Recently diagnosed

FormerMember
FormerMember
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Hello

I was diagnosed on NYE with Hodgkins and will be having a biopsy tomorrow.

I'm obviously scared and frightened, alongside the heady concoction of denial (it doesn't feel like it's me), sadness, hope (it's really treatable and the success rate is high), attempts to distract myself and confusion. .

How did you guys find dealing with the bit before you find out the extent of everything? I mean, I don't know what stage it's at or anything  so it's a bit of a daunting question if I look over it. What happens after the biopsy?

Sorry, so many questions... just thought it'd be nice to find people who also went through the same.

Thank you so much in advance

Tom

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Moomy how's the back? Hope you are resting up!

    Tom, would love to hear your poetry. BTW ages ago we recommended/ talked about good books, have just discovered Maya Angelou, have you read any of her poetry/ books? Would recommend.

    Phil finger, John shoulder? 

    Love to all xxxxxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Thanks Moomy & Jakki - appreciate the advice. 


    I spoke to the doc this morning.  She said my inflammation markers are high, I'm neutrapenic so they won't let me out till I'm better. My neuts are 0.2. Not sure What that means. 


    I asked if it was possible if the Hodge had come back, she said that's virtually unheard of,  especially as I had a clear pet three weeks ago. I'm still worried.  Hate being in hospital!  


    How's everyone else doing?? 


     


     

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Aw Cezza, hopefully you'll be home soon. Your neuts are low but try not to panic, I often had low neuts during chemo just take extra care with hand and food hygiene and you'll be fine. Make sure you avoid the forbidden foods! Take care lovely xxxxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hello :)


    Aww Cezza I'm so sorry... I'm glad the lovelies Jakki and Moomy have posted their usual sage advice :)


    V warm and sunny a londres. I had a lot of whiskey yesterday. But am surprisingly sprightly today haha.... Writing this on a bus home, went to see my fam in central.


     As for poem... Here we go. It doesn't rhyme though:


    Thomas is my NHS name
    They'll all say it when they see me -
    "Hi Thomas, I'm..."
    "How are you today, Thomas?"
    "We're going to put the needle in now, 
    Thomas
    The canulla is going in now"
    "I'm sorry for the pain, Thomas -" 
    She said, as I dry wretch
    "Your veins are bent out of shape;
    It's because the chemo drugs
    Has clotted them all up so
    They don't flow so well anymore"

    "If you'll lay down on the slab, Thomas"
    "Thomas, here's your chair for today"
    We'll do what we can to keep you alive,
    Thomas; my body was broken and 
    Couldn't fix itself - 
    It was eating itself
    And replicating itself
    And misreplicating itself
    And duplicating itself
    And misduplicating itself and
    Killing me

    "Thomas, you've done really well - 
    As far as I'm concerned, 
    You're in remission"
    You've got no hair, you've got weird nails,
    Your immune system is shot
    And your muscle has wasted away
    But he's alive, is Thomas -
    I'm not sorry to say I hope
    To never see you again


     

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Thanks all. 

    Doc says I'm doing well.  They injected me with GS something or other. My neuts are now 2.4 and my inflammation markers have gone down to 12. They think I had a virus. God, mixed with the chemo,  it's been awful!  Only 6 more to go..aaarrrggghhh., 

    Love the poem Tom. Especially the bit at the end. Out of interest, How come you didn't have a line put it? 

    Jakki - Hope the celebrations went well...

    Anyway - thanks again for the support. What would I do without you all...x x x 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    That's so great to hear Cezza! Well done you. You've battled this one too - and you've come out on top!

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember
    Hi Cezza, Well done keep going. They would have given you GCSF which is a natural growth hormone to boost the bone marrow to produce white blood cells and neuts, both Jakki and myself had to have them when my neuts went down to 0.2, they can cause some pain especially in the long bones (femur & spine) and around the pelvis. Keeping on trucking girl, you can do it. Phil xx
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Thanks cee - very kind of you. 


    Phil - you're so knowledgeable.  Yes it was GCFS. Thanks again 


    X x,x,

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember
    Hi All, the greatest thing about today for me is that I won't have yuck mouth starting later today and next week should be a good week - here's hoping!! Cezza, by the time you've finished chemo you'll be knowledgable, it's only information I've gathered through talking to the good people here and from first hand experience, I do hope you are back home soon. Got to take son to the airport today, he's off to a friends wedding in Cyprus, don't know why they couldn't have done it in the local registry office or whilst out shopping as one of my cousins in the States did last year. Anyway he's treating it as his annual holiday, doubt he'll get one next year now that he has a new house to pay for. Have a good day everyone hope the weather holds for you all. Phil
  • Cezza, if you get bone pain from the G-CSF, the American folk on one site I use, suggest Carytin to help, it does a bit and if you take it with paracetamol you might find the worst is eased. The generic name for Clarytin is Loratadine.

    its often used to boost low neuts and you might find you need it again during the course of chemo. Really hope you are home soon, as I know it isn't much fun in hospital, hope they have you isolated and at the very least, in a side room? 

    Sorry I wasn't about at all yesterday, was at Bletchley Park and then off to a stunning concert to celebrate American Independence Day last night, first half all American composers, including the Peaslee Trombone Concerto beautifully played by daughter, in which son had a short beautifully played cello solo too. Then the second half had Dvorak's Symphony 'To the New Workd' which they played well, too. Then as an end of year function, the orchestra had a get-together which meant hubs and I didn't get home till pretty late, sat discussing the evening till daughter and her pal got in from a further drink! 

    Hugs to you all xxx

    Moomy