Better days (I would like some)

1 minute read time.

- Major panic attack Sunday night

-Three-hour wait for out-of-hours doctor

- Discovery that there is only one out-of-hours doctor for North Oxfordshire almost triggers another panic attack

- Routine appointment with oncologist on Monday morning

- Nausea, headache, hurty tummy

- Asked if I could lie down

- Got to lie down for the next two days in bed on hospital ward

- Totally unprepared, had to send Judy home then back again to pick up clothes and wash stuff

- EKG, X-rays, CT scan, ultrasound, stomach drain

- No sleep. Bajillions of sympathy to the poor lady with pneumonia, but ...

- Not much fun, but, as the tummy draining doctor said,- "If anything goes wrong, you're in the right place"

None of this was much fun, truthfully. However, the good news is that my oncologist came to see me, put her hand on my arm and looked intently into my eyes and assured me they "hadn't given up yet".
So I should bloody well hope.


Although ... although you're not supposed to say so, sometimes the thought of just dying quietly in my sleep is quite attractive. But shhhhh! Don't quote me. Everyone thinks I'm being Terribly Brave. Poor fools, little do they know. Inside, I'm screaming.

Anonymous
  • Hi Hilary, I can not comprehend what it must be like for you that are fighting this, as only a retired carer, but if it helps I am screaming with you as loud as I can, and I am sure you are very brave and will keep on fighting this and win win win... take care and big big hugs xxx

  • Hi Hilary I have been thinking of you and Its good to hear your home.All of what happened is certainly scary,vile and down right p**s flappingly worse than awful.I really hope they get their act together now and get the right treatment and help you deserve.Some of the things some doctors say and their bed side manners leave a lot to be desired and they don't exactly inspire the patient with confidence.It sounds like they have at least given you a thorough going over with scans etc.No one is giving up anything we are all here with you and for you I know we cant take away the pain or make you better never the less we are here.it's understandable when your feeling constantly ill and in pain and exhausted with the fight the idea of sleeping and staying asleep can seem appealing just to escape it all Like many a lot of fears,worries and the extent of how much you hurt and how scared you are is hidden and like you say if they could see what goes on inside and how you really feel then they would also want to scream with you.I so hope that things start moving and they take better care of you and yes without a tilt you are one strong woman.Much love and huge hugs Cruton xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hilary, I am glad you are home again. I am glad they are not giving up on you!!! What a bloody stupid thing to say. As if the alternative is a doctor coming up and saying 'we are giving up on you'. Reassuring not. Stupid doctor ought to learn some bedside manners. Send her over here and I'll teach her a few with my bit of door.

    I can imagine you are screaming inside and I can't say or do anything to ease that really....  but I'm going to say some stuff anyway. Cos I'm like that. Can't shut me up.

     I am sending you all the positive vibes I can muster and will continue to do so and will continue to send you hugs and love and virtually hold your hand while you scream.

    I will also keep on kicking that bastard Mr Crab so effing hard cos I hate him so much for what he does to my friends (and non friends too I suppose). I also hope you keep kicking him too.

    Thank you for the birthday card. You are right. What more does one want? i was thinking, two out of three....  Would you swap cats or books for the cancer? hmm. a life without cats or books? there's a thought....

    I have seen a picture of the pregnant tabby mummy cat today and hoping to get one of the kittens (P will only get it if I am well. I am debating what he means by 'well' ) If I do, I will send you pictures of kittens. They help on the bad days i find.

    All the hugs to you my lovely crabby lady and I will never give up on you! There.

    Little My xxx

     

     

     

     

     

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Hilary,

    Thank goodness you're home, it's been hard for all of us not knowing anything although LM bless her has done her best by telling us what little she could find out. It was of course far, far harder for you but it seems they're getting their act together & testing you ad infinitum. Good of the oncologist to say they're not giving up on you - she doesn't realise that a minor army of Mackers, Warpees et al would invade the Churchill with Vikings, ravens, Sleipnir and Odin himself if there were even the slightest hint of - can hardly bring myself to say it - giving up.

    And, dear lady, YOU mustn't either. All of us understand about the fear, pain, misery, panic and general exhaustion and I doubt there's one of us who hasn't, even fleetingly, felt like throwing in that tired old towel. You know, don't you, that we all empathise? Not to mention - we love you to bits. Nuff said, I'm getting soppy. One of the drawbacks of ageing. Which you WILL do, disgracefully, wearing purple.

    With much hove and many lugs,

    xxx 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Just had to come and give you hugs, spoons, and much love. You are going through so much, and I did a lot of silent screaming in the bath when I was going from crisis to crisis...didn't want to upset anybody more than they already were. But this is the place to give vent to all those thoughts like hoping that you can close your eyes and when you open them again that you are free from pain, or just letting go, because we understand.

    When all this is over you will look back and be surprised at what you have come through. Hope you start to feel more comfortable soon, and love to Judy too.

    Snuggle under the duvet...you're not missing much outside

    Louise xxx