Spoke Too Soon

Last night I was awake until gone 2am as guess what? My skin was really itchy - all over. 

I am putting it down to taking a drowsy antihistamine too late in the day. Or just sleeping too long the previous day. This might not be helped by me sleeping until gone 10am today. I was tired! 

Progress

Last night I slept all the way through and didn't need cream to calm the itching.

That's all. 

"What do you need?"

Disclaimer - I am not picking out any individuals - just writing what has happened. Please don't take offence. 

Back in the radiotherapy days I had a brilliant rota between friends and husband to get to the hospital now I can no longer drive. It was great, we'd chat, catch up, grab a cuppa afterwards and chat more. Then the treatment stopped - and with that the rota was over. I'd have friends occasionally checking in, but more often than not there was silence. Now, I know I could get in touch with people so I'm also at fault here - though the sheer amount of appointments and getting things into the diary (which I spectacularly fail at).

Since early January I haven't had as active a social life. But I think we both know that - there's just one thing I wish happened when I meet people, family, whoever. I wish someone would ask 

What do you need?

Because I'm not sure what I need, but I'm never asked to form those thoughts. When we go out for the day teen hands me my walking stick, the car is unlocked by husband, things are done. So I might have a train of thought of things I need to take out with me, but the more things done by others, the more likely I am to forget them. 

Almost every time we go out I've forgotten a hat and - to be fair - I'm getting really bad at forgetting my stick. Which is why I don't want anyone to take offence. 

So yeah, I'll get back to you with something I need. There will be something, I'm sure. 

Side effects update

Hands : very very dry and peeling. The good news is the peeled area has lovely soft skin. 

Legs : It feels like the heat - rash - peel and itchiness might be spreading to my lower legs. There is nothing better than scratching my legs raw and then having a bath to cool my skin down. 

Upper back : itchy. Helped when I insist husband or the teen put cream on. They're very good indeed. Current itch out of 10, probably 2.

Scalp : dry skin patches, fairly easily fixed with a nice massage oil. I have a Kiehl's one which smells great and works. The biggest downside is I can't smell it.

Appetite : Coming back slowly. I am eating three meals a day, sharing anything I can't eat. 

Hair : has FINALLY slowed down falling out. I can no longer stuff a teddy with it. Now I just have the world's smallest ponytail.

Walking : I can walk, I need the stick. Today we went to Bluewater and by the time we got home my legs had seized up. Husband and teen are doing a sponsored walk for my hospital. Lovely stuff. Since I came off the steroids my legs have functioned normally which I am forever grateful.

Dry hands

Chemo side effect? Look at my wedding ring finger. Fortunately some skin has peeled away so the skin feels less tight. 

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.