Moving On....

I do feel SO much better this week, although It took me until Monday before I felt fit enough to take the dogs out for a walk on my own. I am trying to "take it easy" and limit the amount of exercise and "pottering' I do on a daily basis, as there is no way I want to feel that rubbish again for a wee while ( actually if at all!!) 

The family ( and friends) have been amazing , if slightly annoying with their constant moaning and nagging, but I actually was so tired that I complied, and "listened to my body" which did need rest and recuperation. 

Big thanks to CM and LT for their family food contribution, very gratefully recieved, ( the boys were made up, which doesn't say much for my cooking!!!

Played racquetball this morning, and was pleased to last the hour and manage a fair bit of running, so maybe I will actually be able to go up to netball on Monday and play a six minute half! Crumbs its next Saturday the 3rd December that we have the Bingo/chopping off Rena's hair night. Think Dan has roped at least 10 mates into coming, so for all those ladies making cakes (including me..make lots!!)

Jess has been to the vet today to have a canine removed, it had chipped and was going bad, so needed taking out, she wasn't in any obvious pain, but dogs don't apparently show pain the way we do, mind you I had pain when I saw the bill- that's one of the down sides of being a pet owner. She's worth it though, its her and Beanie that give me the best welcome when I walk in the door- even if its 'cupboard love', as I'm the one that feeds them!!

I have made a Christmas cake ( of sorts- i never quite know how it will turn out... and Tom says don't put much Brandy in.. isn't that the best part?) I've also made a start on the few Christmas cards I send, only because I write letters in some of them- yes, old fashioned I know, but not everyone I know is on the internet!

Talking of the internet, we had quite a laugh around the table the other day. Nowadays when someone queries a date or a fact, its easy to go on line and look it up, and I'm afraid long gone are the days when we 'banned' phones from the table. A sad state, but providing they mostly stay in pockets that's fine. Anyway, Papa was staying for supper and at the end of the meal when folks were clearing up, two of the family were on their mobiles, and Papa not wanting to appear left out announced "I'll just get my phone out", and retrieving his mobile from his pocket starting randomly punching the screen. 

Bear in mind, that he has an extremely old, very small Nokia, with no internet access, it was a pretty futile exercise, but one that made us all laugh. He does text ( not predictive so takes quite a while, especially with 'sausage" fingers ( that man has hands as large as shovels, not spades, shovels), and it can make calls, and that's about it, but as he says, just right for what he wants/needs. 

I think as he is going to be EIGHTY ONE next week, that's pretty good going!!

Highs and ......

Yes, you've guessed it, I'm now most definitely on a 'low', not unexpected but certainly unwanted!

As usual Steve spins it around and says thank goodness I didnt feel like this in London, either during treatment or over the last weekend when we watched the tennis at the ATP world final in the 02. That really would have been miserable.

We spent two days watching tennis ( and hockey) plus meeting up with friends, and having never been to the 02, that itself was an experience. Arriving back in the Island late Monday night, we were all tired, but come Tuesday morning it was a real struggle to get out of bed.

The dogs dragged me out for a walk, which I found a real effort and by the time I got back home I knew there was no way I'd go to my yoga class. Jack was home and took one look at my little sad tearful face, and sent me off to bed!!

I slept, and slept some more, with Dan bringing me water at regular intervals and checking up on me, getting up early afternoon I managed half a sandwich, but felt quite nauseous and unfortunately what was worse had to visit the toilet fairly frequently. All classic symptoms of radiotherapy.

I slept the afternoon away, and got up again at about 9pm, thinking I need to eat and also I'll never sleep tonight! I made myself porridge which was a mistake because I thought I'd be sick, and promptly took myself back to bed, where, despite my earlier reservations I did more sleeping!

Wednesday I felt pretty much the same, but got up and showered, took an anti sickness pill, which has helped with the nausea, but the toilet trips have not relented, and that in itself is exhausting. I'm trying to drink lots of fluid to compensate.

