Not quite the weekend expected!

After I had returned home from my drug trial treatment at Maidstone last Thursday I felt a little unwell so had an early night. I woke at 10.30 with uncontrollable shaking/shivering and gasping for breath. After about 15 mins Alan called the ambulance. By the time I reached hospital my temperature was up to 38.4, my blood pressure very low and my vision blurred and I was vomiting. I thought the Grim Reaper was coming to get me! I was pumped full of various drugs – paracetamol, antibiotics, saline drip, blood thinners etc, chest xray, chest and abdomen scan to show blood vessels plus lots of blood samples.  Because of the severity and speed of my reactions they thought I may have had a pulmonary embolism or another clot somewhere in the lungs. Subsequent scans showed no clots (phew!). Anyway because of my cancer and my current chemo regime and the drug trial they wanted to keep an eye on me so I was not released until this evening. The diagnosis was an allergic reaction to the trial drug (this has been confirmed by Maidstone as a likely reaction) and a respiratory infection.

My stay in the ward was very traumatic. It was in the same ward (2 beds down) that I was given my cancer diagnosis in September 2010 – the day our world changed forever. Lots of bad memories of that time and too much thinking time.  On the Friday afternoon the lady in the bed opposite died. Saturday night an  elderly lady fell out of bed and this morning the lady in the next bed was told (loud enough for the whole ward to hear) that it was likely she would not recover so would she like a priest! How disgusting is that! Her family arrived soon after they were with her behind the drawn curtains when I left – wouldn’t you this they would use a side room for her.

It was quite an eye opener to see how much paperwork is getting in the way of nursing, how short staffed the hospital is – waiting for 15 mins for the emergency buzzer to answered is not on – two of us fitter patients went out to the nursing station a couple of times to get assistance for other patients. Despite these problems I must say my treatment was brilliant and I would not have received and better emergency care elsewhere.

I end with something to make you smile – the lady opposite had a Steradent tablet in her hearing aids instead of batteries – apparently they are the same size but don’t work so well. !!!!

Its back to hospital tomorrow for blood tests for my chemo on Thursday. I will speak with Dr Shah tomorrow as to whether they drug trial will go ahead this week – I suspect not as I will still be on antibiotics.

Tess x

PS From last Sunday's Independant. Disgusting but not surprising.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/asbestos-new-blow-to-victims-of-a-shameful-legacy-6296347.html

Rye, Railway and Restaurants

Just home from a weekend break which was very much needed after a bit of a crappy week. We went to Rye in East Sussex in 1066 country. Friday was spent mooching around the high street where there are still lots of lovely shops. Managed to spend a wee bit more of the children’s inheritance! We stopped a short while in Rye Art gallery where they had a small retrospective exhibition on Captain Pugwash – great fun – all that was missing was the music! We found a good local pub that sold local ales so Alan was a happy bunny. Had a lovely meal in The George – the new Romney lamb was delicious. 

On Saturday we went for a ride on the  Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch railway. There is just a restricted timetable in January but we went from New Romney to Dungeness. Not too much to do at our destination – the view of the nuclear power station on a grey, dismal January day is soooo depressing and bleak. A cup of hot chocolate in the station cafe was good! After another visit in the evening to the local hostelry we had a meal at the Ambrette – do visit this restaurant if you are in the area – you will be in for a treat.

After a good traditional fried breakfast this morning we headed to the Rye deli to pick up some local cheeses and a couple of goodies for lunch.

It was good to get away for a few days, away from all the distractions of home. Alan & I talked and laughed a lot and I cried a lot. I find the weaker I get physically the harder it is for me to stay strong emotionally. But I need to pull myself up and keep meeting those targets.  I did have a smile to myself as a couple of times as I uttered a phrase which I used to tell my boys off for saying ‘It’s not fair’! No it definitely is not fair but as Alan keeps telling me ‘Shit happens’.

No apologies for sounding a bit negative today. I no longer apologise for anything that is out of my control. With a terminal cancer prognosis I think it is OK to feel like this for a wee while. Tomorrow is another day.

Tess x