Ali's blood was good, treatment went ahead today and all was as we expected. Ali had cold hands when she had to put on the ice gloves and came home and had an afternoon snooze.
She was well enough to eat some dinner but I'm not expecting her to stay up much past 8pm.
The kids have been a little tiring this afternoon, especially one little Miss whose behaviour was so poor, she missed out while her brother ate McDonalds for dinner.
Regardless, we'll carry on and see what tomorrow brings. Thanks for dropping by.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Fish Pie Update
OK, I have to admit, the fish pie was not too bad. Not too good but not too bad. Once you get over Alison mixing up coriander when she was meant to buy flat leaf parsley!
In the end it was just a little bland for my liking but then it's better to take a cautious approach and not try to put too much into a dish.
The kids hated it, Annelise tried some but Harrison would rather chew on some ants (which for some strange reason, he has eaten 2 or 3 ants over the weekend - says they taste a little spicy for him).
We all survived this meal.
In the end it was just a little bland for my liking but then it's better to take a cautious approach and not try to put too much into a dish.
The kids hated it, Annelise tried some but Harrison would rather chew on some ants (which for some strange reason, he has eaten 2 or 3 ants over the weekend - says they taste a little spicy for him).
We all survived this meal.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Doc & Cap treatment no. 2: Day -4
Welcome back!
It's been a little while since the last post. Happily, not too much has happened since the last one.
Alison's feeling better now. She started feeling her 'normal' self around last Sunday/Monday.
Last Saturday night we had a night out at Tilley's to watch the Whitlams. It was a great night out; they reserved a booth for us with the best view in the house which meant that we didn't have to get there early and Ali didn't have to mingle with people that may pass on some nasty disease while her immune system was weakened.
Annelise has started Little Athletics and seems to enjoy it. Harry is just busy being himself.
We're starting to think less about the chemo just gone and more about the next one so I guess things are moving on.
Alison's planning on cooking a fish pie tonight, so please redirect your good wishes and healthy thoughts to the rest of the family for just a short while (24 hr Macca's nearby and ready as backup). I'll be sure to report back on how it goes.
It's been a little while since the last post. Happily, not too much has happened since the last one.
Alison's feeling better now. She started feeling her 'normal' self around last Sunday/Monday.
Last Saturday night we had a night out at Tilley's to watch the Whitlams. It was a great night out; they reserved a booth for us with the best view in the house which meant that we didn't have to get there early and Ali didn't have to mingle with people that may pass on some nasty disease while her immune system was weakened.
Annelise has started Little Athletics and seems to enjoy it. Harry is just busy being himself.
We're starting to think less about the chemo just gone and more about the next one so I guess things are moving on.
Alison's planning on cooking a fish pie tonight, so please redirect your good wishes and healthy thoughts to the rest of the family for just a short while (24 hr Macca's nearby and ready as backup). I'll be sure to report back on how it goes.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Doc & Cap treatment no. 1: Day +5
Long weekend is over but the school holidays live on.
It seemed to be such a busy weekend, even with three days. Alison is still recovering, she is feeling off colour but not housebound. A side-effect appears to be tenderness and swelling in her mouth and down her throat. This is quite uncomfortable and makes it difficult to eat some foods. I'll be nagging her to follow up with the doc if it doesn't go away or get better soon.
Other than the tenderness, a general mild nausea and a continuing feeling of tiredness, Ali seems to be getting through this treatment. At least she feels well enough to get out to the shops on the odd occasion (I wish there was a way to stop that one!) and potters around the house well enough.
Kids are doing well. They had a great time down the coast last week and were pretty well exhausted when they got home. That lasted until they woke up the next morning and then life was back to normal. One more week before they start their final term for the year. The last term for Harry before he's off to a different school next year.
As for me, I'm well, although it was a very stressful day yesterday when Manly and Melbourne played in the NRL Grand Final. I'm not a huge fan of the rugby league but I usually really enjoy watching the State of Origins and Grand Final each year.
It almost goes without saying that I'm quite happy to support anyone who is playing against Manly but I was quite lost yesterday. Instead of wanting either one of them to win, it was more a case of not being able to really support either team. Still, I watched most of the game and after a month on the wagon, it was good just to sit down with a beer, relax and watch the footy.
Anyway - back to work tomorrow.
It seemed to be such a busy weekend, even with three days. Alison is still recovering, she is feeling off colour but not housebound. A side-effect appears to be tenderness and swelling in her mouth and down her throat. This is quite uncomfortable and makes it difficult to eat some foods. I'll be nagging her to follow up with the doc if it doesn't go away or get better soon.
