Side Effects Update (4)

Ok, let's get on with it. 

Legs - like lead weights at times, difficult to walk upstairs. I manage but it's tiring. 

Skin - it's behaving at the moment.

Hair - no additional hairloss, lots of regrowth. 

Diabetes - being looked at and adjusted. 

Eyelashes - one side still has very curly eyelashes.

Sleep - I am sleeping. A lot. 

Appetite - very good at the moment, eating lots of food I probably shouldn't. 

Stick - The stick and I stick together. It helps. 

This post is following on from this one. 

Baby Bruise Fingers

If I could get a good photograph of the tips of my fingers I would, but I don't think the lighting works in my favour. 

On almost all my fingers are tiny fading bruises from months of blood sugar testing, pricking the end of my finger and taking bloods to check everything is behaving. 

Then I get a text from my GP who wants to talk about cholesterol. OH Cholesterol. This has always been an issue, it goes back years - back to when I was previously diabetic. I think they just want to phone me rather than have an appointment, I can deal with that. "Did you know your cholesterol levels are higher than they should be?" "yes" "okay, good stuff, bye" would be the ideal outcome here, though I know it'll be "eat less chips - eat less pasta - portion sizes - graze" sort of conversations. Those foods are faves at the moment as they're easy to eat and I don't feel unwell eating them. 

While the small circular bruises disappear back into my skin, only to be reactivated when I choose that finger. The blood thinner tablets are definitely doing what they're meant to... 

The bonus of diabetes was my nurse checking my feet last week and instructing my husband he has to moisturise my legs and feet once a week. Something I don't think I'll forget quickly anyway....

Hello Monday

My head is so tired. There, I've said it. I think this is a hangover from our trip to York and everything that came with it - which was two weeks ago now. But maybe it isn't?

Maybe this is just how my head is meant to go? Every day I need a little lie down on the settee to reset my brain and have a nap. Sometimes the nap is five minutes, sometimes it's over an hour. 

I'm probably due a side effects post, the only new thing (which isn't that new, I just forgot) is the heavy feeling in my legs again, thanks steroids. Dragging myself upstairs every day isn't much fun - though there's very little you can do about it without medical guidance. 

As I'm being very strict about what I can and can't use based on what the GP/NO tell me things take longer to be a part of my daily life - if allowed. 

The main thing is I'm allowed PIZZA and this makes me very happy indeed. That's all. 

Out Out Out

Tonight is another night out at the theatre. I can't wait! Although I have a horrible feeling we're in similar seats to the last time we went there where I had to take breaks getting up the stairs. The joys.

Tonight it's Annie at the New Wimbledon Theatre - with us finally seeing Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan. We've wanted to see him in the role for so long now - I think it may have been a Paul O'Grady one before he died though. We've seen so many different excellent Miss Hannigan's now (Miranda Hart, Lesley Joseph (possibly twice), now this.... yes, we are watching the same production we always watch. 

Beforehand we're going to Bill's in Wimbledon who do an amazing fondue in a bread roll - we had it in York the other week for my sister's 50th. Were we not in a restaurant I'd have picked it up and drank it like a drink, it was THAT good. 

I'm wondering if I'll eat as much as I did in York - I ate a lot there - the fondue (shared though), a vegan burger and a spooky brownie for pudding. Too good. 

I guess this is a sign my appetite is back as well.... we're all having conversations about reducing my daily steroid amount - though I can't remember what happened last time. I think I was hungry central probably.... 

Truffle cheese fondue sharer with halloumi fries. Yum. 

Cold Nose

The end of my nose is cold. This isn't a new thing, it's one of those things I have forgotten to mention here.

Last night I insisted husband checked my nose temperature, and he agreed it was pretty cold.

This wouldn't be so weird were I not wearing my Quokka Oodie which is unbelievably toasty. I'm warm everywhere except my nose. Obviously now I'm looking at a gazillion side effects but nothing obvious is coming up. Maybe I'm just meant to have a cold nose. 

The side effect (which dates back to the craniotomy in October 2022) where my nose runs when I eat is still there. I think that's one I'm stuck with, alas. 

But it does make me wonder if the two things could be related in some way. 

Sleep

I'm definitely feeling the tiredness a lot more at the moment. I'm not sure if it's the colder weather and me snuggling under blankets more, but every day I'm guaranteed at least a thirty minute nap.

At least.

The weirdest part is waking up. I'm no longer remembering when I fell asleep so I'm trying to work it out based on whether it's light or dark outside. This afternoon was fairly easy, last night was confusing. The good news is that it isn't stopping me from sleeping at night although I could do better.

Having my tiredness be dictated by my head is something I wasn't expecting, mind. 

Told

Mum has now been told, face to face.

It went okay, as well as could be expected. There were tears, and we were asked (by mum) to leave to give her time to process it all. Which we did.

It's weird telling your parent you have a terminal illness, especially when she wants to do something to help. But there isn't anything, just what we're already doing. 

I didn't cry, just lots of hugs and trying to make sure mum didn't get too upset. We don't know how much she'll retain that she has been told. The key thing is the C-Word - cancer. 

It's all a bit rubbish really.