Shattered

[watervole]

I'm feeling absolutely shattered.  I really can't remember when I last felt this tired.  I think it's a combination of a lot of emotional stress and travelling into Poole every day for radiotherapy.  Yesterday, I cycled in to Broadstone where I had three fillings at the dentist, then cycled into Poole for radiotherapy at the hospital, spent two hours walking around Poole while I left my bicycle at the bicycle shop to be serviced and have the gears adjusted, then cycled home again.

The good thing, is that all physical effort, plus thinking about the radiotherapy, has largely distracted me from the emotional stresses.  I'm exhausted by them, but I'm not currently worrying so much about them.  Let's hope that that continues.

Today, I'm going to take it pretty easy.  I'll probably potter around the allotment, taking advantage of the novelty of sunshine, do some sleeping, and maybe collapse in front of the TV set.

As far as I can tell, the radiotherapy is going well.  I've had virtually zero skin reactions, although I've been warned that it's quite common for a reaction to occur after therapy has finished.  I've been very careful to follow their instructions about not using any products on my hand including soap -- I have a jar of "aqueous cream " which is essentially a paraffin emulsion, and I've been using that to clean the skin and keep it moisturised.  The staff recommended it, and while it doesn't clean fantastically, it certainly keeps the skin soft.

My right hand feel slightly freer, although that's probably my imagination.  I finished the current session of treatment, I have to go back for another week in the middle of August.

Comments

[dougs.livejournal.com]

A perfect choice of user icon for this post.

[kerravonsen]

I was admiring the icon also.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

By Fred Gambino. I really would love to own a print of this.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I am gratified that you recalled my original comments about the picture and realised why I'd chosen the icon.

[djelibeybi-meg.livejournal.com]

Take care - and plenty of rest. Radiotherapy is very debilitating and it comes as a surprise because you can't feel anything. I did it every day for five weeks and got completely wiped out.

Very much in support of aquaeous cream - and possibly aloe vera if you fancy it. I slapped it on as instructed and never had a problem, just minor redness like ten minutes too long in the sun. I was very lucky as some ladies were having huge problems.

Radiotherapy

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

Continued good wishes with your course of radiotherapy. My sister-in-law is in week 5 of 6 weeks of radiation therapy following surgery for a cancerous tumor removed from behind her eye. The effects, especially fatigue, are definitely cumulative. Sounds like a day of relative rest is well in order.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Rest is good. Hope the radiotherapy is having some effect (of the right sort).

[melodyclark.livejournal.com]

I hope you're feeling much better soon, my friend.

dupuytren

[joostweekers.livejournal.com]

Dear Judith,

Dear Judith,

My name is Joost (29 years old) and I live in the Netherlands. I also was diagnosed with dupuytren recently. And like you I'm not willing to let surgery become my only option. And just like in England, radiation therapy for Dupuytren's is not normally done in the Netherlands. At the moment I'am looking at options in Germany, but your story gives me hope that I possibly can persuade my own doctor in the Netherlands. That's why I'm very interested in the material you are talking about, that persuaded your doctor. Is it possible to send this material to me by mail?

Re: dupuytren

[watervole.livejournal.com]

There's a truly excellent web site at http://www.dupuytren-online.info/index.html

Go there and all the information you need is there. That's what I used to persuade my doctor and the hand expert at the hospital.

Read the whole site and evaluate everything they say as the best treatment depends on the stage that you are at.