Saturday (Saturday – ever loving Saturday)
Jan 28th 2006PeterHospital Stay
It looks really cold outside today, and Felicity, who has just arrived, has confirmed it! The flag on Southwark Cathedral is showing quite a stiff easterly breeze.
So far today has followed the usual pattern, observations, blood and the anti-fungal drug at 7:15 this morning – nothing like a lie-in on a Saturday morning! Breakfast was hot, and served without the slimey baked beans. This is followed by bed making and room cleaning!
Felicity arrived yesterday afternoon, just after I had had another massage (back and shoulders, very relaxing!) by Kim from The Richard Dimbleby Cancer Fund (see the link and last Friday’s post!) and just before I started another platelet transfusion. This was followed by the Cyclosporin. I have also started GCSF (Germ Cell Stimulating Factor). This is a hormone (manufactured in the ovaries of Chinese Hamsters – no – I don’t know the tehnical details) which encourages the bone marrow to start stem cell production. These blood stem cells go on to become the various cells that make up blood. It is a subcutaneous injection which I normally give myself. I have had lots of practice in the last few years as this has been a feature of all the transplants. Felicity stayed overnight in a nearby flat owned by Marian and Martin, friends of ours from home. Thank you!
Last night was a bit restless – I’m not sure if I am getting a cold, or just that my mouth is very dry. On the plus side, the mucositis seems to have reduced, although my sense of taste is still altered.
Which leads back to hospital food. It isn’t just my sense of taste! Felicity, in her role as food guru, tried last night’s macaroni cheese and declared it to be tasteless. However, lunch today was deemed tasty, although my sense of taste didn’t think so. The chocolate sponge and custard was OK though!
So on with the waiting game for the new cells to get to work!