Peter’s Hospital Diary

Monday morning and I found my way back to work, down the snail trail that is otherwise known as the M27. A bit of a shock at the early start, but it was a mild morning so it wasn’t too bad.

However the best news is that I had a text from Simon, sent late last night, saying that he was OK, but had been away. I haven’t had a chance to chat to him, but he seems OK! The other good news is that I found a post from fellow blogger John who spent much of his Christmas in and out of hospital with his GVHD problems. John, good to see you are back and still fighting!

I was also delighted to hear from a friend from University, Barbara. Thank you for the comments! (on the previous post)

Onwards and Upwards!

9 Comments »

And that is the Christmas season all but over – the tree removed, the decorations put away for another year, and the blog ‘Christmas’ theme switched off! And back to work tomorrow!

But it was a good break, although the cold/’flu that seems to have done the rounds has left me with lots of aches, but I’m sure they will clear up soon.

I am concerned at not having heard from John at Disabled rants for a while, and it has also gone quiet from friend Simon. We exchanged texts earlier this week, when he said he was suffering a bit from the latest round of chemo, but I haven’t been able to contact him since then – so Simon, if you are reading this – we are thinking of you.

So, as I said in the New Year’s Day post, lots of changes and challenges on the horizon for 2008 – the first is a check up at Guy’s on the 17th!

So… Onwards and Upwards!

2 Comments »

And a big thank you to all of you that have supported us during the last twelve months, through posts on blog, visits, phone calls etc. It really made a difference, especially during the very difficult moments of last January and February.

2008 promises to bring new challenges – hopefully not on the medical front, although with the two year anniversary of the transplant, and a year since the donor lymphocytes, it is a key point! Still, appendages crossed and I have a series of check-ups at Guy’s in January – routine bloods, a Lung Function test , and a visit to a dermatologist to look at what might be a small skin GVHD problem. Still, while GVHD is present, my immune system can be seen to be active, so that’s a good thing!

However chronic GVHD is not doing fellow blogger John any good at the moment, and so I would ask you all to think of him, and friend Simon – also undergoing chemotherapy, at the start of the New Year and hope that it sees an improvement in their health.

Looking further to the future (dangerous given the circumstances but, whatever!) it looks as if my extension of service contract, which expires in September, is unlikely to be renewed, so there will be more challenges there, so one way or another it will be a year of changes!

But back to the present! We are in the midst of a New Year Party – similar to one we did a few years ago, out in the garden (under cover – with a large space heater!). Not quite as many friends as we had hoped, because of the flu cold that is doing the rounds – but still a good gathering, as you can see from this photo taken a little earlier in the evening!

So wherever you are reading this, from the Falkland Islands to New Zealand, from America to Europe (and everywhere in between) raise a glass with us to:

“2008 – Onwards and Upwards”

5 Comments »

Well that was Christmas – the turkey (remains of) is looking very forlorn, and the last set of visitors have departed! However it was an excellent week, starting off on Christmas Eve with the midnight service – and then on Christmas morning with a family gathering, including Olivia, who seemed more interested in the boxes that her presents came in than the items themselves! (The photo shows her with Katie, and there are more in the Gallery, here and in the gallery’s Olivia section). We ventured out on Boxing day to get some exercise (with Olivia in her ‘all terrain 3×3 buggy’ ‘driven’ by Tom) and took Max (who hasn’t featured for a while) with us.

Felicity’s relations (Mother, Brother and family) came to visit on the 27th. I always enjoy the food on the days after Christmas more than the day itself – the cold meats and pickles. I managed the pickles OK – an indication of how things have improved in the last three months (although strong pickled onions were still too much!) However I was looking back at the blogs from this time last year – here where I was amused to be in an almost identical pose as this year and here
which was the calm before the ensuing storm! But enough of that! (No lemons this year either – but lots of flowers…!)

One other indication of the improvement is that I can drink coffee again. I suppose in the last 12 months, I could count the number of cups of coffee I have drunk on the fingers of one hand (and this from a former 6 cups a day man) but just before Christmas we bought a Tassimo coffee and drink maker. I have to say I was rather scepticle about the claims, but it really does make a good consistent cup of coffee that I enjoy. Another small upwards step!

Things didn’t all go according to plan – the kitchen freezer went wrong on Thursday (I think the compressor that has failed) and I can’t quite shake off a cough and a cold that I have had since the week before Christmas – but they are minor niggles in what was an excellent week!

Now for New Year!

Onwards and Upwards!

4 Comments »

Happy Christmas everyone!

Onwards and Upwards!

7 Comments »

… and all through the house, everything’s manic, no peace for a mouse!”

And I expect that is a familiar tale pretty much everywhere! I finished work on Friday, although it was a token effort and we packed up at mid-day. In fact it felt as if the Christmas break had started as the drive to work only took 20 minutes instead of the customary 40 as the motorway was almost empty. However it was worth going in as I discovered that I comfortably passed the exams at the end of the last computer course module, which was a relief!

