We were on a much needed holiday when we got our first clue that all was not well. Bert had had Bronchitis all through our holiday and against his better judgement he went to see the Dr the day we were due to fly home. The Dr in Turkey was amazing done loads of tests and told us after only 45 mins we were told that his white cell count was really low at 1.2 and that we were to see a Dr on our arrival home. He was admitted on the 15th of September and we were given the diagnosis on the 18th the day after his 56th birthday. His count dropped rapidly to 0.1 in a couple of days but then stopped at that. The Dr had told us that his chemo would start the following week. However she changed her mind, and sent him home after 2 weeks of antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals, which was just as well as I developed Laryngitis and a chest infection. I was amazed that he never got any infection. We went to the out patient clinic 2 weeks later and were told he was stable to come back in 2 weeks. on our return we were told he had to be admitted on Mon 2nd Nov despite the fact that his blood was still stable and he was to be starten on Chemo on Tue 3rd. The 1st lot of chemo mad him look dreadful I was not expecting that. However, he did look a little better the next day although he was very breathless and had tracking up his arm where the chemo had been put in. But all of that turned out to be ok. Here we are on day 4 gutted to find out that his brothers are not match for Bone Marrow, that left him feeling very upset and down in the dumps. So we will see what tomorrow brings
Goodnight
FormerMember
Hope all goes well for Bert tomorrow Teri.
As you know my mum is back in on Monday too for her 3rd lot.
Hi Ladies, hope Bert and your mum Binnie do well during their 3 rd cycles. I will be thinking of you all. Mum is still at home, feeling a little stronger each day, but still having a few problems with her cough following her fungal infection. Go back on Monday for her 3rd bone marrow then its fingers crossed for the results.
I have spent the past 7.5 hours waiting for Bert to be seen by the Dr on admission.only to meet her in the corridor to be told that she has passed him on to the next shift. When I told her that I had been waiting all that time to speak to her, her reply was she was there to see the patients. I told her that I was his wife and had concerns that I wanted to make sure that they knew about them as he is hopeless at telling them stuff. She told me that I was to go back tomorrow and speak to the haematologist. The reason he was re-admitted today and not tomorrow was because I cannot get time off tomorrow. I would not allow my kids to speak to me in the manner that she did and my kids are a lot older than she is. I had to walk away, did not want to upset Bert any more than he was already and come home and phone the nurses to pass on the concerns for me.
I feel for you-the medics need to realise that the carers are taking responsibilty for the patient most of the time and I know from experience that things would have been missed by Doctors etc if we hadn't been on the ball.
Thanks I have calmed down today, I am not one for getting angry but as you say they tend to forget that when they are at home it is and carers looking after them and if there are any concerns we like to discuss them. I know Bert was upset and that is enough to make me angry it was something that could have been avoided but for lack of courtesy if they had came to us and told us that they were too busy to see him we would have accepted that and Bert would have calmed down. Bo they didn't, again.
