Sunday 9 June 2013

37. 9 June 2013 - Feeling quite "normal"

I think I feel a bit better, I really do. I've stopped getting feverish after my interferon shots. I'm still tired a lot and fuzzy headed, but I don't feel sick. It was my 15th shot on Friday.

Maybe I've got better at taking it easy. It's what I do at weekends. Maybe I need a new focus. Maybe treatment can move to the background a bit?

Wednesday 5 June 2013

36. 5 June 2013 - Virus not detected!

The treatment is working! I am over the moon. I got my week 12 viral load results today - virus not detected. So, I'm in it for the long run, the full 48 weeks.

My neutrophils are down to 0.31, so the nurse told me to restart the Lenograstim.

The weather over the past week has been beautiful. Lots of sunshine. I've been really good about covering up and using sunblock, but I now have rash all over my hands, which was the only bit of me that was just protected with sunblock rather than clothes. There's also a bit of rash on my belly too, which is a different shape. The rash on my knees has been like expanding circles. The rash on my belly is little dots. Time to start the hydrocortizone cream again I think, and no hot baths or swimming until it's completely cleared.

Saturday 1 June 2013

35. 1 June 2013 - Impatient!

On Thursday I called the nurse at the hospital to see if my viral load results were back. I knew it was much too soon - they take 2 to 4 weeks and I was calling after 4 working days - but I couldn't resist. They weren't ready, but he did confirm that the lab has the samples.

I'm finding it a struggle to muster the motivation to keep going. I don't tend to put my stickers showing I've taken my drugs doses in my diary straight away, but do them all together at the end of the day. I don't floss every single night like I used to, and my gums are getting sore again. Those are just two little examples. The regime is getting wearing. Getting the results will give me a boost, I think, if they are good.

It's been 17 months since I gave up smoking, but lately I've started to dream about smoking! It's very strange, as I haven't missed it at all, not after the first few weeks. I've got that craving feeling, that there's something I need to feel better. I suspect it's oxygen I'm missing, from the anaemia.

Yesterday was another low day. I got up late, about 10.30am. Then after spending the morning on the computer looking up properties to buy in Spain (my latest hairbrained idea) I went back to bed at about 1pm. I felt so weary, leaden, like I just wanted to be and not think. But, it didn't help. It's Mum's birthday on Tuesday so I should have been out buying her a present. The Ocado man brought the food delivery for the week, and I just put the stuff which would spoil away and left the rest in bags in the hall. I didn't wash up, didn't do a wash. And it was a beautiful day outside.

And then my honey called me and said did I want to meet and sit in the sun for half an hour on his way home from work. So we went and sat on a bench by the fountains and watched the world go by. He'd bought me a cake-sicle, a pretty sticky treat. And we chatted about nothing serious and laughed, and I was better. I feel profoundly grateful that he knows just how to cheer me up, and that I have his love.