Oh joy, neutrophils 1.5, nearly back to normal so my baby may be coming home tomorrow. I saw her this afternoon and she is looking much better. She should have a better night sleep as I brought her fresh PJ's. She will be going back on to oral antibiotics. I know we have been here before but this time it will happen.
Reasons why I know:
The sun is shining
Livi and Adam are arguing
I am listening to the Ting Tings
Life must be on the way up and up.
I am cooking tea, we have rugby and football tonight followed by shopping and cleaning. Talk again soon on my own blog.
Chris x
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Still me
Tracey's temperature went up again last night and she was put back on IV antibiotics. We were hoping to get her home today but now this is not possible, she is hopeful for tomorrow but don't hold your collective breath. It seems a long time ago but I think she has spent longer in hospital for this than for her operation. Our spirits are high though and I am sure she will be out soon and fighting fit.
Can anybody think of something to cheer her up? They don't do flowers in the ward and I am thinking of banning them from the home, she has some chocolates and a book and puzzler magazines. I am open to suggestions. I long holiday abroad is what she really needs, she will probably get a day trip to Chippenham (and I know how impossibly romantic that might seem to those of you from north of Birmingham but believe me it isn't).
Life goes on as usual at home, the boys have Rugby and football training at the same time this evening, I will have to lean on friends yet again. Adam told me this morning that he needs swimming goggles for tomorrow and Livi thinks she needs a doctors appointment as she is so ill. Vaughan got dressed late this morning and managed to get out of most of the cleaning duties last night by claiming homework.
We will get through this soon.
Chris x
Can anybody think of something to cheer her up? They don't do flowers in the ward and I am thinking of banning them from the home, she has some chocolates and a book and puzzler magazines. I am open to suggestions. I long holiday abroad is what she really needs, she will probably get a day trip to Chippenham (and I know how impossibly romantic that might seem to those of you from north of Birmingham but believe me it isn't).
Life goes on as usual at home, the boys have Rugby and football training at the same time this evening, I will have to lean on friends yet again. Adam told me this morning that he needs swimming goggles for tomorrow and Livi thinks she needs a doctors appointment as she is so ill. Vaughan got dressed late this morning and managed to get out of most of the cleaning duties last night by claiming homework.
We will get through this soon.
Chris x
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Yet another update
Adam and I visited Tracey today. She looks a tiny bit better. She is no longer on a drip, this is because she was having a problem with water retention, so she is now drinking her pure H2O. This tastes vile and we brought some juice to go with it. She is having her IV antibiotics which causes a bad taste in her mouth, so we brought some wine gums for her to chew on. She is still not well and doesn't expect to get out Tuesday at the earliest.
The good news is that she now has a neurophil count, very small at the moment but a count none the less. Perhaps this is the start of her recovery. The upshot of this setback is that she might have her next chemo put back a week from the 17th to the 24th. This is a small price to pay for her health.
This is only a short note so just one more point, she has he Iphone with her so she can read these blogs, even if she is not posting at the moment. If you want to leave her a message I'm sure it would cheer her up.
Chris x
The good news is that she now has a neurophil count, very small at the moment but a count none the less. Perhaps this is the start of her recovery. The upshot of this setback is that she might have her next chemo put back a week from the 17th to the 24th. This is a small price to pay for her health.
This is only a short note so just one more point, she has he Iphone with her so she can read these blogs, even if she is not posting at the moment. If you want to leave her a message I'm sure it would cheer her up.
Chris x
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Update
Tracey is still in isolation at the hospital. This slightly less dramatic than it sounds, her room is in an annex to the main ward and has certain restrictions, no flowers, no outside coats, but there is no limit on visiting, above the usual and there is a regular flow of staff. She has her own room which she is enjoying, with toilet and washing facilities. It is a bit like a hotel.
She is tired, the virus is wearing her out, the needles are wearing her out. She now has a picc line fitted (look it up) and is getting her antibiotics through it. Her left arm is black and blue from yesterdays needles. Because the picc line is fitted to her left arm and she had the lymph nodes removed from her right arm she is now having her blood pressure taken from leg which she thinks is very strange. Her temperature is still spiking and she is still unwell. The virus remains. We are hoping she will be getting back to normal by Monday or Tuesday and will be home then. We will have to wait and see.
At home we are coping OK. The kids still have to be carried back and forth. Livi was at work at 6:30 and Adam needed to go to Swindon for Futsal. Vaughan is starting rugby on Sunday. Luckily friends have been taking up the slack and I am grateful to them for that.
