Monday afternoon… home again!

At last, although I must say that the crew in Stanley ward are every bit as lovely as my friends on Samaritan ward. I must especially mention Nick (the night staff nurse) and Adam, who was on days yesterday and today. The only problem with naming names is that inevitably some are left out, so please pass on my thanks guys!

But to start at where yesterday left off… After the last 500mg dose of prednisolone, I finished off (most of) the saline and was allowed out to Marian’s flat again, where I could have a bit of peace and relax. I was back in time for tea, and then spent an evening watching Jane Eyre.

This morning I was up bright and early, washed and ready for the ward round in preparation for the great escape! Adam told me that an appointment had been made for me at the radiotherapy clinic at St Thomas’s tomorrow for a radiotherapy planning session. However I had to be consented first, but the Doctor for that (Octavia) wouldn’t be able to see me until after lunch. Oh well, I settled down for a quiet morning! (but we got the canula out) One good thing was that Kim (The Dimbleby Cancer Care sponsored Aromatherapist) came onto the ward, and I had a lovely foot massage! Thank you Kim!

Just after lunch I had a visit from a support psychologist (Shelley) and we had a chat until the ward round descended! This time it was, Matthew, (Senior Reg, who I saw when I was having the transplant) Melissa, Roweanna and Connie, and having looked at the swelling, declared me fit to leave – once they had checked back with Linny *within half an hour”! Nearly an hour later, after failing to find Linny, they said I could go!

I stopped by to see Viki on the way out, to confirm appointments for this week. There is still some debate about the radiotherapy. My view (for what it is worth) is that while the steroids have fixed the immediate problem, the swelling, it has also damped down any GvHd. Now the Thalidomide should stir things up again, but it seems to me that this might have given the lymphoma a bit of a lead, so we should give it a good kicking while we can!

Anyway, on the way home I had a call from Olivia (radiologist) confirming the planning appointment tomorrow!

So onwards and upwards! Now the only snag is what to file this under – I’m not in hospital, I can’t say that I am completely getting my life back, so I suppose “on hold” remains the best option – but only for the moment! (Dual category – “Post Hospital” and “Life on Hold”)

By the way, thank you for the comments – I will answer them under the relevant posts!

4 Responses to “Monday afternoon… home again!”

  1. Richard on 17 Oct 2006 at 10:32 am #

    Night nurse…….now there’s a thing to replace F30 for the Winter tipple. Let us know your schedule so that we may cross at the right time.

    Richard
    PS. Night Nurse would not need blending like Pimm’s, Mulled wine etc

  2. Gillian on 17 Oct 2006 at 4:34 pm #

    course you can get winter pimms…… don’t know if that needs fruit.

    Probably not advisable to mix medication – could start to see pink elephants

  3. Richard on 17 Oct 2006 at 4:52 pm #

    I thought we used the Winter to excuse our morning shakes by calling them shivering.

    Less at the moment as waking up with stuff crossed for Peter makes shaking difficult.

    Does the morning hospital programme take requests? They ought to follow you up Peter, sort of TV Blog.

    Richard

  4. Gillian on 17 Oct 2006 at 6:01 pm #

    so long as all the shaking doesn’t dislodge any stuff

    TV stardom beckons then Peter – marvellous idea! I’m sure you’d knock Celebrity come dancing off it’s top slot in the ratings

    Samba anyone?

    Gillian