Another day with the backpack. I am finding it heavy going this time. Time is passing slowly! Today I had the Peg aspariginase, the last chemo drug of the cycle. I got out of Ambicare at about 2pm and after speaking to Jeremy on the phone I had a nice afternoon nap.
This evening Rose has visited and we just dined at quite a swanky restaurant (using the taste card of course - 50% off). Then she reminded me I had not posted to the blog!
My haemoglobin has fallen a bit, so I get out of breath easily. They are going to give me a unit or two on Sunday to make things better when I go home.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, 20 May 2011
Thursday, 19 May 2011
A long day in Ambicare
This day (day 15 of the treatment cycle of 30 days), is a long day, just as day 1 was a fortnight ago. I arrived at 8am and it is now 5:30pm - I expect to leave at 6:30.
I did not sleep well last night, and so I am pretty tired now. I will be hooked up to fluids in the backpack for the next three days, and so will not sleep well for while (with all the weeing that is required). I still feel a bit yukky, the anti-sickness is still not properly sorted. But I am fooling myself that things are improving ...
I got lots of information today from my doctor, pharmacist and also the transplant nurse specialist, but I forgot most of it! If it is not written down it is not good for me in my current state. The chat about the transplant was interesting, and I do remember this much: she said that the three months post transplant are the worst, worse than the immediate aftermath in hospital (which lasts about 6 weeks). I am trying to focus on this time next year, when I will hopefully be pretty fit, but it is hard to see past the immediate future! We get to see the consultant on June 2nd, and this is when we will get to know the probabilities of survival given my exact condition and donor status. Generically the chances are 75% to survive the transplant.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I did not sleep well last night, and so I am pretty tired now. I will be hooked up to fluids in the backpack for the next three days, and so will not sleep well for while (with all the weeing that is required). I still feel a bit yukky, the anti-sickness is still not properly sorted. But I am fooling myself that things are improving ...
I got lots of information today from my doctor, pharmacist and also the transplant nurse specialist, but I forgot most of it! If it is not written down it is not good for me in my current state. The chat about the transplant was interesting, and I do remember this much: she said that the three months post transplant are the worst, worse than the immediate aftermath in hospital (which lasts about 6 weeks). I am trying to focus on this time next year, when I will hopefully be pretty fit, but it is hard to see past the immediate future! We get to see the consultant on June 2nd, and this is when we will get to know the probabilities of survival given my exact condition and donor status. Generically the chances are 75% to survive the transplant.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Back to Ambicare
Rose dropped me just before noon, and I had an easy time today, just giving blood, getting a new PICC dressing, seeing the doctor and some paperwork. I start tomorrow at 8am.
At about 2pm I checked in at the hotel, but the room they allocated was at the front, by the flagpole (outside) and the elevators (inside). I asked to be moved, but the next room was not suitable either. Finally, at the third attempt I got a decent room. A few minutes ago, some other people tried to get in! They had obviously double booked the room somehow - I am sure they will sort it out.
I had eat-in fish and chips for lunch in the local chippy. Amazingly it was full! They have a small dining area, but most of the tables were taken. It is obviously more fashionable to eat in at the chippy then I thought!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
At about 2pm I checked in at the hotel, but the room they allocated was at the front, by the flagpole (outside) and the elevators (inside). I asked to be moved, but the next room was not suitable either. Finally, at the third attempt I got a decent room. A few minutes ago, some other people tried to get in! They had obviously double booked the room somehow - I am sure they will sort it out.
I had eat-in fish and chips for lunch in the local chippy. Amazingly it was full! They have a small dining area, but most of the tables were taken. It is obviously more fashionable to eat in at the chippy then I thought!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Last day at home
Today was my last day at home before going back to continue my chemo cycle. Tomorrow will be an easy prep day - the treatment starts again in earnest on Thursday.
I spent the day quietly, doing puzzles and reading. Rose played golf this afternoon (just a social round at a different golf club). My nausea is getting better - I don't feel as bad as I did earlier in the week.
Christian, another of our French friends rang this afternoon, having seen my recent post about Thierry. It was really nice to hear from him. Margaret also rang, and nearly managed to come for a visit. She is babysitting her daughter's kids but sadly could not get away in time.
