Tuesday 28th September

I have my tests on the 10th & 11th of October. I'm feeling well, that is, I'm managing to avoid catching the colds that Sue and Chris are carrying.

I wish I could say that I'm feeling fit. I'm dismayed at my lack of stamina. I'm sure I felt fitter than this when I was touring back in the summer. Even a short spell of activity in the garden tires me out. Today Chris and I drove around the town, visiting the Post Office to post a parcel to a friends, and then trawling around the DIY sheds looking for a certain type of washer for his bass drum fittings. That was a fruitless search, and after a couple of hours I was exhausted.

My neck aches, my joints ache, the bottom of my heels hurt, the skin infection on my finger has flared up, the skin all cracking and painful. It can only mean one thing- the approach of winter and the return of my arthritis.

Luckily enough, I have an appointment with the specialist in about a month's time. When I was hospitalised earlier this year I had severe pain in my hands and scleritis in my eyes. My haematologist arranged for me to see the arthritis specialist and he said that he couldn't start anything until I'd finished my chemo. My appointment was originally for July but I hadn't completed my treatment, so it was postponed until October.

If I recall, I had no arthritis symptoms back then, so this may be a blessing in disguise.

More next week

September update

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post ( I was reminded of this by a friend earlier today), so I ought to give an update.

My mouth ulcers cleared up within a few days of applying the mouthwash. Although I only had a couple of ulcers, it was enough to put me off my food, so reading about another cancer sufferer who had a couple of dozen mouth ulcers following her chemotherapy filled me with the utmost sympathy for her.

The holiday was great. We were able to go out every day and revisit favourite locations. I took loads of photos and you can see them on my Facebook page. One day we did a lot of walking around St Ives and I paid for that the next day, but I enjoyed the late summer sun and spoke to our son each day, as he project managed the installation of our new kitchen (which looks very nice).
We got back last weekend. Since then we're slowly getting the house dusted and shipshape again. I even managed to cut the grass before the heavens opened.
I'm trying to do as much as I can, but I realise that I feel better than I actually am- if you get what I mean.

I have very low levels of energy and stamina. Tasks like cutting the grass take it out of me. Any lifting hurts my lower back. I'm not as fit as I imagine myself to be.
Is it the illness or my age? I don't know.

I got a letter from the CT Scan department at the hospital. Guess what? My appointment is for the same day that I'm due to have a bone marrow test. I rang them and changed it to the next day. My bone marrow test is on October 10th and the CT scan on the 11th.

My next appointment to see the specialist is booked for early November. By then they will know my prognosis.
I will have to think about returning to work. At the moment it'll be part time, perhaps for two full days a week. Even that sounds a lot.