Travels with Zombie - Chemo Cycle 2 and beyond

[IamtheZombie]

The previous thread is approaching capacity so just preparing this one.

Link to previous thread here

Hi zombie,

Totally understand about the explaining yourself over and over.

I have spent endless hours in the aisles of various supermarkets while my mum has to explain to people she bumps into on a daily bases. It's not helped by the fact her picc line is on show and it's very obvious she is having some kind of treatment.

We have had 6 appointment at the hospital this week, I'm drained as is dm.

I really don't understand the nhs at times, some of the appointments could of been done still the same time or at least coordinated to have less then a four (yes four!) hour wait between them.....

Lovely to hear you have been in touch with your family

Have a lovely weekend x

Evening.

I'm glad I made the effort to go to the fete. I think it was easier to explain several times in one afternoon than on a one to one basis as and when I bumped into someone. It wasn't half cold though! I got absolutely chilled to the bone in the one and half hours I was there. When I got home I put my gilet on and fell asleep in my chair. It wasn't until I woke up that it occurred to me to put the heating on. Doh!

Barbie, that's happened to me a couple of times. I just rang both departments, explained the situation and on both occasions I was able to re-schedule one of the appointments so the wait was eliminated.

Hope everyone has had a good day!

Well, an old school friend of DD2 died suddenly yesterday morning so have been reminiscing and hanging out with her.
She found out as she arrived at work and her boss let her go immediately. Dozens of them met up near the old school.

Wrap up warm tomorrow Zombie

oh bloody hell BBB That's awful My sympathies

BBB that's awful

Hi Zombie. Many hugs. Just had to say bye to DDad today as my folks were headed back home to Toronto and we won't see them again this time as we fly home from Montreal on Tuesday. DH is on his way right now (upgraded to Business Class the lucky shit) & it's always hard to say bye to dad because I never know when (I refuse to say if) I will see him again... They are planning to come to visit us in London in October but who knows if he will be feeling well enough to do that by then.... But we have had a wonderful week and a half together it was really great.

Val why are you up so late?

Evening Zombie, glad you enjoyed going to the fete, did you end up buying some things ? It was chilly yesterday and I'm not surprised you got cold. First time for ages we have no windows open tonight downstairs.
Hoping that you slept well and are feeling ok for the moment.

Thank you Val and Hearts back to you both.

So pleased you had a good visit with your mum and dad Hearts

Hope you had some sunshine today Z.

Hope you managed to grab some cake and jam at the fete Zombie nothing beats homemade jam for taste.

Hope you have had a pleasant weekend too, when does your DSD arrive? Not too far off IIRC?

BBB hugs to you and your daughter

Thank you Allalonenow

DD2 fine.

Sleep well Z ((()))

Oh, and have a good flight home Hearts xxx

Hope today has been a good one Zombie, maybe the sun can come out for you tomorrow. I didnt realise how late it was so I must go upstairs to bed or I have a bad habit of falling asleep in the lounge and waking about 5 am ! The trouble is I like to watch the programmes on the tele that don't come on until late ! Enjoy today and take care

Thank you Bee

We don't take off until 22.35 and land on Weds morning so the DDs will be a mess. We do it twice a year though so we do have a routine down pat. Home by about 11am, light snack, nap until 3-ish, outside for some sunlight and fresh air, bed again by 9pm. Then the rest of the family gets to laze around the next day and I have to go to work. Here is me playing the world's smallest violin:

Evening! :)

So sorry to hear about your DD's friend, Bee.

Hearts, hope you had a good trip home and are now sound asleep. Jet lag is a bitch.

mummy, I somehow came home with a bag full of books and some verty tasty just picked runner beans.

Allalone, I didn't buy any jams at the fete but have been given a couple of jars and they are indeed yummy. I did have a slice of a luscious chocolate cake with my cup of tea. DSD is coming 7 - 9 September.

On to more recent 'news'.

I had a lovely lunch yesterday with a fellow MNer and her dad. Then had a wander around Church Stretton doing some errands.

I've been to the hospital today to have my pre-chemo bloods drawn. I've also had my first 2 doses of steroids. Chemo is at 10.30 tomorrow morning. MaccyD is at 9.30 tomorrow morning. I have to go back to hospital Friday morning for my echo-cardiogram.

