Bit more info on “bungalow gate”….their housing stock for older residents is categorised into two sections, ‘over 60’ and ‘over 60 and/or with medical need’, so, as our priority is on medical need alone, we cannot apply for the housing labelled just as ‘over 60’, even when he is 60, because our priority level based on age alone is way…[Read more]

Wow, you have indeed had a hectic time. What a long day you had on Monday. Indeed disappointing about Terry’s sternum issue, but very good to hear that his other fractures are healing, that is great. So is the back brace to support his delicate back or for his sternum? And will he always have to wear it? If the new brace is more…[Read more]

How did Monday go? I was thinking about you both. I hope it was a positive visit for you, and also your review on Tuesday. It is an anxious time isn’t it ☹️.

We are doing ok just now. Steve had his chemo on the day ward on Monday. That was a long day. The ambulance picked him up at 12.15 (45 mins late), and I went through in the car…[Read more]

Did you get the forecast storms? It was a very dull humid day here also, we did get some rain, but no storm. Today is fresher (Friday).  Well, “……. News!……. Steve is home!  They told him on Wednesday, that he could come home Thursday. So he arrived home via ambulance at 6 last night, to our living room stroke hospital ward stroke b…[Read more]

Glad your internet is up and running again, would not like to lose contact with you. 😕

Yes Steve is glad to get the catheter out. He is managing to walk to the hospital bathroom with his frame, and even managing the shower himself. Shame he won’t be able to manage to do this at home. There was a council bungalow advertised this week,…[Read more]

Been to hospital today, have taken your advice, and started to get a meal whilst I am there, the food is quite good, and really inexpensive. I had vegetable lasagne today, it was £2.40! So will just have a slice of toast later, and that will do me.

Steve was ok, just very tired, he’s not sleeping well. He can sit down in reasonable…[Read more]

The result of Steves MRI was encouraging. The dr said that there were no new fractures, and the plasmacytoma had reduced, therefore, relieving the pressure on his spinal cord, which has improved his mobility marginally, but it is still very compromised at the moment. Also his kidney results are going in the right direction too, They are…[Read more]

Steve is doing ok, thank you. Glad your hospital visit ran smoother than your previous one. I haven’t been to the hospital today as his mum and sisters go on a Saturday. I have had a pleasant, (almost normal) day. Had a bit of lunch out with a friend, then went to some other friends for a take away tonight. Somewhat spoilt now, by the…[Read more]

Hope you are both doing OK.

Yep, my emotions are on a roller coaster ride also. Ranging from “we can do this” “onwards and upwards ” to…..total and utter despair and self pity. I think it is probably quite normal in the early stages of diagnosis and treatment. There is a cancer support centre just up the road from the hospital, I…[Read more]

Hope you are both well. Thank you for the further information . Is SCT offered to all myeloma patients? I don’t think it has been mentioned to Steve as yet, but I never get to see the dr’s as there rounds are in the mornings before visiting time, and certainly Steve has not mentioned it. I guess this procedure gives them the best…[Read more]

We have a shower over our bath at home, but Steve can’t climb into the bath, he couldn’t even manage with the swivel bather that Macmillan brought us, so sponge washes were the order of the day!

We put our name on the council house register 3/4years ago, don’t know why, just a forward planning option I guess. Anyway, I was advised to…[Read more]

I hope things go well with your husbands SCT. How long has he had Myeloma?

I don’t know much about the treatment, well not in much detail. I never get to see the dr’s as their ward rounds are in the morning, and visiting starts at 2. But breathlessness is a side effect of thalidomide I believe.

Best Wishes to you.

Julia

It is quite alarming how much assistance they need at home isn’t it, I don’t know how we managed before he was admitted. I must say, I am really scared at the prospect of them sending him home with the limitations he has just now. He was feeling really nauseous yesterday, but he had had some chemo on Friday, so maybe it was from…[Read more]

So glad that Terry has finally got home.

