18. Bumps

A few days before Christmas I had gone to Audley Dance Hall cafe with the parents for lunch. It was a very belated Birthday present. Mither and I were then going to see the new Avatar movie afterwards. I noticed that my right arm was getting some dry skin on it again. It had put on some my moisturiser (Jojoba oil, lavender and frankincense essential oils - normally it would also have rosemary but I have run out of that oil at the moment) on that morning. Mither had just bought a lemon myrtle moisturiser at the little shop next to the cafe. I put some of that one my right arm. We go to the movie (I really liked it) and home.

The next morning I have a few little bumps on my arm. On the outside of my arm up near my shoulder. The next day more, lower down now and a bit itchy near my elbow. A ice pack helps a bit with the itchy. I get a text message from Dr Man on the 27th. He was checking in with me about my GP's details, he was sending her an update about me. I check with him about the itchy bumps, he asks for a picture, he says perhaps a reaction to something. Maybe the lemon myrtle moisturiser? He recommends over the counter antihistamine to help with the itch. If it doesn't go away or gets worse then let him know or see a GP.

A few more days, itchy bumps still there, they have spread a bit, worse around the elbow. More red there and a bit hot. The antihistamine tablets seem to keep the itchy at bay enough that it isn't too vicious. Pharmacist gave me some cream to help with the itches, he said it was fine to use with the tablets. It did help but I think it was making the bumps spread so only used for two days. An ice pack helps too and that has been nice in the hot weather.

Day 8, itches still there, still spreading a bit. Haven't used the cream again, haven't used any moisturiser for a number of days, aloe vera helped a bit but only slightly. I decide to go to the GP because it's been over a week and I do have some pain on the inside of my arm, above the elbow. Early signs of lymphoedema can be a rash and pain. Best to get it checked just in case.

GP's are a rare breed and finding an appointment at the best of times can be difficult. My new GP is away (presumably on holidays) until next week. Donna tells me that there is a place at Kirrawee where you don't need an appointment, walk-in, bulk billed. She'd gone there today and it's open 7am to 10pm. I decide to go and get to see a lovely Dr in about 45 mins. She asks me how she can help, has a look, asks me about my recent medical history (I give her a VERY brief run down) and concludes that it probably is a reaction to something, perhaps the moisturiser, perhaps something else. Keep using antihistamine tablets this week. No creams, no oils, nothing, not even soap on the arm. Lukewarm water in the shower and if there is dry skin then water only. The pain she concludes is probably my muscles waking up after the operation, from the stretches and exercises. She says to document any changes and she is pretty sure it isn't lymphoedema as those changes are slow, not quick.

Anything else that will happen to me? Hmmm? Any other weird things that will happen to my right side? It almost always is my right side. My right ankle had major ligament damage in 1996 after a volleyball injury in Bryn Athyn, USA. I dislocated my right ankle in Sweden in 1998. I have bone fragments floating around in there. I've had stress fractures on my right outside toes and foot in 2013. I had a big lump under my foot around 2012 (between big toe and next two) which the doctor said I needed cortisone injections every 3 months to make it go away. I didn't get those, I used homeopathy instead and the lump was gone in less than 2 weeks and hasn't come back. In March 2022 I accidentally had a very heavy wooden seat of a dining chair drop corner first onto the top of my foot from my shoulder height. THAT BLOODY HURT! A big lump like an egg came up on the top of my foot, it was between my 2nd/3rd toes and about 5cm up my foot. I was sure I'd broken bones but nope, they were squished. The x-ray showed that they bones were squished and it could take months if not years to fully heal. Typical me with the crazy weird injuries. If I'd just broken bones they would've healed in about 6 weeks. It's been 10 months now and it still bothers me a bit. It took months to be able to curl my toes all the way. Talk about multicoloured skin with the bruising that came up. Not quite so impressive as the bruising on my boob though. My boob is back to normal colour by the way. I think by Christmas the final last bits of bruising were finally gone.

I have been doing my exercises. I can reach up above my head with a straight arm out the front as well as the side. The exercise where I lie down on my back, put my hands behind my head and let my elbows fall to the carpet is a bit more challenging. When I started those a couple of weeks ago my right elbow moved about 10cms and then felt like there was a strong cable that wouldn't stretch stopping me. Now I am probably at 3/4 of the way to the carpet. Very difficult and sore still. Playing the piano still helps and apart from the physio side of things I am enjoying playing more often. When going through some boxes the other day I found some music a friend, Solomon Keal, composed. Such beautiful music. It's been nice to play those tunes and think of the fun times we have had when I've visited him in the USA.

I have been crocheting. A friend commissioned me to make her, her husband and her daughter beanies. They are going to Italy in early January for a month or so. It was nice to be able to create again. For a while I couldn't crochet, just the movement and the pressure of my inner arm and armpit was too much as the skin was so sensitive. It's not so bad now. I also crocheted a couple of cotton dish clothes for Ange, Jon and Evie. They moved into a new house recently. I've done some sewing, making a dress for Aneira. She was quite sad that she hasn't had an "Aunty Cazza dress" yet. April, Evie and Zaeli all have had one. I was going to make her one for her birthday but figured I could do one for her now. She asked for colours that where purple, pink, green and yellow. I found some fun fabric in my stash that has dinosaurs and volcanoes on it with the perfect colours, no yellow but I found some yellow that works well. It's almost done and I hope to give it to her this week.

Nurse Mither has been helping this week with the dressing on the drain hole. As it is holiday time the community nurses either ask people to dress things themselves if they can, or come into the clinic. Mither had watched Justin many times and she felt she was confident enough to change my dressing. She has done that twice and a few days ago she says that the hole is finally 'just' closed over. I'll probably have a scar the size of my pinky nail on my hand. Random fact, my pinky nails are different sizes, the right one is bigger than the left. Anyone else have different sized nails? I have an appointment at the community nurse clinic on Tuesday and they can make sure it's all ok and maybe I'll be discharged from their service then. If not, I have another appointment on Friday morning before I see Dr Man again.

I got a call from Jeanie at Sutherland Hospital organising when my PORT will be installed. Monday 9th at 10am, though I need to be there by 9am. Procedure takes about an hour, I'll be sedated but not under general anaesthetic. I can wear my contacts, I double checked that one. Thank goodness for that! My eyes have been ok. I have been using eye drops if I feel they are getting dry. I do notice that they get tired easier than they used to. That is a sign I do need a new prescription and/or contact lenses.

Chemo starts on Tuesday 10th. I'll have to have a regular cannula for that first appointment as the PORT takes about a week to heal. I wonder how my immune system will be for healing after the first chemo session. Something to ask Dr Man about on Friday. I also need to get another blood test before the procedure. The one I had a few weeks back will be too old. Holiday season meant it took too long for my PORT referral to go through earlier. Oh well, nothing I can do about that.

Happy New Year everyone. 2023 is going to be an interesting year that's for sure. I'll keep everyone up to date here on the blog, hopefully posting at least once a week. Feel free to check in with me, texting, calling, FaceTime or going out for walks.