A quick update.
Health wise
Bloods and Zolendronate on the 22nd. This was also Linda’s birthday, and we had planned to go out for a walk, but as the Zolendronate was at the antisocial time of 2 p.m. we couldn’t do that. So I went for a little walk up to the Ridgeway from the Aldbourne road between appointments instead. It was a blazing hot day and I had some great views.
Bloods again on the 29th (it’s much easier now you have to have an appointment – strangely there are only ever about 3 people there, I wonder where all the others went?).
30th I had a telephone clinic with Dr. D. and we discussed many things. I’m going back on the lower dose of Lenalidomide because the 10 mg has interfered with my platelets and neutrophils. No Dexamethasone for now (phew!) and stick with the GCSF. He’s going to ask for a spot check of my magnesium as I’ve been suffering from cramps a bit. Probably going to have 3-monthly Zolendronate sessions, although the 2 year, monthly infusion cycle is over.
Other stuff
The little Suffolk lawnmower got some new front rollers (you may have seen them in the header), made by yours truly. Being round, the ideal would have been to have turned them. I did think for a few minutes about buying a woodturning lathe, but that didn’t seem a practical proposition, so I thought I’d have a go with hand tools. Result – 3 perfect rollers (well as near perfect as doesn’t matter, anyway). I thought I’d lay out the process for the technically minded (and I know many of my readers are of that persuasion) so here goes:
On the 23rd, we went for the little jaunt we had to postpone from the 22nd. Being another scorching day, we chose to explore West Woods (between Lockeridge and Pewsey) thus ensuring we spent most of it in the shade. It worked, although I still suffered from some nasty episodes of cramp that evening and the next day.
Since lockdown eased, we’ve tried to get out for a walk every day, mostly just round our canal/railway loop but occasionally a bit further afield. I’ve also liberated my rowing machine from the shed, and given it a little service. Unfortunately the little computer is bust (it got damp) but the mechanics of the machine still work. I had an experimental spin over the weekend, and will try and give it a go a few times a week. I’m not in training for anything, so there’s no pressure for it to be any more than just a bit of recreational exercise, but I’ve always liked rowing as a form of exercise – hard work without putting too much stress on the joints, if you do it right. I’ve downloaded a little app to guide me through the early stages, as opposed to just going flat out until I collapse (joke!).
As a finishing touch to our “landscaping” round the pond, I made a little palisade to hold back the bank behind. We’d thought about sleepers, but we have a supply of cypress logs and kindling at the bottom of the garden, from pruning our trees over the years, so we tried some of that instead, and it looks much more natural. A lot of work with a hatchet sharpening the ends, but it’s all good exercise.
Finally today I managed to get an appointment to return the Skoda, so the new transport will be being collected next Wednesday, the day after. I’m looking forward to it. However nice the Karoq has been, and it hasn’t been anything but nice, somehow it never felt like me. The new ride is something I definitely chose for myself. We’ll see …
Toodle pip!
Nick's Chemo Diary 