Day 16: Freedom

Thursday

WCC: 0.2

Neut: 0.0

Hb: 79

Platelets: 7

Weight: 66.1kg

Some 'normalcy' to life now. Woke at 5am and first thing was to open my eyes to see how they were feeling. Feeling better than they were - but still not able to focus properly. I decide to check emails to see if there is anything I have missed in the last 2 days not being able to see the screen - but still battling to make out words clearly (even after I worked out how to increase font size). I also realise very quickly that staring at the screen is not helping them feel any better.

Weight has come down a bit and although ankles/feet still a little bit swollen with fluids, I am starting to feel a bit better. Still hard to breathe properly and if someone asks me to take a deep breath, this results in a coughing fit.

Surgeon came in first thing this morning just to do check of my gall bladder. Area is still tender, but everything looks good from my ultrasound - essentially just too much fluid!

After shower I sat up in chair and just sat with my eyes shut again, letting them rest (probably dozed off again) and junior Dr's came in. I asked about other eye drops - just to help my eyes stay lubricated. That was about 10.00am - it was about 4pm when the drops finally arrived - but at last! I am hoping they will help give my eyes some relief from the airconditioning etc. They think the eye issue is just a side effect of the chemo and I have obviously been hit with it more than others.

Medical student came in to talk to me about condition, history etc - happy to have someone to chat to for 20 minutes. Oh, and she'd worked in Tanzania for a couple of months, so we shared (very different) stories of Africa. I think you could say my corner room is a promotional booth for anyone interested in arranging a holiday to Africa! I flicked through one of my photo books today - and although everything blurry, it certainly bought back so many memories and a smile to my face.

What else today? Around my thighs, tummy, side of boob, I have petechiae - which is essentially a collection of tiny red dots under the skin due to bleeding. It presents like a skin rash - and given my low platelets, is not uncommon.

Today I ate a 'decent' lunch. I had roasted chicken, sweet chilli sauce on half a fresh bread roll. Followed by cheese and biscuits. This is about the most I have eaten in a single sitting in almost 10 days (last big meal was nachos the first night I was here). It has stayed down and even better, that so far today I have not had to take any anti nauseau medication.

Had visitors, and then started getting tired about 2pm and climbed into bed. I decided to start listening to my audio book - but drifted in/out of sleep. During this time, bag of platelets arrived and I got a top up.

Full gammit of Dr's then arrived and I got to ask a few more questions - still trying to get to the bottom of WHY I was pumped so full of fluid to a point where my organs became 'soupy' etc. It was explained a bit better to me today - and one of the challenges is that with my typically low blood pressure, it does not sit well with the Dr's here, as it shouts as a warning sign. Add to that my fever spikes, the chemo etc then yes - I probably ended up with too much fluid in me

What was the joy of today was that they have stopped the IV antibiotics (I can now take in tablet format) and the potassium IV and therefore, after 9 days, I have been unhooked from the IV line! Freedom!

No where to go to - but it just means I don't have to take the machine/pole into the bathroom with me each time and I can have a shower without it (still have PICC line wrapped up). Small joys make a big difference!

I have to admit I am starting to get bored and the days are starting to feel long. Without really being able to watch anything/ do anything on the computer/read anything the day drags on a bit, and I am not sleeping the same length of time that I was last week.

But, thankful I am feeling better than this time last week!