The Furry Monkey

03 february 2011
Support for cancer patients and their families/friends

I've recently had quite a few emails from different organisations about their websites which contain loads of information for cancer patients. Check out my Support page for more details. Also the Blogs page, as many medical students look at the pages for links to help them with their studies. You never know what you might find!!!

Racing through February already....watch out for more updates soon.

 

04 february 2011
nora batty is my new name....

As you all know, I have to wear compression stockings after the radiotherapy damaged my legs. The last time I went to the Lymphoedema Nurse she said they were doing well and I was maintaining them which is good news.

Today it was a different story. Despite me doing the same things as always, my legs are a lot worse. I've been wondering about it for a while and have even posted on a forum and the Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist has confirmed that what I was thinking was right.

My legs are getting worse.

Lymphoedema is a Chronic condition that can get worse, and mine has. In the past I've had bandaging and this lasts for three weeks, every day in London with loads of layers of bandaging which needs to stay on for 24 hours, apart from when you have a shower of course. Then they go back on again.

This Nurse suggested that we try something else instead and see how it goes. I have now got to wear my compression stockings for 24 HOURS apart from a shower. So that means wearing them in bed too, how delightful that will be!!!

It's not the same compression level as during the day, but at the same time, it's still compression stockings on all day and all night.

I'm NOT looking forward to this one bit. Not one bit. It just reminds me that when you think you're coping with all the problems this disease has caused, it is still causing even problems and you feel like it's just not letting up.

It's a bit of a whinge, and I do try not to do that. Sometimes you just feel .......humph.......I don't know. Just not yourself. Do you know what I mean???

A friend of mine said at the beginning of January, let's hope you have a better year, you deserve it, then only last week she said "Well that New Year wasn't good for you again was it". Talk about depressing me!

Also the itching is another sign, along with the lumps and bumps too. Apparently I need to go to the Docs to get some cream to help with the itching. I've had a couple of episodes and leaking lymph fluid (sorry I know it sounds gross, and I know it has a proper name but I can't think of it at the moment!).

Also Mum has been having health problems and this puts more on to me, and in some cases John too. I have enough problems of my own to cope with. I don't mean to sound negative but when she says her pain is worse than mine or John's - well that gets my goat.

My cancer caused my leg to fracture, I think that's major pain don't you!?!?!? Still I'm not getting into an argument and just let it go. She doesn't help herself, when they say to get up and walk as well as rest her leg, she just sits in the chair all day. I know it's difficult, but we all have problems that we have to learn to live with.

You just have to do what you can when you can. That's all you can do.

Anyway moan over. I'll feel better later. Sorry!

 

11 february 2011
gp appointment

Well I've got this appointment in my diary and I did go to the GP but for the life of me I can't remember what it was about. Sorry!

 

various dates dotted around

We've been in and out of hospitals, the Doctors, the Chemists, back to the Hospital and the Doctors, with Mum. One Doctor says she has gout, another says no. We even had to call the Doctor out when she couldn't/wouldn't get out of her chair. Several times she's slept downstairs because she couldn't/wouldn't go upstairs.

I've always been told there's no such word as "Can't" and you have to try your best to do what is needed. Seems it only works one way then! Typical parents huh.

She's now been told by one GP that it's too difficult and she'll let the Consultant at the hospital sort it all out. It's not easy because Mum doesn't remember things when we go and my memory is pretty shot after chemobrain set in and never left.

We'll just have to wait and see.

 

22 february 2011
Consultant visit at the hospital

Finally got to see the Consultant. Mum was in a wheelchair and poor John had to push. How he did that I don't know as I had to move her out of the way from the hospital toilet door when someone came past and couldn't do it!!! The wheelchairs have a coin slot on them similar to a shopping trolley, so they have to be made heavier and more solid to cope with people and also to ensure they don't take them away from the hospital.

Anyway we were called in. He's a lovely guy and I've seen him before a few times too. He asked lots of questions and Mum wasn't quite sure about the answers. He's given her some tablets for 10 days to help the gout and said that her bloods are better, the same as four years ago now which is good!!!

We now need to see the GP to get a repeat prescription for the new tablets. Another appointment to make.

 

25 february 2011
gp appointment for mum - not me - yahoo!!!

Saw the GP and she is a good one. There's only a couple at our practice that we trust and value. The others I wouldn't go and see if i was dying to be honest!

The GP asked Mum a few questions and then me, then said "You should listen to Karen, she's a good Nurse and knows a lot" and Mum said "She doesn't tell me anything, I don't know" and the GP replied "It's not Karen, you have selective hearing, or you don't remember, it's not her fault" and she smiled at me.

I didn't ask her to say anything, she has noticed on her own. The same as many other people we know who have noticed I get it in the neck a lot of the time. However that was wrong big time wasn't it. I was really i n the dog house again.

I'm thinking of getting my little doghouse decorated as I spend so much time in there sometimes!!!

 

26 february 2011
brrrrr it's freezing here....

Our boiler has decided to go on holiday so it's really cold here. I phoned a few people up and none have come back to me. You don't realise how cold it can be until the heating isn't working, how much we take for granted huh!