Peter’s Hospital Diary

And it has been a busy couple of days too!

I went up to the day unit at Guy’s yesterday, as planned (lovely to see Orla and her team in the day unit again) and discussed the cunning plan with Rob (SPR). As all the best plans remain flexible, we decided to test this, and so I was admitted to Samaritan ward that afternoon to start the chemo regime with the Rituximab. However I had a treat first as Kim, the Dimbleby Cancer Care Aromatherapist, was on the ward – my feet felt wonderful!

I seem to be well known on the ward, and the first person I saw was Sister Nicky who is the (and I’m sorry if I get this title wrong!) the Deputy Ward Sister, working with another old friend, Liz, who is the Ward Sister. I have to say that Nicky is a bundle of super-efficient energy – she is everywhere – always in the right place at the right time, and never stops! Watching the banter with Liz, you can tell they are a great team – and you can tell just by being on the ward that it buzzes! They enforce high standards from everyone, and it is a joy to watch them at work! (And woe betide a Junior House Officer who steps out of line!) All the other ‘old hands’ from my transplant were there, including Debbie, Tom, Mick, Adam and Paul and it was good to see them too! And a special thank you to Rachel, the dietician, who stopped by to discuss my weight loss! (And had some practical help that didn’t involve a naso-gastric tube!)

Rituximab administration can cause a mild allergic reaction when it is first given, and although I have had it before, and it was well tolerated, this is the first time I have had it with the new immune system, so the team wanted to be cautious – and just as well because half way through the administration I started to feel a little ‘woozy’ and we had to slow the infusion down again.

The plan was to try and get the rest of the chemo in that evening, before I was given ‘night leave’ but we ran out of time, so I got home at about 10pm last night, and then set off again this morning for the rest of the drugs.

This went very smoothly, administered by Myra, and it was all all done and dusted by 11am. then it was time to wish Rob and Melissa (you remember Melissa – The delightful American SHO working over here) Happy Christmas and depart. There was just time to have a chat with Viki, the haematology Specialist Nurse before I left – which always perks me up, then it was off to get the train home! My next visit will be on the 28th, which is when I should be at my neutropenic nadir, and after that, probably one more cycle of R-CHOP before another PET scan, and (we hope) a re-start of the donor lymphocytes. Rob gave me a summary letter to take to a local hospital should I feel unwell during the Christmas period. It makes stark reading when the last seven years are reduced to the bare clinical facts, but it did make me realise just what a lot of treatment I have had!

The weekend was busy in other ways too. You may recall that Vicki (eldest daughter) is expecting a baby in about 6 weeks. Well, on Sunday she felt some contractions, and was taken to hospital for observation. She has been given some drugs to stop them, as the baby would be a little premature, but she was kept in for a couple of days. This rather put paid to a quiet weekend though and threw plans out of the window – which brings me to my next topic (which doesn’t affect all of you) – Christmas cards!

Those of you for whom I have an up-to-date address on the Christmas card list should have had your cards posted by now – because this was Christmas card week-end. (Yes, I know, it was a bit late, but there has been a lot going on!) Most of them have been posted, but some have not, so I have posted the 2006 Christmas letter under pages. I will try and E mail those of you who would have got a card some time this week. Sorry!

And on a final note, we did get a Christmas tree for the conservatory – and here it is!

Onwards and Upwards!