A letter of complaint to Wiltshire, who's idea was it to cut the buses between Corsham and Melksham? I went to visit Tracey on Friday and got a ring from Vaughan at 3:15 after school, there are no buses from Corsham to Melksham after 2:05 so I had leave the hospital and pick the boys up as they were threatening to walk the 5 miles home.
Our old friend from Plymouth Carole came round this morning with a friend. She stroked our rabbits and chased a cat. It was lovely to see her again.
I am going to see Trace again tomorrow, probably with Adam. She is feeling a bit down and is only seeing family at the moment. I will update you all again tomorrow.
Chris x
She is tired, the virus is wearing her out, the needles are wearing her out. She now has a picc line fitted (look it up) and is getting her antibiotics through it. Her left arm is black and blue from yesterdays needles. Because the picc line is fitted to her left arm and she had the lymph nodes removed from her right arm she is now having her blood pressure taken from leg which she thinks is very strange. Her temperature is still spiking and she is still unwell. The virus remains. We are hoping she will be getting back to normal by Monday or Tuesday and will be home then. We will have to wait and see.
At home we are coping OK. The kids still have to be carried back and forth. Livi was at work at 6:30 and Adam needed to go to Swindon for Futsal. Vaughan is starting rugby on Sunday. Luckily friends have been taking up the slack and I am grateful to them for that.
A letter of complaint to Wiltshire, who's idea was it to cut the buses between Corsham and Melksham? I went to visit Tracey on Friday and got a ring from Vaughan at 3:15 after school, there are no buses from Corsham to Melksham after 2:05 so I had leave the hospital and pick the boys up as they were threatening to walk the 5 miles home.
Our old friend from Plymouth Carole came round this morning with a friend. She stroked our rabbits and chased a cat. It was lovely to see her again.
I am going to see Trace again tomorrow, probably with Adam. She is feeling a bit down and is only seeing family at the moment. I will update you all again tomorrow.
Chris x
Friday, 3 September 2010
Hospital in a rush
Tracey had a headache last night, a sort of muzzy feeling and her temperature started to rise 38.5, 38.6, 38.7. She followed protocol, rung the cancer ward and by 9:00 we were in A&E. Tracey will, I am sure, tell you full story but bloods were taken, she is like a pin cushion, doctors should let nurses take bloods they are so much better. Her temperature started to go down and after waiting and waiting she was taken up to the William Budd ward at around 2:00. This is part of the cancer suite. So she has had an overnight stay. the blood test reveal that her neutrophils are at zero leaving her open to infection. This is apparently not uncommon for people on the first dose of this protocol. She will now have to have IV antibiotics. I am not sure how long her stay will be but she is in her own isolated room to avoid further infection. I will keep you all posted.
Since I first wrote this she has been put on oral antibiotics and will be in hospital until her white cells multiply.
Chris x
Since I first wrote this she has been put on oral antibiotics and will be in hospital until her white cells multiply.
Chris x
Monday, 30 August 2010
Phew, well.....I don't like this......
Haven't posted because I haven't really felt well enough. I'll give you a brief summary of the last few days.
Wednesday - greeted everyone with a very red face, neck and chest! I woke with a headache and very thirsty. My mouth felt "thick" but not sore. Felt off colour gradually throughout the day, bit dizzy with little appetite (that won't do me any harm!). Didn't do a lot, thank heavens for Mum.
Thursday - felt worse. Increased nausea, still very red (not hot though). Difficult to know what to eat without feeling sick. Tried to drink, but even that made me feel yuck. Even difficult to look at people and talk to them without feeling dizzy and sick. Managed a walk around the block with Mum though. Have been trying to eat little and often. One thing I have managed each evening is a small amount of dinner Mum has cooked for everyone and enjoyed it.
Friday - worse day so far. Felt very sick. Was easier to look straight ahead and concentrate at the wall than to look at everyone. Didn't speak much. Managed a congrats text to my friend H who had a baby girl in the morning (brilliant news)! Found it really difficult to drink, never mind eat. Mum had been to the Corsham bakery and bought plenty of goodies to tempt me, but just couldn't manage it (must've felt bad!!). Chris came home to pick up something he'd forgotten and I blubbed that I didn't think I could cope with this. Daft really, I haven't got much choice and this is just the beginning! Didn't get showered or dressed. Managed a bit of Mum's cottage pie in the evening. Felt ill after and went to bed early.
