Day 7: Routines

Tuesday

WBC: 0.7 (that dropped!)

Neut: 0.1

Hb: 88

Platelets: 38

W: 64.2

I'm thinking I'm writing the day of the week and down the track this will become important as the days start to merge together.

So, first morning. Had a good night's sleep (a bit of night sweats, but this is pretty normal) and woke about 6.15am. Bonus! I was told they do blood collection every morning between 5 and 6am - so I thought there goes any hope of sleeping in! One bonus for having the last room at the end of the corridor!

Had bit of gums bleeding last night. Woke up to great mouth feeling (apologies for the unattractive photo).

Bloods taken, signed up for research trial to measure 'wellness' in haematology cancer patients. This involved having a body composition scan - which kindly informed me I was mildly obese - talk about encouragement! At least at the gym they have me in the 'normal' range - maybe that's the difference between paying the gym and a free scan!

Poor Anth arrived to say hi but between people in/out of my room and his phone calls from work, we got to say about 5 words to each other and then he had to head off.

Then showered (thank goodness they have good water pressure and it's hot!) and hooked up to next bag of Cytarabine.

I’m feeling fine this morning. They’ve been a bit worried as my temp has been reading 34.6, 34.5 – they have taken it 8 times now with 3 different machines. I’ve been told my ear canals are too small. I did mention that I have been coming here to the day ward (just at the other end of the floor) for 2 years for transfusions, and they have been taking my temperatures using the same machines and never had a problem. I got my little at home thermometer out (with their request) and it read 35.2. After shower etc they did it again and asked me to shove it down my ear canal. It got to 35.8 and they were then happy with that!

Machine read 85/54 for blood pressure and they weren’t happy with that. Did it manually and suddenly it was 110/60 and they were happy. Being the cynic I am – is that what she wanted to see? It just seems funny that they rely on the machines and happy to take the result when it gives what they want, but when it doesn’t suddenly they are no good…

Everyone has commented on my 'organisation'! I hesitated bringing this bag - thinking people would laugh of the amount of stuff I bought, but then a wise woman told me not to think about what anyone else thought, and it was about being comfortable. So, I packed up one of the girls dance duffel bags which comes with its own hanging, meaning I don't have to rely on 2 inches of hanging space that the hospital provides! Very happy that it has slotted into a corner of the room, happy as I feel organised and don't have to go rifling through everything and so many staff have commented on what a great idea it is.

Lunch has come and gone. I know I'm a bit precious with my food - but I think they cater relying on people not feeling well and not wanting to eat.... Order has gone in tonight for Anth to bring me something from the shops on his way in...

Give me another week - I'm sure there will be more 'organisational' pieces making their way into the room....

Dinner from hospital - can't eat it.

Dinner from Anth - pulled pork Nachos from Guzman and Gomez. Polished off! (the hospital custard - they can't ruin that!).

No nausea or any other effects at this stage - just typical tiredness, but I was good today - I let myself nap!