Hello

Absolutely. Fingers legs and everything else. A word on Tramadol. I'm still on it after thirteen years. My suggestion is to discuss it thoroughly with a doctor. Its highly addictive. I think that there are a good few more suitable and less demanding painkillers. If you dont think you need it then say so and ask for a meeting with a pain mgt specialist. You'll do this. You have the mental stance that  tells me you are equipped to think things through before panicking.

The transplant can be hard work. But you know that . Dig in mate. You could be eating fish n chips in a month and this thing a ticked box on the road forward.

I've been very lucky so far and not needed any type of painkiller. They always cover all the angles here so prescribed it just in case I needed it.

I think mental attitude helps, and I'm also very lucky to have a very supportive wife who looks after me. We've always jollied along with it - when I was first diagnosed we Facetimed our 2 sons, who are still in England, and said bad news is I've got incurable cancer, but look on the bright side -- you'll probably get your inheritance early. Not sure they appreciated it though - and my pill organiser is known as ' the old man, end of life pillbox'. Of course that's easy to do at the moment as I've not really had any serious problems - no doubt things will be different when I do. Reading peoples stories ( including yours ) on here makes me realise how easy I've had it so far.

Its all relevant to you as an individual. I try to never allow myself to draw comparisons of how much more I felt or feel but to simply explain an experience relevant to me. I sometimes feel that for me to do otherwise is to seek to trump someone and lets be fair its not the type of competition you want to win is it? You are simply getting on with it. Hopefully for a very long time. I have entered my thirteenth year. It has had its moments but I am a tough little swine my wife says and we find time to argue and scuffle as we did before I became ill. And as for gallows humour my friends  are really never going to tell me how sorry they are. I know I'd be in trouble if they did. You will get by. The stem cells really offer a great rejuvenation hope and should they act as they should you will find yourself as happy as a clam every day you wake up.The rotten bits are personal. Not always to be shared. But you might be surprised at peoples similar experiences. Have a kip if you can,French time is later than ours so you will be awake before me and heaven knows I need my beauty sleep as we are cat sitting and he wakes at 5am.

Thinking about you. Your probably not in form at present but keep you chin up…. You can do it!

Thank you. Had some positive news on Friday when I saw the specialist. My latest PET scan, which I had last week, shows that the lesions that I had in my neck vertebrae have now gone, and my blood tests are all good. I’m now scheduled to continue with the maintenance, which I mentioned in my first post, for the next 3 years. The checks every 3 months will monitor any changes, so once again fingers crossed that things continue as is.

Good news then. Its a really positive time for you. Let us know how its going. Bon chance!