Consolidation 1

Back in Hammersmith hospital - ward D7 for consolidation treatment part one which should be 5 days of intensive chemotherapy followed by once weekly chemotherapy for 4 weeks.

BMB

Had my umpteenth bone marrow biopsy today after seeing my consultant. More painful than the previous ones so spending the rest of the day resting.

Have to be re-admitted again on Sunday for the next stage of chemotherapy which should only be for about a week as an in-patient and then return once a week for four weeks for more chemotherapy.

Almost there

Coming to the end of the third cycle of chemotherapy. Had a few complications one of which necessitated a day trip to Western Eye Hospital where they said that the most probable cause of my eye problem was leukaemia cells pushing my eyeball down. Thankfully, it seems that wasn't the case. The doctors aren't sure what the problem was but it has healed up so no worries there. I also had some kind of reaction to one of the chemotherapy drugs called L'asparaginase which is injected into your butt. Very painful injection and I had difficulty walking and getting around for a few days but that problem is getting better.

Now it seems the doctors are just monitoring my blood etc and I hope to be going home for a couple of weeks in the not too distant future.

Round Three

Been back in hospital for round three of the chemotherapy treatment. I had another bone marrow biopsy a week last Monday and the doctors are happy with the results and it looks clear of cancer cells.

The chemotherapy drug they are using this time round is a drug called Methotrexate at a very high dosage. Before, during and for at least 72 hours afterwards they also give me loads of fluid via the drip, at least 6 litres a day to help flush out the Methotrexate so plenty visits to the loo. The urine is checked for it's acidity and the PH level in order to prevent any damage to my kidneys. They also take extra blood samples every day and send them off to Great Ormond Street Hospital for testing the level of Methotrexate in my system.

Once the levels of the drug have reduced adequately then they will give me the next dose and it all starts again.

Unfortunately, my elder sibling who got himself tested to be a potential bone marrow donor isn't a close enough match so at the moment the doctors are seeing how the chemotherapy goes before they start to look for potential non-related donors on the global database as they say the risks outweigh the benefits.

Last day of chemo

Today should be the last day of chemotherapy for this particular phase, so once my blood counts go back up (especially the white blood count and Neutrophines) I will by the grace of God be allowed to go home to prepare for the next phase of chemotherapy which is called intensifiction which just by the name alone sounds quite daunting.

I will also have to wait for my temperature to come down and stay down, it spiked at 40.1 last night although this was during receiving blood. I hope to have a word with the hospital admin today as everything they have given me either fluids or blood products such as blood, platelets or plasma it has always been very very late so you are constantly getting disturbed during the night which is of course not exactly conducive to rest and relaxation which is just as important in getting better as all the drugs and testing etc.

Neutropenic

My blood counts have been dropping gradually day by day. My red blood counts keep dropping below 8.0 so they keep giving me blood. My platelets keep dropping below 50 so they have to give me platelets and the Neutrophils within the White blood cells have dropped below 0.5 so I am now Neutropenic. I have to wear a mask if I leave the room and not because I might scare people :) and I am on a 'clean' diet so no take aways, no soft cheese, no raw vegetables or salad etc etc.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Du Cane Rd,,United Kingdom

Infection

The doctors think I have an infection as my temperature which is taken about every 2 hours has so far reached 37.9. To combat this I am now hooked up to the hated IV pump machine thingy and getting some penicillin.
The chemotherapy drugs are still taking a toll on me. Haven't eaten anything since Tuesday afternoon so they are considering feeding me intravenously throughout the night.
Other than the Mrs who has been great, nobody has bothered to visit me from my family, friends or colleagues so feeling pretty unloved and unwanted.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Du Cane Rd,,United Kingdom

Blood

They had to give me a couple of units of A- last night as my haemaglobin level had dropped below 8.0. So thanks to my anonymous donor of blood especially as A- is quite rare. Apparently only 7% of people in the UK are of this blood type.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Du Cane Rd,London,United Kingdom

Adverse Side effects

One of the chemo drugs that I am on this time round is called Cytarabine. I receive this for four consecutive days and then three days off and then it starts again. Unfortunately, this drug really takes a toll on me. I haven't eaten for two days, been vomiting and feeling really weak and lethargic.

