Headaches suck

I've had a headache for days but it got worse last night.  Felt lousy all day and keep taking Tylenol every 4 hours.  Eating in spite of no appetite.  Kept falling asleep.

Glad new shows have started.  

GERD is back

I got a prescription Thursday for Ranitidine to replace the bottle that fell into my tea but was too tired to find parking at 69th & Granville during rush hour.  Kept putting it off - big mistake.  Spent the night sitting up.  Threw up a couple of times.  Was smart enough not to panic the first time.  Must throw out the spicy ketchup.  No red the second time.  The good news is I was able to kneel on left leg and get back up.

Went out before the big storm arrived thus morning and have a big bottle of pills.

Didn't eat much and think it has settled down.  Big black mark on the bottom of left big toe.  Just like the one I had on the back of my right knee.  Something burst.  Have had a mild headache for days.  Glad I see my oncologist Tuesday.

Wild weather

First of two storms came today with lots of rain and wind.  Good day to stay in.  Another one is right behind.

Didn't really feel well all day.

Lions rule

Woke up at 10.  Still tired all day.  My ears are humming away.  Put drops in, but not sure that's enough.  Might have to go back to the doctor.

Didn't have the energy to go out, so another lazy day.  The Lions provided the entertainment   Bighill is my new hero.

Obama talked to the President of Iran. Amazing.

Here's Matt - 2nd row from to with beard.

Matt's Award

Matt was in Victoria for dinner at Government House with the Lieutenant Governor.  The program he ran for PLEA, Career Path, was awarded an Award of Excellence.  Well deserved.  He really made a difference to some of the youth he got working.

Saw my GP this afternoon. Was finally able to reach my left big toe to get a nail clipping for testing to see if I really have a fungal infection.  Nails on the right foot will just have to keep growing as I can't reach them.  Getting closer.  Forgot to tell him about my sore back.  Had to get a new prescription for my stomach pills as I dumped the bottle into my cup of tea. A lot of pills dissolved.

Bought groceries at Granville Island.  Got a cream with lavender and honey to treat my dry leg.  I like if as it doesn't leave a greasy film.

Eh?

My ears have been irritating on and off for some time.  Today I can barely hear out of the left one except for the constant humming.  Putting in olive oil and seeing doctor tomorrow.  Slept until 10, except for a few bathroom visits.  Deafness has some benefits.  Fell asleep a few times.  First day off the chemo.

Travellers

Mae left for Paris this morning and sent a text from Toronto.  Pam and Lori sent an email from the airport in Perth as they left for home.  They've logged a cache in Singapore.  Next will be Beijing and then home.   More than 40 hours without a bed.

Got some fruit and vegetables and stuff from M&M Meats this morning.  Chinese take-out did lunch and dinner.

Slept in this morning which messed up my drug schedule a bit.  Took the last 5 tonight.  Sure was easier getting in and out of my car.  My right ankle is sore tonight.  But of a headache all day.  Canucks didn't help it.  

New TV season

Bit headachy last night and my leg ankles hurt. Finally gave up about 3 and read for a while.  It worked and I got some sleep.  Dozed a lot today.

First full day of fall was mostly blue skies.  New TV season started tonight.  Loved Spader in Blacklist.

Lost tooth

A tooth on my upper plate came out while I was eating lunch.  Luckily, it is at the back.   One more thing to deal with.

Stormy day, so I stayed in and watched some golf and then a great Lions game that was won with a walk-off field goal.  Saskatchewan had gone ahead with 39 seconds left, but we won!

Found a website http://tvonline.cc/tv/m.htm# that shows free TV shows.  Watched a couple of episodes of Game of Thrones on my iPad.  I'd lost them when my PVR hard drive broke.

My leg was sore today and the feet and ankles still pretty swollen.  Two more days of chemo and then 7 days of rest.

Apple ID

Still having a problem with my Apple ID.  They made me change my password twice today.  That makes it a few dozen times since Christmas.  Next week I'll try phoning.  There is no help at all at their website.

Good Whitecaps game today.  Spent the day reading.  

My leg is still swollen and is crampy tonight.  Took some Tylenol and off to try the bed.

Bushed

Fell asleep after breakfast and was dozy all day.  One of the warnings for my chemo is to not drive if I'm tired.  Decided to take it to heart and didn't get dressed.

