The 7"C" words............health updates (Read 11,964 times)

[BarryB]

No updates in recent months, but as alluded to in the March 1st post, blood tests showed that the treatment I was on was no longer working as well as it had been. It was to be expected sooner or later, and they monitored everything closely with regular clinics every 3-4 weeks from early March onwards until the end of May. Eventually it was decided that a different treatment regime was required, which in reality has turned out to be more "extra" than "different"., and that was started at the beginning of June. So far it has been effective, but the side effects can be horrendous. So far I wouldn't describe them as horrendous, but then it's only mid-July. There's still time, and early indications are that the cure may be worse than the cause. Meantime I've had other surgeries booked that I deferred to try and sort the treatment out, but it's all a balancing act. I also found out that not eating enough and not drinking enough while having chemo can lead to fainting spells as well, and it can be quite painful when you catch the corner of the coffee table on the way to the floor. Another spell in hospital, and a 2-month driving ban. There's good days and there's bad days, but sleeping is about the only thing I do well now 🤣

More later.....

Barry B

[TonyT]

Sorry to hear, and sending best wishes your way Barry. Dont forget The Pits have plenty of speedway from last summer online, to help keep you amused during the waking periods.

[The Observer]

Think you still run the macgor’s posts pretty well BB!
sending a big hug - and man the online speedway available now compared to the early days when all we had was macgor’s?
Still a great community here and I still miss the buy and sell board I must say.
and maybe i miss the days when Macgor’s was all that was available 😂 Always made me laugh with the number of people who bagged it, but seemed to be religious daily checkers of this speedway haven.

kia kaha my friend

[mrsteee]

Hang in there Barry. One day at a time. Best wishes.

[BarryB]

Well that didn't work. As mentioned above, side effects horrible but it was extremely effective and getting the blood tests headed in the right direction. But the medics pulled the pin [3 weeks into July] before l did. The drug that they had me on was Thalidomide, world famous decades ago and something that l thought would have been banned worldwide for use on humans. But it is still used on cancer patients. Lucky us.

So I saw the specialist a week later on August 1st, and a rule change as of that date has made another option available earlier than prior to that date. No, l don't understand either. Especially as I'm up to third-line treatment now anyway!! Maybe prior to that date I'd have had to of struggled on, on the Thalidomide, for a few weeks longer, but as it is I can't start on this planned third-line treatment earlier than otherwise. But I've got to have a few weeks treatment-break to clear that other s*** out of my system. The new drug is supposed to be as affective as the dreaded Thalidomide, but without the side effects. I guess time will tell. Meantime I've managed to arrange my cataract surgery during the treatment-break, so that'll cure me of being one-eyed!!!

Barry B

[tiroto]

Thinking of you BB - here's a little prayer: Ma te Atua e manaaki a tiaki i a koe i nga wa katoa ake tonu ake! May Atua bless you and keep you always.