Hi clarkes0812

Welcome to the thread :happy:

It is a whirlwind at your stage, hence the title of the thread.  The best advice I was given was to 'take each day at a time'.  If you let it your mind will explode with all that is going on right now.  At least you are on the fast track 2 week referal.  The waiting is no doubt some of the most difficult times during the whole process.  Try not to think about it too much, try to fill your time with things that make you happy.

There is a strength to be had and you will find it, it's amazing what the body can muster up.  But also we all have our days where we question our strength, it is only human.

Please keep us updated on your journey, feel free to post at anytime.  You can post on here about anything you like.  We're here even if you just want to let off steam.

Be postitive, stay strong (you are  stronger than you realise)

Al

Hi Allie :happy:

You ask as many questions as you like, I will try and be as helpful as I can.

The feeding tube that I have is an NG Tube, goes up the nose and down the throat.  Sounds worse than it is.  The ones that they connect straight to the belly I believe that they avoid those if they can.  More trauma to the body.

The full body PET Scan does help to ease your mind.  I didn't even mind if they found something, just knowing was enough for me.  

It's good that you are out walking, even better that you are enjoying it :happy:  It all helps, just be careful not to over do it.  Last thing you need going into treatment is to be fatigued.

I will be thinking of you today, dental appointment.  Fingers crossed you need no extractions.  The dentists that I saw at hospital were a breed apart from my regular dentist.  They will do everything they can to save your teeth.  My regular dentist is no longer allowed to remove any teeth.  If they feel that I need one removed I have to go back to the hospital and they will do their best to save it.

Just reading through your posts, I would love to illustrate a mini mafia book :happy:

All the best today.

Be Strong

Al x

Hi 

AL please take things very easily then if you have chronic fatigue and possible mucositis. (hope ENT goes ok tomorrow) seems like you are breaking all rules about being different. hoping this is nothing serious and nothing to worry about. i thnk though people will get a brilliant idea of what you and sam and Alli will be going through by reading this thread. 

am feeling bit better today much like you guys i have good and bad days with fatigue but not so bad as you. trouble is i cannot get to sleep during day very much hence watch a film. 

hahaha we will all be gardeners here!!! should build ourselves another group the cancer chat gardeners lol. well i have always found it therapeutic - yes sorry about spelling, head goes ahead of fingers so sometimes comes out wrong!! my yakon roots are arriving in about a week so that will be exciting to see what they look like. glad to report some of my little plugs are growing yay!! 

going to take hubby into town this morning - my first trip out since christmas - apart from hospital and doctors etc. not sure about wanting to go still even though we have masks and are vaccinated because not sure i should but need to get to bank and he is hankering going round poundland!! he has a sweet tooth lol. i think though he is just looking forward to getting out. At least it is sunny. 

hubby came through this morning to inform me that there was a mini mafia funeral last night (he was truying to make me feel sorry for the mini mafia lol) - the one who had been scrapping a lot to try and get back into carport. he said they made a real racket, had beer cans piled high on top of the coffin, one leg was hanging out, there was a lot of singing and wailing as they walked past. the men were as *** as neuts. (they were faking everything!!!). the protests have begun. as far as iam concerned the carport looks really good now and ready for the hedgehogs. 

am being pestered by rumple teazer now boy he has claws, since he has lost his shyness he has got quite affectionnate but also i need to clip those claws since he pats me with them and they hurt!! - especially at 2am!!! 

well enjoy your day 

keep smiling x

Hi Sam Sam, like New York so good they named it twice :happy:

Like you I am, and have been, up and down with my mental and physical states. I went quite a few weeks without posting on this thread due to just not feeling up to it.  So totally understand where you are coming from.  The hospital hooked me up with a clinical psychologist which has been a big help.  Really good to hear from you though, hopefully it wont be the last.

Sounds like you had a real time of it with the chemo, NG Tube and mucus.  Makes me feel so fortunate, i did have an issue with mucus for a few days so feel for you there.  I was lucky that I had no actual sickness from the chemo, although I did refuse my last one.  It was making me feel so ill and down.  I did have a mental reaction to the anti sickness steroids, they believe it was those causing depression.  Those combined with my underlying nerological disorder. 

I did get admitted to hospital 3 days before the end of treatment due to a high temerature, 38.6.  I was admitted initially to a local hospital, there I was sick and my NG Tube moved.  Because of this they refused to let me feed through the tube. Even though with a ph stick I could tell if it was in the right place, they were having non of it.  No one wanted to take responsibility.  I was taking meds through the tube at the time too so I went 24 hours without food or meds.   Fortunatelly the next day I was transfered to the cancer hospital for 5 days.  They were absolutely amazing there.  I had neutropenic sepsis and low red and white cell counts, they had me on an antibiotic drip, injections in the tummy and blood transfusions. sadly I was allowed no visitors so it was hell for my wife not knowing.  I read your post to my wife, it now looks like I have to take her away, no expense spared so thanks for that :laugh:

The news from radiotherapy sounds hopeful, it's always good to have some light at the end of the tunnel.  No matter how down you get with the treatment try to keep in mind that one day it'll be a distant memory.  Easier said than done I know.  Keep that trip to New York as a focus, you need more merch!!