Feet and ankles still really big.  Back hurt a couple times but it didn't last long.

Starbucks

Maureen brought back my laundry and we drove to a cache to fill the day on her calendar.  Then to Starbucks. Sat outside.  Probably the last day to do that for a while as the weather is changing.

Got my mail for the first time this week.  Moved the laundry to the door of the bedroom.  Fell asleep for a bit.

Feeling somewhat better.  Pains in the groin and abdomen hardly ever come.  Do have some new back pain but it doesn't last long.  My feet are still big and my ankles feel like they're wrapped with bandages.  The leg is sill big but is going down.  I really noticed it last night while getting into bed.  It wasn't as heavy swinging it up on the bed.

Starting to feel some pins and needles on the bottom of both feet that I think is a side effect of my chemo.  Got my appointment card today and will see Karen on October 1st.  My 14 days of the first cycle ends next Tuesday.  I then get a 7 day break to recover and should start the next 14 days on the 2nd.

Grocery delivery

Had a big box of groceries and a couple of flats of water delivered from Stong's.  Took hom three trips up the stairs.  Better him than me.  Had a Cori's Kitchen lasagna for dinner and it was really good.

Updated iPhone and iPad to IOS 7.  Really like the changes.  Worth the time it took and couldn't have been easier.

Very little sleep last night so kept falling asleep all day.  Still coughing and have a bit of a sore throat.  Tonight I'll swig some cough syrup before going to bed.  Don't have a cold, just my usual synus thing.

Drug working?

The swelling isn't going down yet.  My left ankle looks broken, but doesn't hurt.  The overall pain is less.  Tumours in the groin haven't hurt all day.  Haven't needed Tylenol or ice.

Did a big order from Stong's that will come tomorrow afternoon.

Fatigue

Did a bit of shopping at Safeway.  Was so tired that I got them to carry the two bags to the car.  Go takeout Japanese bento bc next door and split it between lunch and dinner.

Fatigue is one of the listed side effects of my drug.  Dozed a lot in the afternoon.

Foggy days

Haven't seen the sky for two days as the fog is sticking to the river.  Thunderstorms this afternoon but not here.

Watched tennis and football.  Lions game was fun.

Had a shower but decided to have another quiet day.  Talked to Lori and Pam in Bali on FaceTime.

Another day

This is my fourth day on the new medication.  I'm doing pretty good except I am dozing a few times through the day. My leg is still huge and it is hard getting out of my chair.  Decided to stay in and give it a good rest again.  The pain seems a bit better.  

Watched tennis, golf and soccer.  Davis Cup doubles were the best of the day.  See if we can win one of the singles games tomorrow to move on to the final.  Best Canada has ever played.  

Triskaidekaphobia

Survived another Friday the 13th.  Trying to get up earlier to eat and have breakfast so dinner 12 hours later isn't too late.  Felt okay today but kept falling asleep.

Decided to just stay in and rest he leg.  My foot gets really irritated when I go out.  Watched the Davis Cup.  Doubles tomorrow.  We're tied 1-1 with Serbia.

Sleepy day

Restless night and finally moved to living room.  Fell asleep in my chair finally.  Maureen came by to take a couple of bags of laundry.  Just too much to go up and down the stairs a few times with this big leg.

Felt sick after taking this morning's pills, but it migh have just been a stuffy apartment.  We broke heat records yesterday.  Opened the sliding door and turned on the fans.  Also popped a Gravol. Slept on and off for the rest of the day.  Tonight's pills didn't bother me.  

First day

Have to start getting up earlier as I am supposed to take my 5 pills (1800 mg) after eating and 12 hours apart.  No reaction with my first doses.  I'm coughing, but still have a cold.

Had a good day of rest.

New plan

Finally got my hair cut short this afternoon.  Had let it get far too bushy.

Saw my medical oncologist, Karen Gelmon.  Wasn't pleased with my leg.  The fluid added 13 pounds. No wonder it's getting hard to walk.  Immediately cancelled plans for radiation in case it made things worse.  Also stopped my drugs as I am not improving.  Sent me to the BCCA pharmacy for my new drug - paid for this time.  The $6,000/month was eating into my Extended lifetime cap.

