Good morning everyone, most of you are probably still sleeping.
I was awake by 4am, sleep came and went so I’m feeling a little tired. The injections last night really kicked in and my lower back and legs are in overdrive. Funny thing is that it feels like the pain comes in pulses.
Breakfast and showered, Dr N prepared her lunch while I showered. I think, well I hope I get lunch, I know I’ll get snacks and drinks all day.
3 backpacks loaded in the car, one for me, one for Dr N and the other one is my overnight bag.
We left at exactly 6am, the journey took us 38 minutes, not bad, only very slight traffic.
We’re early, my appointment is for 8am, I’d rather be early than get stuck in traffic and leave later.
Inside the hospital there’s only staff talking and walking, receptionists and ambulance drivers. We’re the only patients.
Looks like everything starts at 8am, we’ve been seated in the Apheresis Bay waiting area since 7.30am and have only seen nurses arrive at about 7.55am. A nurse has acknowledged our arrival but checkin is at 8am, not before.
8am and no receptionist at the checkin desk.
I remember the days of working in an office, I was always early, usually the first one in, it gave me the chance to do my work, al of the IT updates I needed to do, all before any other staff got in so they wouldn’t be inconvenienced. I was always early for meetings as well.
Receptionist has arrived, she’s not happy and telling people to give me 5 minutes while she sorts herself out.
I’ve been checked in, given my usual wrist band and I’m back in the waiting room waiting to be called.
My name has been called, the initial procedure has been explained and 4 tubes of blood has been taken. They will be checked to see if I have enough stem cells for the rest of the procedure to continue.
Weight and height recorded now we wait until the blood test results arrive, approx an hour.
Once connected up, I’ll be able to move my right arm but left arm will need to be still.
Results are back and the reading is just a little too low so they’ve referred my results to a consultant who has said that I should be given a very expensive injection which will stimulate my stem cells even further. This has to be approved by the board and then can only be given this evening at 5.30pm. I will then need to come back tomorrow morning when the whole process will start again.
We’ve had a nice 4 mile walk, ate a very healthy lunch, now back at the hospital and relaxing in the MacMillan hub. Only 3 hours to go.
The time is 5pm and we’re back at the Apheresis unit, the nurse has shown me the 3 injections I’m about to get. They’ve just been taken out of the fridge so now we wait until they reach room temperature.
The nurse has administered 2 injections on the left side of my stomach and 1 injection of the right side. Side effects include stomach cramps, bone aches and symptoms of a cold. Now I have to wait for 20 minutes so they can monitor me just in case I have a reaction. If there’s no reaction then I can go home.
5.30pm and it’s our time to leave the hospital. Journey time to get home is approx 1hr 10 minutes, let’s see.
We’re home, journey time 1hr 5 minutes so not bad at all.
I’m feeling exhausted, the side effects are slowly kicking in. A quick dinner, some tv and rest are the plans for this evening.
All of the side effects and more have all kicked in at the same time. I got up from watching tv and bam, it was like being slapped in the face, headache, feeling nauseous, runny nose, complete exhaustion and lower back and leg bone ache. Dealing with one, maybe two but all of them has wiped me out. Dr N has placed a strip of paracetamol tablets and water on my bedside table.
I’m in bed and really need to sleep, another very early morning coming up.
Good night all, sleep well.
❤️🙏🏽
Good Luck Jess.
It has amazed me how you’ve found the strength to smile during such an exhausting battle. You inspire me to be brave and strong no matter what I face.