Hopefully by the time you read this you are out of hospital and back home with your girl, step kids and cats.

Stay Strong and hold on to those positive moments as tightly as you can.

Wishing you well

Al'

Hi Elona :happy:

Look at me posting two days in a row!  probably because we spent all day yesterday doing absolutely nothing, bar watching a film and a few tv shows.

It does feel like I am breaking the rules again, I'm fed up with rare lol.  Just one bit of normallity, that's all I ask...  Actually life would be boring if everything was 'normal'.

Cancer Gardeners Chat Haha!  Love it.   It is raining here today, all day I believe, which I am actually happy about.  Can't beat a bit of rain water for the young plants.  My Grandad had a water butt to catch rain water, think I am going to put one on my shopping list.  Good to learn that your plugs are growing, here's to blooming gardens this year, such a shame we cannot post pics on here.

How did your trip with hubby into town go?  Our friends that visited, he absolutely loves Poundland.  I am sure he must have shares in the place lol.

Sounds like the Hedgehog Hotel will be opening it's doors soon.  We used to get a lot of hedghogs when I lived in the countryside.  Didn't see one for years after and then we happened apon a weak young one last year in a local park, I was shocked that it was the first time my wife had ever seen one. We kept an eye on it until a local hedghog sanctury picked it up.  We often wonder how he/she got on.

Hope you have a great day today

Stay Strong.

Al x

Hope all is OK :happy:

Al x

Hi

Will have to get tomatoes growing now so I can be part the gardeners chat group  Elona lol what is a Yakon  root? hope your hubby stocked up on goodies from poundland they do have a good selection. Hope your appointment went ok Al how did you get on, hopefully your energy levels will pick up soon. Had a busy couple of days went out Monday to New Brighton and had a lovely time and had chips and fudge so no chance of losing weight before treatment that's my excuse anyway lol, hospital yesterday the mask fitting was an interesting experience got a bit panicky cause I'm claustrophobic but they were lovely had scan of head and chest with mask on that's going to take some a getting used to, after dental assessment they said I didn't need extractions so treatment starts Thursday  so scared and pleased at the same time, the doctor has decided against the tube in tum because I have ulcerative colitis so will see how I go and maybe ng tube if needed. The bird I saw was a Rhea I was talking to a neighbour and she said its the farmers so mystery solved, catching up on cleaning today not very exciting  but has to be done

Hope you have a lovely day

Alli x

Afternoon 

bit late today needed more mellow time, and a dog to cuddle up to lol. 

A little pair of pathetic eyes was watching me yesterday cleaning near a window and it skirted out a couple of times to collect a piece of corn litter before running back. felt a slight pang of guilt but it soon passed! there were a few bangs last night too but we could not assertain where they came from this morning. - the plan is afoot!

the trip into town yesterday was not enjoyable. There were too many people not wearing masks i did not like it. Even though iam now vaccinated until i get sorted i do not want to come into contact with stupidity. One woman went into poundland with her young child, put a mask on herself to go inside but didnt put on on her child! could not believe it. even if the risk is low for children i would not have taken any risk. We did not stay out long. 

I let hubby go into poundland by himself and he came out with a bag full lol./ - with the pretence that he had thought of me at the same time and some of the items were therefore for me! Always a good excuse. 

cant believe how cold it is today, we certainly do not have any sun and the wind chill factor is freezing. It is supposed to be summer time - the only indication is the beautiful blossom on my fruit trees. (i have made a small area into an orchard with plum, apple, pear, saskatoon, elderberry and walnut. The apple and pear act as a fence surrounding one side. They also act as a divider for the garden and a wind break. 

there have been a few lovely birds around this morning. The pigeon came for his morning feed, there was a blackbird at the bottom of the garden, a rook next door - what an amazing pointed beak he has - very dangerous!, blue *** and sparrow. i do love this time of year. cant say it enough but love the emergence of new life. 

watching sony movies today - love disaster films! after watching asteroid versus the earth we now have eruption LA lol keeps me happy - no energy for work on paper or book or anything else today, probably just me being lazy lol. shame though have a lot i want to do. Doea not help when a cat attacks you at 2am when you dont need to get up for medication until 4am! the swine you cannot reason with them lol. 

anyway hope you have a good day 

Al great to see you two days in a row lol 

Alli hope went ok. 

keep smiling x

morning

Alli glad you did not need to have any teeth out thats good and that your treatment can start. Hope it goes ok anmd remember we are here for you. x By the way have no idea what yakon roots are like lol they just sounded really interesting so thought i would try them lol!! 

At the moment it is lovely and sunny but they have forcast some rain. Boy the plants need a good downpour they are very dry. it also gives me an excuse not to be able to do anything or feel guilty about not being able to do anything outside. ! i have created so much junk we need a skip!! 

Next door had put out a half coconut filled with stuf for birds and the rook was on it this morning, byt the way it was pecking i would be surprised if there was anything else for the other birds left. Rum tum has taken great interest in looking out the window at them and still forgets there is a window separating him from getting at them ! 

couple of thumps in the carpart again last night but no visible evidence! ....

keep smiling x