MINCE PIE CHALLENGE

Where it all began, October, from Tesco. 7/10

                                       

Frampton's, November. What do you mean, no mince pies??????

                                       

Haskins with Caroline 8/10

                                       

John Lewis with Julie. 8/10. Maybe a little to citrussy for me. And i didn't eat both of them!

Dot Teas with Lyn Rose and Nat. 9/10, and thats not taking the clotted cream into consideration. It was a good pie.

The Boat House with Caroline. 100/10. Extreme, i know. But they were the best ever, ever, ever.

A'Courts hair salon. 6/10 for the mince pie but 9/10 for delivery. And it was unexpected which is always nice. A spontaneous pie. 

Marks and Spencers with Suzanne 8/10. This is not just a mince pie....this is a Marks and Spencers mince pie!


Haskins with Ness Margaret and Christine. 8/10

I did pick up a packet of mince pies in Tesco but dropped them cos the pack wasn't closed properly. They went everywhere. I didn't get a photo cos i was too busy running out of the shop!!

                                                 

This is a very festive robin eating a few mince pie crumbs that i left............as if!!

The physical changes

March 2013

January 21 2016 pre diagnosis and treatment

                                                       February 20 2016 pre 1st ESHAP

                                                        March 15 2016 pre 2nd ESHAP

March 20 2016 pre 2nd ESHAP

March 21 2016 pre 2nd ESHAP

March 26 2016 pre 2nd ESHAP

May 30 2016 pre transplant (1.6.16)

                                                                   July 13 2016 day 36

Sept 30 2016 day 115

                                                               Nov  4th 2016 day 150

Dec 1st 2016 day 177

Dec 3rd 2016 (had to put a christmassy pic) 

April 21st 2017 - day 320

May 30th 2017 - day 358

Just short of my first anniversary (re-birthday).

What a difference a year makes!

June 15th - day 383!!!

My year post transplant check up.

Promoted to 4 monthly checks - first time in 3 1/2 years!

Delighted!

October 19th 2017

One year 4 months post SCT check up

11.12.16

I really ought to post a blog to let you know how its all going.
Im doing really well.......really well. Far better than my first lot of chemo. It seemed to take forever to recover from that. This time, the treatment was far worse but I've climbed Mount Recovery and even got a flag at the apex!
Its been 6 months since my last lot of treatment and my transplant.
Ive now finished my 6 month course of antibiotics and anti viral tabs which I'm pleased about cos they were big buggers! Im still taking another antibiotic for another 6 months, but even though they taste disgusting, they're a lot smaller.
Ive watched a line grow up my nails as the months have passed. Its across all finger nails and obviously chemo induced. Don't know about toe nails, i haven't got close enough to check. Its taken 6 months for the line to race to the finishing post and now its passed through the ribbon my nails are chipping and cracking and splitting. Ive taken to wearing gel polish to protect them so I'm looking quite snazzy!
The brows and lashes have returned, in fact they returned very quickly. They only thinned but the brows went very pale in colour. Now, again, almost 6 months to the day, the lashes are dropping like leaves in the fall. I have a few normal ones on the outer top lids, which looks remarkably odd, but lots of new ones starting to grow, so in about 3 or 4 weeks i should look absolutely stunning!!!
The hair!!! Oh my word. Its silver. Im now a silver fox. And its grown back really really curly. Im now looking so much like Tom Jones people are throwing their knickers at me in the street!
Im having my first trim next week. Just the curly bits taken off the back to stop me looking like an old age sheep. So i suppose I'm being sheared.
Im still fat! I have promised to lose a stone by the time i see Dr Jack next time, december 29th! It aint gonna happen. Too many festivities. I shall really have to pull my belt in by the next appointment which should be by the end of march, just as the Easter bunny raises her ugly head.
And I've been trying to give back. During this last lot of treatment i had so many friends offer help. Im very grateful. A friend of mine has been diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, so i have been supporting him. Ive been taking him to chemo which is quite weird. Im not too keen watching them give him infusions into his PICC line, or hearing the IV alarms 'beeping'. It takes me right back to my treatment. But he has very little support so i feel responsible for him. And he's very grateful.
My head hasn't fully recovered. Im still forgetful, or stupid my son says. I still see the funny side of many things tho. Far too many things.
For example, the other day on FB someone called Debbie Dodds posted about a baby owl.
'Aforable' she mistakenly posted.
With all the D's in her name it tickled me that she couldn't insert the d in adorable.
And of course Christmas is imminent. My tree has been up since mid november. Woe betide anyone who makes comment about it being far too early. Last Christmas was pants!
'You have relapsed, its nothing, yes it is something, no you haven't relapsed, yes you have'....the last 'yes' being on Christmas Eve eve (23rd for those not too good at maths). So i have started the celebrations early this year. I have been taken over by a spirit, well not strictly a spirit. Prosecco! And i have recommenced my mince pie tasting.
To date, and i find it hard to believe it will be surpassed,  the nicest mince pie is from..........(drum roll)...........

