Strange Notations From a Laborious Life

I typed the name of my blog, “Strange Notations from a Laborious Life” into Grok the other day. It said it wasn’t an edited or polished blog, just folksy, or words to that effect. “Could be enjoyable if you are interested in the day to day musings of an average Aussie”. It also said it wasn’t very well read. Hmph! Well I like it and it does appear to have had something of a rebirth lately as I have been using it to monitor and record Linda’s journey with terminal breast cancer which is the only vaguely positive thing to happen in this whole episode-for me at least.

Truth is, I never really liked the title, “Strange Notations from a Laborious Life.” I thought of the name as I patrolled the stackers on a Barcode Sorter, a real journey to the edge of boredom for anyone who has ever had the misfortune to sort mail for a living, and you do tend to think of life as being quite laborious as you complete your two hour stint clearing stackers and bins or feeding mail, endless mail into the machine. It seemed like a good title at the time and although I find it rather cringe inducing now, I am loath to change it after 14 years. I also thought anything I might write could be regarded as strange by others. I guess, giving myself a free pass in case anyone thought I was weird. I know it’s hard to believe but not everyone I have met in my life has regarded me as the charming, chatty, man of the world that many mistakenly believe I am, hehe.

I’ve always been a social phobic, find small talk hard and prefer sometimes to retreat into my shell lest anyone actually listen to my unthought out opinion. That’s why I write a blog. I can communicate without having to talk and no one takes blogs seriously anyway!

So, to the week that was. Linda had a week off from her chemotherapy which was a welcome relief for her as she has been suffering quite badly with side effects. She hasn’t appeared to be getting better and ulcers in her mouth and down her throat have restricted her eating and lent itself to her losing more weight. She has been struggling to get around even in the house, using her walker and needing me to lift her out of her lounge chair and help her in the shower. Not pleasant for her or me. And certainly not helping her morale.

We saw a registrar on Tuesday as Linda’s regular oncologist was away and he agreed that an extra week off chemotherapy would be appropriate as she clearly hasn’t recovered well enough. We were supposed to go down the coast after that but given the side effects she didn’t want to risk it. Another disappointment.

A day off from appointments on Wednesday but Thursday was another trial. A long wait to see her general practitioner and straight to the hospital to see a diabetes educator, again a long wait and although it was a productive meeting, tiring for Linda and I. Linda will have to use insulin from now on whenever she has her chemotherapy and takes steroids. Steroids raise your blood sugar levels and as I mentioned in my last blog post they were high enough to make the chemo nurses pretty jumpy. Unfortunately the insulin doses will have to be administered by yours truly, something I am not looking forward to.

Since Thursday Linda has been suffering from worsening mouth ulcers and general malaise and weakness, keeping her prone and at home. Anyway who knows her would tell you how alien that is for “Lady Lunchalot.”

Perhaps tonight, for the first time in a week or so, she is a little brighter. Despite telling me she has felt absolutely shattered today she seems to be a fraction better now and the pain in her mouth may be easing a little. It’s a tough road for anyone on this same journey.

So, we look forward to a week without treatment but a fervent wish that Linda starts to recover better and can get out and about and the live a semblance of the magnificent life she has always had.

Until next time.