Post Chemo II, first cycle 8 august 2020

 On third full day after chemo. Been a bit sticky, TBH, and not just because of the muggy weather. 

Send-home anti-emetics were domperidone and dexamethasone. I should have revised my blog and drug chart from last time and remembered that I need a bit more. On the first night I woke up at 2:30 am, tried not to feel sick but soon realised that if I was going to stick to prevention, I would need to take my domperidone at 3am instead of before breakfast. Then I had to take dexamethasone at 6am, just in case, which also meant breakfast at 6am. More domperidone at 9:30, which only left me one for the rest of the day and  night - not going to be enough. 

Chemo Hotline (when I got through) did not want  me to add in an extra domperidone at the end of the day - on maximum dose already. During the bit of a cock-up that was to ensue, I asked this again, twice, but they did stick to their guns. Instead, they got a doctor to prescribe something different. I was expecting some odansetron, as given with the chemo. Dear son cycled down to UCLH to pick up the prescription and delivered it in the evening for the small fee of a plate of pasta. Unfortunately, I'd been prescribed the domperidone and dexamethasone again. Further calls to the Hotline elicited an apology, and a new, correct prescription but with the pharmacy now closed till the next day, there was nothing to be done except try the suggested mint or ginger teas or ice chips. I did but it's not the same.

When you have them, the meds work pretty well - I had made it to the allotment under their influence in the afternoon to water, pick some veg and take the dog for a walk.

Second night I made it to 4am before waking and needing to down a domperidone, but then it was a very close thing. I understand the trick really is to keep the tablet down to allow absorption, hence taking it early enough to avoid throwing it up. I was too late for comfort. 15 minutes over the sink in the early hours of the morning trying very hard not to be sick when it might just have been easier to let it go, was no fun. The rest of the day was pretty flat out - necessary food only - most tellingly, I could only face a small hot chocolate to follow my 10:50 domperidone - doses moving back in they day but still not enough to get me through the night.

It was a very flat day - flat like a very floppy cat. Upstairs bed, then spare bed in dear son's cooler room when it got too hot. Some neighbour's recipe soup (prepared and frozen in anticipation) was very reviving for lunch. Then sofa. Food is important too, as part of the regime - it's just a bit difficult at times. I read Milkshakes and Morphine by Genevieve Fox, one of the tutors on the Macmillan Centre writing sessions. (These have been restarted on Zoom and I think I will try to take part again.) I'd recommend it - it's more than just a cancer  memoir. She's a journalist, and it's a good read about a removed life in what should have been a privileged milieu. I'd go along with a lot of what she writes although she takes issue with the cancer 'journey' metaphor. I see her point but I find sympathy with the ?original sense of journey from the French journee relating to the daily round (French speakers put  me right here please). I was feeling very 'day-at-a-time' yesterday and I realised that this is how I've been feeling for a long time, even when 'well'. Covid-19 hasn't helped, limiting horizons, but even so, it's been very hard looking ahead and planning.

Dear son and husband staged a cycle relay to get the odansetron from UCLH to N2, and last night was much better. Allowed first domperidone to be taken before a more sensible breakfast. Of course, I don't know if it's just because the nausea is wearing off now, three days in, but I will be following this regime from day one next time.

Books! I  may be a bit slow off the mark here, but have found Hive - a way to get books delivered that isn't Amazon, AND you can nominate your local bookshop which then gets a slice of what you pay.