Friday 28 September 2007

1st week of new chemo

Well my beloved readers,

It's been a week on the new chemo and so far so good. (cross fingers, toes, eyes, arms, legs...anything that will cross, touch all wood as you pas it etc etc etc that it will continue like this!)

Check up yesterday, cell count down to 16.2 and platelets were 399, so that's all good as well.

I've had a fairly manic week seeing people being the oh so popular person that I am! Last night it was just me and my flatty in and it was odd that no one was over for sups, and that there was no where to go after supper other than bed! I would also like to add at this point thatI made a particulary (can't spell) bloody yummy soup, so went to bed at about 10pm, (yes I am a crazy crazy person) a very contented little bunny!

Today I went to a launch thing for the formation of Youth Cancer Forum Scotland, so if you hear anything about it, check it out, and if there is press about supporting it, SUPPORT IT!!! I had a really good time actually and met a few people that have had cancer and had a real giggle with them which was actually really great. I've avoided everything I've been invited to by my Click Sargeat (ok, quick plug, Milo..for those of you who read this and don't know me, he's my younger brother, is hoping to raise money for Click Sargent (and therefore me!!) by running the London Marathon in March or April, or whenever it its. As the time gets close I will be mentioning it ALL THE TIME so start saving your pennies up NOW to sponser him!) up here to do with young and cancer as I haven't felt like being with other people who have cancer due to their appearance (ie looking ill) etc, but as I've been diagnosed for over 8 months (fuck, how time flies!) and I know that I'm fine etc etc I felt that I should go and support it as it's important, and it was due to people in that room that I've had such good support etc It was also really funny cause the people there (who have either been given the all clear, or are on 6 month/ yearly check ups etc) were amazed that I was only diagnosed in Jan as I look so well etc etc which was a real boost actually. I also left the lunch with a real lift which was also a bit of a surprise, as I didn't really know what today was going to be like etc. I don't want to give the impression that I'm not happy most/all of the time, cause I am....I just didn't expect to feel so good after spending so much time with people who have/had cancer.

Feel free to check out the website from today.....www.ycfscot.org

What else, not sure, that's about it really I think. Got another check up next thurs, so will be back then with more cell count updates.

As always, lot of love, laughter and smiles,
XXX

Saturday 22 September 2007

Back in the Burg

Dear All,

Well it's been a while since the last post, and I know it's cause I've been fairly crap, but I hope that this will make up for the silence...

Well where to start, hmmmm, prob with what has happened since the last blog, rather than the most recent thing and work backwards. Mainly because it makes sense to start from where I left off, and also becuase I think this is going to be quiter a mammoth post, and I will start going all over the place if I work backwards from today and confuse you all even more than I normally do!

Ok, so, IVF..... I have had the procedure and they managed to collect 16 eggs which is fantastic as they say 12 is pretty impressive, so go me! Although I was conscious during the proceedure I can't remember it, which is probably a good thing! Felt fine during the rest of the day, was a bit dopey, but was to be expected. That night I woke up in THE MOST EXCRUCIATING (and yes, that is how you spell it in my world) pain and ended up in Swindon A & E, which to be fair to Swindin was perfectly acceptable and seemed to be pretty clean, so well done swindon! They decided to keep me in over night in case I was producing a lot if fluid in the ovaries or bleeding, which to be fair, I was amazed that I wasn't after beeing jabbed at for about half an hour with a needle...anyways, was put in a bed on a ward and was allowed to go home the next afternoon. Oh, and whilst all this was going on I was meant to be packing up my room for the move......

The next day, Thursday, I took myself off the the Hammersmith for a final IVF check, and although was so swollen (looked about 5 months pregnant.....) and in quite a lot of pain, everything looked fine, and they weren't concerned. After the IVF check up, I toddled over to Haematology where I had stem cells taken. This consisted of two drips, one taking blood and feeding it into a machine, and the other feeding the blood minus the stem cells back into my body. It took about 3 and a half hours, and although a bit dull cause I wasn't allowed to move my arms due to rather huge neeedles in my veins and they didn't want them to dislodge, was fine cause my lovely cousin came and kept me company. I didn't end up finishing at the hospital til 5.30 and was meant to vbe driving myself back home, but as I'd been up since 7 and had effectively been through a blood transfusion, the rents decided to come and get me...Also during the taking of stems cells my legs and face had gone really tingly due to my blood being stripped of calcium, it probably wasn't the best idea for me to drive. It's a shame I haven't worked out how to put pics on this cause I had 2 very impressive bandages on my arms (due to the huge needles), and 2 smaller ones...I caused a bit of a stir when we went out for supper that night, as you coud see a bit of one of the bandages on my wrist, and the waitor thought I'd slit my wrist....good!!!

The next morning was the day of the move, oh and also the funny thing was that as I had been in hospital for basically the whole week I hadn't been able to do my packing, and they had packed my drugs, including the £42.50 per injection injections in the lorry and could't get to them, so had to inject myself a good 12 hours late (I had to inject for 5 days after the procedure so my ovaries calmed down and didn't go crazy). I was also driving that afternoon to Oxford as I was going to holiday the next morning at 4am, and my suitcase was also nowhere to be seen......

So we get to the new house (me and daddy at about 3pm, the lorry was supposedly going to be there by 4pm YEAH RIGHT!!!!) and wait for the lorry. They had been told it would take them 2 hours from near Swindon to near Colchester. The m25 on a friday afternoon, need I say more??? (it took them about 6 hours) So they eventually turned up at about 7pm. I had aimed to leave by about 4pm, to pick up a friend on the way. To cut a long story short, I left home at about 11.45 and got to Oxford at 3am and left there at 4am, oh and I was still limited on the movement front etc due to ovary pain...it was a FUN couple of dauys!!!! The plus side was a week in the sun in Mallorca with really great friends, and a fucking lush house to come home to at the end of it!

Right, that's the end of the summer in a nut shell. I am now back in the Burg and started the new chemo yesterday morning, so we shall have to wait and see.....It's better than the other one in as much as I don't have to take it on a full stomach etc etc etc which means I take it when I get up, so don't have to worry about forgetting when I go out or supper etc etc etc It also means I can eat what I want and don't have to plan incase it makeds me feel sick..woo!!!

Well that's about it really, and I'm bored of typing, oh just thought of somthing rather crucial, on Thurs at my check up, my count was 24, when I was in A and E it was 83....

More next week after the next check up....

Lots of love, laughter and smiles,
XXX