Sue, soul, sick & sun

 

Today I found this printed in Dad's church magazine - God bless him.

Yesterday I bumped into an old school friend Sue, she was aware of my cancer, my third (I am catching up with her four times). 

I did a bit of pottering in the garden (it works as a therapy for me). But felt faint so came in, but was then violently sick. I sipped water but that too came up later. I called the nurses team at the hospital who said it was probably not related and sounded more like Heat Exhaustion. I now understand when people say that they are ‘sick of this heat’!  Lots of cooling ice packs helped to regulate my temperature. 

Getting booked in

I didn't sleep well last night worrying about the call this morning, I felt that things were about to become real. 

When I had the call from the hospital, they said that the recent scan had found no further cancer, but a couple of polyps (which they can remove after all is done with the cancer). Polyps

I am booked in to see the consultant next Thursday to go over the Colon Cancer operation plan and then the procedure will probably happen on a Tuesday within the next few weeks after after that meeting.

It all feels so far away, I thought that I would be packing my hospital bag today.

Captions Please

Pepto BISMOL

Yesterday I had to take another dose of the 'clear your bowel drink'. So I was up most of the night emptying everything.

This morning I felt like probably a lot of English people... tired, drained and very dehydrated.

I had to be at QEII in the morning for another CT scan. 

My nurse was Irish so had not stayed up for last nights football game.

How old is that hand???

I felt quite ill in the afternoon, but I think the heat did not help. Had another long sleep to catch up.

Back to the waiting game whilst they decide what the next steps are. I should hopefully hear by Wednesday.

Just like England, I'm getting closer. I am going to win this!

A Colourful Day

Today I had to start another diet, which consists of generally white food. 

Bland Blanc

I have another type of CT scan on Monday. So have been given a diet sheet, consisting of generally white foods with no salad or veg. 

But my day was brightened up by visiting the garden centre with Tommy and then receiving a lovely delivery of a beautiful bright coloured bouquet of flowers via courier from Shepherds of Hertford, who I had worked for for 16 years, up until August 2024. They were with me through my other two cancers. 

Thank you Team Shepherds x

 Selfishly, I am a bit disappointed that the England football match has not been changed to 7pm instead of 1am on Monday,   as I could have watched it at the earlier time...  and am now worried that on Monday morning for my scan, that some of   the staff may be a little worse for wear. Let’s   just hope that whoever has to stick a tube up my derriere supports another team!!

I hope that when you RED this, it BLUE you away, I hear you YELLOWING, ‘it’s all WHITE Paula’

You've Got a Friend in Me

After the football we went to see Toy Story 5 with friends. Thursday lunchtime Heidi came to visit, had a special time chatting with coffee and cakes. Another afternoon rest for me, still waiting for the iron to kick in.  A lovely visit from neighbours in the evening.

Sunflowers from Heidi

I did a bit of therapeutic gardening today

.but again ended up sleeping in the afternoon

I am enjoying watching the men's football World Cup

🎵 Three C-lions on my shirt

Poem

I did not notice loss of blood, blood tests made them aware, 
That severe anemia found in me, required further tests and care

I gave them poo on a stick, as requested straight away,

Yes, that has blood within it there, - is all that they could say

Now I realise the palpitations, fatigue and frequent breathlessness, 

Are all the tell tale symptoms of this bloody ugly mess

In the past two weeks I’ve had over 10 needles stabbed into my arm,

They struggled to find a healthy vein from previous chemo harm

Introvenus Iron, CT contrast, special diet,

I’m sorry to bang on and on (most would stay so quiet)

But sharing my blog with all my friends has helped me through and through,

So I will keep on banging on... And share my life with you

This will go no further

I was on my way to the hospital today to see the radiology team to pick up my drugs, instructions and contrast ready for my Colon CT scan on Monday.

I received a call from my colorectal nurse to say that with the results that they have collected so far, that they can see that the cancer has stayed contained, and has not spread outside of the colon, this is brilliant news. They will await scan on Monday to see if there are any other culprits within and then I shall get a call Wednesday from my surgeon with a plan. 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿  Back of the net! Cheers for my hattrick of kicking it! (born 1966) ⚽️