I bought an external 2 terabyte disk from Amazon last week and it arrived today. 2 terabytes! It is slightly smaller than my existing 500 gig drive, and of course uses less power. Where will it end, I wonder?
I spent the day quietly, doing puzzles and reading. Rose played golf this afternoon (just a social round at a different golf club). My nausea is getting better - I don't feel as bad as I did earlier in the week.
Christian, another of our French friends rang this afternoon, having seen my recent post about Thierry. It was really nice to hear from him. Margaret also rang, and nearly managed to come for a visit. She is babysitting her daughter's kids but sadly could not get away in time.
I bought an external 2 terabyte disk from Amazon last week and it arrived today. 2 terabytes! It is slightly smaller than my existing 500 gig drive, and of course uses less power. Where will it end, I wonder?
Monday, 16 May 2011
A trip to Shropshire
Today we drove up to Shropshire to see Rose's parents, and have lunch with them, and her brother Peter and his wife Sue.
The roads were quite busy; it took two and three quarter hours each way. Normally, I do the driving, but today Rose drove both ways. My meagre contribution was to drive to the pub once we were there. We went to the Combermere in Burleydam and Rose and I had fish and chips (as we always do). It is really good there, and did not disappoint this time. We had a very pleasant lunch indeed.
Rose's Dad has become a "silver surfer"; he follows this blog, uses Google earth, and likes to play solitaire. I applaud this embrace of technology well into his eighties!
With the addition of cyclizine, my nausea is not as bad now. It is a shame that I have lost about a kilo in weight since I came home.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The roads were quite busy; it took two and three quarter hours each way. Normally, I do the driving, but today Rose drove both ways. My meagre contribution was to drive to the pub once we were there. We went to the Combermere in Burleydam and Rose and I had fish and chips (as we always do). It is really good there, and did not disappoint this time. We had a very pleasant lunch indeed.
Rose's Dad has become a "silver surfer"; he follows this blog, uses Google earth, and likes to play solitaire. I applaud this embrace of technology well into his eighties!
With the addition of cyclizine, my nausea is not as bad now. It is a shame that I have lost about a kilo in weight since I came home.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Nausea
Eurovision was fun, but a late night; Yvonne came round to watch. The favourite in our house was the Slovenian entry. Greece's success was a mystery to us! The winners were very mediocre I think. Rose correctly guessed the finishing position of the UK.
I awoke still feeling nauseous, and so rang the hospital for advice. They suggested getting my out-of-hours GP service to prescribe cyclizine, which I duly did. We drove to the clinic, collected the 'script and got the meds. Since taking one I do feel a little better; i hope it truly makes a difference.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I awoke still feeling nauseous, and so rang the hospital for advice. They suggested getting my out-of-hours GP service to prescribe cyclizine, which I duly did. We drove to the clinic, collected the 'script and got the meds. Since taking one I do feel a little better; i hope it truly makes a difference.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Un appel de Thierry
Aujourd'hui mon ami francais Thierry m'a appele. C'etait une belle surprise et un grand plaisir.
C'est longtemps depuis j'ecris quelque chose en francais ....
... but some other time maybe! My knee is calming down; I needed fewer pain killers last night and I am hopeful for this evening. However, for the last couple of days I have been feeling nausious most of the day. I do not really understand why, as my anti-sickness regime is the same as it always has been.
I spent the afternoon watching sport - FA cup final on one channel and Leicester vs Northampton on another. I watched the rugby mostly - a great game, dominated by Leicester and won by them.
Tonight Yvonne is coming over to watch the Eurovision song contest with us. It should be a merry evening.
C'est longtemps depuis j'ecris quelque chose en francais ....
... but some other time maybe! My knee is calming down; I needed fewer pain killers last night and I am hopeful for this evening. However, for the last couple of days I have been feeling nausious most of the day. I do not really understand why, as my anti-sickness regime is the same as it always has been.
I spent the afternoon watching sport - FA cup final on one channel and Leicester vs Northampton on another. I watched the rugby mostly - a great game, dominated by Leicester and won by them.
Tonight Yvonne is coming over to watch the Eurovision song contest with us. It should be a merry evening.
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