This topic contains 167 replies, has 24 voices, and was last updated by 
tom 12 years ago.
Well thanks all for your kind words and good wishes:-)
You're right, it was a battle so stage one ticked off. Colin is really shattered so we're having a really quiet time. Short turnaround for his SCT, he goes in a week Monday……22 October 2012. It's very real now! So we are going to enjoy the next few days, as long as col gets the gcsf side effects out of his system :-).
Hope you enjoyed your vodka Tom!
Ali, glad to hear your mum is doing well. That's an inspiration for us, as you all are on here!
Helen, I just spotted your post above about chest, hope you're feeling a bit better. It's a bxxxxr when you've gone through all that and catch shake off a chest infection! Don't need things to drag you down do you. Take care
Vicki and Colin x
Hi Vicky and Colin, well done both of you and like me you will be getting set for the 22nd – what a coincidence! I am frantically trying to organize the garden, and work stuff in case I am 'inside' for a long time, but also avoid catching any of the Autumn bugs which seem to be going around at the moment. We have a meal booked at out favourite restaurant for next Saturday to fortify me before facing the hospital food! I am sure we can both get a great result from our SCT's and a long remission.
Stay positive, and keep us posted,
Chris
Hi Colin and you too Chris,
Wishing you both a smooth procedure with as few side-effects and setbacks as possible.:-)
You have done very well to get Colin to this stage Vicki, just one more push and you will soon have him home and on the road to recovery and hopefully a long remission.:-D
Good luck and best wishes for all on the 17th.8-)
Dai.
Truly wonderful news. I've been reading your thread and worrying about your joint ordeal. You've had an incredibly difficult time but your determination is an inspiration to us all. If I understand you correctly, like me, you found the staff at Southmead to be amazing.
Colin will indeed be exhausted from his efforts and I add my hope that he can build up his strength for the next stage. It takes a while for the effects of the chemo to come through so he should be able to use this time to advantage.
Remember to look after your own health. Very best wishes to Colin
Stephen
Hi all,
Chris, thanks for your good wishes and good luck to you too. Colin will be taking the iPad into hospital so he has contact with the outside world. I have already been told off for nagging Colin about making sure he eats even though the food is rubbish! I'm cooking some good Hearty food this week, and a stew on the go at the moment, for tomorrow and roast beef today! I so hope it works out well for you both:-)
Dai, it's nice to hear from you. I understand from Tom that you've been through the mill. I've read I think that your daughter is getting married shortly. Hope the day goes well and you and Janet are able to enjoy it and you can do the 'giving away' 🙂
Stephen, so good to hear from you, have been wondering how you are doing post SCT? How are you? It has been a real challenge to get to this point. As you say I can't speak highly enough of the staff at south mead. Debbie, Sally, dr sohail and dr chapda (I think that's her name). They've all put up with me looking panic stricken, asking all sorts of random questions and sitting there just waiting for something to happen! My best paranoia was asking Debbie to look at a mark on colins head that i spotted when he was asleep, wondering and panicking what it could be…….turned put to be where his glasses had dug into his head a bit, what an idiot I felt 🙂
Best wishes to all and roll on end november when fingers crossed Colin and you chris will be home 🙂
Vicki x
Hi Vicki and Colin
So pleased to hear your news! Must admit, although I look at the site every day and keep in touch with what is happening to everyone, have been going through a period, when I have felt really sad and could'nt bring myself to post anything!! Seems really selfish, but we are all different!! But anyway, reading your post tonight, has really given me a boost!! So glad things are moving for you and Colin.
Take care both of you and everyone else on this site!!!!
Love and best wishes
Ann and Pete
xx
Hi Helen
I think, having read all of that and since finding out that you have whooping cough I feel you have every right to have a good old whinge. You must feel drained.
Your memory left with the melphalan? – mine went with childbirth and has not returned yet (waited 9 years so far!).
Can they give you anything for the whooping cough? On the news the other day they said its on the rise.
I read your post about your hols, glad you had a lovely break away, even though you must have felt pretty shite:-P
My Mums doing great thanks (so she says anyway!) has days where shes extremely tired and rests up, but on good days shes brill. Still has the ulcers in mouth but really not as painful and the acid still takes her by suprise, she may not have it for a few days and then it sneaks up on her with a vengeance and there seems no pattern to it, doesnt seem to matter what she eats…but again it gets better week by week. Her hair has started to grow back and she is extremey relieved about that.