Saturday - an improvement. Nausea now coming in waves. Found eating helps the nausea, but the thought of eating makes me feel sick (work that one out!). Got showered and dressed which really knackered me out. Had a tiny piece of jam bap (could only face eating these when I was pregnant with Livi) and it went down well. Later on fancied nuts and Chris duly went out and bought some for me. Managed to nibble on these throughout the day. Something else I fancied trying was a quarter of a bap with cream cheese and tomato. Chris did his signature dish of salmon and prawn kebabs with couscous in the evening and I managed a small amount.
Sunday - best day so far. Best night's sleep since Monday. Still don't feel brilliant but the gaps between the nausea are increasing. After yesterday's success with jam baps and cream cheese and tomato, I had the same today - not full baps but quarters at a time. Had a small roast pork dinner in the evening and really enjoyed it, followed by a piece of apple and blueberry pie and ice cream. Today's the most I've eaten all week (should help my bowels!!). I feel like I'm coming out of a bit of a fog and I'm not quite sure where the last few days went. I'm not red any more and Mum thinks I look more like me.
Monday - thought I'd taken a backwards step. Didn't feel too bad when I woke up, but then felt nauseous and a little dizzy after breakfast (yes, jam bap again). Mouth is now sore and it hurts to brush my teeth. A few tears with Mum and I started to feel a bit better. That was until my tummy started gurgling and I spent the afternoon on and off the loo! Chris went out and bought some Imodium (funny in our family - long story, but Mum and the Auntie Ritas will know what I mean!). Feel drained today. Mum went back home tonight and I'll miss her :-( So will Chris. Having her here has meant he can go off and potter to his heart's content in his own little world. She's taken care of everything and everybody.
Chris is back at work tomorrow, so it's just me and the kids - that'll be interesting. Think my time being waited on hand and foot is over!!
Will try and keep you posted with any changes. Thanks for all the messages of encouragement. Apologies if I don't reply but I really appreciate them all.
Haven't posted because I haven't really felt well enough. I'll give you a brief summary of the last few days.
Wednesday - greeted everyone with a very red face, neck and chest! I woke with a headache and very thirsty. My mouth felt "thick" but not sore. Felt off colour gradually throughout the day, bit dizzy with little appetite (that won't do me any harm!). Didn't do a lot, thank heavens for Mum.
Thursday - felt worse. Increased nausea, still very red (not hot though). Difficult to know what to eat without feeling sick. Tried to drink, but even that made me feel yuck. Even difficult to look at people and talk to them without feeling dizzy and sick. Managed a walk around the block with Mum though. Have been trying to eat little and often. One thing I have managed each evening is a small amount of dinner Mum has cooked for everyone and enjoyed it.
Friday - worse day so far. Felt very sick. Was easier to look straight ahead and concentrate at the wall than to look at everyone. Didn't speak much. Managed a congrats text to my friend H who had a baby girl in the morning (brilliant news)! Found it really difficult to drink, never mind eat. Mum had been to the Corsham bakery and bought plenty of goodies to tempt me, but just couldn't manage it (must've felt bad!!). Chris came home to pick up something he'd forgotten and I blubbed that I didn't think I could cope with this. Daft really, I haven't got much choice and this is just the beginning! Didn't get showered or dressed. Managed a bit of Mum's cottage pie in the evening. Felt ill after and went to bed early.
Saturday - an improvement. Nausea now coming in waves. Found eating helps the nausea, but the thought of eating makes me feel sick (work that one out!). Got showered and dressed which really knackered me out. Had a tiny piece of jam bap (could only face eating these when I was pregnant with Livi) and it went down well. Later on fancied nuts and Chris duly went out and bought some for me. Managed to nibble on these throughout the day. Something else I fancied trying was a quarter of a bap with cream cheese and tomato. Chris did his signature dish of salmon and prawn kebabs with couscous in the evening and I managed a small amount.
Sunday - best day so far. Best night's sleep since Monday. Still don't feel brilliant but the gaps between the nausea are increasing. After yesterday's success with jam baps and cream cheese and tomato, I had the same today - not full baps but quarters at a time. Had a small roast pork dinner in the evening and really enjoyed it, followed by a piece of apple and blueberry pie and ice cream. Today's the most I've eaten all week (should help my bowels!!). I feel like I'm coming out of a bit of a fog and I'm not quite sure where the last few days went. I'm not red any more and Mum thinks I look more like me.
Monday - thought I'd taken a backwards step. Didn't feel too bad when I woke up, but then felt nauseous and a little dizzy after breakfast (yes, jam bap again). Mouth is now sore and it hurts to brush my teeth. A few tears with Mum and I started to feel a bit better. That was until my tummy started gurgling and I spent the afternoon on and off the loo! Chris went out and bought some Imodium (funny in our family - long story, but Mum and the Auntie Ritas will know what I mean!). Feel drained today. Mum went back home tonight and I'll miss her :-( So will Chris. Having her here has meant he can go off and potter to his heart's content in his own little world. She's taken care of everything and everybody.
