Spot trouble

For upwards of a month recently I was feeling much more exhausted and sleepy than usual. And I bumped into doorways rather more than usual as well.
I'm used to a certain amount of lassitude due to the cancer medications I'm on. And I'm accepting I have a balance problem because of the loss of function in my right ear. But it's all been much worse in the last few weeks.
There's been no significant change in any prescriptions for three or four months. I am not taking anything new or different into my system. In fact, we've reduced two by 50% to help out with similar symptoms.
But, ah, I have been treating a number of spots and small lesions that have come sprouted during the long term of my medication. I've been prescribed Efudix which had to be spread on the affected areas twice a day for three weeks. Beverley, my book-publishing client has been using the same stuff and one day she observed that she had been more tired than usual and someone told her that Efudix might be the problem.
Really, I thought. The stuff is just smeared on my spots, not swallowed. But Bev was right. A quick visit to "Dr Google" has confirmed her suspicion. Apparently, there are several creams that, applied topically (as they say) can nevertheless cause substantial changes in one's awareness. And this one is as vigorous as any of them. Indeed some medicos refused to prescribe the stuff.
We've both finished our three week courses now and are pleased with the surface results. But I think both of us are even more pleased to have our customary energy and general alertness restored!

Whew!

I'm enjoying the cooler winter weather. It's so much easier to control the massive ups and downs of intense hot flushes. A quick shift to a cooler part of the house or a short burst from a nearby fan and it's all over in just a minute or two.

And if I time it right, I can get out of bed on these colder mornings while in the grip of a heavy hot flush. By the time I've got into the shower or into my clothes my temperature has gone back to normal and I haven't had that first chill that hits most people when getting out of a warm bed. There have to be some benefits in this wretched disease and the unpleasant side effects of its rather severe medications.

We're going back to the specialist this week for a follow-up on my first appointment at our new hospital. We'll be discussing my application to go on the Phase III trial of a new drug for people in my situation. Interesting.