Out of the blue I had a call from Macmillan to see if I wanted to have some complimentary therapy, as they'd had a cancellation, so i went in at 11am for an hour, but even that was tiring! Back home i didnt really move from the sofa or the well lit fire (courtesy of Nurse Dan), but did stay awake long enough to see Murray play Nishikori on TV in the afternoon!

This morning I thought I felt better, and as my husband bailed on the dog walking ( that was a joke darling) and Dan was still in bed, I'd take the girls to the beach for a run. It was good to be outside in the fresh blowy sea air, and I didn't feel too bad. However by the time I got home I left Dan to sort the dogs out, and I lay down on the sofa and promptly went to sleep- by the time I  came around he had lit the fire again and made me a hot drink.

Now I'm writing the blog, still feeling a bit sorry for myself and a tincy bit frustrated, BUT i should make good use of this enforced confinement and focus on the things i CAN do, and aren't I lucky to have family around to look after me, although I do have to draw the line at Dan's comment as he left the house yesterday afternoon for a meeting.

He gave me stern instructions that I was not allowed to walk the dogs ( I had considered it, but, and this makes me realise how tired I actually am, I dont have the energy), with his parting words still ringing in my ears "If you walk the dogs I'll punch you in the liver....hard". I dont think he actually means it......

If you knew our family well, this is the normal type conversation between the boys on a fairly regular basis, so readers don't be alarmed!!

As you can see still no luck with the photo uploads, I'm sure its fairly simple, but not apparent to me and my radiobrain. 😁

HOME!

Finally I am taking time out to update this blog, there are so many things happening that I could write about, but to start with I'll just do the basic boring health stuff.

I finished the last fraction (dose) of radiotherapy last Friday 4th November, actually completed my entire treatment as was written in my notes. Amazing as we all know how I 'failed' on the Chemotherapy front....

Dr AT was so lovely, and she seemed very pleased as to how well I tolerated it, but I think so much thought had gone into the planning side. The tumour(s) were enveloped by the pancreas and with the bowel, kidney, and stomach in close proximity it was fine tuning to try and direct the rays(?) into the centre and limit the damage to the other organs.

The team of radiologists were lovely, and I got to know a few of them quite well, even though the actual treatment was only a few minutes, as people know I can pack quite a lot of conversation into a short time frame!

We often discussed which restaurants I'd eaten in, where I'd visited, sights, attractions,  sporting activities and of course I gave them West End Show reviews! One of the ladies said "Jill, we are going to miss your..........(struggling to find the right word) energy!"

In a strange way I miss them too, it's a bit like my chemo team over here, you build up relationships with people who look after you, especially when they are giving you life saving treatment.

I also met different folks in the waiting room, passing the time of day as you do, it pained me to see what I considered to be such a young girl also receiving treatment, equally elderly couples who have to be up incredibly early to travel hours to reach hospital whilst feeling very unwell.

The staff were hugely compassionate and caring with each and everyone of us, and it made the whole process so much easier to bear.

While I am thanking people, I need to say a HUGE thank you to all those friends and family who visited me, stayed with me, sent me parcels, letters and helped me throughout.

As regards follow up, I was told that I should get an appointment in Jersey in a few weeks, and in January have a CT scan ( again in Jersey) to see how the land lies, well, actually they didn't say that but I assume it's to see if the treatment has been reasonably successful and the  tumour has at least shrunk, and at best been OBLITERATED ! I think that would be too much to ask, but I'm up for belated Christmas presents !

So having dined out on having baby brain for the best part of 30 years, followed by Chemo brain, I feel it's my duty to inform you I'm now suffering with "radiobrain", this is a little known condition which can strike anyone, young and old, at anytime.
The symptoms are varied and random, including forgetfulness, stupidity, verbal diarrhea, and in some extreme cases poor quality sporting skills, but take heart, these will pass in time, although one can never fully recover and mistakenly people use the standard "It's my age" as an excuse. Do not be fooled.