Vicki brought Olivia over on Saturday afternoon – and as you can see from the photo she is all but walking, and now navigates herself round from one item of furniture to another – until she gets bored and realises she can make faster progress on all fours!

Katie came home yesterday, and a friend of ours, Ian, who is staying for Christmas, arrived last night. We went to the Christmas Carol service last night, then on to friends Sue and Mark (French Cottage) for a cocktail party, and this morning has seen a last minute shopping expedition before settling down for the last minute preparations!

O&U!

2 Comments »

One bit of news to report!

Following on from Simon’s post on Tuesday, I spoke to him today. He is in fine form, having just completed the second cycle of chemo, however the inevitable side effects are kicking in. He mentioned the hair loss (and he has promised a photo for the blog!) but he says that his blood counts have been low, especially haemoglobin and of course, the neutrophils. So he has had a blood transfusion (which he says made himn feel a whole lot better – almost instantly!) and some injections of my old friend, GCSF, to stimulate his bone marrow to produce some more neutrophils. But overall, he was on very good form, and appreciates the comments that have been posted here! Keep it up Simon – we’re right behind you… (Oh no we’re not… Oh yes we are… – Oh dear, pantomime season again!)

Back at work the week slowly comes to an end. Christmas lunch yesterday, an office party today and we finish tomorrow – probably about lunchtime! And of course tomorrow is the shortest day, but if you cast your mind back to my posts last December, you wil recall that although the days start getting longer, sunset doesn’t start getting later for another eight days or so!

Anyway, there will be some more posts before Christmas, so in the traditional fashion – and especially for Simon…

Onwards and Upwards!

6 Comments »

Time to get festive with the Christmas theme!

It was a very cold and frosty weekend – however the fire made everything quite toasty! Felicity was working so I was ‘in charge’ (well, nominally!) while my parents were visiting. But we had a good weekend, with Vicki bringing Olivia round and we decorated the Christmas tree. Felicity finished work during the small hours of Sunday morning, and spent some of Sunday recovering!

I hope it is cold and frosty for Katie, who has gone to France with the University ski club for a week of snow-boarding – she returns on Christmas Eve.

I was somewhat amused to hear about this item on the news this morning! As you know, I have been less than complimentary about hospital catering – good to hear that the media has finally caught up! (Perhaps they ought to read my blog!)

The annual ‘news letter’ has been drafted and will be sent out by e and snail mail in the next few days, and will be linked here. And this is the last week at work for 2007, I finish on Friday for two weeks!

Finally, a recent text from Simon “Still smiling, although feeling rather tired” – keep it up Simon – we are with you all the way!

So onwards and upwards!

5 Comments »

A busy week all round really. Felicity has been doing some more contract eventing work, which means she has been coming home in the small hours of the morning, and on Wednesday I had to go to Plymouth for some meetings. While the meetings were reasonably useful, the real pleasure was getting out and about and visiting another friend of longstanding from schooldays, Lisa and her husband, Andy. Lovely evening Lisa and great to catch up! (And Harry the spaniel has got lovely ears!)

The journey back yesterday was eventful – half way up the A38 between Plymouth and Exeter I stumbled across a very recent accident (as in about 15 seconds earlier) so it was a case of stopping, calling the emergency services, getting the casualty (cut head) comfortable with the help of a couple of other people who stopped. The ambulance arrived pretty quickly, as did the police, so after handing over the incident to them, I was on my way again after 20 minutes.

And Katie is busy too – off for a week of snowboarding with the University ski club.

This weekend I have my parents visiting and it is also time to do Christmas cards. Well, I say cards, but this year we are having a change of routine. We normally buy charity cards, supporting LeukaemiaCARE who get a percentage of the profits. However given that all cards end up being recycled about 10 days after receipt, this year we aren’t sending any, but instead donating what they would have cost to LC, so they get the lot rather than just a percentage. We will be sending out a newsletter, either by post or e mail, and I will also post it on the blog as a link. So it should save some energy recycling and perhaps minimise a bit of landfill! We’ll see how it goes!

Fingers remain crossed for Simon (BT) who continued his treatment this week. Keep smiling Simon!

Finally, I have reactivated the ‘seasonal’ links for those that haven’t got their christmas trees yet!

Onwards and Upwards!

1 Comment »

Home again after another fairly intensive week, looking at aspects of computer networking – and again with exams at the end of it. I think I did OK, but I have a feeling I may have made a couple of basic mistakes, I hope not too serious. The week wasn’t helped by a rather unpleasant D&V bug halfway through, which left me feeling a bit rough for the last two days. Still, all done so time to forget about the exam!

It is a really miserable day here – in fact it was miserable driving back yesterday afternoon – however I got a fire going when I got back and that always makes thngs seem cheerfull!

I had news of Simon (Bt fame) who had some chemo last week – I think the side effects were starting to kick in during the week so I hope they will recede soon – hang on in there Simon.

Other than that, not a lot to report, so in time honoured tradition…

Onwards and Upwards!

4 Comments »