THE BOAT HOUSE, CHRISTCHURCH.

I am desperate to go back for more, but what with my impending, 'lose weight, Fatty' appointment with Dr Jack, i think i should decline!
Anyway. I wish you all a merry mince pie Christmas and a happy, healthy, New year.

14.9.16

This is a nice excursion for my birthday month, a PET scan.
Nil By Mouth from 2am, thank goodness its an early appointment so i don't have to starve too long.
No metal allowed, so earrings removed, glittery nail varnish removed (my logic says it has metal in it, so it has to go, not that my fingers are being scanned!), no bra! Note to self.......dont trip over them! That would be embarrassing.
So I'm off. Back later.
Very uneventful although i could teach the nurse/practitioner a few tips on patient care!
Then the 'main' week.
Monday - Hospital for bloods.
Tuesday - dentist to have a crown.
Wednesday -  'B' day. A flipping good day. Out for lunch - The Edge, (I don't mean i went out with the fella from U2). overlooking the sea. Then to see Bridget Jones Baby. Then home for coffee and a chat.
Thursday - hospital to see Dr Jack, only i didn't see him. Don't know if he was away or busy elsewhere but i saw another doctor who gave me my results of my scan. All clear. I was expecting this but theres always a little doubt. I think after my recent treatment i would have been devastated as well as surprised to find the lymphoma was still there. The job is to try and stay in remission. Lets hope so this time.
Friday - i went to Chris's house for the weekend for further celebrations.
Chris, Chloe and I went into Bath and went to the Real Italian Pizza Company for lunch. The best pizzas, just like Italian ones. I suppose it would do when you take into consideration the name. Then we had Real Italian Ice Cream. Low calorie of course. Went shopping. Spent money. Wore myself out. It was great.  Chloe and I even went into a shop that sells 'naughty' stuff, and i don't mean Chocolat. The places where batteries aren't included. We had a bit of fun with the over zealous shop worker. I bet she wished she'd never offered her help.
Back to Chris's to help with the piggies, the chooks and quacks, tortoises, cat, dogs and any other waifs and strays. There were a couple of alpacas cutting the lawn a couple of weeks ago!
So my birthday month turned out OK despite all the happenings. I must say the re-addition of Prosecco in my life is quite exhilarating. 5 glasses in one month!
I think i need more practice though!

1.9.16

Hurrah. My birthday month. In the past i would fill september with things to do to celebrate my birth. This year i am celebrating with a possible broken rib. I slipped in the bath. Im not as strong as i think i am at the mo. Its funny cos it was on my mind....'don't slip, be careful', and i slipped. Luckily black is very slimming so the right side of my back and my right arm (or bingo wing as my son calls it) must be looking very slender!
I have the next 3 days of celebration tho. Seeing Rochelle tomorrow. Its her birthday month too. Phil on saturday. And on sunday i was seeing a friend but we've cancelled that for now and as of last night i have been encouraged to go to a singing workshop. Don't know how that will work with a broken rib. Its more about meeting friends for me this time.
The other treat for today was walking the doggies and the need to pick up the poop in the poop bag. I always have terrible trouble opening the bags. They're like black bin bags but smaller. I rub the edge, blow them, stretch them and eventually they open. I seem to have lost my dexterity.
Having succeeded, i place my hand inside and bent down to the offending article.  Grasped and realised there was an error with this bag. Both ends of the bag was open and my hand had gone straight through and collected the poop 'au naturel'!
Lets hope september gets better!

