Hi Keith,
Empathy abounding from me. I had a chest infection, with meds from my GP, when I had my Flu/Pneumonia jabs on the same day. 24 hours later I was in hospital with a temp of 38.6 and one of the nurses said that she had seen this before after the dual shots. Out of hospital with another couple of strong anti-biotics and then coughing up of gunge for the following 6 weeks.
The gunge has, more or less, stopped but I am still a bit wheezy with facial eczema to boot. My cold started on Oct 3rd and I still don't feel 100%. I have seen my consultant in the meantime and she thinks it is viral and therefore was reluctant to give me more anti-biotics.
I had asthma when I was very young and with the wheeziness and the eczema I am wondering if it is back, albeit in a mild form. I also sweat like billyo after the slightest exertion…
My remission started on October 3rd and I can honestly say that I have not had one single day where I have felt 100% (all other things taken into consideration).
Moan over.
Dai.
Hi Liz & Kev,
I live in Aslockton, about 2 miles beyond Bingham off the A52. I am also being treated at the City Hospital and often sing its praises on here. 🙂
I see the Prof sometimes but my usual consultant is Doctor Cathy Williams whom I hold in the highest regard. A new Nottingham Support Group had an initial meeting at the end of October and will start meeting regularly in the New Year… I hope to meet up with you at a meeting.8-)
Regards,
Dai.
Hi Gilly,
Its great to hear from you and even better that you are still going strong in remission. I hope we don't hear from you till next Xmas.:-)
Dai.
Ditto David, absolutely ditto.
Dai.
Hi Eve,
I had a tooth extracted pre-SCT… it was carried out at Queen's Nottingham by a Surgeon/Dentist. The extraction was quite straightforward and I had to wait an hour for a post-op check and then was sent home with a course of preventative anti-biotics.
No further problems encountered but I was told that all future tooth work would be carried out as above… no complaints from me.:-)
Dai.
Hi Glynj,
Many of us have had radiotherapy as part of our treatment… tumours on and around the spine seem to be the most common but elsewhere as well. Where do they plan John's radiotherapy?
Dai.
Great news Eve.
As with me, if they cancel the latter treatments then the earlier ones have done the job.. Enjoy the news and enjoy Xmas… hopefully the BMB result will clear the way for a truly 'upwards and onwards' 2012.
Has Slim chosen his Olympic event yet? 😀
Dai.
My stepmother Dorothy died last week, 24 years after my father. Her funeral is tomorrow and I am going, along with 2 brothers and 2 sisters. There is to be a church service followed by interment at the town's main cemetery… my father was cremated but Dorothy wanted to be interred next to her first husband of 28 years… her 2 children asked and there were no objections – we knew her first husband Jack, he died of cancer and Dorothy and my father got together, first as friends, then shared 15 years of very happy marriage.
I don't know if I can cope with the walk to the graveside and the standing around for the internment so I will most likely attend the service and then go on to the reception at a small hotel owned by friends of my Dad and Dorothy.
I have decided that I want to be cremated… with my ashes interred under a new apple tree on my Nana's old farm on the side of Dinas Mountain in Pembrokeshire… the place of most of my childhood joy and the setting of my current novel (permission from the current owner notwithstanding that is):-) .
My Nan sold the farm to a Doctor as a holiday home in 1965… it is now owned by his son, also a doctor and in touch with my sister Sian who has taken over from me as the family archivist. The farm, 'Pen-Y-Mynydd' (The Mountain Top) is currently being overhauled and the owner has said he will be happy for our family to use it as paying guests (he is keeping its use for family and close friends, so we feel duly grateful and honoured).
I hope to stay around until it is ready so I can go stay there. I know it will be totally different but the spirit of the place will be the same. I am sure that the owner will not object to a small apple tree in a far corner. I know my children will continue to visit Fishguard occasionally and the thought of my grandchildren enjoying an apple fed by 'Tadcu' fills me with joy.
As stated I will be at the funeral tomorrow but I will raise a glass to Peter's birthday Min… and I will whisper a small something for you too.
Dai.
Hi Helen,
All things being equal I would prefer to stay on Clexane rather than switch back to Warfarin. With Warfarin the object is to get your blood to a consistent viscosity (thickness)… something like 3.0 to 3.8 for instance. To achieve this you are put on a strength of Warfarin and then your blood is measured after a week. Depending on the reading your daily intake, in tablet form, is either decreased or increased. Once they get it right it is a matter of keeping it within the set parameters.