Chris is back at work tomorrow, so it's just me and the kids - that'll be interesting. Think my time being waited on hand and foot is over!!
Will try and keep you posted with any changes. Thanks for all the messages of encouragement. Apologies if I don't reply but I really appreciate them all.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
C-Day #1
Didn't get much sleep last night. Some would say understandably, but I would say, Chris (mixture of both, I suspect). We had the blinds open and I had a fabulous view of the brightest star in the sky. I like to think it was my Granny telling me all will be ok, but I'm told it's probably the planet Venus (think I'll stick to my Granny theory).
Chris woke me up too soon! The idea was to have a light breakfast, so I didn't go into Chemo with a full stomach or an empty one. Kept thinking that the last time I was nauseous (morning sickness), I went off coffee, so I savoured my pot this morning - just in case!
We waited in the main area, before being called into the Chemo Suite. Chris did his usual wig spotting routine, letting me know what he thought!
Nurses in the suite were lovely, but only 2 of them - with leave and sickness to contend with, they were running round. Although they weren't full, it was busy enough.
Once the cannula had been inserted (back of the wrist), it was all systems go. First to go in was the saline drip. This was followed by 4 syringes of the Epirubicin. This is coloured red (when it goes in and when it comes out!). They found that this can make your mouth sore, so when they're inserting this, I am given ice lollies to suck on. I had 2 strawberry flavoured ones! May choose lemon or orange next time - wayhay! Next came the fluorouracil in an even larger syringe! Finally the cyclophosphamide which was given in a drip, through a pump. Then finally, finally, a flush through with more saline. Cannula removed, sit there for 30 seconds with my finger on the dressing and then off home.
Didn't know what to expect really. I think I thought the nausea and the metallic taste would be pretty instant. I have to say I didn't experience anything and left the department feeling the same as when I'd come in. Well, apart from less apprehensive and amazed at how well it went.
Not having much sleep last night, Mum took the kids to Subway for lunch and Chris and I chilled. I went for a lie down and a half hour kip and Chris did what he does and buried himself in the computer.
Later on in the afternoon, I didn't feel quite so good. Nothing really bad, but just out of sorts, so I spent the afternoon doing not a lot.
Everyone had fish and chips for tea, so I had fish and a few chips, which I really enjoyed, but we'll see later if my digestive system agrees!
All in all, not a bad day for my first chemo experience. I'm convinced it was my Granny looking down on me last night.........
Chris woke me up too soon! The idea was to have a light breakfast, so I didn't go into Chemo with a full stomach or an empty one. Kept thinking that the last time I was nauseous (morning sickness), I went off coffee, so I savoured my pot this morning - just in case!
We waited in the main area, before being called into the Chemo Suite. Chris did his usual wig spotting routine, letting me know what he thought!
Nurses in the suite were lovely, but only 2 of them - with leave and sickness to contend with, they were running round. Although they weren't full, it was busy enough.
Once the cannula had been inserted (back of the wrist), it was all systems go. First to go in was the saline drip. This was followed by 4 syringes of the Epirubicin. This is coloured red (when it goes in and when it comes out!). They found that this can make your mouth sore, so when they're inserting this, I am given ice lollies to suck on. I had 2 strawberry flavoured ones! May choose lemon or orange next time - wayhay! Next came the fluorouracil in an even larger syringe! Finally the cyclophosphamide which was given in a drip, through a pump. Then finally, finally, a flush through with more saline. Cannula removed, sit there for 30 seconds with my finger on the dressing and then off home.
Didn't know what to expect really. I think I thought the nausea and the metallic taste would be pretty instant. I have to say I didn't experience anything and left the department feeling the same as when I'd come in. Well, apart from less apprehensive and amazed at how well it went.
Not having much sleep last night, Mum took the kids to Subway for lunch and Chris and I chilled. I went for a lie down and a half hour kip and Chris did what he does and buried himself in the computer.
Later on in the afternoon, I didn't feel quite so good. Nothing really bad, but just out of sorts, so I spent the afternoon doing not a lot.
Everyone had fish and chips for tea, so I had fish and a few chips, which I really enjoyed, but we'll see later if my digestive system agrees!
All in all, not a bad day for my first chemo experience. I'm convinced it was my Granny looking down on me last night.........
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