Chemotherapy compromises the immune system, which means colds are bad. Especially since if you've got a high temperature you have to go to hospital to make sure you're not suffering from neutropenic sepsis, which can be fatal.
H has had a cold for the last three weeks. We went away to Yorkshire for a week over Christmas, and hence had a late evening visit to York General Hospital - H's consultant had kindly given us contact details there before we went. And on Saturday she spent most of the day at the hospital here.
Colds are worse if you've got lytic lesions in your ribs and spine, because coughing and sneezing can break weakened bones. H was in agony yesterday (and she doesn't complain lightly) from rib pain, presumably due to a pathological fracture. All the rest of us were shaken by it.
She's in bed today, in less distress. She's hoping to be active again later in the week.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Monday, 12 December 2011
Torchbearer
A couple of months ago I nominated H to be a torch-bearer for the 2012 Olympics. She's got an email today saying yes please carry our torch for us. Now on the one hand the Olympics is a massive waste of money, the kowtowing to Olympic officials is grotesque, the logo (which appears on the torchbearers' official shirts) is obscene, the torch looks like a cheese-grater, and they wouldn't even sell me tickets for any of the events I wanted to see. On the other hand I am well chuffed.
July looks rather distant from here. Keep well H.
July looks rather distant from here. Keep well H.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
The wig is the biz
H had her wig fitted today. There's a more hair at the front than I've seen on her before: the wig guy has been cautious about cutting it because it isn't going to grow, but otherwise it looks exactly like her own hair.
Meanwhile, she's been having two weeks of daily radiotherapy on the lump on the side of her head. She chose electron beam therapy this time because the x-ray therapy she had on her other head lesion made her feel sick. This should stop the lump growing, at the cost of another bald path. She's lost most of her hair on Paclitaxel, so it doesn't make much difference - huzzah for the wig. Her bald head is as pretty as she is, but I suppose it would be a bit much to go out in public with the tumours on show.
The wig guy chatted away as he cut about all the pop stars whose hair he's done. Who knew that Adam Ant was always as bald as a coot?
ok, I admit I made that up.
Meanwhile, she's been having two weeks of daily radiotherapy on the lump on the side of her head. She chose electron beam therapy this time because the x-ray therapy she had on her other head lesion made her feel sick. This should stop the lump growing, at the cost of another bald path. She's lost most of her hair on Paclitaxel, so it doesn't make much difference - huzzah for the wig. Her bald head is as pretty as she is, but I suppose it would be a bit much to go out in public with the tumours on show.
The wig guy chatted away as he cut about all the pop stars whose hair he's done. Who knew that Adam Ant was always as bald as a coot?
ok, I admit I made that up.
Monday, 28 November 2011
Hair
H has lost a lot of hair, and has taken to wearing a bobble hat. She looks good in it. On Friday we visited a wig shop in Fulham: the guy showed us something much more realistic than the NHS offering, and, naturally, much more expensive. We can afford it, and it will be good for H to look like her old self. She'll be going back the week after next for a fitting.
We stopped for lunch at the River Cafe, which is also very expensive (albeit not on the same scale) and worth the money.
H's arm has settled down after the operation, but is no better than before. There's still some scope for improvement as any remaining inflammation subsides.
We stopped for lunch at the River Cafe, which is also very expensive (albeit not on the same scale) and worth the money.
H's arm has settled down after the operation, but is no better than before. There's still some scope for improvement as any remaining inflammation subsides.
Monday, 14 November 2011
Minor operation
H had her microdiscectomy today. It seemed to take a long time, but she's dodged the very small risk of tetraplegia: we have to wait a few days to find out how well it's worked.
While I was waiting, a trolley came round loaded to the gunnels with sweets, crisps and biscuits, on sale mainly to visitors. Is this the NHS trying to ensure future business?
Update: I wasn't paying enough attention - the procedure was a foraminotomy not a microdiscectomy. Which H points out means cutting a hole in a hole.
While I was waiting, a trolley came round loaded to the gunnels with sweets, crisps and biscuits, on sale mainly to visitors. Is this the NHS trying to ensure future business?
Update: I wasn't paying enough attention - the procedure was a foraminotomy not a microdiscectomy. Which H points out means cutting a hole in a hole.
Fog on the Tyne
We went to the North-East for the weekend to visit H's family and friends. Long Sands beach is good on a warm November day. The Lost World crazy golf course is the best I&S have played on - the obstacles are carefully configured so that if you get your entry shot right you have a good chance of a hole in one. The Grand Hotel in Tynemouth has, er, good and less good points.
Whenever we do anything like this, it could be the last time.
Whenever we do anything like this, it could be the last time.
Monday, 7 November 2011
In hospital
I've taken H to hospital because she's running a temperature - it's probably just a cold, but on chemotherapy it could be febrile neutropenia...
Update: ... the hospital says cold, but gave H oral antibiotics to be on the safe side. We got back at 2:45am. Which might not be the best treatment for it.
Update: ... the hospital says cold, but gave H oral antibiotics to be on the safe side. We got back at 2:45am. Which might not be the best treatment for it.
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