Elaine didn’t really recover from what precipitated the rigor two weeks ago. Since a further attack of rigor on Friday, she has been feeling terrible and has barely eaten. Things finally seem to have swung in action. We had the doctor yet again this morning who arranged for anti-sickness drugs to go in by a line attached to a machine – one that does go “ping” if it gets blocked. Elaine seems to be feeling a little better – enough to quip “I’ve lines to the right of me, lines to the left of me . . . “

We’re so grateful to our friend Jane who used to be a doctor and lives on our street. Just at the points where we don’t know where to turn next, she comes and sits and chats and gives us great advice and anecdotes about teaching bare foot doctors in Africa. And thanks to Julie who comes round and chats and supports and brings us tasty dishes like the quiche yesterday which I greedily ate most of.

I wrote the account below to try and make sure all the doctors and medical practioners realised just what was going on.

Wednesday,13th June Cookridge pre-assessment – urinary tract infection diagnosed. Antibiotics prescribed.

Thursday, 14th June Cookridge: chemo oxalyplatin plus cetuximab
– with hindsight this might have been delayed given Elaine was unwell.

Saturday, 16th June – up all night vomiting. In bed all day Sunday and Monday. Not eating.

Tuesday, 19th June, frightening attack of rigor. 999 call.
Admitted to Calderdale Royal. Extensive tests.

Wednesday, 20th June – discharged from Calderdale Royal.

Thursday, 21st June – consultation with Dr A at Cookridge.
Scan to be brought forward because of increase in tumour markers.

Friday, 22nd June – Dr Anthony phones at 5.30 to say they have found pneumonia bacteria in the bloods. Antibiotics changed.

Elaine continues to feel unwell, mostly bed bound and eating very little.

Monday, 26th June, phoned surgery for home visit. Dr O came.

Thursday, 28th June. Too poorly to go for chemo at Cookridge.
Bucks up a little and we go out for a meal to celebrate Morgan finishing A levels.

Friday, 29th June. Another attack of rigor. Elaine rides this one out.

Weekend of 30th June/1st July – feeling very ill most of the time. Regular vomiting.

Monday, 2nd July. Does not eat anything until Monday morning, and then only some stewed apples, a biscuit, and some of Julie’s soup. Dr W visits in the morning. Elaine is feeling a little better at this stage. By the afternoon, Elaine is vomiting regularly even though there is nothing to bring up. Complains of back pain. Jane (a non practising doctor neighbour) comes and feels her back and feels the pain is in the kidney area. We call the out of hours service. The doctor prescribes a different antiobiotic, one intended for the urinary infection. He gives an anti-sickness injection. Elaine sleeps for a couple of hours but is still up most of the night trying to vomit.

Tuesday morning, 3rd July – feeling terrible, still trying to vomit at 20 minute intervals. Dr H prescribes the line.

Temperature has varied from 36.4 to 39, sometimes in the course of a day.