Before - During - Sinead

We all have full confidence in Marcus' sheep shearing abilities...



He's clearly pleased with the results!!

I presume it was the Sinead O'Connor look you were after sir?

21.12.12.

So, 21.12.12 has pretty much passed and the world hasn't come to an end.....but my hair has given up the chase and started to fall out. That could have been the end of my world if I wasn't such a slap head in the first place!!

Stage Two.....Tick

Another massive tick in the box on Monday, with a very positive outcome to my stem cell collection. All the bone pain over the weekend proved worthwhile as the growth hormone pushed my stem cell production into overdrive......"enough for 10 transplants" to quote the doctor. As the old saying goes "no pain, no gain", and it proved very much to be the case. The effects from my last chemo also joined the party over the weekend....boy was I tired. I just about had the energy to go and watch Marcus play fooball, but that then wiped me out for the rest of the day.

My old man (who's not a dustman and doesn't wear cor blimey trousers ) took me up to Hammersmith and was great company and support during the four hours I was hooked up to the apheresis machine. I must say, four hours lying still wasn't a bundle of fun, especially with my dodgey back aching like a.......er......aching back. Lots of tubes, IV bags, whiring noises and spinning knobs, but the outcome was a bag full of mini me's that looked very much like strawberry milkshake. The nurses were most excited.....it was all very 'celly' apparently!! I play it down, but in all seriousness, I can't emphasize enough  just how important it was to have a successful stem cell harvest. Without it I would at best have had to try another mobilisation drug, at worst, it could have been the end of the road with respect to having a transplant. So...all in all a huge step forward and a fantastic outcome to stage two of my treatment.

So, what now? Well, rest is on the cards for me on the run up to Christmas, trying to recover from the compound effects of chemo, growth hormones and lack of sleep. I'm not due back at Hammersmith hospital now until 2nd Jan, but still have a few visits to Kingston hospital for Zometa injections etc.

Looking forward to a relaxed Christmas with my family, good food and a few (too many) cheeky beverages!!

Kitchen Appliances on Strike

Just when I was looking forward to an uneventful week of growth hormone injections and bone pain, our boiler and fridge freezer decided to get in on the act and stop playing the game.....well, stop working. Oh how we laughed on Tuesday when the boiler went bang, on conveniently the coldest morning of the year so far. To acuse the fridge freezer of not working is a little unfair, it was only the door hinge that decided to break. Anyway, the situation was cooly recovered and both were up and running the following day....so no real need to feel sorry for us...you can if you want though!!

Anyway, I'm now looking forward to the weekend, with two injections a day and supposedly more severe bone pain, in preparation for the stem cell harvest on Monday. Saying that, the pain so far hasn't been an issue, just more of an annoyance at night time. In fact, probably more of an annoyance for Len, keeping her awake with my constant twisting and turning...mixed with the occasional heart wrenching sigh!! What I am looking forward to is hopefully watching Marcus play football on Saturday and Sunday...it'll take my mind off the disappointment of being an Arsenal fan right now!!

Have a great weekend you'all.

Two Eventful Days

Back at home now after two eventful days in hospital. I say two, in fact one eventful day and one lounging in bed trying to get some sleep. I actually ended up staying in one of the isolation rooms that will be my home for a month, come January. It proved to be a real reality check....but a positive one and definitely something that I feel will better prepare me for what's to come. It really brought home the position I'm in, and just how vulnerable I'm going to be during the transplant process.



How much is that doggie in the window? The one with the balding head!!
 

But that's then, for now it was rise 'n' shine at 06:00 on day one with observations, followed by a trip to the imaging department for the insertion of my Hickman line. I guess surgeons have to explain to patients what could go wrong with any operation before you sign on the dotted line, but I must admit, it does somewhat destroy the romance of those 'pre op' moments!! Anyway, things went well, in fact the most distressing part of the whole procedure was having to listen to the crap 1970's jazz the surgeon insisted on blasting out the whole time.....well that and the foam slippers I had to wear!! So, the Hickman line is now in and it will be used for the administration of all IV drugs and taking blood until my transplant is complete.

Wifey was there to welcome me back to my room, and it was great to have her around for the rest of the day. Treatment continued with hydration through a saline drip for 3 hours in preparation for the etoposide chemotherapy. For all those die hard Harry Potter fans out there, an interesting fact. Etoposide is made from the mandrake plant. It's no longer used to cure those who have been petrified, but is used in the treatment of many different types of cancer by stopping the cancer cells from dividing. I didn't even get to hear it scream before it was mass processed and shoved in a syringe!! Anyway, the etoposide took ten hours to administer, finishing around 2 o' clock Thursday morning. I was once again very fortunate with regard to the immediate side effects, only really feeling nauseous towards the very end of the treatment. Well, some call it fortunate....others (ma east side bruvers) would say well hard....innit!! After that I was carefully monitored (read kept awake) through till around 8ish....hence day 2 trying to get some sleep.

With all my blood counts, electrolytes and vital stats stable, I was let out for good behaviour at round ten last night. So, back home now and I even managed to administer my growth hormone injection this morning. For someone who never used to like needles, life has moved on....however, still a little disappointed that Len didn't give me a brave sticker...or lolly pop. I've been very tired today and at times feeling quite sick, but the drugs I've been given have kept things under control. I'm also very concious and wary of my Hickman line, but I've now got some time at home to get used to caring for it.

Just to finish this blog entry, one thing has really impressed me over the last few days. I know it shouldn't surprise, but the friendliness, attentiveness, knowledge and over all professionalism of the ward staff was second to none. After my experience at Hammersmith last Wednesday, this was massively reassuring. Feeling sick again now, so back to bed for me....how's that for a wild Friday night!!

The Great Unknown

Here it goes, let round two commence. Off to Hammersmith now for a night on the ward, so I can be bright eyed and bushy tailed for tomorrows fun packed central line (Hickman line) installation and 10 hours worth of Etoposide infusion. Current plan is to be out on Thursday, else Friday depending on my blood counts and reaction to the chemo.

My worries still centre around the great unknown....everything remains so variable and 'individual'. It appears that side effects and how I react could range from absolutely nothing to near death, and all that lies in between. Just doesn't sit well with your average 'black and white' engineering type. That's medicine for you, and something I'm getting used to. As my consultant has said, this disease and the medicine used to treat it does not read the books!