Hair

I haven't shaved my underarm area for two months or more. A chemo side effect.

So I thought I'd shave my legs for the first time in a year as it'd be better for cream, plus the hair won't grow back.

Except it has. More fool me. 

Flaky Skin Dandruff

Oh this is horrible. Previously when I've had dry skin I've had a few days of intense moisturising and it's gone. It has stuck around a couple of extra days this time, and oh can you see where I've been sitting. I'm leaving lovely deposits of flaky skin dandruff. 

The worst thing is there's so much of it this time around. It's everywhere. On the settee, on the carpet, in all of my clothes, little white flakes. I've dealt with dandruff in my teenage years when you'd have a delicate flaking of them on your shoulders - but never before have I knowingly dealt with it where it's on my body and flaking off everywhere. Even my neck is flaking. 

We have a gig tonight (I bought tickets ages ago) - and while I'm not paranoid about it (I could wear my long waterproof if it's really bad) I wish it was next week. These things are sent to try us - I hope they don't have fancy UV lighting, though I'm happy I'm in the accessible area and I have a seat. 

I'm hoping it'll be gone in the next couple of days, though that means that something else crops up instead. 

Chemo minus one

It's funny how when you stop taking the tablets, certain side effects disappear. 

So for example, I'm itchy, but not as much. My skin is flaky everywhere. Even my eyes and mouth. 

My retching around food is calming which pleases the teen as being sick is one of her phobias. 

Chemo day five

Aaaand that's the second lot done. 

My skin has alternated from burning hot, pale with a rash or the always familiar electric shock feeling. 

Today we went to Emmett's Gardens however the queue to get in was huge. It's not the biggest of places, however, Chartwell is. So we went there instead where we got a parking spot straight away and my food aversion led to me being able to eat a quarter of a flapjack. 

My eyes and mouth have lots of dry flaky skin for the first time. I took moisturiser with me which mostly helped  I felt quite self conscious about it though, I wasn't able to do a lot of walking (hills) so I sat in the car while husband and teen did. All good. 

Overnight and the flakes have come back and made themselves heard. My only sense of calm is knowing they'll have gone by next week. Please.

Quite a lot of my skin is flaky right now. I don't mind when it's small areas but when it's almost all of my body I just feel defeated. 

I slept though. Oh yes, I slept. 

Chemo day four

The sickness/retching has moved up a gear. Husband has suggested I take a second anti sickness tablet to help. I can't eat any more, food makes me feel unwell. 

Last night I slept! I went to bed at 11.30 and woke at 02.25. It was slightly annoying as it felt like longer, but it was sleep! I then realised husband was asleep on the settee downstairs so switched off the landing light (when will I learn?). It took about an hour but I got back to sleep. Woke up at 8.30am and was told off for not staying in bed until 11am. Typical!

My skin seems to be hitting a flaky stage, only moisturiser fixes that.

chemo day three

Shivering, trembling. Very low grade all over body sort of thing. Husband and the teen both noticed it. I know I'm not cold, so the only other thing could be the chemo. 

Swollen eyes, yesterday's photo was taken today. 

Swollen feet too, ditto photo.

My memory is playing up again. Nothing significant though. 

Last night as I went to bed, I was sick with the smell from husband's steak. It's the first time I've reacted like this, I felt very weak stomached. So I need to avoid being around smelly food.

This has been backed up with husband cooking a garlic -heavy tea tonight and me immediately feeling like I was going to be sick. This is weird. 

chemo day two

A serious lack of sleep the night before has wiped my appetite, I feel sick looking at food. I will eat my breakfast though I'm not forcing myself. 

My hands look a bit swollen on the palms - only a tiny bit though but enough that I spotted it. 

My face is burning. I'm taking paracetamol as I've been told Ibuprofen is not allowed which is a pain as I think it'd work faster. I keep shivering and then feeling okay to keep going - it's really weird.

I have swollen eyes, and I'm taking photos. I'm not sure what to take to help the swelling go down. 

You can't really tell here, but I can usually open my eyes wider. 

Then there's my swollen feet - my skin is quite red too, but my phone hasn't really picked it up.

That's two new things this morning. 

Sleep wise I got a few more hours though it took a while to drop off - mainly because of my itchy skin.