Day 30 - Countdown to finish

So after having fluids applied intravenously over the weekend, I approached the new week with a bit more enthusiasm. I was keen to get it over with as it was the 2nd last week of treatment.

As such, it also meant the worst weeks too.

I woke as normal, with a dry and mouth fixed solid with muck and dried blood. I did my normal routine and cleaned it up as best I could. I still wasn't eating but I found that flavoured milk was still digestible. I had a ready supply of chocolate, spearment and strawberry milk, plus some strawberry quick if necessary.

My hiccups had not ceased and were becoming more normal. I was having trouble sleeping and for the second time, I slept in our spare bedroom so Vic could get some sleep.

I still hadn't been to the toilet to open my bowels. However, I'd been to the toilet around 15 times for a 'wee', thanks to the intravenous intake on the weekend.

My neck was starting to burn and just generally feel hot all of the time. There was not much I could do, but I did continue to apply ice and cold, wet towels to help relieve the pain. I was also applying copious amounts of Sorbalene to moisturise the skin. These helped but were only temporary.

The skin around my neck was also constricted, so that when I turned my neck it felt like it was being pulled tight. The same when I tilted my neck forward or backwards. It was so burnt, it just wasn't flexible any more.

I was able to get a little liquid down, mostly water with Panadol Soluable. About 250mls, but still not enough to keep me from becoming dehydrated. Which in turn, made me going to the toilet less likely. It also meant, that it was becoming less and less likely I would be able to pass whatever was building up in my bowels.

One of the Doctors at Vicki's work commented that getting my bowels to open was now such a problem that we needed to start using stool softeners. Without having something like this, I'd never be able to pass anything that was trying to get out anyway.

This particular Doctor also suggested that I stop taking the laxatives I'd been taking because they actually dry things out a bit, whereas we needed everything to be very moist. As well, suppositories were suggested. I guess I was in a little bit of denial, mostly because this just sounded gross to me. Little was I to know what was about to eventuate. I've had started much, much sooner.

Vicki had a late shift that day, so we didn't discuss this latest information until she got home that night. It was also recommended that I perform an Enema or two, and more if required to help get things moving. This just sounded even more gross and I had major fears about this.

Vic tried to make me to understand that it is actually reasonably normal, and was a perfectly easy procedure. I still refused.

I'd spend the day intermittently doing some work, lying down taking a nap, taking my meds, smothering my neck in Sorbalene and having a Neb, I tried to eat, but was still battling. I still hadn't opened my bowels, but wasn't in any pain.

Vic's dad transported me to the hospital and back for my radiotherapy session. I had a reflexology massage at the Solaris Care centre at 1pm, which was good, but other than this I just had to wait for my radiotherapy session, which was again booked at 3.20pm.

All in all, a pretty uneventful day compared to some, for which I was thankful.

Once again, I headed off to bed early at 10am after having completed my normal mouth, throat and neck hygiene routine.