The Furry Monkey

07 march 06
physiotherapy, london

Different exercises this time, some to be done whilst lying in bed so they are easier!! If I get pain I'm to stop but I've been doing them regularly so hopefully building it up will help. I'm getting quite a folder of exercises to do now which I can keep and refresh my memory with which is good for chemobrain symptoms which I have.

09 march 06
lymphoedema support group

A first for me here, attending a Support Group. I went with Gwen, a lady from the TACT group to find out what it's all about and report back. It's only because another lady on the group goes there for her arm lymphoedema and couldn't go that we found out about it.

So off we trundled to the Centre, which I know so knew where everything was, like the toilets and more importantly, the coffee machine!!! Then we were called into the Main Room for the start of the meeting.

Almost the first thing she mentioned was that they cover arms, not legs but most people there were arms so she continued on. Not much good for us then. Anyway we sat there and the talk today was 'Lingerie and Swimwear for Breast Cancer Patients' so as you can tell it would not interest us in the slightest. All talk was of arm lymphoedema and nothing on legs.

Next we had a talk and demonstration of new 'boobs' for the want of a better word. It was for ladies who had had mastectomies. I've not seen so many all in one place before. Very odd some of them too.

So we came out thinking, well that wasn't quite what we expected nor wanted. There is another planned but we'll see if we hear, neither of us did before.

10 march 06
dr farnham, uch, london

Although the hospital has moved into it's new home the Oncology Department is still in the old part, where I'd been to see Dr C as a private patient actually so I knew that hospital too. Sound like some sort of hospital junkie don't I!

He has now decided to try me on different painkillers but I'll explain more of that later. He has also discharged me as it is under control. A bit worrying as I've not had a proper explanation of what tablets I should be taking. It appears once things are under control they desert you!

11 march 06
chill out day, shepperton, middlesex

We've been looking forward to this for ages. Another Chill Out Day from CREST...LOVELY!!! You have relaxation classes, workshops, lunch, therapies, another relaxation class and all for a very reasonable donation to the charity. I decided to go with Reflexology this time after it was so good for Mum.

I know you can tell a lot from the feet so all she knew was my cancer and not to do deep tissue massage because of the Lymphoedema. Nothing else.

So I was amazed when she said 'ooooh' and I asked 'Is there a problem?@ and she said that there was nothing there. 'Where?' I asked and she said in the place where there is a gallbladder, there is nothing so I explained that it had been removed after chemotherapy caused problems. She also mentioned several other things about me which I hadn't told her beforehand so I'm convinced there is something in it and it's not total quackery as some people think.

I'm trying to get John to go, but he's not too keen. I think he may give it a go next time, but we'll have to wait and see. Mum had reflexology again and was asleep within a very short time. It does her good as she doesn't do as she's told and goes round like a whirling dervish and doesn't rest. This forces her to stop for a while and chill out as they say.

Can't wait until the next one, if you'd like details just email me!

13 march 06
jan, lymphoedema clinic, london

Still in the old building, but I prefer it to the new all glass one, it has more character. Even if it's rather packed with so many people, they really should've thought of that specially on clinic days.

So why am I up here again so soon? Well it is for leg bandaging again. It's for two weeks this time and see how it goes. It's odd wearing them again but at least it's a cooler time of year rather than in the heat with all those bandages on. Odd walking to Transport too as most people did a double take as they are 'rather large' and the black velcro NHS shoes don't help either.

14 march 06
jan, lymphoedema clinic, london

I'm not going to give you a run down of each day, but this morning my legs were SOOOOO painful it was unbelievable. Boy does this hurt, Jan has said to take more 'top up morphine' and not to stop taking it as Dr F said as it would be too painful to go through this without it.

I agree wholeheartedly there...!!!!

16 march 06
jan, lymphoedema clinic, london

I'm back here for my daily bandaging session. Although it is helping I am having major doubts that the stockings will arrive in time. I have waited eight months before so am not holding my breath.

Oh, yes, guess who I saw in UCLH??? Roger Daltry!! I was just going to get up and speak to him and he went out of the hospital. Forget all the papers showing photos of him looking old and stodgy, he isn't from what I saw!! He looks really good for his age.

Also on the transport home I saw a Range Rover with a personal plate and asked John when I got home and he said yes, that's Rogers Range Rover (sounds like a song - that or a kids tv programme!).

29 march 06
physiotherapy, london

More bandaging, although she did say if the skin didn't improve this time we wouldn't do it next time and to not leave it on so long and take it off in the shower using oil if possible. Sounds rather messy to me.