Salvage RT starts here

Everything went swimmingly today - arrived 10 minutes early and taken in 5 mins before the appointment. The only difference today was that when the Linac kicked in I could swear I could feel something happening. That's the first time and I don't know if it was real or imaginary. Certainly wasn't painful or even uncomfortable, just a sensation really.

I'll have to see if I get the same tomorrow.

Unfortunately no more erections today :)

Oh dear, a bit of a cock-up today (no, no erections were involved!)

So the time was put back until 13:30 instead of my usual 12:00 so all my timings were out and I didn't drink my water until 45 minutes before the appointment. No problem I thought, I grab a couple of extra glasses of water before the session.

Unfortunately they called me straight in after I arrived and I knew I wasn't feeling full although it was getting that way.

Anyway, I laid down under the machine and discovered that one of the techs was on a teaching course - maybe an intern. So every step was being shown to him and he was adjusting the bed etc. No problem, he was well supervised by the tech.

So they said goodbye and left me alone but the machine did not start - the tech came back in explaining to the intern that he had done something wrong - I didn't catch what is was but something to do with how the machine's panels were arranged.

Wasn't filling me with much confidence at that point.

Anyway, they completed whatever adjustments were needed and the machine started up for the scan.

While I was waiting for the click clack of the bed being remotely adjusted they came back in - now what???

"Sorry, your bladder isn't full enough"

Bugger! Lots of apologies from me and I am sent back to the waiting room to drink 2 full glasses of water - so that was 500ml at home, 2 glasses when I arrived and now 2 more - hmmm.

When they called me back I was fit to burst but the procedure went OK and the tech came back in with a thumbs up - "that was perfect" - I wasn't surprised - there was a lot of pee in that bladder.

Even though I emptied it after the session, it was almost tempted on the way back to do the French thing and pee on the side of the road - that was a lot to hold in!

Anyway, another session done and getting close to half way through! No side effects to report apart from being a little tired.

Steve 

The Tamusolin dizziness (if you get it) is caused by the blood pressure drop (reduced blood flow to the brain). Personally I take mine after dinner, a couple of hours before bedtime. When I wake up in the morning my BP is slightly lower than normal, but recovers as the day goes on.

Day 16 RT and only side effect is fatigue ? You’re doing well 👍.

That's the mid-point of my treatment - 33 in total and #17 completed.

Nothing much to report today apart from a blinding headache that I don't think is related to it - paracetamol seem to be fixing it anyway.

Still tired and a bit lethargic but pushing myself to do the dog walking. I'm also taking Gooses' idea of taking the Tamsulosin in the evening rather than morning - better keep an eye on BP as I am also on BP tablets as well.

Feels a lot better that we are half way through it for sure.

So driving to the hospital this morning I got to the traffic lights and they all went dark - due to the intense thunderstorms we have been having, there was a major powercut. So I arrived at the hospital half expecting the appointment to be cancelled so it was a pleasant surprise to be ushered in after a short 10 minute wait.

I think something might be going on with my bladder as when I started it took at least 500ml of water to get a full bladder 60 minutes later and I could hold it reasonably comfortably. However, the last couple of days, I have had just 300ml just as I leave home and arrive 45 minutes later with it just starting to feel uncomfortable - the days when there has been a 15+ minute delay then it's getting quite painful holding it in (and leaking a bit). I'll discuss during my weekly consultation on Monday.

Apart from that, my normal machine was being 'updated' whatever that means and so I was sent to a different machine. This looked brand new and was so quiet compared to the old one - the Linac sounded the same but the scanner was almost silent. I want it for the rest of the treatments but of course, it's not my choice. :)

The tablets (antihistamine) and cream (corticosteroid) that they have given me for the rashes has worked wonders over the last couple of days and it's all pretty much cleared up so that's really helped.