Well before I go on and talk about my recovery and the two weeks between chemo, there are a few little bits and pieces to throw in from the first week.

First story: the bath

My room at the Cotton Rooms had a bath. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE baths. But I’m not allowed to submerge my left arm in water, and I’m connected to three bags of chemo at all times (and the cords are not very long). This posed me with a problem that needed to be solved. How would I have a bath while on chemo?

I asked for a hook from reception which I could use to hang them, but the height was wrong and the hook would have to go on the wrong side to my chemo arm. No that just wouldn’t work.

I noticed that there was a clothes line above the bath that could be pulled across the length of the tub, and it was on the correct side for my chemo arm. So I pulled it across and hooked my chemo bags into it. Turns out the height was perfect!! So bath time was a success, with my bags of chemo hanging precariously above my head and my water bag (Which has a longer cable) safely on the floor. This felt like a win. I was in back pain by the end with an inflamed chest cavity (Which is a feeling I know well unfortunately – costochondritis) but thankfully it didn’t last long.

I won this round.

Second story: Flowers

This is a short story but a nice one. I was sitting in my room one of the days feeling sorry for myself and someone came and knocked on my door. I frowned to myself and grumbled about why I was being disturbed. Surely I put the do not disturb sign on the door? So I picked up all my things and got to the door and opened it, and there was a man standing there with a big box. I smiled immediately when I saw on the outside of the box what it was. Flowers!!! My lovely colleagues were kind enough to send me flowers and chocolates!!! They were some of the most lovely flowers I’ve seen (purple!! My fave!!) and the chocolates were incredible. It was such a nice surprise. On my final day in the Cotton Rooms I was lucky enough to be sent an Amazon voucher also, which leads me to my next ‘story’…

Third story: My Kindle

I guess this isn’t really a story… But I’ll go with it anyway. I always thought I didn’t want a kindle but figured I would eventually get one, and what better time when I’m going to have a lot of time for reading. But I put it off and put it off. Do I really need one? But I like actual books! But Charlie was lovely enough to buy me a Kindle and from the second I held it I was obsessed. Now I have this amazing portable little thing with an awesome elephant case with loads of books on it! So I can change books whenever I want and don’t have to lug them around. And I love reading on it too. Seriously obsessed.

I think that’s all for now! Three nice little stories from my first week of chemo.