Aww your dogs……I adore dogs. Prior to getting Daisy We had 2 springer spaniels, Lucy lived till she was 15, and Meg was from rescue, she was 10 when we lost her. Daisy is 8 now, which is old for her breed. Most nights about 10, she sits at my feet, looks at me and just cries, it breaks your…[Read more]

I do hope your bed arrived, and Terry has managed to get home to you.

They have released Steve from critical care this afternoon, back onto the haematology ward, where he was originally  admitted to,  He is certainly better than he was, but he was a bit tearful today, I think the enormity of it all has well and truly sunk

in now.  …[Read more]

I will look for the drug information sheets, thanks. Communication with regards to Steve’s drug regime, has been a wee bit sketchy, I think that is due to him being on critical care. Also, whilst he has seen many dr’s, I haven’t been there for their rounds.

My trip to the hospital is a 30 mile round trip. I try to time my visits to avoid…[Read more]

Your posts keep me going, and make me smile 🙂.

Steve is still nice and stable, but is still in critical care, due to his dialysis mainly. They have been able to reduce his oxygen somewhat. He has been allowed to sit up 30 degrees, so that has made him more comfortable.

His dad, brother, aunt and uncle are visiting throughout today, so…[Read more]

Terry seems to be doing really well, that is great news 😀.

Steve is still on critical care, but more stable. Despite being on oxygen and dialysis, they did take him for his first radiotherapy treatment yesterday morning. The MRI had shown a tumour, caused by the myeloma, in his upper thoracic spine, which has pushed one of his…[Read more]

Well what a day we’ve had! Taken by ambulance to Weston Park this morning, they then decided that they didn’t have the equipment to get him onto the scanner given his mobility issues, and excruciating pain (he was really bad today, feeling so ill too). Anyway they managed to get us a slot at the Hallamshire, so the ambulance took us…[Read more]

Our bed should be arriving sometime tomorrow, steve’s dad is coming up to wait for it, because we are at hospital. Whilst the downstairs bed solves the transportation issues, it does mean that ‘sponge down washes’ are the order of the day for the foreseeable, not forgetting the commode duties also! Steve may not feel as isolated if he…[Read more]

Just a quick update, still a bit of a waiting game but at least we are in the system now. MRI scan on Tuesday, bone marrow biopsy on 28th June, then back for all results and hopefully a plan on 6th July, Steve is really not well at all at the moment, pain, fatigue and nausea. Ambulance crew have asked me to put a bed downstairs as it was…[Read more]

Hope Terry is doing well.

love and little squeezes to you both!

Julia

x

I do look forward to writing and receiving our posts. X

Hey, who needs DIY SOS if you’ve got a Stanley knife!

Well another day over, just going through the motions, bit of cleaning, washing etc. Steves dad has been here most of the day today, which is tough on him, but he likes to come.

The macmillan lady has given Steve some…[Read more]

So pleased Terry’s treatment is going well, hopefully Steve’s will be moving soon, he has been uncomfortable today with sciatica type pain.

Your days sound busy, mine are a bit strange really, not working, can’t even walk the dog unless there is someone to watch Steve, and certainly no goats to look after! But as for ‘mucking out…[Read more]

Yes, gout….well, our gp diagnosed Steves gout over the phone, as we couldn’t get an appointment!  He had a wicked time with pain in his feet, which they then said was tendonitis. Spent a small fortune on…[Read more]

As for your chair, I have saved a leaflet on one of those electric rise chairs, which fell out of the radio times! OMG….

Looking back I think Steve has had this for a number of years, as he had repeated attacks of gout going back at least…[Read more]

Take care

Julia x

yes, we have had some blustery wild weather too, bit better today though. So pleased that things are moving for you. Have they said if Terry’s mobility will improve as his treatment progresses, so that he can lie down? As you say what a weird condition it is, very personalised to the individual it seems love.

prior to diagnosis on 2nd…[Read more]

He finds it almost impossible to sit down in comfort, so he either stands with a stick, perches, or…[Read more]

best wishes to you and your husband, please keep in touch.