Mini Ups and Downs (SCT Day +47) – 24 January 2016 (Cancer and Me 67)
I’ve been home from hospital a month now. Considering what I went through, so I’m told, my recovery is going pretty well. But sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, probably because I’m impatient. For instance, one of my targets was to get to the point where I could stop being careful who I see and…
Baby Steps (SCT Day +32) – 9 January 2016 (Cancer and Me 66)
It’s now 32 days since I had my stem cells injected, and 17 days since I came out of hospital. It’s nice to be prompted for another blog entry. Several readers have wondered why my blogging has tailed off. One person said it was like missing their favourite soap opera on TV while it takes…
Stem Cell Transplant Journal Day 30 – 30 December 2015 (Cancer and Me 65)
I’ve been home a week after my stay in Southampton General Hospital for my stem cell transplant, and it’s been tougher than we all expected (in spite of being told that it would be difficult). For a start, on the very night I came out of hospital Heidi came down with a bug and was…
23 December 2015 – Stem Cell Transplant Day 23 – GOING HOME (Cancer and Me 64)
So now I am on the way home! Sorry I didn’t mention this in my last entry, but we thought it would be nice to surprise people! Prof Johnson came round early afternoon yesterday and said that he was happy for me to go home today. He gave me several bits of advice. For one…
Stem Cell Transplant Journal Day 22 – 22 December 2015 (Cancer and Me 63)
I have been quite tired today, but that’s because, in spite of having a good sleep, once I’d woken at 5am I couldn’t get back to sleep. I hope that doesn’t happen at home. Hopefully, it should be better at home, where there is less background noise. My neutrophil count was down slightly at 2.5,…
Stem Cell Transplant Journal Day 21 – 21 December 2015 (Cancer and Me 62)
I know I say it a lot, but there really isn’t a lot to say today. Neutrophil count is 3.8 (up a little again). I spoke with my brother on the phone this morning, watched TV all day, didn’t do my exercises, and ate a little bit of food. Still not time to go home,…
Stem Cell Transplant Day Journal 20 – 20 December 2015 (Cancer and Me 61)
No sermons today, you’ll be pleased to hear. I actually slept better last night than I have the whole time I’ve been here – still only 5.5 hours though, but it’s something. The reason it wasn’t a bit longer is that last night there were workmen repairing the road literally underneath my window – at…
Stem Cell Transplant Journal Day 19 – 19 December 2015 (Cancer and Me 60)
Mind numbing day 19 – where nothing actually happened. Here’s how interesting the day was – I resorted to playing patience on my laptop – and I wasn’t even supposed to be working! Netrophils are 1.9 today – yes, that’s not a typo, it really is 1.9! I was not expecting that at all. Apparently…
Stem Cell Transplant Journal Day 18 – 18 December 2015 (Cancer and Me 59)
My sore throat got worse during the night, so I was prescribed some Oramorph, which only just about took the edge of the pain. By the morning, with not much sleep behind me, I also had a splitting headache. I was not looking forward to a day of not being able to eat or drink…
Stem Cell Transplant Journal Day 17 – 17 December 2015 (Cancer and Me 58)
The night wasn’t too bad, although being connected to the IV made it less restful than it would otherwise have been. But in contrast to yesterday I spent the morning feeling tired and lounging around doing nothing. I’d made up my mind I was going to try to eat today. The smell of food was…