Another two weeks in Addenbrooke's, just to follow up the first 6 weeks earlier this year. Ward D10 this time - every bit as extraordinary as D9 was the first time. The word 'extraordinary' seems a natural fit with Addenbrooke's.
If there is anyone reading this who has thymoma I strongly suggest asking your Oncologist about the chances of having Goods Syndrome as an uninvited guest (this can be caused by thymoma due to the link with the thymus gland). A simple blood test is all it takes. Prior to this secondary diagnosis, I lost 4 stone in zero time and suffered from kidney failure, hence the first admission. Goods Syndrome attacks your defences against viruses - and for me resulted in CMV becoming a near perfect biological weapon. A major system reboot and the attention of a miracle working team sorted me out, but that is an experience I would not wish for anyone to have to go through.
Some regular out-patient appointments a couple of months later then picked up a recurrence of CMV and I was admitted this time to D10. They also trapped a strain of pneumonia that was beginning to cause some damage unbeknown to me ... shows that being used to the effects of one lung condition can dangerously mask the onset of something equally nasty.
So now it's sandostatin jabs every four weeks (again, one for the thymoma sufferers to ask about), immunoglobulin fixes every three weeks (for the Goods Syndrome) - and also now a combination of pills and antibiotic nebuliser for the long term treatment of CMV and PCP - both of which my system cannot fight alone.
Looking forward already to the yearly questioning of the 'flu vaccine ...... if there is applicable help to mitigate the impact of a virus then take it. Believe me, there is no alternative.