To help combat the nausea they are also giving me four different ant-emetic drugs, one of which makes you feel very very dizzy, unbalanced and sleepy, so at least I had a decent nights sleep.

Saline drip

Half-way through the first of two saline drips. Each one takes 6 hours so I will have to spend 12 hours connected to the IV pump.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Du Cane Rd,,United Kingdom

Noisy night

The patient in an opposite bed for some strange reason has had an alarm clock going off every 15 minutes for the past hour. The nurse has had to come in each time, rouse the patient and tell him to turn it off. Unfortunately it keeps going off so the nurse has now confiscated the alarm and told him he will return it in the morning as it is disturbing everyone else. The same patient was also told off for having his TV on too loud and not using headphones. It's like being back at school.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Du Cane Rd,London,United Kingdom

Stage 2

After been released from the hospital ward for the past 10 days I have been re-admitted yesterday for the second induction phase of the chemotherapy treatment. I am in a different ward to last time and so far this ward (D7) seems to be more organised and regimental but less friendly. I had to sign a waver upon arrival with regards to my personal belongings which I didn't have to do in the Weston Ward. There are numerous signs up in this ward saying that one is not allowed to enter this room or that room at certain times etc, again something that wasn't present in the Weston Ward.

The Weston Ward also had laundry facilities so I was able to wash and dry my own clothes, whereas on D7 they don't have that option so the Mrs will have to take my dirty clothes home and wash them for me.

The first chemotherapy for stage 2 induction I have been told will be administered later on today as well as my second intra-thecal dose of chemo. After my first IT chemotherapy I had really bad headaches for a week so hopefully that won't happen this time. Also suffering from what they call Peripheral Neuropathy which is basically numbness and pins and needles in my fingertips. Makes it a bit awkward to type, hold a pen, do up buttons etc, but this is a common side effect from the chemotherapy drugs.

I am still in a bay room so have to listen to my neighbours snore etc. Although they have said I should be transferred to a side room soon.

Plasma

Couple of units if plasma as my coagulation is a bit low.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Back again

Another long hiatus again.

Very little has happened at work since last time or at least nothing interesting enough to bore you with.

Outside of work though things have changed, I was diagnosed last month with Adult Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and I am about 3 weeks into the first stage of chemotherapy treatment. My work are leaving me alone at the moment and haven't demanded that I leave the hospital to attend an interview or anything yet, so hopefully they will leave me to concentrate on getting better and in the long term getting back to work.

Assaulted

Managed to get assaulted last Thursday. A very inebriated man decided to go for a walk down the track so I ended up wrestling with him trying to drag him back onto the platform. So after potentially saving his life he again assaults me and racially abused me before legging it prior to BTP arrival. Ending up finishing work 2 hours later than usual driving around in the back of a police car looking for the man and giving a statement to the police.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Change of scenery

After nearly 10 years as a reserve supervisor I have finally been offered a rostered position on another group. Will be transferring in a couple of weeks. Hope the staff morale is higher as it is really low on my current group.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Strike 2

Decided to come to work for this strike. Don't particularly agree with the strike anyway. Not too many staff booked on and a very limited train service operating from my station. Sone staff will continue to make themselves very unpopular by working overtime on strike days though.
Had to get a DSM to cover my meal break or the station would have had to close for 30 minutes.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dyed notes

We got a memo a few days ago to warn us about some stained £20 notes being tendered, presumably from a bank job or something similar. Well at least three of our group stations were targeted tonight with the alleged perpetrators buying a ticket from the ticket machine and then getting a refund. Thankfully a fellow eagle eyed supervisor got suspicious and called BTP. I think at least one of whom was caught. Aged about 12-13 as well so nothing will probably happen.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Serves them right

Cycling home after work this afternoon. A woman in a Volvo estate was so engrossed in her mobile phone conversation she failed to notice the police motorbike rider behind her, nor did she appear to notice the traffic light was red as she sailed through it. The police rider hit his sirens and pulled her over. She was so shocked at this she tried hiding her mobile by throwing it on the floor of her car.

Tell the time on ones iPhone or Mac

http://www.bijint.com/en/