Dave
Thanks for the good wishes, and anyone who knows me will know that its not a rarity for me to have a drink in my hand at any time[ask Frank]. Yes the Hairy couples weekend in the New Forest was a great success and we all still keep in touch, but theres not so much hair about these days.
take care all
richard
All: Yes, I can confirm that Richard has been known to have the odd drink. He can also take it better than wot I can, maybe he's had more practice? Ha!
Richard: Way to go... enjoy the Xmas/New Year cruise!!
dear all
frank, i will be doing all those things and more on the cruise, i hope we all keep well and have a great festive season and healthy new year, live long and prosper
richard
Well I have been a while answering here but if you look above I have been asked for an update.
I have placed quite a few posts over at Robs site (http://www.network54.com/Forum/263810/), so those that frequent there too will find this all old news.
I had my Gall Bladder out on Wednesday (17/12/08) and that went well and I was back home on the next day.
I am recovering from that surgery for the next few weeks before going back on 14/01/09 for my next Heamo appointment with a view to starting Chemo with Cladribine shortly after wards on a Once a week for 6 weeks protocol.
Well that is all that boring stuff out the way.
Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous new year to one and all!
Like to share my story with you all. Since I'm Dutch my English is far from perfect, hope you understand. Reading in Enlish is much easyer than writing.
October 13, 2008 I'm diagnosed with HCL in a local hospital after feeling tired. My Hemoglobin (Hb) was something of 3.6 and the number of platelets 12 then. Blood products infusion was administered. I'm was 45 at that moment.
On October 27 I started with a 5-day treatment with 2-CDA (Litak). Then after a week I developed serious liver problems. Hereinafter quite ill with high fever above 42 degrees celcius and they cooled my body with pure alcohol. I swelled up and got a purple color (despite many tests no infection found ) that I was retaining fluid. Frequent blood products needed.
I had high fever for four weeks and costs a lot of energy. I had fear of death and was feeling sorry for my wife and four beautiful kids. Bone marrow punction during the fever period showed that the chemo I had not done his work Fortunately a top specialist has treated me with rituximab wich attaches to the marker 20 of hairy cells.
After the first treatment my blood started up again and one week more my blood was such, that I was home again after 6 weeks of hospital. I have had 6 weekly treatments (at least one week following treatment). Fortunately, it had no side effects for me. My blood is now OK again, Hb 7.8 dplatelets 388 and white blood counts 9.8. So glad that there was an alternative to chemotherapy. Hope that HCL will stay in remission for a long time.
