Up and down
My Allograft 2018/19 – 16. 28th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 28 February 2019 The tedious last few steps There hasn’t been very much to report in the week (almost) since I last posted an update. And it is starting to drag to be honest. The summit of my Everest climb is in sight, and…
Coming out of the clouds
My Allograft 2018/19 – 15. 22nd February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 22 February 2019 Progress measures Things are continuing in the right direction, I’m pleased to report. Yesterday, I tried to eat something, but after two spoonfuls of Rice Krispies I couldn’t take any more. It was bland, and my stomach was complaining. I tried…
On the turn
My Allograft 2018/19 – 14. 20th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 20 February 2019 Good signs So, no further deterioration. And some encouraging signs of the start of a slow bounce back. I haven’t been sick for a few days. And whilst I have a syringe driver pump attached to me 24/7, delivering anti-sickness medication,…
Still plugging away
My Allograft 2018/19 – 13. 18th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 18 February 2019 Allo vs auto It’s Day +11 today. Eleven days after I received my donor’s stem cells. I’ve been in hospital 21 days. To set that in perspective, my autograft hospital stay was 23 days in total, back at the end of…
Hunkering down
My Allograft 2018/19 – 12. 14th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 14 February 2019 Feeling the Everest analogy It’s been a week since I last wrote. And I’ve really been feeling the Everest analogy! It struck me that when you’re climbing a mountain like Everest there’ll be days when you can think and plan ahead,…
Day Zero
My Allograft 2018/19 – 11. 7th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 7 February 2019 A day’s delay Transplant day – the day I receive my donor’s stem cells – was scheduled for yesterday (Wednesday). However, I was told on Tuesday evening that my donor had not produced enough cells in one day, and they would…
Frustration and joy
My Allograft 2018/19 – 10. 5th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 5 February 2019 Same snow, different hospital Well, the freezing, sub-zero, temperatures of the weekend have gone… not that I noticed much looking out my window on Southampton, which managed to stay clear of the snow and ice. It was weird feeling left out…
Not plain sailing
My Allograft 2018/19 – 9. 1st February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 1 February 2019 The Rhinovirus When I got a visit from one of the transplant consultants yesterday, I thought it was just the normal ward round. The junior doctors do the daily rounds and one of the consultants joins them once a week. But…
Are you bored yet?
My Allograft 2018/19 – 8. 30th January 2019 By Andy Burrows, 30 January 2019 Hoping you’re not bored already There’s part of me that feels like writing these blog posts every day isn’t worth it. It must make fairly tedious reading. Daily life is really not that interesting. I don’t know what you get out…
A difficult first day
My Allograft 2018/19 – 7. 29th January 2019 By Andy Burrows, 29 January 2019 Harder than I was expecting Today – the first full day of my allograft inpatient experience – was tougher than I was expecting. With the autograft three years ago, the chemo was not too bad while the drugs were being infused.…