I feel generally well but am undoubtedly becoming increasingly debilitated. The debility is different from the fatigue. The fatigue means there are days when I don't feel up to doing anything other than rest and sleep. The debility means that when I do feel up to doing things (or need to do things) I have to them very slowly. I find I can't walk very far without needing to sit down. It really, really sucks.

At least after tomorrow I will be 2/3rds of the way through the chemo. I'm over the hump and there IS light at the end of the tunnel. Eight weeks from now I will be getting over the final cycle. Other than a further 13 cycles of Herceptin I don't know what will happen treatment wise after that. There's plenty of time for my oncologist and my surgeon to talk with me about that. I really don't think I'd take it in at this point. Whatever it turns out to be I will get through that as well. I have a whole lot of life to live yet.

Hi. Zombie, yes you sure do have a lot of living to do yet. I hope all goes well for you tomorrow. Enjoy your breakfast. Ps can I have your runner beans, they are my favourite veg !!!
Will be thinking of you tomorrow

Hope today goes well sweetheart, will be thinking of you

I guess all you can do is keep activity to a minimum; essentials only.

I can't imagine how frustrating it must be when there is so much you want to be doing.

Here's to the next eight weeks flying by, there's a whole lot of life and love waiting for for you to be well.

Sorry, mummy, the runner beans are no more. Very tasty they were.

Bee, it's the steadily growing laundry mountain that I need to tackle. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry so I'm hoping I can clear a few loads then.

Chemo number 4 and Herceptin number 3 done and dusted.

Safely home now. I think a spot of lunch, my next dose of steroids and a nap may be in order.

Only two more to go Zombie, that must be such a lovely thought for you as I know it's been very tough at times for you. Shame about the beans ! Hope you enjoyed your brekki today en route to hospital. You may be lucky to dry washing, not sure if any rain is forecast today. Take it easy and don't wear yourself out.

Hi Zombie, so glad you're over the halfway hump with chemo. We know it's not downhill all the way - at least you can start counting down now.

Hope you are indeed having that nap, it's the only antidote that really worked for me!

Thinking of you (even when I can't think of anything to post).

Runner beans & tasty are two words that should never go together, IMHO!

My lovely nephew is getting married next year, in May, somewhere in Cheshire.

DH & I intend to make it a VERY long w/e & revisit old haunts, like Shrewsbury where we first lived together.

So can we take you out to lunch then, dear Zombie, if all goes according to plan? It will be late April as wedding is the first w/e in May.

I like to have lots of things to look forward to & meeting THE ZOMBIE (tm - if I may?) would rank high on anticipation!

I've said the wise words of my dear Dad before (he was a Dr.):

"Sleep is better than any doctor's medicine".

Hope you had a lovely 'zzzzzzzzzzzzzz'

XXX

Hope you are having a good day before you start to feel tired etc.only another few weeks to go and this stage of your treatment will be over and we will all be so happy for you. Take it easy Zombie and don't overdo things

Hello, I hope you are doing OK today. It must be good to be nearer the end of the Chemo than the start. I hope it doesn't knock you out too much.

hi Zombie, I hope you are doing ok.
sending you big hugs, as always

Afternoon!

mummy, I did indeed enjoy my brekki!

ljny, I napped until 6pm then made sure I went to bed at midnight (which is a bit early for me) with alarms set to get me up this morning.

magi, that would be wonderful!! I'd love to meet you as well.

Thanks, Chaz and Zing. So far I'm doing pretty well. I should have a couple of more good days before I start to crash. Zing, may I have a BabyZing snuggle as well?

It's been a productive day. I've done 4 loads of laundry and made progress on the kitchen. I had a one hour chair relax which perked me right back up. It was also my last day of steroids for this cycle and first day of injections.

I have to be at the hospital at 9.45am tomorrow for my echo-cardiogram. That will mean an 8.15am start so I can squeeze in another MaccyD!! Even with a medium supermarket shop I should be home by 12.30/1.00pm so can get a few more loads of laundry done. By Saturday evening everything should be clean and tidy for my down time.

ZombieHugs™ to all. xxx

Zombie

Just a quick pop in to say hello.

Think of you all the time, even if I am not here. I do lurk when I get the chance and read your posts.

(((HUGS)))) to you. xxx