Yesterday I had my first infusion of Zometa, or Zolodronic Acid. I have to have this every 6 months for 3 years. It helps protect my bones from the effects of sudden premature menapause that my other medication is plunging me into, and it also reduces the chance of the cancer coming back by a further 2%. It's administered by IV, and this was the first canula I'd had since my final chemo last September. I thought my veins would have recovered, but no! It took 4 goes to find a vein, and it hurt so much. But now I've had it done, I don't have to have it again until January. The side effects are apparently 3-4 days of 'flu-like symptoms', which I dismissed and headed into work today on my bike. But then in the afternoon it hit me like a bus. The non-air-conditioned office and intense heat didn't help! (It was 34 degrees at my desk today!) But now I really feel whacked out, my bones are aching, my head is all clogged up and all I want to do is sleep. I nearly fell asleep on my cycle home! Eek. Fingers crossed I will feel better soon. I also have calcium and vitamin D tablets on prescription: 2 a day. Thank you NHS for being totes amazeballs.
Other things I've been dealing with lately, include going to the lymphedoema clinic, and being fitted for a lovely sleeve and glove to help combat my lymphedoema (swelling of the right arm and hand due to having fewer lymph nodes to drain my lumph fluid round my body). Unfortunately heat is a trigger so this weather is not helping.
Sexy
I've also seen a physio to find out why my right hip is so sore. He's given me some exercises to do and I'm going back next week. Fingers crossed we can find out what's wrong and sort it, as I want to be able to go hiking and walking again, as well as not wake up in the middle of the night in pain!
Last week I had my final Herceptin, yay! A year's worth done and dusted. That's fewer times I'll have to go into Bart's for injections.
I've also been referred by my GP to a sleep clinic, but that's not until September, to try to help me sleep better (I'm sleeping so badly at the moment). And I've also been doing some counselling with the psycho-oncology services at Bart's, which is really helping.
So back on track! And we head off on our big, relaxing holiday on 8 August: 3 weeks in Canada. Really looking forward to relaxing and seeing some of that beautiful country, as well as catching up with our relatives there.
