sleep department though.

I'll keep you updated if anything happens which may be of interest.

best,

Chris

[Pluto46]

By the way, if anybody thinks these ramblings are too off-piste, just say so and I'll keep my mouth shut

[Smiler53 in reply to Pluto46]

Not at all, ramble away. X

[Pluto46 in reply to Smiler53]

Ta!

[Pam34]

Hi Chris

You are certainly going through it at the moment. It sounds like you are managing to retain your sense of humour through it all!!! Good luck with getting your digestive system under control!!!! and also of course I hope the chemotherapy is successful.

Don’t ever apologise about rambling, if it makes you feel better then we are here to listen.

Good luck

Pam

[Pluto46 in reply to Pam34]

Thanks, Pam!

[LotteM]

Dear Chris, thanks for the update. I love the way you tell your stories; a great distraction, although the cause is not so great - to put it mildly. Imho: keep posting!

Have you considered trying cannabis? I haven’t; already got heart palpitations from one drop of cannabis oil (cbd and thc). According to many people on the forum, it may help you, with sleep, and maybe also with other aspects related to the chemo. Worth looking into?

[Pluto46 in reply to LotteM]

Thanks for reply, LotteM.

All cannabis-related stuff in Norway is banned. They're very strict with drugs here so you can forget trying to import cannabis oil from abroad. It'll get stopped in the customs. I can ask my doctor if there's anything prescription-wise, but I had frequent heart palpitations when my parents died (within four days of each other) in 1997, very unpleasant indeed and that's when I cut out drinking and smoking, on doctor's orders - it's either carnal pleasures or me, he said. Lost 30 kg as well, although I put 20 back on over the years, but the current illness has stripped me of 10, so I'm now at a healthy 80.6.

[Hidden]

I agree with Smiler. Ramble away! You will probably go through lots of emotional stuff as you get deeper into the chemo and will need someplace to offload. I always feel better after I write things down.🙂

[Pluto46 in reply to Hidden]

Thank ye Jess3648! No unpleasant side effects yet, on day 2 after infusion. Crossing fingers there won't be any, or many.

[3labs]

You are a riot! I am sorry for all that you are going through but your post gave me a good laugh! Please write a book! Be well-being wishing you peace.

[Kaarina Administrator]

Good morning Pluto,

You have been a member for quite some time now and you are most welcome in our community. It can help immensely to write things down and you have such a great sense of humour. It is good to try to find positives if at all possible even in not so good circumstances, which you appear to be doing very well.

You look after yourself. By the way I am a fan of Kefir. I buy it from a local Polish supermarket.

[Pluto46 in reply to Kaarina]

Thanks Kaarina. I'm not the type to feel sorry for myself - although when I was young I could wallow in self-pity for extended periods. So at the moment I don't feel like a victim, sufferer, or anything else in that sense. In fact, I feel quite privileged, in a perverse sort of way. Masses of attention, stupendous healthcare, support left, right and centre. If I survive this round, life won't be half as much fun as it is now! Feel quite spoilt.

I did overdo it slightly with the kefir and other tummy-stimulating drinks on Saturday, and got a runny tummy on Sunday as thanks for my efforts (my intestines had obviously thought it was time for an intestine marathon race). Ended up with a nasty hemorrhoid - what we used to call piles years ago. Getting medicine for that today, I hope.

And on that merry note, I've got to start doing some work.

best,

Chris

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to Pluto46]

Good morning Pluto, it is good to hear that you are being well looked after, that can make all the difference. I hope the medicine you get today sorts out those pesky "piles". Don't work too hard. It is Bank Holiday Monday here and thank goodness this looks as though it will be a better day weather-wise for the workers that look forward to these long weekends off!