My ever present friend and other health issues:

Attended the Shoreham Health Centre IV clinic for an appointment with Nurse Carol to remove the empty balloon pump. that was attached at the end of Wednesdays section at the Amberly Unit. The pump is loaded with around 100 ml of  fluorouracil  (5-FU) and is delivered at around 2.5 ml per hour over 46 hours. The observations reveal high blood pressure, 153/92.

 The chemotherapy treatment comes with many side effects, Worthing Hospital have a list of 178 of which I initially counted 23. Of these 23 I have found 5 are persistent: Nausea that Crystallized Ginger is most effective at minimising along with ginger tea, ginger nut biscuits and ginger cordial. Mouth ulcers that Corsodyl mouthwash manages well. Brittle fingernails that collagen tablets has eased the issue Hair Loss has been reduced by taking Collagen tablets Bloating and flatulence being tacked with the Fodmap diet and the Monash University app.

My 20th infusion occurred on August 23rd a week later than expected due to last week's abscess. Blood test was on Mondayand while the Neutrophils were in the normal range at 2.6, the Liver function test ALT was high at 131, up from 89 four weeks previously. This result need Dr Webb, my consultant's approval before the chemotherapy could go ahead. Drugs can only be ordered from the hospital Pharmacy once approval has been given so there was a two-hour delay befor ethe drugs arrived. All went well and I was discharged only around 45 minutes later than expected. Just needed Corsodyl mouthwash in the way of drugs this cycle. The next step on this journey is pump removal on Friday and CT scan on 29th August.

 On Monday morning I woke up with a swollen left cheek caused by a dental abscess.  The Green Arbor dental practice do not operate on Monday's and after 4 phone calls I had an emergency appointment with Kallod at the Old Mill practice in Church Street. She quickly confirmed the abscess and lanced it to relieve the swelling.  She prescribed 2 antibiotic, Amoxicillin  3 a day for 5 days and Metronidazole  3 a day for 5 days. The prescription was private and cost £19.30 at Lloyds Chemists. Eddie came out to tell me the the  Metronidazole  should not be taken during Chemotherapy treatment. I had already advised the Chemo Helpline at the Amberley Unit earlier and the booked infusion for Wednesday 17th was delayed a week. I advised Green Arbor on Tuesday and had an appointment on Thursday with Monica, my regular dentist. She undertook an examination and took an Xray of the infected tooth. We then discussed treatment and agreed that an extraction would be the appropriate course of action.