Race Against Time

It’s now three weeks since my Fistula operation. The procedure has been a success and the scar is healing well. Unfortunately my health has deteriorated somewhat. My kidney is very much in the last stage of Chronic Kidney Disease. I have a GFR of just 3. This is a measure of my kidney’s ability to …

Back To Work

The Alexa speaker alarm goes off. It is 5:45am, in my usual workday routine I will listen to the radio (UCB1) whilst coming round and jump into the shower by 6:45am. Downstairs to eat breakfast and make lunch whilst listening to Radio 4, before leaving the house at 7:30am. It takes 25 mins to drive …

Washed Out

A reflection on the past few days

The Boy in the Bed

In a ward of grumpy old men there was one who was much younger. Almost half my age (a little over 30) but looking half of even this. Severely disabled he did not speak, face mask to aid breathing up often removed with deliberate yet uncontrolled hands. Whatever his needs they were mental and physical …

One Year

A year ago I was living in Mwanza. In fact, though I did not know it at the time, this day (April 1st) would be my last full day in Tanzania. A year ago tomorrow we would be heading off for a holiday in Kenya. However, Easter is a moveable feast and as such has …

Zero Coke and Minimum Pepsi

Last week I had what was undoubtedly the best renal consultation in a year. I had scheduled a day of appointments with a visit to my new renal consultant at 9am followed later in the day by a scheduled appointment with my Haematology consultant at 1:15. It made for a long, but ultimately productive day, …

Dem Bones

As part of assessing my progress post transplant, today it was necessary to take a bone biopsy. This is standard procedure in Milton Keynes where I am now registered. It takes place three months after stem cell transplant. It is not the first time I have had this done. Way back in April last year, …

It never rains…

It never rains but it pours. This English idiom describes the fact that just when you think it can't get worse something else comes along to make you re-evaluate your thinking. Such has been the past 48 hours or so.

New Beginnings

Today is my birthday and just as the year has turned, the turning of my age marks a new beginning. In other ways too it's a new beginning as this morning I have met with my new consultant in MK having transferred from Lincoln. They plan to monitor me monthly for the time being - …

Christmas Cold

It had to happen eventually. I rather wish it hadn't happened at Christmas. In recent weeks I've been getting ready for the festivities. Present and food shopping and decorating the house. Making use of the extra time I have this year as I continue to recover from the effects of the chemotherapy. In the last …

One Last Time

Having moved back to MK at the beginning of December, I am now registered at a local GP and have an appointment in the New Year for a consultation in MK General Hospital. However, this morning I am back in Clinic 7 at Lincoln County Hospital for one last appointment. This scheduled appointment is really …

For the Chop

In just three days I have lost most of my hair. The speed of this had perhaps been the most surprising thing to have happened in the whole treatment process. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Though it will eventually grow back, there will be a substantial period of baldness or partial baldness for as much as …

Transfusion

The featured image shows my room from the outside. The long thin widows nearest to the grey tiled building are mine. As my neutrophils have continued to rise up to 0.6 at last count. The engrafted stem cells developing into neutrophils, red blood cells and platelets among other things. I have also had GCSF injections …

Ups and downs

This past 24 hours I have started to feel more unwell. This has mainly been a low level nausea and an accompanying headache. I have completely lost my appetite and find it particularly hard to eat any form of meat. I have been given anti- sickness and anti-diarrhoea medicines which has helped. My mouth and …

Time Shifts Slowly

A matter of routine. The days morph into weeks. One week down already. A long and slow descent. As my cells die slowly.   Within this room I lie. With four familiar walls. Shuttered window viewpoint. On Autumn world outside. It's a limited life.   Here in isolation. Yet not alone at all. Friends and …