Oops! I goofed

The respite didn't last long. But it was so nice...... (sigh)

Ah well, back to reality.

And stupidity

And new challenges.

First the stupidity.

I goofed. Big time. Last time I saw the Professor, I thought he said I have to take the Everolimus and forget about the Exemestane. For almost two weeks I did just that. The pain in my joints disappeared (Hurrah!), but I was really fatigued. I could barely move. Then, I got the Prof's letter to my GP (I always get a copy) and it seemed to say that I should be taking the Exemestane and the Everolimus together.  WTF! (excuse my language) I've already taken back my two boxes of Exemestane to the pharmacy to be properly disposed of.

I called the hospital and yes, the Prof came to the phone. 'You take it together.'  OK, but one has to be taken with food and the other one on an empty stomach and I usually take both at night. Well, you take the one with the food, wait two hours and take the other one. Yes, OK, simple, I understand, but really....

New obsession to get used to. Have dinner latest by 8pm and take the Everolimus 2-3hrs later. I can deal with that, even if it embarrasses me. My iPhone alarm is set for 8pm for the Exemestane. It rings when I am out in company. 'I am sorry, that's my alarm.'
I just hope I don't forget to turn it off in the theatre or other quiet place I go to. My mind is a bit mush nowadays.

Now, as if all that were not enough, on Thursday night I woke up with a pain in my neck. Seemed like a ping-pong ball was hiding in there pressing against my windpipe. I was terrified. It was way after midnight and I had no idea what to do. I had just started the new pill combo on Wednesday! Is this one of the side effects? OMG!

I breathed deeply to calm down and waited until the morning to talk with lovely Keith Cox at Lifehouse. He thought it may be an infection, but let me talk to the pharmacist to discuss the possibility of a drug reaction. No, the golf ball is definitely not a side effect. I was much relieved and we discussed other changes I've noticed, such as a slightly bloody runny nose, very dry skin on the face and elsewhere, as well as very dry nostrils. She said that was from the Everolimus.

Now that I know the cause, I have some treatments for these side effects. For the dry skin I use QV cream and shower wash. It seems to work OK, and for the dry nose I have resorted to Hungarian folk medicine and do chamomile inhalation. I love it, because it's also a great facial and it clears the nose and lungs. I feel so fresh after.

As to the mini-golf balls in my neck? One of my friends had a terrible cold that turned into pneumonia. She has been struggling with that for weeks and weeks. She told me her cold started with swollen glands. OK, so that's probably what I got too. A bloody cold.
We are having a long Labour Day weekend here in Sydney, so nothing is open and my condition is not an emergency, so I am going to wait until Tuesday (two more days???) to see my family doctor. In the meantime, I just treat it like a cold, but am resting more and making sure that the body is properly taken care of.

So, my new ode to my body?

Hey little bod, you've been through the trenches.
I am going to try and help you in any way I can.
I'll treat you like a friend and put our differences behind us.
In return, please get well, so I can get on the plane in November
and see my boys and girls.
Let's see if we can have some fun for a change. Just you, me, and the family!