Page 157 - She's One Crazy Lady!

How was I feeling? Was I going to throw up on the way home? (I’d been listening to too many old wives’ tales!) No, I was ‘fine’. The only side effects I had were an outrageous hot flush the following day and a change of taste which was so annoying! Sitting at home thinking I would delve into my basket of goodies I didn’t fancy any of the chocolate and fizzy drinks were out too – much to the delight of visitors who willingly helped me out. This lasted for many months. I did, however, take a liking for fresh pineapple and Bird’s Eye frozen curries, both of which I could taste and enjoy. The side effects were minimal which I was so glad about.
Diary extract: Monday October 29th
“Is this what they call chemo fog? Chemo brain? Had the idea that perhaps I could write a book about this – ‘Head on Trial’. I feel I could do it, but would anyone be interested? To include other people’s stories; their perceptions, how they coped – not forgetting the carers, they should be remembered and looked after during the process. A strong idea! Oh, and the doctors and nurses – how do they really feel about giving such lovely cocktails to their patients? And, for the doctors and nurses to learn from patients about coping strategies once home and left to their own devices...”
The second round of chemo came round very fast as did my hair coming out. I could feel my hair getting quite straw like and in the shower one morning – November 7th, a day I remember well, whilst towelling my hair, I realised the inevitable had started. But it didn’t come out as I thought it would – it didn’t just drop out – it needed a little help really and visitors were invited to have a little tug. In our madness, Marilyn, who I think was more upset than me, had decided to take a weekly photograph to record its progress which lightened the situation, especially when it had all come out – as quickly as one week on – and she suddenly whipped off my baseball cap – my preferred mode of headgear – and simply said: “Yep, you look OK.” I didn’t. I did not like being bald! It was a lovely gesture when my older sister and brother-in-law called round to gift me an electric blanket for, I was cold in bed, especially my head.
Round Two
With another blood test seen to, to make sure my white cells were as they should be, the results good and having taken an anti-sickness pill and a steroid pill, I drove myself to NGH, took up residence in the same familiar comfy chair and was quickly made to feel welcome by the same nurses on duty as before – different nurses seeing to me this time. Before a cannula was fitted, Louisa, one of the Trial nurses went through a questionnaire with me, checking on side effects experienced and was pleased when I had very little to report. Don’t tempt fate Glennis. I was tempting fate! Round two proved to be very different to the first round. First of all, they could not find a suitable vein in either of my arms. I felt like a pin cushion, and it hurt! My veins were ‘acting up’ they said – something that can be
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