Hello guys and gals , lovely to read your messages of support. It really does help knowing you’re all there. I’m feeling a little better today . Done a few jobs today which always helps. Empty Xmas boxes back up in the loft.
Hi Phil, good to hear from you. Yes we are basically in the same rickety old boat hoping it stays afloat for a while yet. I suppose we should liken any further treatments to a spare bucket so we can bale out a bit of water …
I started seeing a counsellor fairly early on in this journey and it was a Godsend. Mostly at the beginning it was helping me deal with some childhood trauma and emotional issues which id never ever spoken to anyone about before. I couldn’t move on until I’d started to deal with all that. I’ve seen 2 different counselors now and they were both amazing. Both NHS and although Ive finished now the last one did say if i get issues related to the cancer i can get maybe a couple more. I may well give them a call and see if i can do that.
Certainly give the counseling a try Phil. I really found the whole journey of discovering why i am who i am incredibly interesting. I learnt so much about myself. But she did say I’d never be ‘normal’ when i asked her π. One time she gave me an emotion wheel where you work out what emotions you are feeling. She said try it and straight away she put her head in her hands and said trust me to use it backwards. But we had a laugh about it.
I certainly understand the going through stuff in your head while you should be sleeping. I now used a low dose Mirtazapine to help me sleep. Doesn’t work 100% of the time but well enough.
Great to hear you’re still getting out on the bike. I last used my bike a couple of years ago. We are lucky to live 25yds from an entrance to a country park, but it is very hilly and I’m not sure i could get far now. I can get down to the sea wall from there which is a flat ride but have to get back up the hill at the end…! I am still pretty weak from the time on the chemo and i think dropping the steroids for a while didn’t help. Back on the steroids now so feeling a bit stronger but still get knackered pretty quickly. Hoping that will get better.
I had my blood test on Monday ready for my consultation next week and noticed there was no PSA or Testosterone requirement on the form, i nearly asked the nurse to scribble them on the form. Obviously they don’t need to know anymore and I understand that but its still a shock to be reminded that that is where i am on the journey.
I hope you have a really amazing time away. The weather should be lovely there this time of year. We’ve only been to Gran Canaria in the Canaries and it was scorching hot… I also know where you’re coming from with regards to getting away in the future. We are booked to go to Portugal in April with our oldest and his family and just hoping we can still go. I’m feeling we wont as I’ll likely still be on the Radium by then. Still saving our Avios points and Companion vouchers though, so fingers crossed at some point we can get abroad again. I wont speak to travel insurance until after next weeks consultation.
Anyway, thinking of you Phil. Hope your next consultation goes well and you can relax a bit on holiday.
Take care everyone,
Phil