Peter’s Hospital Diary

And you might correctly deduce that I wasn’t released yesterday. It seems that my electrolyte balance isn’t correct! I had some magnesium in yesterday’s fluids, and both last night and this morning I had a potassium tablet (and to do my bit, I had a banana with my breakfast! Yesterday’s blood results did show a […]

Mixed day today I woke up in the night with a numb mouth (almost like a dental injection effect) and again when I woke. Although it soon wore off, I mentioned it to the registrar who launched into a stroke/TIA (transient ischaemic attack – medical term for a stroke!) assessment. Happily it should nothing untoward […]

And about half an hour after I wrote yesterday’s post, I had a call from the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – this time from Amy. The muli-discipinary team had discussed my case and come to the conclusion that the spike was caused by the rituximab and so rather than proceed with the vinblastine, I should […]

Well, an emotional roller coaster! I had a quiet weekend – still a bit shocked and upset that the ibrutinib had stopped working after on 4 months. I suppose I should have remembered that studies have shown that it is less effective in relapsed cases. I slept badly over the weekend but I was hopeful […]

I’m writing this from the same ward, but in bed at Southampton General Hospital (or more correctly, University Hospital Southampton!) after being admitted on Tuesday night. But I get a bit ahead of myself… Tuesday was a bit of a low point while I mulled over things – disappointed that the ibrutinib was losing its […]

Bit of a set back. I had a bit of a dizzy spell on Saturday, which although it passed did alarm me a bit, and on Sunday I thought I could feel a small lump in my abdomen. I had an appointment for a CT scan yesterday so I gave the Lymphoma Nurse Specialists a […]

I had my monthly check up yesterday and I’m delighted to say that all seems to be going well! I went in fairly early in the morning for my blood test, well ahaed of my appointment in afternoon so they would be ready. I saw Dr Lown in the afternoon who confirmed that my blood […]

I’ve had a couple of emails remarking on the fact that I haven’t updated the blog recently and was I OK? Actually all is going very well and there hasn’t really been much to say! I am taking my four tablets of Ibrutinib every day (along with one or two supporting medicines) and just getting […]

I had my three week check up yesterday! I went into the hospital in the morning for the blood test so the results would be available for the clinic appointment in the afternoon where I saw Professor Johnson – head of the haematology department. I first met Professor Johnson in 2004 when I asked for […]

I received the results of my blood test late Tuesday afternoon (after my post) and all is good! The blood counts are fine, with the lymphocyte count falling, and the chemistry is good with the remaining liver marker back in spec! My creatinine levels were slightly up on last week (note to self – drink […]