They let me out of hospital on Thursday afternoon at last. There was a lot of waiting around before I could go as they lost the prescription for my pills, but finally got home about 5pm. It felt really strange being at home after two and a half weeks in hospital and I felt worried that I would get ill again. I felt sick and couldnt eat any dinner and then finally was sick. I felt much better the next day though after a proper night’s sleep and even managed to eat breakfast, lunch and a whole plate of dinner cooked by Chris. He worked from home on Friday so that I would not be on my own. Today I feel fine, still have nausea sometimes as a result of the antibiotics that I am taking (16 tablets a day) but other than that, I think I am on the mend!
Cycle 3
Well, two weeks on and I am still in hospital, it feels like ages since I have been at home. The food is pretty grim but I have no appetite anyway which probably makes it seem worse than it really is. The nurses are very nice, I know all their names now and most of their life stories. I spend the nights falling asleep, only to be woken up by someone wanting to stick a needle in me or take my blood pressure. I am on massive doses of antibiotics which are given through a drip into my hand. My veins are very small so they tell me, so often this is painful and my veins are irritated by the drugs. I have to have anti sickness tablets every day. One blessing is that I am in a room on my own. I have a TV and now my laptop and its very quiet most of the time.
I had to have a rather unpleasant procedure called a bronchoscopy on Thursday where they take a sample of some tissue or fluid in the lung. Luckily I was sedated and I dont actually remember it. The sample has gone off to Brighton to be tested and we are waiting for the results at the moment. Depending on what comes back depends on when I will be allowed to go home and how long I have to stay on the antibiotics.
I also had a CT scan last week which showed that I have had a good response to the chemotherapy and the tumour has shrunk a lot, there is not much left of it now!
Cycle 3
I am still in hospital. The doctors now think I have PCP which is a type of pneumonia common in people with supressed immune systems. That is what they are treating me for anyway. I had to have a bronchoscopy yesterday to have a sample of lung tissue taken. The results are not likely to be here until monday though.
Cycle 3
I am in hospital. I was admitted last Tuesday after being unwell for a few days. I collapsed on Monday morning and went to see the consultant on tuesday. He admitted me, and I have been here since. They think I have caught a bug and that is what was making me feel unwell. So I am on antibiotics on a drip twice a day now. I am also having anti sickness drugs. I am neutropenic which means that my white blood cells have dropped below a certain level, and I am far more prone to infection. I have had an injection to make me produce more white blood cells but this is taking its time. I am in an isolated room so that I dont get more infected and the staff all have to wear protective aprons and gloves when they come in. I am not allowed out of the room.
Its hard to sleep here and I feel very tired. It seems as soon as I have dropped off, they wake me up to stick needles in me or to take my blood pressure. I have to have horrible injections in my legs every night to stop me from getting blood clots and I have to wear white socks to stop me from getting DVT.
Chris and Mum and Dad come in to see me every day, but because of the infection risk, I dont have anyone else coming. I saw the consultant this morning who said I will be here for a while longer yet. I feel much better than I did before, I have not collapsed again and I no longer feel sick. I have started to eat a bit too.
Hopefully I will be out soon. Its pretty lonely sometimes, and other times I like the peace and quiet. I spend the days mostly reading the paper, watching tv and sleeping. I feel quite weak and do not have much energy.
Cycle 3
I went to work all day on Wednesday and Thursday but last night I was feeling tired, sick and stressed so I didnt go in today. I have been feeling sick all week, ever since the chemo on Monday. I have been to the hospital today and got some new anti sickness tablets called Cyclizine. I have not been able to eat a lot, but managed a salad earlier.
The car also broke, it has not felt right since my little skidding incident the other day, and it turned out the “tracking rod” was bent, so I have also had that fixed. It is quite important apparently.
Chris is playing at a gig tonight, so I am at home resting and will be going to sleep soon….
Cycle 3
I had chemotherapy number 3 on Monday, and it went very quickly as I was on the “accelerated” procedure, which basically means same amount of drugs, but put in quicker. I am an “old hat” at this drugs business now. Dad came with me to keep me company, but I ended up falling asleep anyway for a while. One of the things I have to have before the drugs is Piriton to stop me reacting to the other drugs and I have a double dose straight into my vein, and that is enough to send anyone to sleep!
I came home and opened some lovely presents from Peter, Trish and Melanie (thank you!) which was really nice. Trish – can you believe, the chocolates are UNOPENED at the moment!! That will not last long though….
I felt sick all day yesterday, and stayed in bed. I was not really able to eat a lot, although I managed to force a ham sandwich down at lunch time! I feel better today though and have just managed a fish pie. I am at work today which takes my mind off it a bit.
Some other good news, my bridesmaid and one of my best friends Laura got engaged on Saturday!! Congratulations old chum!!!
Cycle 3