Day 27: 0.1 makes all the difference!

Monday

Wcc: 0.3

Neut: 0.1 YEY!!

Hb: 78

Platelets: 12

Weight: 65.2kg

So, it was the 0.1 appearing on my neutrophil count that made me smile today. Everything about moving forward and going home is all about my neutrophil count. I was told it is hoped they start coming back in around day 21, and today is actually day 22 since I arrived and started chemo, so I am delighted to see that number appear!

Also, starting to feel better today. Had another temperature during the night, but not as severe and woke up cautiously optimistic. Incredibly tired - although have spent a lot of the last few days sleeping, it feels like it has sapped the energy out of me. I don't feel strong on my legs. Standing in the shower, I had to grab the rail a couple of times as I felt like my legs were going to give way. I suppose the fact there is very little solid food I have consumed since last Thursday has not helped.

Anth and I went for short walk - just so I could go outside for a short period. At first I thought I'd need a wheelchair, but decided that I'd at least try and walk, pushing the the IV stand and using that to help stablise. It's another thing I find unusual about the hospital - it has no garden where patients can sit and enjoy. For a hospital that majors in oncology & haematology, I'd presume a garden to sit in would be something most patients would appreciate. There is a small garden at the back of the hospital, but nothing set up there to allow people to sit down, so we ended up sitting in the cafe 'smoking' outdoor area - but due to the public holiday, there was no one out there.

I was enjoying being outside and feeling the sunshine and fresh air, but it was cut short as my IV line started beeping at me - so we headed back.

One of life's ironies - walking back into the ward (my room is at the very end of the corridor) I had to grab the spew back as my stomach knotted up as the smell of hospital food (lunch had been served as we had left) was so strong.

But we got back to the room without anything coming up. I was exhausted. Anth then headed off to warm up some roast chicken for me so I could have a bread roll for lunch. As he returned, the nurse said that smells nice - but I couldn't smell that at all. Who can explain why I can smell the hospital food that is not at all appealing, but the nice smells have gone?

I am obviously carrying 5+kg of fluid again and have puffed up a bit. A lasec (?) 40mg given to me at around 12.30pm along with a nausea tablet that hopefully will cover me over the next few days.

The other challenge is that I have been incredibly thirsty, so on top of the fluid they have been pumping into me, I have been guzzling water, juice (finally worked out a mix of pineapple and apple hit the spot) and cordial - but everything needs to be cold, so ice machine has been getting a work out. Not sure where this thirst has come from.

A bag of platelets + 2 bags of blood given today and I am sitting here with 1.45min still left on 2nd bag of blood. At first I was off to the bathroom due to the lasec tablet - but this time nurse and I set it up so I didn't have to go all the way around the bed each time. So the IV line is set up between me and the bathroom. So, I can actually get up and take the IV stand with me into the bathroom, without having to unplug the 2 pumps. It takes a bit of maneuvering - but much easier!

I've napped and gone back and read the weekend papers on the Ipad as I haven't really been up for any of that until today.

And my hair, have I mentioned it's everywhere! Still enough on my head though to give me cover and for those who haven't seen me think I still have a full head of hair (a bit light on at the temples). I should be at home with the dogs - and then I could just blame Molly for all the black hair everywhere! Part of me just wants to sit and comb it all out and the other part (and winning part) wants me to hang onto it as long as possible.

So nothing overly exciting today (which is a good thing!), but heading in the right direction, and that is a positive, and that 0.1 reading is hopefully just the start....