BMT + 39

Haem: 76 (down 19)

White: 8.4 (up)

Platelets: 175 (up)

Neut: 6.4 (up)

Weight: 60.9kg

So another week has gone by and it is a very similar routine each day - wake, breakfast, pills, walk, rest, eat, sleep, rest, sleep! However, have overall been feeling stronger each day.

Going back to last Tuesday, went for a pretty decent walk through the park with my eldest daughter. Was feeling weary after it, but pleased I got out and into the park for the first time rather than just going around the block. Wednesday I had to admit my legs felt a bit jelly like so we didn't walk quite so far. It was a good day as the dogs were bought down for a visit (thanks Dave) and it was lovely to see them but also added to the homesickness.

Thursday I had a bit of a set back. Headed down for the morning walk to the park, for the first time with Anth, but soon after getting to the park I said I was feeling a bit unusual - a bit hot, uncoordinated and started seeing stars in front of my eyes. We sat down for a while and decided to head back, but I had to sit down on bench just before we left the park where I started throwing up. Getting home after that was a slow, shuffling process.

I had hoped that maybe over the long weekend we could go to the movies - just to get out of the apartment, but was told that would not be a good idea at this stage. Even though my neuts are back in the normal range, I am still vulnerable to viruses and enclosed spaces in crowds is not a good idea - so a quiet weekend for us. Went back to walking around the block as there were large crowds in the park and I didn't want to get caught in there if I needed to throw up again. Saturday afternoon a visit from my Sister & her partner, with the dogs again which was great. They are obviously loving their 'holiday' with Ness and Dave and I wonder if they will want to come home!

By Sunday things were a bit cooler and quieter and off we went for a walk to the park, and I managed a 40min walk the longest so far and I was very pleased.

Today is clinic day so up early, and try and get everything together before heading over to the hospital for 8.00am to get bloods taken. A bit quicker process today - only had to wait for an hour. From there it was down to clinic where I was weighed, temp, blood pressure etc taken and nurse took all the notes of how I have been going. Then back to the waiting room. Dietitian then called us in and is happy with how I have been eating. Then back to waiting room and finally called for the bone marrow biopsy. So this was done, with the 'whistle' which just helps relax you whilst they take the biopsy from your hip (along with local anaesthetic). After that I had a 30 min nap to let the effects of the whistle wear off a bit and then the Dr turned up - so I had clinic appointment laying down in bed! Unfortunately they didn't have my blood results back at that time - but we were done and headed back to the apartment. I did a bit of a shuffle step to get back with the sore hip and heat. Sat down to rest when we got back and in less than 10 min got a call from the BMT co-ordinator to say blood results are back and my haem was low, so I need a transfusion tomorrow. However, this morning they did not do a cross match, so after lunch I had to return to the hospital to get another blood test done so they will have the blood ready for me at 8.00am tomorrow morning when I have to head back. By the time I had to head back to the hospital, I was exhausted - brain was a bit foggy and legs not working like I wanted them to so it was a bit of challenge but heading back from the hospital was even worse - the heat was oppressive, I was even more tired so walked into the apartment and straight into bed where I had a pretty good sleep.

It feels like a bit of a set back with my haem dropping today in only a week but they explained that it is likely to go up and down due to the mismatch donor blood group - so my blood is going to move from O+ to B+ but that might take up to 6 months before the change is seen.

So, tomorrow back to clinic for transfusion, and Friday happy to report that I'll be back again to get the Hickman line out - so at least returning to a little bit more 'normal'.

Will report more next week.