Monday 8 October Ramble
October 8, 2012 — Headless“It’s frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.” – Unknown
Very early start today 4:50am as heading into The Press early as the email system for NZ users has been migrated to Google, so a busy day ahead. Turn off the alarms before they sqawk the house down. Get ready for work then. Feeling really good today. A wee bit sore but nothing compared to the past few weeks pain. Even have some breakfast and a whole cup of tea with my meds. Jono lets me know that he is on his way to get me so I head off to meet him.
Get into work about 7am and get ready to face the day. A few people are in already but nothing for me to deal with. Steve Wright then arrives and Spencer (one of my IT coleauges from FFX Aussie). They are here to help with any user issues too. Go down to man the Google Bar (non alcoholic one bugger it) with Spencer and Jono. This is where users that need their mobile devices setup will come. Busy time with lots of people arriving. Get the hang of configuring the devices (documentation was wrong) and there are different phone types/models to deal with – iPhoney’s and Fantastic Androids 
Take a break to have lunch – actually manage to eat something) then do a few more phone setups. Go down for the Global Corporate Challenge awards – (GCC is a 16 week program where by you entered teams into and the idea was that you track your daily walking steps on a pedometer then enter them on a website – there were 24 teams from The Press alone entered and it is a Global Challenge so you’re pitted against teams from around the world). I received a special Inspirational Award for my contirbution – nice. My average was 8287 steps (goal was 10,000 per day) and my best day was 29,652 steps – this was during Radiation/Chemo treatment and when I was at times in my worst patches of my journey, so I’m happy with it.
Head off then at 3:30 as I have a 4pm appointment with the Chemo Doctor. Appointment goes well. They were concerned slightly about my White blood cell count, but decided it was good enough for me to be able to do the Chemo. I only have 3 more rounds to go including this one, meaning I will finish then about mid December. From there they will assess whats happened, happening, and where to from that point. This is because as they said today, they are learning what treatment is working, how I am coping, etc. as they haven’t had to deal with my type of Cancer before. But they are encouraged by how I am going and how I am handling the Chemo, etc. In away I’m relieved to hear that I’m over half way now, but also worried as to what happens next. Once I finish I am not really sure as to what will happen apart from have another scan to check the mofo’s. I guess we will discuss this more when the time comes too, as I would like a more regular scan thean the standard 6 month ones as the big tumour grew in probably about that time – so you can understand my want. They are very agressive and fast growing tumours. Leave with my notepad of scripts for the chemist. Starting to get sore now – body and head pain (probably due to the long day so far). Get my scripts swapped for my parcel of pills! The chemist even has a laugh about it.
Get home and gather up the boys and Craig, Kelly and Charliegh as we are meeting Nevil and Rose at The Speights Ale House for an early dinner. Dinner was very nice (well I think it was as taste starting to pack in now). And I managed to eat a fair amount and before 7:30pm. I can’t eat anything after 7:30 when I am doing my Chemo. Head home then about 8:30pm as the boys and Charleigh are tired. Get them all ready and into bed.
Take the first drugs at 9:30pm then do the blog while waiting until 10:30 to take the CHemo pills themselves. Will then wait until about 11pm to take the pain killers. Milo and then to a warm bed. Hope all have behaved themselves today and had a great Monday – don’t stress if you hate them as the next one is still six days away Take care all.
Kia Kaha.