May Contain Nuts

It’s been a very weird week. Immunotherapy was booked in for Friday 12th June but the call I received the day before was not the news I wanted to hear. Oncology needed to send over the paperwork which then had to be reviewed, which takes three days. The chemo unit was only sent the paperwork on Thursday so they couldn’t give me a definite date yet. Bugger. Oh well, I can go back to enjoying a night out on Friday instead. Nope, Poorly guinea pig and tough decisions meant I was not in the right head-space for a night out. I was shattered.

Saturday night we had an impromptu few hours at Katie and Alan’s, but I was still tired the next day,

Monday was better. I had more sleep and Simon took me to the seafront for breakfast and a three mile walk. When we arrived home, the postman had been with a couple of hospital letters for me. One was for a call with oncology in September, the other was an appointment at the chemo unit on Tuesday 16th June at 4pm to start my immunotherapy. As you may have guessed, I wasn’t expecting much to happen after the current debacle. If it happens it happens; if I get sent home again then so be it.

Katie and I had already organised to go for breakfast Tuesday morning so I told her that we should still go. I mean, I still have an appetite, and some decent food before the hospital would be a welcome treat.

I arrived home with another rose for the garden. It was Katie’s 12 year new boob anniversary so I bought her a rose called Eyes for You, and I bought myself a lovely fragrant one called Blue for You. Quite apt as she has a lovely blue Skoda! Simon planted it for me and shortly after we set off for the hospital.

Due to the previous cancellation, Simon wanted to stay close to the hospital. I checked in at reception and was informed that there was a 2 hour wait for treatment. I let him know and he rook himself off for a walk around the area, making sure that he was no more than 10 minutes away at all times, just in case. At 5pm I was called through, which was a surprise to me as there were three people in the waiting room whose appointments were before mine. I had to remind myself that we are all there for different treatments, and one of the ladies was only there for an injection. Did I tell you about autistic son women? When I was having chemo, I ended up sitting next to her and everything was about her autistic son and his autistic girlfriend. Well that was her needing the weekly injections.

I was taken through to Bay 4 and given the option of the first or second chair. First was set up for my right arm picc line, so I went for that one. Got myself weighed (of course there was an increase) and settled into my chair and continued to read my book.

I wondered if any of the staff would remember me. They did. Asking me how I was and why I was back. I told them I’m fine, it’s just immunotherapy. Everything has done its job. They came round with my treatment at 5;30pm but I still hadn’t had my obs done or been connected to a drip. Once that was all done, my half an hour of immunotherapy went ahead as planned. They asked me if I wanted any anti-sickness pills, I asked if they thought I would need them? Probably not, was the reply I got, so I decided against them.

I was in the Bay with four other people. The man opposite me was just on his headphones the whole time. The man at the end from me was on a call and then finished his treatment and left. Now, the lady opposite was a bit weird. She had hardly any of her own teeth so her cancer may have been in the mouth/neck area. She was having immunotherapy for the first time and they were offering her anti-sickness pills. That wasn’t the weirdest part. Her phone rang, a few times. The ring tone was Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh. Nothing wrong with that I guess, but it was the ring tone for her son. Surely that’s a ring tone for your partner, not your child? Anyway, the lovely man by the window was quite funny and we had a few laughs.

Didn’t feel too yucky afterwards. Simon drove us home and we had takeaway pizza for dinner.

Terrible nights sleep. Not sure if it was the heat, or my arm, but I felt like I was awake every 40 minutes. Maybe I was worrying too much about feeling ill. Whatever it was, I’m hoping tonight I sleep better.

Today was quite eventful. Had my picc cover changed at the Hockley Clinic by Sally. She’s lovely, we always have a laugh. I told her my treatment had started again which she was delighted to hear. I had a meeting booked this afternoon with HR to discuss my return to work. With everything agreed, I can start back on Monday, and only for an hour a day to see how I cope. I know it sounds sad but I’ve missed work. I’ve missed the staff, and the students, and being part of a team. The Head Teachers PA said something lovely when I saw her. She said that they have staff members that have time away from work, and they are missed, but she said she had never known a staff member leave and the ripples are felt throughout the whole school. What a compliment. And then, to top it all off, HR said that they have never had so many members of staff asking if they knew when I would be back at work. She said she could tell I was very well thought of and loved by the staff. I nearly cried. I held it together, but I nearly blubbed like a baby.

By the time I got home, after spending far too long at school, I was exhausted. I still am. It’s 22:13 and I should’ve gone to sleep an hour ago. So I’m going now before I give myself a headache.

But boy, I’m one excited bunny to be going back to work on Monday. That may change if I get any bad side effects from immunotherapy. But so far, so good. I just hope this thick head is just me being tired and hot.

**UPDATE** had a terrible night’s sleep, my arm was so painful. Had the physio today and, yet again, she has worked miracles with it. I’m looking forward to a better sleep tonight.