Peter’s Hospital Diary

Its another really sunny morning again here, the sun is shining on St Paul’s Cathedral and reflecting off the white stone; it looks really beautiful.

Yesterday afternoon passed pleasantly. I went and sat out on the ward, sitting in the sunlight, reading a book, and ‘borrowing’ a wireless broadband connection. It was quite useful as I had a friend’s shared on-line photo album to browse – not practical with the dial up connection. However the connection was not without problems, and while updating yesterday’s post, I lost some of it. I think I have restored it now. I hadn’t realised how much I would miss broadband.

My sister, Anne, arrived mid-afternoon, having had a day in London with her family. We decided that it would be better if my niece and nephew didn’t come up to the ward – schools are unhealthy places, and childhood sniffles and ailments can be serious to the immune impaired, of whom there are several on the ward, so they went off to Tower Bridge. Anne stayed for about an hour and a half – then half an hour after she left David turned up, fresh from Germany, and bearing chocolate! Thank you David – my chocolate stocks are now pretty well topped up! David left at about 7, so my afternoon passed quickly.

I won the Itraconazole discussion, and I am now getting the drug through the Hickman line. A great improvement which ensured the integrity of breakfast this morning! Quite why it had to be given at 6:30, I’m not sure, but it was a small price to pay to escape the taste. The taste has become worse as time has progressed, indicating the changes in my taste buds caused by the chemo. As yet I have not suffered any mouth ulcers or other significant side effects, (apart from the ones caused by the action of the chemo on the cells in my gut – but that is probably TMI!) but I guess it is only a matter of time.

I am not yet in isolation, although I wouldn’t be surprised if the blood results from this morning show that I am neutropenic (that is, no neutrophils – white cells used to fight infections) which will be when the main door is sealed (hi-tech – masking tape!) and the ‘air lock’ system brought into operation.

Anyway, better finish here as the tea trolley approaches, bearing cake and snacks!