Acupuncture on Friday

I woke up feeling rather shaky again - it was quite hard to imagine traveling across town, but my experience of the last few days had taught me that a lot of the complementary help I am getting from different people has generally helped my mood, and how I feel in my body.  This positive experience encouraged me to keep my appointment with  our friend Harvey. He wanted to help my kidney energy (I believe he said).  After the treatment I felt a lot calmer and less shaky, which aided my trip home. Again I slept all afternoon.  This helped.  In the evening I had a beer  :-)

Thursday - got some more rest

I was still feeling a bit shaky. I saw psychotherapist Claudia in the morning, then lunch with Nicki then a massage from our friend and massage therapist Julian.  These two things combined put me in a positive and optimistic frame of mind.  I got home and slept from about 16:00 until 21:00.  I was listening to my body, but wasted 2 tickets for Iron Man that we had at the Everyman.  Still the extra rest was much needed and appreciated.

Then on to Pilates

My friend and excellent Pilates Teacher Lesley was teaching at her Studio in the West End so I went up there on the Tube, for a fairly gentle work out, which my body needed!  

A white blood cell booster

After the second blood sample I went up to the Oncology Day Room to see Shaun ho wanted to give me a white blood cell booster shot. A very simple under the skin procedure, but must be a very powerful drug if it stimulates the Bone Marrow. Shaun warned me that I might get some aching bones from this. Whilst I was up there I had access to another bit of the roof and took a couple more panorama shots of the London skyline:

Art outside the Hospital

Riverside

I reached the River Bank just opposite Harrods Depository,

then walked down to Riverside Studios and had a light lunch on the Terrace overlooking the River

Kidney Function Test

Last Wednesday I had to go back to CC Hospital Nuclear Medicine for a kidney function test at 9:30. I was feeling a bit rough so I ordered a car to get me there. Basically
Jane injected a radioactive isotope into one arm and then take blood samples from the other arm 2 hours and 4 hours later, so I hung out a bit in that part of town.  After the shot I went down to the Maggie Centre, made a pot of green tea, and browsed through "A Course In Miracles"  which caught my attention on the interesting bookshelves there as Tolle had mentioned it in Power of Now.  A beautiful building and a very nice space.  Then back to Jane for a blood sample.  I had a another 2 hours so I walked down to the River.

Some more pics from the Heath last Tuesday

Tiredness passing - some physical details

I have been so tired that I have not been able to motivate myself to post anything on this Blog, which surprised me because I had anticipated writing SOMETHING, no matter how I felt. Anyway I have found a window of energy so I thought I would add a few posts, detailing what has been happening.  Physically, this week, apart from the tiredness, I have had an ulcerated mouth (not so bad that it has stopped me eating, but it has reduced my appetite nonetheless).  This is a side effect of the 5FU and I was warned by several nurses.  I have been using the prescribed mouthwash as directed and this has probably alleviated these symptoms.  This problem is now slowly clearing up.  Also for 3 days (& nights) I experienced profound diarrhea, which has been pretty shocking actually.  But I was also led to expect this as a possibility, and I have been taking care to keep well hydrated and checking my temperature regularly to ensure there is no wider infection.  Otherwise tired, but wired somehow, so unable to properly rest for a few days.

On the Heath

Very Tired

Generally very tired actually (surprisingly so to me) but I guess that is coming of steroids and actually doing stuff at home.  No gym today :-) Breakfast:  Juice and Oatmeal.  Had a nice nap after breakfast with 2 cats and wife. Went out to lunch with Nicki and really enjoyed some time strolling and lying on the Heath.  Installed my new Time Capsule (that was so beautifully easy - all the airport expresses still streamed audio afterwards and everything).  Made a big juice morning and evening, went through the post etc etc.  a little paperwork. I will photograph some of the "get well" cards I got.  My Mum sent me a funny one.  Generally I feel as if  have been poisoned (!) so am really trying to get a good healthy deTox going now.  Nicki made a great Organic Chicken in the Pot with vegetables.  Delicious and nourishing.  Pretty soon - sleep.  

oo but it's good to be back home

I enjoyed a shower, and preparing vegetables and apples for my fruiting pleasure

Shaun drops in for a last briefing

And to arrange white cell booster shots, and kidney function test (hopefully on same day). I also get instructions of what to do if........... 

LIke me Shaun thinks it unlikely they will fit the rig tube on Bank Holiday Monday.

So, as usual lots of open endedness   :-)

Going with the flow.

Goodbye Volumetric Infusion Pump

and thanks for the hard work.

Bag #5 of 5FU now finished

Barbara swaps my line over to a bit of Saline:

Saiqa stands by:

And then they take the line out.  Free from the machine for a bit!