The new drug is Capecitabine, a much harsher choice than what I've been on.  Karen went over the side effects and hopes it will shrink the tumours and ease the pain and swelling.   The pharmacist took me into an office and went over the side effects and danger in detail.  I have to avoid the sun, any injury, crowds...   But I can  drink 🍷

Picked up dinner at Max's.  Decided to start the treatment in the morning.  4 pills at breakfast and 4 more at dinner.  Should be 12 hours apart, so I must start getting up earlier.  

Finally managed to get some cream on my right foot by squirting it on and rubbing it in with the other foot.  I know there's a gizmo, but haven't found I yet.  Will make calls tomorrow.

Email

Tattoos

Met Dr. Voduc, my radiation oncologist this afternoon.  He went over the plans again.  I'm having 10 days of radiation. It'll take a couple of months before any effect is shown.  Should help with the pain and hopefully the swelling.

Then had a CT Scan of the area.  Bladder wasn't full enough so had more to drink and went back to my book. Second try worked.  Ended with 3 tattoos.  Whole thing took 2 hours & cost $10.50 for parking.

Picked up Japanese bento box on the way home.  The leg is really uncomfortable.  Trying to figure out how to put cream where I can't reach.

Hitchcock marathon

Watched several Hitchcock movies on TMC.  They're playing 46 this month.  I'm sure I hadn't seen some of today's.

Groceries from Stong's arrived on time.  Just need some produce tomorrow. Like picking it out myself.

Still have a cold.  Tylenol Cold takes away the worst of it.  A swig of cough syrup takes care of the night.

Shopping on my iPad

Took a swig of cough syrup last nightbandvgotb good sleep.  Took a Tylenol cold pill that got me through the day.  Not so bad tonight.

Decided it was tie for a Stong's order.  So cool to do it on the iPad.  Groceries should arrive between 10 and 12 tomorrow.

Lions and Whitecaps disappointing with losses today. No spark.

Cold returns

Coughing a bit during the day and knew my cold had come back by bedtime.

Met Pru at Starbucks for lattes and then to the Agency for bloodwork.  So east when they use my port.

Picked up Chinese food at Oakridge.  Someone was parked next to me in a handicapped spot. Obviously just waiting for someone.  I asked if he had a handicapped card and pointed to the big sign. He smiled and nodded, pretending he didn't speak English.  I took out my phone and pretended to take a photo of his license plate.   Amazing how quickly he understood that and moved.

Stormy

Big thunder and lightning storm just as I went out for dinner at Elaine's.  Sat in the car for a it to let one deluge subside.  Lightning went on for ages.

Had a great dinner and visit with Elaine & Rick.  He kindly did up my will, power of attorney and representation agreement.  All is now signed and witnessed.  So handy to have a lawyer in the family.

 Not feeling great tonight.  Leg is achy and I can't get comfortable.

Mixed day

Got up at 5 and moved to my chair.  Dozed off again around 10.  The day after that wasn't bad until after supper.  Love my Tylenol.

Saw the trailer of 12 Years a Slave and bought the original book on Kobo for $1.99.  Took just a couple of minutes buy and download.  Love the technology.

Rainy start to school

So nice to sleep in on the first day of school.   It was raining bu stopped by the time I headed to Safeway for groceries.  I've started going to 25th & Oak as it isn't as far to walk as Oakridge.  Got a BBQ chicken that I tor apart for lunch and should get several meals out of it.

Still sore and uncomfortable, but it seems a bit better.  Still passed on the VESTA first day of school brunch and a BBQ for TLs on Friday.  Sitting too long makes things worse.

Last day of holidays (for some)

Love not having  to worry about starting school tomorrow!

Spent the day watching golf and tennis.  No newspapers was a shock.

Did a bit of housework but am hurting so back to the chair with Tylenol, ice bag, remote & a good book.

Quiet Sunday

Didn't get dressed today.  Wouldn't you know new caches appeared close to home.  Where were they yesterday?

I have a big bruise on the back of my knee.  Guess it is the swelling popping something.  Doesn't hurt but the skin is scaly and I've been putting cream on it.

TCMC is running Hitchcock movies every Sunday.  Watched Shadow of a Doubt and Psycho.  Have more recorded.