I am hoping that a clever son/daughter can sort me out with photo updates, plus a bit of a blog revamp, its all looking a bit tired, (bit like me) especially when I read other folks blogs, they really are all singing and dancing, as well as informative, funny and well written. I guess though the real reason I started this was because it was a way to get information out to friends and family, as well as being a way that helped me deal with the whole Cancer saga.

As some of you know, my dear friend Rena is having her chopped off in order for it to be made into a wig for a child suffering with Cancer, plus my netball club is putting on a BINGO night. The money raised is going to a charity of my choosing Ovacome ( helping women with ovarian cancer). See the link       http://www.ovacome.org.uk/ .

The Bingo is on the 3rd December at St Clements Parish Hall, Doors open at 7pm, Bingo starts at 7:30pm. £10 entrance, cash prizes. Coffee/tea cakes on sale.  Excellent raffle prizes. Please put the date in your diary, I'd love to see you!! (Obviously this only applies to Channel Islanders- not those lovely friends/family living abroad!)

Ok, thats it for now, off dog walking/cooking/cleaning....Oh, and afternoon tea with the girls!!

Bonsoir,

noswaith dda

And who knows how those in East Anglia say Good Evening?

The intonation of words in Suffolk is very peculiar. Words have a notable range of rise and fall in pitch and can often sound as if the speaker were asking a question. This is one of the main features that distinguish Suffolk speech from Norfolk, which is characterised by a distinctive 'drawl'.

Last week I had SW looking after me, although I did have to remind her more than once that I was the "ill" one, not that she bossed me around at all. In fact her cooking and washing up were awesome, not so hot on directions with tubes, trains and streets but between us we muddled through. I believe she is still recovering from her weeks ' holiday' in London!

Visited The Royal Chelsea Hospital and bought our poppies, shopped loads and managed to see two shows , in fact we had a backstage tour of Phantom of the Opera- i didn't realise that the scenery and props were the original ones used for the last thirty years , very heavy solid pieces.

The clinic check up on Wednesday went very well, Dr AT was very pleased with me, and other than feeling a bit sick from time to time, and a little tired, all is going ok.

A busy weekend as always in Jersey, but got to play tennis twice and go to my aerobics class- as well as attempting to teach Beanie how to pass her Gun Dog training next weekend, ( don't hold your breath) .

Fitted in a lovely dog walk on Monday morning- the weather was fabulous - before reluctantly getting on a flight to the UK, fortunately my last week of treatment.

I was also lucky to be able to spend an hour with two of my great nieces, before my sister took them back home.

Sally then came back to the city to spend the next three days with me, this has been brilliant. We've done a fair amount of laughing, usually at each other. And got to see The curious incident of the dog in the night time play last night, it was excellent and I can highly recommend it.

She has had to visit Hyde Park every day and get her "open space green fix" as the city streets are too smelly/dirty/hot/full of people, ( she has a point!)

We met up with our older brother briefly at lunchtime today, and the two of them went off to see Hurley/ Shackleton photo exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society- very good apparently .

Quote of the week....
My sister and I making small talk whilst on the tube coming back from the west end at 10pm, train full of multicoloured race people. She said quite loudly.....
"That's another reason I don't like London..........
too much black".... She must have seen my shocked look as she hurriedly went onto explain that the clothing people wore was so drab and dark, but the damage was done. I hustled her off the next stop before we got lynched!

So,once again all fine at the clinic, my follow up appointment in a couple of weeks and CT scan in three months can all be done in Jersey, which is excellent news.
I have to keep taking one set of tablets as the radiotherapy will carry on working for 2-3 months post treatment . I think I'll probably feel quite a bit worse in the forthcoming weeks ahead, but I'll be glad to be home.

Thank you everyone for the on-going support, love, prayers and best wishes I've had and continue to receive .






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Location:2/11/16