Yesterday I went to St George's for my monthly pentamadine (to protect my lungs, mostly from pneumonia, I think), after it was brought back in to replace the potentially allergy-inducing septrin I had been taking as tablets. It was a remarkably swift and efficient operation, thanks to doctor Matthew's excellent pre-planning in writing up a prescription … Continue reading Days +34 and +35: Matters of perception
Days +31 to +33: You’re only as old as…
Were I as orderly as I like the world to be in general, I'd have posted two days ago, on Day +31, as I had a rare combination of both news and a time-relevant theme to write about. However, I'm pleased to say that the news – that I was out of hospital again – meant I … Continue reading Days +31 to +33: You’re only as old as…
Day +30: The little big three-zero
It's Day +30 today, which may not carry much particular weight medically, except perhaps prompting another chimerism test, but feels good to have reached – albeit in hospital! Sadly the '3' and '0' balloons we used previously are at home, and I'm not, but it still feels like an achievement to have got through the first thirty days … Continue reading Day +30: The little big three-zero
Days +27 and +28: Better safe than sorry
I suppose all good things must come to an end – or at least a pause, in the case of my most recent wonderful time at home. One of the 'rules' I have to follow in order to minimise risks is to go straight to A&E when my temperature spikes over 38 degrees, which it … Continue reading Days +27 and +28: Better safe than sorry
Days +23 to +26: Food fights
A very Happy (delayed) Easter to everyone; I hope you all enjoyed the celebrations and/or the long weekend, as you prefer. I very nearly posted this 'ambush' video yesterday after discovering Mariacristina had taken it, but soon decided that nobody would be in a rush to hear from me on Easter Sunday – and I was too … Continue reading Days +23 to +26: Food fights
Days +17 to +19: On parole
When I reached a point in my leukaemia treatment the first time around where I was able to get out and about and look to start working again, going back to my old job at Literary Review wasn't going to work out very well, not least because my replacement was doing fabulously and resources at the magazine were limited. In addition, … Continue reading Days +17 to +19: On parole
Day +15: The bald truth
Growing up, I invariably went to the same hairdresser in Chichester, an incredibly shy but sweet man called Stephen. He didn't do anything special, but cut my hair in the same inoffensive style, to the same length all over. I was very happy with this. At boarding school a hairdresser visited on certain days at certain … Continue reading Day +15: The bald truth
Day +11: Show and tell (but mostly show)
1. I said last night we'd celebrate the last few hours of Day +10 ("engraftment day"). And we did. 2. Oh yes, my hair started falling out to a serious degree yesterday; rather than let it get patchy, we thought it time to take to the clippers. 3. Today (Day +11), Fred came up to Tooting... … Continue reading Day +11: Show and tell (but mostly show)
Day +10: Expectation management
About a week ago, a clearly excited transplant fellow Dara poked his head around my door and told me, among other things, that the lady in the room three doors down from mine had engrafted on Day +10. A few days later, he told me she was going home. On the one hand, it was … Continue reading Day +10: Expectation management
Day +8: Ice cream, cars and mucositis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri2YxP-lR24 A quick summary of the video, for those who can't (or can't be bothered to) watch it: Hello... Day +8... no biblical plagues... mucositis worsening... hard to swallow... soup and ice cream... palatial room... opposite nurses station... night-time chatter... good for gossip... getting farther away from Day +0... hopefully engraftment soon... earliest would be Day +10... … Continue reading Day +8: Ice cream, cars and mucositis