We are going to see Jesus Christ Super Star this weekend and out for a lovely meal together, when I booked it in June/July I didnt know if I was doing the right thing, would she be up to it following SCT? Im so glad I did now. Not doing much over half term, Im at work the beginning of the week – will go out for the day somewhere, the kids will make sure of that!
Take good care of yourself
Love Ali xx
Hi all,
Minor setback!. Went to see the SCT nurse yesterday for final consents. SCT has been delayed a week because there is nobody avaialable to come up from Bristol to reintroduce the stem cells on the days required. We were a bit shellshocked really as we weren't expecting that. Still regrouped and head back together. Will have to be a week behind you chris 🙂
What we setbacks with getting the cells, we went into a fit of laughter, it must be hysteria! Ha ha
Vicki and Colin x
Best of luck Collin, and Chris in Ward 9, They are a great bunch in there, the Ward Sister has been on the cancer ward I think for some 21 years, unless I got it wrong which would not surprise me.
If you get problems with your throat, I did, no matter how many mouth rinses I took, I can suggest: Complan mixed into a milk shake, Ice cream and cold milk then add jelly and a tangerine or something similar, these are optional.
Also the first 12 weeks when you come out are very important. For the first 8 weeks I saw nobody except my wife. We were meticulous about hygiene, I had my own supply of butter, jams etc… (We used the hotel portions). Everything was wiped down with Dettol Surface Cleanser and food preparations areas were cleaned every day with it. I assure you cannot be too careful during this period.
Best of luck.
Kindest regards – vasbyte
David
Wow you two aint doing this the easy way are you??.
I bet your well peed off I hope the get them all back in nice and safe 🙂
Love Tom "Onwards and Upwards" xxx
Trying times, and I should say a little hysteria is quite allowable given the circumstances.8-)
Still, the week will fly and the 'force them back in' expert will come and do his job and Colin will be on his way… finally.;-) The best of luck and it will be over and done with and he will be home in your capable care before you know it.:-D
That's when the important part begins… David's advice is perfect and close to my regime. Family and friends will clamour… gather the strength to say no… especially for the first few weeks.:-|
Regards and best wishes.:-)
Dai.
Hi David
Very interesting to read your post SCT regime
I think I will set up an American style sealed prison visitor screen with phone contact only !
Did you go out just the two of you for a walk or car trip
How long before you felt well enough to take a holiday
Now on my final 6th. cycle od CTD, but I have been very cautious where I have been, no public transport etc
Like you at home or with family surfaces wiped with anti septic spray or wipe, so I have had 15 weeks trouble free
But I realise that after SCT we will have to be very rigorous
All the best
Peter
Hi Both, I'm really sorry to hear about your delay – it must be pretty gutting after the build up – still, another week of freedom at least! As far as I know I am still in on Monday, I will continue my new Blog and let you know how I am getting on.
Have you seen the Stand up To Cancer programme tonight? Fantastic efforts for raisng money to fight this terrible disease, those people were so brave to relate their stories, I spent half the evening with my eyes full of tears, I hope it helps the Scientists to help us all which can only be good! 🙂
Keep smiling Guys, and enjoy your week,
Chris
Blimey David, I was hoping to get back to work once I get out! :-/
I love my wife, but I think I would go nuts if I couldn't see my Mates, or do anything for 8 weeks. If that's the advice, then I guess that will be the only choice, but 'her in doors' is constantly nagging when I go to the pub etc at the moment so I havn't been overly cautious so far.
Thanks for your good wishes, I know they are a fantastic team on Ward 9, I will definitely try the throat soothing drink!
Best wishes, Chris
Hello all
Thanks very much for your kind words and advice, as usual much appreciated. We were a bit fed up but what can we do, so instead treated ourselves to a really nice meal out :-). Colins appetite has been a bit up and down so good to see him eat a bit. It gives me an opportunity to build him up ready for the rubbish food in hospital, even if he feels he can eat it.our hospital object to food being brought in and if I wanted to would have to sign a disclaimer, health and safety 🙂
Anyway, chris, what is your new blog called and where do we access it. Would like to keep a beady eye on your progress :-), wishing you the very best of luck and a speedy recovery of those cells. Take care and enjoy your last day before the challenge begins :-). By the way we hope you enjoyed your meal last night 🙂
Vicki and Colin
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