[onlymeParticipant]

Hi.. well am back .. only me!!!

Treatment has started today… what a minefield to take in… CTD and lots of other tablets… went and managed to try and take it all in but it just seems so much… this tablet then, this tablet there, this tablet there and few more on top !! Think we were all in shock how big the bag seemed to be…!!

Thought there was break in between each course but no its continuous !!21 day cycle then re assess and then straight back in again the next day with the next course!! Phew!!! With blood test at the 14 day point!??

Mum being really brave.. so proud of her and my Dad!!

However at one point I did have to just get one of the nurses to go through everything one more time!! Anyway Mum is underway thats the main thing… heres to the next few weeks….

Thank you to everyone who posted on my newcomer post.. I have now progressed to the treatment page!!!

Regards
Only Me!!!
x

[MinParticipant]

Just a quick one only me. Did you mum not get a little chemo booklet? It should set out what tablets to take when and have the little boxes to allow your mum to write down how she feels when she takes them. Like side effects or not. Just helps when she returns for next consultation as its so easy to forget things. Should also contain the phone numbers of help should she need it.
Min

[brochoParticipant]

Hi only me glad to hear your mum has got started, it does get easier You could ask the specialist nurse if they do a drug chart to help manage all the tablets , I usually do my own so that I can tick off when I haave taken something I hope things go smoothly and please give my best wishes to your mum and dad love Bridget

[onlymeParticipant]

Hi.. thank you for your comments.. yes the booklet is beginning to make sense.. and the tick chart is making the medication easier to administer…
I am wanting my mum to make a diary… only 'few words' on each day so she can see how she responds to the tablets.. and can see if pattern emerges!! but its probably too early days yet…

I think I was in shock when the "medication" was handed to my mum (and dad!!) it seemed so daunting A) to see how big the bag was and B)to take in what was required to be taken and when!! but it is making more sense now and and I think its all fitting into place..

Mum had minor set back with treatment on first day as she felt wobbly as the day progressed but after a couple days in hospital her potassium has been assessed and Mum has received a few welcome bags of saline and is now looking lot better and is laughing and joking and wanting to come home!!
(I, meanwhile, received a few welcome bags of G & T on my return home!!)

Dad meanwhile is re charging batteries and is ready for her to come home tomorrow!

So on a big positive note… all is looking like we are on the right track!

Phew!!!

Love and best wishes to you all and will be back on here am sure next week…

Only Me !!
x

[clarabellParticipant]

Hi again only me!

Because i've had to take some flexi hours for my dads appointments I wasn't going to go next week for start of Dads CTD but after reading your post i'm wondering if i should? I hope you don't mind ne asking what age your mum is? My Dad is 62 but a young 62 if that makes sense? However all this info is hard to comprehend and i'm now wondering if i should go next week or do you think if my parents get a pill organiser that would help?

When we attended this week the hospital hadn't checked ct scan results and when i asked for them they told us dad has a mass on his hip which will need radiotherapy for and will now arrange.
My parents are early 60's and not old for their age, i'm early 30's and finding it all a bit too much to take in, do you think i should attened for info on start of CTD? Do you think the more the merrier to take in info? thanks Clara xxx

[onlymeParticipant]

Hi Clara,

If I can pass on what I learnt, whether it will help you at all, I dont know, and I suppose each case with MM is different so am not sure if your Dad will be the same..

But My mum is 67 and like your Dad, is quite a young 67!! So when I went with Mum and Dad for the appt, I was expecting three boxes …consisting of the CTD!!.. What we were told in that first meeting was quite a lot to take in!! … Not only was there the CTD, but there were tablets for protecting the stomach, tablets for protecting the kidneys and tablets for protecting the lungs, also tablets to protect from gout, anti sickness tablets, asprin, and the Zomeeta injections, that were going to be arranged monthly that strengthen the bones during treatment… They explained that the chemo drug is obviously highly toxic and is to be handled with gloves, kept safe etc etc… Also diet was explained and we got a booklet on Neutropenia.. what to eat and what to avoid!!

They went through the next 21 days and explained that the blood tests need to be done at day 14,(they give you the blood test form then, that you take with you on day 14!) so that the results are in for the 21 day check up.. Then all being well on your appt on day 21, the next prescription for the next 21 days is given and that gets started the next day… and so on …and so on!
We werent told that there was a chart coming with the treatment.. and when we came out we asked the nurse to re cap it all with us!!Then the pharmicist arrived and went through it all with Mum and showed her the charts and weekly grid that shows you what to take each day!!! I had the idea of the pill organiser, but the pharmicist, said some of the drugs are so toxic, and you need to handle them with gloves they are best staying in original boxes until needed!!????

Anyway, looking back I am glad I went.. I work and like you it isnt going to be feesible, for me to go with Mum and Dad to many appts, but at least I was at the initial one and although it sounded daunting, please let me re assure you that after couple of days it does all make sense!!!!

I feel a lot more relaxed now knowing what the course entails and how after three days of it Mum is a lot chirpier and happier… I want to send that positive note to you that, once started it will all fit into place…

I hope that this helps you in making a decision, and your Dad gets underway very soon…

Good Luck
Only Me x
🙂

[onlymeParticipant]

Hi how are you and hows your Dad doing???

Just a little note to see how things are going at your end??

mum is doing ok finding some days harder than others..

Been thinking about how you got in in the end?
Regards

only Me!!
x

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