One step forward...

Another week and another set of tests that are just not what we wanted to see.

Consistent blood tests are taken to ensure that there is no lasting damage in organs or glands whilst the immunotherapy and chemotherapy ravage the body. We already know my thyroid started to misbehave which is why my Consultant chose to stop (temporarily) the immunotherapy treatment. The dizzyness and extreme breathlessness I struggled with a couple of weeks ago have been a result of very high TSH levels.

Two weeks later, and following a course of tablets, my TSH is now too low. I have in effect gone from from having Hyperthyroidism to Hypothyroidism - neither of which is good news.

So, we continue with chemotherapy only for now and an appointment for a scan of my thyroid along with a meet up with the Senior Endocrinologist at the BRI.

"When we do your thyroid I might do your head too" the consultant stated. Quick as a flash I responded with "Why...? What's in my head?" He looked very amused, and even giggled. "Your brain, he said.....and your pituitary gland".

Oh yeah. Just kidding, I said. I know that. Then I went home and looked it up....the pituitary gland, not the brain. I am fatigued, not struck stupid!!

What does this mean? In general terms, it means I feel awful quite a lot of the time. High levels of dizzyness, still breathless and fatigued. When you add these pleasantries to the side effects for the chemo, which will continue as usual, my poor old body is having a tough time.

But we fight on, keep taking the tablets and face each day with as much vigour as I can muster.

Talking of which, the tablet regime has now changed. My intake of steroids has gone up, just as my thyroid fails to manage my metabolism which means my normal chunky self is getting chunkier. It will settle eventually but I did not anticipate going on a course of chemotherapy and putting on weight. Just my luck!!

On bad days, my self-muster is limited but I am getting about 2 days a week when I feel more energised. Last week this meant a day trip to Ikea, not because I needed anything but because it would be crowd-free and flat and give me some exercise! A slow walk ensued but I still didn't manage to wend my way through the store without a wobble. I held on and kept upright the whole way around. Unlike Annie who managed to unceremoniously fall over a chair and land spread-eagled on the floor much to my amusement. I walked on and left her there whilst others wondered whether she was trying out a rug or simply starting a protest.

I mentioned the dizzyness again to my Consultant and he advised me that Ikea walkabouts was too much!! It wasn't clear whether this was an anti-Swedish stance; general distaste for flat-pack furniture or a medical intervention.

Cycle 4 started this week. Bloods taken on Thursday show another decline in my haemoglobin, now ticking over in the mid-80's (should be around 130). Apparently I do not look like someone who has a haemoglobin count that low, but given my lack of experience in this arena I cannot comment on that. What I do know is that it needs to settle down otherwise it's blood transfusion time and I happen to like the blood I have.

I have spent decades giving blood every 3 months. It seems slightly immoral to ask for it all back now!

C'est la vie...!