Small update

Last week my throat was VERY sore, but 2 or 3 days ago I noticed things starting to improve - I could eat better and eat more solid food too.  So I think things are on the mend.  Still no taste, but a hint of taste sensation returning, a glimmer of light!

Today I had the rig tube out and that was another mini-milestone.  My body was glad to see it go.  I have lost a bit more weight, but I am still a very healthy weight - in fact I wouldn't mind to stay at this weight.

Started up my gym membership again - tomorrow I go for a gentle workout.  Going hiking in September so must get in shape.

Hollywood Movies

Saw 2 movies this weekend:

The Black Knight  - I found it uninvolving and a bit tedious. Obviously the Batmobile is cool.

WALL.E -  Genius! Loved it.

A small piece of Bach

Made with the Virus TI

Small (128) mp3:




Large (320) mp3:

Last Treatment completed!

A psychologically important moment.  I know that my throat may get a little worse over the next week or so, but the bombardment by the healing rays has stopped.  I celebrate with a visit to The Listening Rooms, and an Acupuncture session, and lunch at Carluccio's with my wife, Nicki.

Also spend the afternoon playing with my Access Virus TI Desktop

and working on a Gliss mix 

:-)

One more Radiotherapy treatment go

That makes me happy!

The next day

.......... I felt a lot better - massively rejuvenated in fact.  I "enjoyed" (managed to eat!) Sausage and Mash at The Wells, and generally had a very busy day, including a useful Alexander Lesson in the evening with Harvey.   And I finished this book:

though I can't claim to understand it.  :-) 

Blood Transfusion

John was my nurse for blood transfusion day, 

Leodivine had already put a line into my arm before I arrived in my room, where I spent the next 6 hours having 500 cc  of blood dripped/pumped into me.  I finished this book:

Anaemic again.

I had my usual Monday meting with Simon yesterday - he is generally pleased with my progress, but declined to do a video summing up :-)  It is now my last week of radiotherapy.  My weight is continuing to drop, but I am still a healthy weight (not using the rig tube yet), so he and I are not over concerned.  Simon indicated that my hearing would recover - which made me happy! Indeed, there was a noticeable improvement yesterday and today better still.

However I am anaemic again so I have to go into hospital today for 2 more units of blood.  A six or seven  hour process. Thanks, whoever donated this blood.  

My radiotherapy has been moved to 09:00 to allow time for the transfusion in the rest of the day.

A beautiful plant

Saw this lovely plant on our Sunday Hampstead walk.

Hearing Issues

After the last dose of chemo I seem to have lost some high frequency from my hearing, which is upsetting, although I think it is improving as the week goes on.  I am also getting occasional high pitched whines in either ear.  This tinnitus doesn't last long and isn't very loud, but still......

Obviously I will be quizzing Dr Stewart on Monday.

No appetite :-(

I can't really face much solid food, but I am drinking fresh Juices and Fruit shakes with Food Supplements and Soups so looking after my body as best I can, with gratitude and compassion for all that it has gone through.

Tuesday was a busy day

Woke up on Tuesday morning to find the rig tube was half out, and then when I tried deflating the balloon there was no fluid in it.  I called Simon for advice and he had me come straight down to the ENT clinic at Charing Cross, where I waited a bit nervously until the very capable Isabella took the old one out and shoved a new one in.  It was a bit of a push too as the stomach wall had already started to close up.  But went off quickly and painlessly.

I had already called the Radiographers and arranged to see them later, so everything worked out fine.  

Very tired - got home at 19:00, watched The WIRE series 5 episode 1 which I had recorded the night before, and then slept for 12 hours.

Chemo on Monday

Chemo "takes it out of me" I guess - that's why there's been no news.  Anyway it went off fine and Freda looked after me all day.

My blood tests from last Friday showed a slightly raised red blood cell count, so I didn't need blood this time, which was encouraging.  Left the hospital in the early evening.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I get the last dose of chemo (cisPlatin) and possibly blood (if I need it), so I will be in the Cromwell Hospital most of the day.

10 more days of Radiotherapy  (20 days completed).  There are marks on my neck now (like a medium sunburn - we are treating it with a mixture of Skin Oils and Aloe Vera) and the inside of m mouth is getting a little sore.  Not too bad though, not too bad at all.

Appetite diminishing

It IS getting harder and harder to eat (psychologically as much as anything) but I did enjoy a Masala Dosa at Woodlands this lunchtime.  Somehow it seemed to agree with me, even though I can't really taste anything. Lots of smoothies and juices and soups at the moment.