Ideas for your checklist

Hi

Another item for the hospital bag, a shower sleeve. I was told to keep my PICC line dry and more recently a cannula. The shower sleeve does the job quite well but is too long. It's original purpose was to keep leg injuries dry. You also have to ask how long you should use for. I changed it every week and didn't have any problem but that doesn't prove anything.

David

Hello everyone

thank you so much for kind replies and ideas/tips/experiences. I have noted them all! I am probably going to overpack and it's funny how you sort of forget that you really don't need much when in chemo hell. Even looking at phone was a struggle so taking in books and laptops is probably a little Ambitious. But you just never know! I spent about 1, ooo ooo pounds today on marks and Spencer's pants hehe. Can't have too many ! 

John, thank you for your warm wishes from my class of 2016 lymphoma crew. X 

gin I will be thinking of you and I will also take in some fairy lights ( battery operated) For my room. Party for one!  

Greg, I do hope you are doing well. 

Dana, how are you? And Clive, if you are reading this? 

Made the decision not to go and see Russel. Brand this evening for fear of someone coughing over me... or him picking on me in the audience! Not sure what would be worse ! 

UCLH here I come! 

Oh! .can anyone recommend cheapish but good comfortable headphones at all? Thanks everyone so much. Lots of love xx 

Some very good points Paul! X 

Hi Elena, 

Happy Christmas (or St Nicholas Day!) hope you've celebrated well! 

Will be thinking of you over the next few days....and onwards too.....daughter was allowed out for short periods on the first few days, so decent meals nearby relieved the hospital food a bit......cheap headphones, good idea, over ear ones are comfy and can cut out outside noise a bit too. 

You'll probably find books too much as concentration vanishes, especially when they keep checking you're temps etc....talking books can help though, music too. Laptop, Tablets etc can help especially if you get free wifi to keep up on Facebook, lol! 

Love and hugs xxx

Hi Elena!

I just wanted to wish you best of luck tomorrow; I hope everything will go smoothly and successfully. I will be thinking of you and will keep my fingers crossed.

Vilma xx

Hi Elena, 

I guess you'll be in flat spin time right now, wondering if you've got everything you'll need, and in a state of panic too.....

Hoping all goes smoothly, you are looked after as a VIP which of course you are, and you get through everything easily and well....

Big hugs, lovey xxx

Elena, Hope everything goes smoothly and you have a normal experience, you can do this, so onwards and upwards and when you feel up to it let us know how you are.

take care hugs John x 

Thank you so much for the warm wishes my friends. 

I would definitely describe today as a rollercoaster. I was ok until I found a lighter in the boot of the car and realised mike was smoking again! It kind of tipped me over the edge and I haven't stopped crying since, I guess it's the small things isn't it. 

So the picc line is in! Just waiting for chemo. Delays as always. Got all my bits and pieces unpacked and antibacked the remote controls ( they should employ me as infection control- i can't believe these weren't clean!). 

I have this very odd rash I would describe as being like psoriasis meets ringworm. Haha . Oh I do make myself laugh! 

It is worse after a shower and multiplies. Then half of it disappears when  it calms down. 3 consultants have no idea.... 

im also a bit worries the stitches from the port removal last week are not healed yet... 

thats it for now folks! Xx 

Pahaha, Elena, 

I used to watch the cleaners and follow on afterwards with the Dettol wipes! Not so bad in the Christie, but in the hospital where daughter had her auto, well! 

Rashes, could it just be stress and tail end of chemo combined? 

The chemo you'll be having won't inhibit healing too much yet, counts go down after a few days, so the port scar might have time to heal, but they will keep a careful eye anyway. 

Hugs xxx

Thinking of you, Elena, I know today is day 0 (cos you told me!) and you'll be getting your donor's cells, hope all goes well though I know it's a bit of an anticlimax now....

The next few days and weeks won't be easy at times but you can do it! 

Hugs xxx