I started cycle 2 of the chemo thinking that whilst there were a few challenges in the first cycle I’d be able to ride them out like last time and just cope. How wrong I was.
This blog is a little less chirpy than previously – sorry for that in advance and whilst I do generally have a very positive nature I have been struggling with the side effects of the treatment this time. The GI issues which were a problem throughout cycle 1 came back with a vengeance and my abdomen swelled so much I couldn’t lie down and was quite breathless and ended up visiting the Haematology unit and being given various laxatives, enemas and eventually bowel prep in a bid to bring me some relief. The combination of Dexamethasone and Bortezomib had caused my bowel to stop completely and 12 days of no toilet activity was excruciating. Now I’m feeling a little better (and lighter) I’m certainly a little less enthusiastic about repeating this again next week. I think there’s a conversation to be had with the ‘team’ about how this is managed for the next cycle and some talk of reducing the frequency of my chemo and the dose of Dexamethosone but I’m keen to carry on with the current regime as much as possible so it’s over sooner rather than later.
On a very positive note I got a call from the National Amyloid Centre (NAC) in London to say that my first blood sample, which I sent down at the start of the second chemo cycle, had shown my bloods to be within the normal range after just one treatment which is great news and bodes well for the future. There will still be a bit of a dilemma once/if I’m in remission about whether or not to have the Stem Cell Transplant sooner rather than later but I’m sure the NAC will be able to give advice on that.
So that’s all for now – sorry to my running pals for not being able to make the marshalling the other night but I couldn’t walk let alone cheer you all on. I’ll come to the next one all being well. Thanks too to my lovely sister Kate who came to stay for the week and kept me sane, did the ironing, walked the dogs and even did some baking (wonders never cease). She bakes a great cheese scone and I see today that she’s branched out into baking flapjacks too. We’ll get her on ‘Bake Off’ yet 🙂
Annie’s amyloid adventures 
Anne, I had exactly the same problem for the first 2-3 cycles. Everything that I was prescribed was either inadequate or too “fierce”. I would strongly recommend “lactulose” liquid as you can vary the dose according to your needs on a daily basis (Duphalac by Mylan is the latest brand I was prescribed and that’s supposed to be more gentle than other brands). Also I think I’ve mentioned before that the homeopathic remedies worked extremely well as a longer term mild and gentle solution to this problem and I’ve had little repercussions since I started taking these types of remedies. I would strongly recommend that if this persists that you ask to be referred to the Centre for Integrated Care on Gartnaval Hospital’s Site (Just across the road from the Beatson Cancer Centre. The homeopathic remedies have been very good at helping me to manage the side effects (having regard for the fact that I’ve had nearly 50 Chemo sessions now since April 2017).
I’m just about to read you’re latest blog (got a little behind as I managed to get my Consultant to write a fit to fly letter and we headed for a nice relaxing week in Madeira on Monday of last week which did me the World of good). Take Care Andy & Christine.
LikeLike