Other than the tenderness, a general mild nausea and a continuing feeling of tiredness, Ali seems to be getting through this treatment. At least she feels well enough to get out to the shops on the odd occasion (I wish there was a way to stop that one!) and potters around the house well enough.
Kids are doing well. They had a great time down the coast last week and were pretty well exhausted when they got home. That lasted until they woke up the next morning and then life was back to normal. One more week before they start their final term for the year. The last term for Harry before he's off to a different school next year.
As for me, I'm well, although it was a very stressful day yesterday when Manly and Melbourne played in the NRL Grand Final. I'm not a huge fan of the rugby league but I usually really enjoy watching the State of Origins and Grand Final each year.
It almost goes without saying that I'm quite happy to support anyone who is playing against Manly but I was quite lost yesterday. Instead of wanting either one of them to win, it was more a case of not being able to really support either team. Still, I watched most of the game and after a month on the wagon, it was good just to sit down with a beer, relax and watch the footy.
Anyway - back to work tomorrow.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Doc & Cap treatment no. 1: Day +1
Seemed to be a fairly good day for Ali today. She managed to sleep in until about 8:30am after a fair night's sleep.
She was up during the day and managed to get out of the house. A couple of hours lie down and rest was all she needed.
Her tummy feels a bit funny and she is weary but she's looking pretty good when all things are taken into perspective.
So far, these drugs don't appear to make her feel as bad as the previous treatment regime. Then again, she will be taking her pills for 14 days so it's possible that things will drag out longer this time. Just have to wait and see.
She was up during the day and managed to get out of the house. A couple of hours lie down and rest was all she needed.
Her tummy feels a bit funny and she is weary but she's looking pretty good when all things are taken into perspective.
So far, these drugs don't appear to make her feel as bad as the previous treatment regime. Then again, she will be taking her pills for 14 days so it's possible that things will drag out longer this time. Just have to wait and see.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
New treatment no. 1
Hope I've got this in early enough for most of you.
All went ahead today. Alison's neutrophils jumped from 0.96 to over 8, spurred on by the steroids that she was taking.
So far she doesn't feel as sick as she did with the previous treatment, although to me she looks more tired and her face is a little flushed and puffy (will need to keep an eye on her).
This treatment took just over an hour today and there are then pills for the next 14 days.
It wasn't all smooth sailing though today. First of all, it took three tries to get the needle into the right spot. That's on top of a needle this morning for a blood test and another one on Monday, also for a blood test.
Next, there were the ice gloves. For those who don't know, Ali doesn't have very good circulation to her hands. She's been known to have yellow fingers when it's cold. So when the nurses told her that she should wear ice gloves to minimise the side effects of the chemo, she was less than impressed.
The final bump for the day was that the nurses recommended Ali wear dark nail polish. This is because the bumps & discolouration that can occur to her nails may be accentuated by sunlight. Thus, dark nail polish may help minimise this side effect.
So, if you see Ali wandering around with no hair and dark nails, she hasn't gone goth or punk, it's just the way it is.
All went ahead today. Alison's neutrophils jumped from 0.96 to over 8, spurred on by the steroids that she was taking.
So far she doesn't feel as sick as she did with the previous treatment, although to me she looks more tired and her face is a little flushed and puffy (will need to keep an eye on her).
This treatment took just over an hour today and there are then pills for the next 14 days.
It wasn't all smooth sailing though today. First of all, it took three tries to get the needle into the right spot. That's on top of a needle this morning for a blood test and another one on Monday, also for a blood test.
Next, there were the ice gloves. For those who don't know, Ali doesn't have very good circulation to her hands. She's been known to have yellow fingers when it's cold. So when the nurses told her that she should wear ice gloves to minimise the side effects of the chemo, she was less than impressed.
The final bump for the day was that the nurses recommended Ali wear dark nail polish. This is because the bumps & discolouration that can occur to her nails may be accentuated by sunlight. Thus, dark nail polish may help minimise this side effect.
So, if you see Ali wandering around with no hair and dark nails, she hasn't gone goth or punk, it's just the way it is.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Chemo Delayed - Until Wednesday
Just a quick one this time (for the one person who said in the survey that the posts were 'sometimes' too long).
Alison's chemo has been delayed, probably until Wednesday. Her neutrophils were not high enough, same problem as last time chemo was delayed.
She'll have another blood test Wednesday morning and hopefully be right to start her new treatment then.
It's a major bummer but there's not much we can do about it.
Alison's chemo has been delayed, probably until Wednesday. Her neutrophils were not high enough, same problem as last time chemo was delayed.
She'll have another blood test Wednesday morning and hopefully be right to start her new treatment then.
It's a major bummer but there's not much we can do about it.
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