My ever present friend and other health issues:

Tuesday 16th January 9:45 I arrived at the Amberley unit at Worthing Hospital for my 26th cycle of the FOLFORI chemotherapy treatment. While the process took longer than normal due to a delay in the drugs arriving, but it was easier than usual. As always I am interested in learning useful knowledge. With the clinical educator overseeing the nurse who was at the end of his training I learnt some interesting things. Training takes 5 months, patients can remain on the treatment for a great many cycles. They have had patients who have had 100 plus. The side-effects have been at a much lower lever than normal, wonderful.

Normal temperature again today. The pump working at it optimum 2.5 ml per hour. Normal side-effects probable thrush  sore eyes Medication evolve eye drops Gelclaire and regular meds from previous cycles. usual high blood pressure and pulse rate normal temperature and blood oxygen

 A relatively quiet day., Side-effects Feeling of nausea neuropathy tinnitus poor sleep Meds anti-nausea steroid calcium Observations slightly high 

Cycle 8 infusion was managed by Jackie, the nurse who fitter the PICC Line in September. When I told her about the nature of the ongoing treatment, she suggested that I should look into what Mcmillan Cancer Care for   implantable port information.  Something to look research before my next oncologist appoint in March. The infusion was over 90 minutes in the new Amberley Ward on the ground floor of the North Wing at Worthing Hospital. Side-effects Feeling of nausea Neuropathy Tinnitus Meds Anti-nausea Steriods Observation All normal.

 Normal days, side-effects at a low level with even a full night's sleep on one night and only once a night need to use toilet. Easier. Blood test on Monday at Shoreham. Side- effect neuropathy of feet and fingertips. Medications base level Talked with may friends since day 9 and the oncologist appointment.

Best night's sleep for a few week's, around 5 hours and only up once. Not so concerned about the comments about the all of life treatment that the oncologist described yesterday. Conversations with Peter B-D, Charles A and Graham M all helped to put the falling CEA blood marker and stable cancer growth into perspective. It is success. Side-effects reduce to rest day normality.  Neuropathy - feet and finger tips tongue a little sore slight breathlessness Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations normal BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and Blood oxygen  Phone calls with Peter, Charles, Graham, Jack and Luthfa.

Visit to Peter with Ann followed dentist and opticians. New specs are very good. Side-effects Woke up with numb right thigh again. weird, again. Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. improving with Bonjela Lemon urine. Wind! Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations normal BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Ann, Amanda and Mike.

Super Tuesday: a day of many side-effects as the past couple. A trip to Chichester for Lynda's podiatrist.  Side-effects Woke up with numb right thigh again. weird! Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. improving with Bonjela Mild constipation, improving Lemon yellow urine  Wind! Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations normal BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and Blood oxygen 

Monday, up three time during night but slept in between. Cold weather gain. Side-effects Woke up with numb right thigh again. weird! Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. improving with Bonjela Mild constipation, improving Dark urine early. Wind! Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations normal BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Louise, Luthfa, Emma, Roger C and Ann H..

Sunday, slept better and its cold! Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. Nausea Dark urine Mild constipation Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Raised BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and lower Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Emma and Graham H.

A visit to Shorham Health Centre for the removal of the pump and PICC Line service. This was undertaken by the same nurse as Monday's appointment at Bognor. Appoints made for Cycle 9 with Wednesday for the blood test, Friday for infusion and Sunday for pump removal and PICC Line Service. Slept poorly  Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. Mild constipation Nausea Dark urine Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Steroids Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Raised BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and lower Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Luthfa, Jack and Jai.

Saturday, winter remains with us so cold outside. Spoke with Emma about papers on Irinotecin. Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. Mild constipation Nausea Dark urine Slept better just up twice for the bathroom visits the second at around 6 am. Meds Anti-nausea last of the post infusion does B12 B6 Steroids last of the post infusion does Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP, pulse, temp 37.4c and Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Emma and Amanda.

 A quiet day with the 5FU pump, checking the speed of infusion I changed the position of the swan clip which indicated that there was a squeeze ckink in the line.  Slept better with at least 3 hours and only two trips the second at 6 am.  to the toilet. Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. Mild constipation Nausea Dark urine Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Steroids Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP, pulse, temp and Blood oxygen 

The infusion was manged by Sharon, a vegan who talked about issues with milk. She also said that she had been a midwife, then ran a gift shop before returning to nursing. The 60 minutes infusion was to fast cause pains in my abdomen. side-effects nausea mild headache mild constipation neuropathy Poor sleep. meds anti-nausea anti-acid reflux calcium B6 B12 normal bp, temp., and blood oxygen Raised pulse  

A trip to visit Emma and then to go to Ivan Philpott's celebratory lunch went well. Wonderful to meet the wider Philpott family. Concorde was also interesting to visit and view. Drove back from Frome on Monday and arrived at Bognor War Memorial Hospital with 30 minutes to spare. Blood test with two forms, two vails taken. New prescription IV-3000 dressings used. Tuesday appointment for CT Scan, Fraser used the PICC Line to infuse dye. Covid-19 test result showed negative again. Side-effects  Neuropathy Tinnitus Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal temp, pulse and blood oxygen Raised blood pressure.

Reasonable night's sleep, up twice. Walked to Asda with Emma, chilly so used heated inner gloves for the first time this winter, toasty on the medium setting. Side-effects  Neuropathy Some breathlessness Tinnitus Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal temp.

Packed, loaded car and drove to Emma's, an easier journey than anticipated. Used the M27 that is now a smart motorway. No broken-down cars or lorries enroute so a faster journey than in June when the 50 mph restrictions were still in place. Side-effects  Poor sleep Neuropathy Some breathlessness Sore mouth - easing Rough palette - easing Tinnitus End of the mild constipation Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP and pulse. Blood oxygen and temp. Spoke with Megan about store metrics for efficiency. Staff, space, stock and money. Staff and space helped sharpen Vince Malone's ideas stock and money reflected how I would now manage them. Also spoke with Charles Whitting about an inexpensive 'investment' to improve how a store may operate. Discussed splitting epos stock counting to a daily task focusing on top sellers and low sellers. Also sent a link to Mark Fletchers video on how he is developing the new newsXpress store in a su...

Preparing to visit Emma tomorrow sorting the meds needed etc. Side-effects  Poor sleep Neuropathy Some breathlessness Sore mouth Rough palette Tinnitus Mild constipation Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP and pulse. Blood oxygen and temp. Spoke with Roger C.

Took Ann to visit Peter in Sussex Down. He was decidedly deaf in happy for us to be with him for almost an hour. Met Sue F when I returned Ann to her home, she is doing well after losing John earlier this year. Certainly a better day than Tuesday after a significantly better night's sleep. Side-effects  Neuropathy Some breathlessness Sore mouth Rough palette Tinnitus Mild constipation Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP and pulse. Blood oxygen and temp. Spoke with Jo and let her know of my 3pm appointment on Wednesday

Very poor night's sleep, needed 5 toilet journeys and hardly any sleep as trips were about every 60 to 75 minutes. Attended Martin Steele to order new spectacles: Amanda the owner was very efficient and caring about what I wanted/needed. Side-effects  Poor sleep Neuropathy Breathlessness Sore mouth Rough palette Tinnitus Dark urine Mild constipation Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP and pulse. Blood oxygen and temp. Spoke with Jack, Graham M and Ann H.