Tuesday 1st December No fire because of boiler flooding the living room so 'had' to stay in bed late because it was the warmest place in the house. First phone call of the day was from sis-in-law telling us that nephew Sam and fellow crew were being held by Iran (for nearly a week already). Sh*t. Not the best start to a day but hopeful they won’t be used as pawns. Got up to a birthday breakfast of croissants and orange juice then off to hospital for IVE chemo CT scan results (do i know how to celebrate!). The waiting room was heaving which always puts me a bit on edge - always scanning the room to see where the sniffers 'n' sneezers are. Had bloods done via Hickman which played along just fine and nurse changed the dressing on it and the nozzly end bit. They were working on a 45 minute turnaround for bloods so we went to the cafe to share a sandwich. Got called in and my consultant and one of the docs from the ward were there but not my notes. He could access the scan results though so the rest of us chatted about the fact that IT'S MY BIRTHDAY lol while he brought himself up to speed. After my last scan in august (post R-CHOP x 8), when it hadn’t shrunk nearly as much as I’d wanted it to, I was a bit deflated for a while - it was a couple of weeks later when I remembered that the doc had said “No spread-that’s good”. That just hadn’t registered with me at the time. This time I just wanted to hear those words along with “It’s shrunk enough for radiotherapy”. And that’s what I got - the relief was amazing and I felt really tired (in a good way) straight away. No excitement just a big “Phew…”. There's still a bit to go at but no other involvement and no need for DHAP chemo next. He wants to get on with things asap and in no way sees xmas as any kind of obstacle which was reassuring. He’s getting on to The Freeman to book a provisional date for stem cell transplant in January. I’m seeing Radiotherapy consultant tomorrow for the first time and have no idea what to ask him (I did all my reading back in February, haha). Will hopefully get an idea of how many weeks treatment - my doc said he thought maybe 3-4 rather than the 3-6 he’d originally told me. One little fly in the ointment was doc, in passing, asking me if I’d had my line flushed - my blank stare told him the answer to that one. Apparently, it should be done weekly and I’ve been home for two weeks already. He wasn’t best pleased (and he never looks annoyed) and said he would arrange for someone to come out and flush it. In the meantime, having my blood drawn from it today ‘might’ disturb something so any temperature/shivers come straight back in! Thankfully, nothing yet. Wednesday 2nd Up earlier than I have been of late - 8.30. Switched on radio to hear that the boys had been released - fantastic news and huuuge relief for all concerned. Plumber came in the morning and spent most of the day taking out boiler (very old) and checking pipes etc. I was confined to bed because downstairs was freezing (no central heating). Coalman came with a ton of coal (how we laughed…). I watched Family Guy with the boys for a while. Then they made my lunch - cheese and crackers, apple, a bit of Turkish delight and a mini magnum - a veritable smorgasbordJ . Plumber went and we discovered that as well as no fire, we now have no water! At least we still have air. Plumber’s coming back in the morning… Roast chicken for dinner and completing surveys for boys’ Psychology course. First question “If you weren’t happy with a doctor’s diagnosis, would you get a second opinion?” Answer “Yes, and a 3rd, 4th and 5th opinion, til I get a diagnosis 8 months later!” badoom tisch!
Then just now, my Dad rang saying he’d like to come up next Monday.However, just found out I’ll have to ring him back and put him off cos he told Pete he’s got flu. Waits 19 years then gives her the flu. Couldn’t make it up. Now for reasons best known to himself, we haven’t seen each other in 19 years (eldest was 4 weeks old; never seen youngest). Parents split at this time and due to him being a daft a*se (or insert any cod-psych theory here) the years have passed. I rang at Hogmanay for the first few years but then just didn’t bother one year. Rang him last spring to let him know about my cancer and we’ve texted/spoke a bit since. It’s going to be strange on the one hand just seeing him at all and him seeing his grandsons for the first time - almost adults now. But I also think that it’ll be as if no time has passed - does this sound odd?!? Maybe I’m just used to him not being around as he worked on the oil rigs a fair bit when we were kids…I am hoping that the kids ask where he’s been - they’re owed a ton in presents J .
Anyway babbled away like a dripping boiler again - sorry...
kx
