I started with my feet, my big toes are in a bad way....have had lads of bleeding under the nail and its been very painful to walk for the last week. It doesnt help that the girls keep standing on them! My Left big toe was stood on by Abi as she left for school, then right big toe stood on by Isla as I did her hair....this made it start to bleed from the end of my toe nail. Both nails have come away from the nail bed and the Oncologist is pretty sure I'll loose them both :-(. They should grow back though. Have antibiotic cream for them. Then on to my swollen legs, got water tablets and a change to steroid plan to help with that. Pain management, got co-codamol and oramorph just in case. Sleeping....since lorazepam has no effect on me and nor does the amytriptaline which should make me drowsy we're now trying zolpidne. Then there is the usual difflam mouth wash, nystatin and daktarin gel for mouth infections and ulcers, steroids and antihistamines for allergic responses and the Ondansetron for sickness. Oh, and must not forget about the evil bone marrow stimulating injections! She warned me I'd have two bags to take home tomorrow! Not sure I have space in the house for it all, going to have to clear out a cupboard just for my medication!
Just had a call from the chemo ward as I was writing this, bloods are borderline but going ahead tomorrow so that's good. I was slightly worried my red blood count might be too low, as it turns out it was the neutrophil (white cells) that were low.
I wanted to show you my amazing eyebrows....for anyone going through chemo or with no eyebrows for any other reason, I highly recommend Browzings from Benefit. It is a wax and a powder, you put the wax on first then the powder over the top and it looks really natural, much better than pencilled on eyebrows. I thought initially that I would just go bare and not bother about it but its amazing how weird you look with no eyebrows, and how ill. I did a before and after pic for you this morning. This is with no other make up on, just the eyebrows and you can see the difference it makes......
Before.....
After.............
With all that medication we hope the next session goes along with much less pain. Thinking of you always.
ReplyDeleteSusan and Graham.
Children - don't you just love them! Toe nails sounds painful. You didn't mention your ear - is that getting better? Recommendation - do your make-up every day, it makes you feel better psychologically. The eyebrows above look stunning, never heard of Browzings from Benefit - how long does it last.?
ReplyDeleteKeep going Jen, you can do it. I appreciate you might not want to take any more drugs than you need to but sleep and painkillers can make it so much easier.
Extra Big Hug. Hoping we can get together soon. Much love
Thanks Irene. My ear is all part of my trigeminal nerve pain so is being kept in check by the amytriptaline. The Browzings is great, you have to do it every day though and I'm not used to anything on my eyebrows so I keep forgetting and rubbing it off! Might be up for a little walk later this week if you are around?
DeleteYuck! Those toenails sound agonising, you'll probably be glad when they've come off and I'm sure they'll grow back eventually.
ReplyDeleteYes, drugs are the way forward, the potent ones you are fighting the cancer with and all the others to ward off/ reduce the many horrible side effects. Long may you rattle! At least for the next few weeks then some of them will no longer be needed.
The eyebrows do look amazing, it's very interesting how they completely change the character of a face and , as you say, make you look ill without them. Don't some people/ tribes remove their eyebrows? Perhaps they do it to look fierce or ill so people don't attack them.
Good luck today, another one ticked off..
Lots of love, keep going,you are doing it!
xx
I will definitely be rattling this week, that's or sure! I am amazed the difference eye brows make, I had no idea! Only one more chemo to go is a great feeling, just as well as my veins are giving up!
ReplyDelete