7.8.16

Further more to my post about being bald the other day (it may have been a month ago, I've lost the plot!), i have realised a further issue. I need glasses to read, as most people of my age (27!) do. I used to put them on my head. It kept my hair out of my eyes and i always knew where they were. Now, if i put them on my head for any length of time, i get little dents in my scalp skin. I think its the nose rests/bridge/pads, whatever you call them. And if thats not bad enough, when i wear them to read something, they seem to weld themselves to the skin above my ears. I feel like I'm ripping my skin off when i take them off! Take heed people. This is gods way of telling you to eat more carrots!
Cure.
People in my cancer group keep talking about a cure. Its such a good word isn't it. Cure Cure Cure.
You'll never know till you die! Simple.
So it was my return to the hospital to see the cardiologist following my Echo co co co. I gathered my strength and took a deep breath to get me up the ramp. Got to the midway where you then turn a corner and felt the need to pretend i was looking at the lovely view from the window. In reality i was 'resting'. Trying to get my breath back. I continued the journey to the receptionist who luckily was talking to someone else. More chance to stop puffing like a 50-a-day smoker.
'You're in the wrong place. You need to be down in outpatients.'
Nobody had told me this. I was sent an appointment for my Echo in the cardio respiratory department and i was told my appointment with the cardiologist on the phone. No department was mentioned.
Luckily i still was puffing like a steam train so she was spared my wrath!
Down to the Yellow clinic. I waited. I played a game. I waited. Another game. I asked the HCA who always seems to bustle (but slowly) about looking important.
'Is Dr Carpenters list running late?'
'I don't know, I'm not dealing with Dr Carpenter!'
And he was gone.
No, 'I'll ask at the desk for you.' Or, 'Go and ask at the desk and they can find out for you.' What happened to helping or being polite? One day he will be in a similar situation, maybe in the diabetes clinic going on the size of his waist! I wish i believed in Karma!
Anyway, his clinic was running late so Dr Carpenter directed me to one of his team and told me he would catch up with me after the paperwork and the initial examination had been done.
Ejection Fraction is the measurement that determines how well your heart is pumping out blood. I believe the normal is 55 -75. Mine dropped to 48 after my first lot of chemo. It is now 47. I suppose thats ok in the grand scheme of things. I am very short of breath at the mo, but i believe that to be the chemo and hopefully will improve in time. I need to keep up the pole dancing!
Dr Carpenter seemed happy enough with me. We reminisced about the faux pas he made when he first met me regarding a gown he gave me to wear. We laughed! He said he still feels uneasy when he sees me......just how i like it!
I will be reviewed in a years time. A year to get fit, lose some weight, and grow some hair, maybe dye it a different colour just to confuse him.

5.8.16

Echo day. Im not gonna embarrass myself by writing ECHO Echo echo co co co. That would be silly.
I arrive at my favourite hospital - Poole. Drive straight into a parking spot. I just know all is gonna go well today.
You see, I'm a bit of a tease. You're all thinking its gone badly as my recent hospital visits have gone. You'll have to read on to find out.
The first hurdle. The cardio-respiratory department was well thought out. Patients with heart and chest problems normally have some shortness of breath. So they have placed the department up a 50ft steepish ramp. So by the time you get to the smiley friendly receptionist you're close to a cardiac arrest. At least you're in the right place i suppose.
I am directed to the seating area with all the old people. Im always the youngest there. I don't know if thats something to brag about or not.
Whilst they read Womens Weekly and  Readers Digest, i pull my iPad from my bag and play a game or two. I wonder if i had the app if there were any Pokemons or Pikachus in the area?
Im called in for my Echo (co co co) by a nice bald man. I can see we have plenty in common.
I am asked to get on the couch.........topless. Its an uncomfortable feeling laying there wearing nothing but a skirt. I even removed my hat. I did warn him first tho. Didn't want him having palpitations.
A quick unexpected squirt of cold gel made me feel like id been defibrillated. Im sure i bounced off the couch.
And we're off.
Breath in. Hold it. Breath normally.
Breath in. Breath out a bit. Hold it. Breath normally.
Breath out quickly and forcibly through the nose. A brief description of why was given, but in one ear and out the other. Something to do with blood vessels closing.
Gel removed (by myself i might add) from various parts of the upper body. Dressed. 'Titfer' back in position, and back down the ramp. A lot easier going down than coming up!
See. That wasn't too painful was it!
2 weeks till i see the cardiologist (oh bugger, back up the ramp) and find out if the treatment has done any damage.