Myeloma : Then and Now

One of the programs we like to watch here in the UK is “Call the Mdwife”. It’s not my usual genre of TV, but it is a fascinating watch. The link to the title of the blog may seem tentative, but there is a point I assure you. Please read on. The plot of “Call …

Monday, Wednesday, Friday Nights

The routine is well embedded. It doesn’t matter if it’s the holidays or if I’m off work (through illness or other reasons) as I am today. Every Monday , Wednesday and Friday I leave home at 4:30pm to arrive here at 5pm for four hours of dialysis. prior to departure about an hour before, I …

Filling in the Blanks

I realise that between May and December of last year I somewhat neglected this blog so this is an attempt to fill in the blanks. In May I took up Couch to 5K and made good and steady progress reaching Week 8 and completing several 30 min runs. I was doing really well until at …

Bed Blocking

Sadly all has come to naught. They had the kidney, the tests were good but they had no beds. At 6:30pm the surgeon came to see me. She was extremely frustrated. After hours of negotiations and fighting for a bed they had one. However, the patient who was due to be discharged had developed complications. …

The List

Today has not turned out as expected. Today I have had the call. The long expected call. The potential transplant has arrived. I have been on the transplant list since the Spring, but the list was backdated to last December (when dialysis started). The Oxford team predicted that within a year I would get the …

Matter of Routine

I have settled into the routine. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening I get dropped off at 6pm for a 4 hour session of dialysis. At a time which varies but is usually between 10:30pm and 11:30pm I get picked up and go home to sleep. Those of you who are mathematically minded will notice …

Infection

I have been admitted to MKUH following a bout of gastroenteritis which left me feeling very unwell. It possibly started on Monday when my Tesier Line became very sore. The first symptoms came Wednesday when during dialysis I suddenly became extremely cold and started shivering uncontrollably. This lasted quite a while and led to body …

Sudden Change of Plan

Following a phone call this morning and in view of my health Dialysis is starting today! A two hour session from 2:30pm to get me started. Then we go from there!

Fistula

Yesterday I travelled to Oxfordshire to the town of Banbury. The purpose of the journey was to undergo an operation on my arm to create a Fistula. The first stage of a process which will lead to Dialysis. The past couple of weeks have been challenging as I have come to terms with the magnitude …

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 …

“Out of the Blue”

It’s been over three years since my last post. I have remained in good health, survived Covid unscathed and been doubly vaccinated. Held down a full-time teaching job. I have continued to have bimonthly haematology consultations and twice yearly renal consultations together with associated blood tests. Everything has been stable until this week …. My …

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.

NHS

I am lucky to live in the U.K. - American friends have told me that if they were in my position then the treatment I have received would have bankrupted their families. Even my limited time in Kenya over the Easter weekend showed me just how expensive health care can be. A weekend of testing …

Cuts!

I have resisted writing this one -but it has to be done. I have commented a number of times about the dedicated nursing staff here and the care they are giving- they work approximately 13 hour shifts and most of it non-stop. The outbreak of Noro-Virus here this week has not helped as people are …