The initial set up and measurements are usually conducted at a Warfarin Clinic at the hospital… but some GP Surgeries offer this service too. After the readings are settled your weekly test (INR) can be carried out by a district nurse at your home. The nurse comes and takes the blood and checks everything is okay and later that day you receive a phone call from the lab telling you the strength of Warfarin to take for the next week. The dosages may vary slightly from day to day but will be something near to each other. Apart from the once weekly blood test it is painless with no side-effects (in my experience) but it is one more (important) medication to add to the list and you are tied to the district nurse visits. Warfarin takes a while to dissipate from the body and it can interfere with certain treatments… the doctors prefer Clexane because it only lasts for 24 hours… i.e. your blood is only thinned for a short time, whereas Warfarin keeps it thinned until the medication gets out of your system which can take quite a while… not good for certain procedures etc.
I prefer Clexane… after the initial 6 months of 150ml I will revert to a maintenance dose (40ml) and it is generally painless to administer (occasionally you can get bruising if you inadvertently rub the insertion site after injecting, which can be a bit sore) and my life is free of nurse and clinic appointments.
But that's just me. 🙂
Dai.
Hi Gina,
I am so sorry that your Mum has passed but I am glad that her passing was both painless and peaceful. I am also glad that she shared your big day by seeing you off from her house, you can take it for granted that she was full of pride for you.
My thoughts are with you and your husband and also with Luke and Josh… while I am sure that they will miss their Gran I am sure that they will be comforted by her peaceful passing.
Regards
Dai.
Hi Helen,
I have had 2 DVT's (Deep Vein Thrombosis) since being diagnosed with cancer (initially Bone Cancer amended to Myeloma 14 months later). The 1st DVT occurred after extensive radiotherapy, the 2nd during Velcade (although my consultant has informed me that DVT's are not normally associated with the treatment).
On the first occasion I was put on Clexane for 3 months, followed by a year or so on Warfarin (which I came off at the start of my SCT treatment and never went back on it).
The second DVT occurred this last July and I have been on Clexane (150ml – once a day) ever since. My consultant has told me that I will stay on 150ml for 6 months and then switch to a once-a-day 40ml for maintenance.
To my knowledge blood clots end up in the lungs from elsewhere… usually the legs… where they travel up through the stomach and through the heart to the lungs… your Mum has been fortunate that hers have not caused a pulmonary embolism and the Clexane should dissolve them in time. As for the time to dissolve – everyone is different. We can offer guidance through our experiences but for treatment and future possibilities I strongly suggest that you ask your Mum's doctors.
All the best
Dai.
*** Eve, I have had the same costings debate with my GP. The hospital supplied the first 3 months but when I went into remission my lead nurse told me to go to my GP. To be fair he supplied the first and second lots but asked how long I would be on Clexane because there were cost implications… especially for the 150ml doses. I think the reduction in dosage and the accompanying lower costs should keep him happy… hopefully. 🙂
Dai.
IUM… difficult but I'll take on the challenge and make it easier for the next player.
GERANIUM
leaving… IUM :-0
Oops… 😉
Dai.
For my first Xmas with Janet I bought her some hiking boots (purple and brown) and a set of waterproofs… my sister promised me that Janet would start distancing herself politely in the new year but she loved them. We took a cottage in Bakewell, Derbyshire for the post Xmas week (moved in on Boxing Day) and we went walking everyday… nothing too strenuous and each walk culminated in a pub lunch or early supper.
I met up with my band on New Years Eve and played a gig at a Labour Club in south Derby (Margaret Beckett was in attendance and we had a great gig) Janet enjoyed herself with the bands various wives and partners and the drive back to Bakewell at 3am through a magically silent and frosted world was beautiful… it remains one of my most favourite Xmases ever.
I love Xmas, unconditionally.:-)
Dai.
Hi David,
My legs exploded after my pulmonary embolism back in may '08 and they put me on Warfarin. My legs eventually returned to normal but I was left with very dry skin on my legs, especially my heels, complete with matching patches that have never gone away. When my DVT reappeared this summer the dry skin returned free of charge, again especially on and around my heels. I find that Cocoa Body Butter (suggested by someone on the forum) eases the soreness and the dryness… I have never heard of Epaderm Ointment but I will enquire next time I see my GP.
Thanks 🙂
Dai.
DED = DEDICATED
Leaving TED
Dai.
