Pump Music

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Lolina changed the line to the other arm

They like to swap half way through to prevent excessive vein damage (tho' my veins look good) - Simon mentioned it again when he checked in from Chicago. So Lolina took care of it after supper.  After she took the line out, I was about to dive in the shower before I was re-connected, but then I realised I had the bandaged rig tube sticking out of my stomach which I definitely do not want to get wet at this stage.  So no shower!  Carrying on with the body washes as best I can tho', so I hope I don't stink.

Natasha from Catering

Senior Staff Nurse Lolina

More flattering pic:

Changing FU bag at 03:00

We started the treatment late because of the paperwork mishap, so finished up with Sister Barbara changing the bag at early in the morning - so my rest was a bit interrupted and the machine seems to run slow, or the  bag is overfull or something.  Anyway I shall have to catch up with napping in the daytime from here on out.  Senior Staff Nurse Lolina tried a different pump,



but the new pump seems to have a malfunction so we are back on the old pump now. 

Lolina thinks this photo is a bit unflattering, but I include it because she looks so professional.

Sister Manjit kindly consented to be photographed

Joan and Sian came bearing gifts

Champagne and Marmite - 2 of my favourite things (here mixed - never tried that)

Yellow Roses added to the flowers Nicki brought

Magdalena doesn't like her picture

So she insisted on another:

But I like the other picture so I'm going to leave it up unless I really get a complaint!

A surprise visit from my Mother and Sister

Today Nicki is not visiting as she has gone up to Suffolk to see Matthew Manning (and pick up some absent healing for me too I'm sure), but by coincidence 2 other ladies from my family visited.  Mother and Sister.  I was shocked as I wasn't expecting or hoping for visitors, but it was nice to see them both, and I think my Mother left feeling reassured that I am doing well.  So that was a small success.  Thanks for the visit girls. 

Rig Tube much more comfortable

Last night I was able to sleep half the night on my left side (which I could not do the night before, so the Rig Tube is clearly getting used to me and I am getting used to it).  Good news.

Sister Barbara has taken over the Night Shift

We had a good chat about doing night shifts when we were young - hardly getting any sleep and going back to work again for a few nights and days.  Can't do that any more though  :-)  She  finished off the cis Platin and put me on a 3 hour hydration.  5FU to follow at 00:30

Student Nurse Dan takes my Stats

Pulse nice and low - 62 bpm. Temp good - 36.2  Blood Pressure Good.

Visualization during Chemo

In the second week off after the last chemo we focused (in deep relaxation and meditation) on SHUTTING DOWN the blood supply to the tumour, in order to deny nourishment to it.  Of course now that I am getting chemo again I reverse this procedure and open up the blood supply to the tumour so that it will be flooded with the chemicals that will destroy it.  The tumour is now bathing in poison and growth inhibitor.  Bye bye tumour.

At the same time I focus on feeding natural healing powers into my veins and the tumour to protect the veins and encourage the tumour to leave.  This is all done from a place of calm and safety.  Bye bye Tumour.

Sister Manjit takes over from Magdalena

Docetaxel was fine, then Hydration, more flush and now Cis-Platin. Maybe Manjit will let me photograph her tomorrow.

Drug Music

Here is a tune that I made eulogising part of the experience :-)

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Chemo phase 2 started finally

Magdalena put new line in (second attempt!) but she did a good job, and we started Docetaxel (after the Glucose drip and the Ondansetron for anti sickness)

Magdalena's Chemo Trolley:

Student Nurse Selma took my stats.

Dr Mariko brings Consent Form

She had already signed the form and I did too

Here it is - my copy:

Simon Stewart off to Chicago

Simon checked in from the Airport and was very surprised that Chemo has not started - he made a phone call and it turns out that someone has lost my consent form (I think I have already signed 2!) so he is mildly irritated about that.  Anyway I have spoken to Mena and Sister Cerise and they are all working on it.  Sterile Room closes at 14:00 so if it doesn't happen soon it ain't gonna happen today. mmm Paperwork...........

Food Glorious Food

So yesterday I had lunch at 16:00 and dinner a 18:00 and hydrated myself thoroughly. Lots of supplements and Avamar and Dexamethasone.  So all in all I am feeling much better.  The rig tube is much less sore, and bowels working (very important to me!).

Right now, after breakfast just waiting for Chemo.  Dr Meera came in, the order for Chemo has been faxed through, but so far nothing is happening.  Kate the pharmacist has been in to check my drug chart (anti-sickness still missing) and Cerise the sister says we just have to wait for the drugs to arrive from the Sterile Room.

Just want to get on with it now.  I still haven't met Magdelena, the chemo nurse who is filling in for Shaun.  I guess I will meet her soon.  Watch this space.

Meera visits to check me out

Meera wants me to start Chemo tomorrow, which is fine by me as it gives me chance to hydrate and eat to get my strength up generally.  She listened to my stomach and bowels with her stethoscope  :-)  She is also happy for me to eat.

Jane says I can eat!

Jane the dietician has just made my day - she says I can eat and drink.  24 hours have passed since the rig tube was inserted, and the risk of infection is now massively reduced, so I drunk about a litre of water already, and I am waiting for catering to tell me what is available to eat at this time.  Otherwise it's down to the cafe for me :-)  And I am now off the water drip. 

Rig Tube settling in

My abdomen is definitely sore, especially when I use the muscles, but I was able to sleep well without painkillers.  I did have a minute or so of rather extreme pain this morning - I wondered if a bit of acid had leaked from my stomach into my body cavity.  However the pain passed before I had to call for help, so I figure it goes with  the territory.

Generally I am in less discomfort this morning than I was yesterday

Nurse Mena

Mena checked in with Bed Changes and Steroids and questions about water intake.  Sorry about blurred image - low light camera shake......

Stil Nil By Mouth here - expecting a visit from Suzanne, the Nutritionist to discuss what's next.

Dr Ophelia visited yesterday evening

I forgot to mention (because she did not want me to take her photograph) that I was seen by another Doctor last night.  Ophelia came in and took some notes about my history, had a general chat and listened to my chest with her stethoscope. Worth documenting, even without pic  :-(

Red Sky

Florish took my stats

Sheila hooks me up to some water

I am now allowed 50 ml of water per hour through the rig tube only (still Nil By Mouth, even though I did swallow my steroids with a tin sip of water - Simon said I absolutely should) and Sheila hooked up the pump so it can go all night.  Good.

Dr Stewart visits

Simon is off to Chicago on a conference so he won't be around much this week, but he dropped in this evening and we chatted about mountains and skiing and hiking, German & Swiss punctuality, the Oxbridge education system, tests of red cell boosting drugs negatively impacting cancer therapy, and lack of tests of the white blood cell booster that I have been given.  Yes it boosts the bone marrow white blood cell production, but does it boost the tumour growth too?  More tests need to be done.  In any event the secondary in my neck has "vanished".  Always an interesting chat with Simon.  He went off to dinner and  I eagerly await my 50ml of water.

The trip back to the Ward - slow movies

Be warned:  this is NOT exciting  :-)

So I learned that I cannot eat or drink for 24 hours after the procedure.  Good job I had breakfast. I am not a happy Hobbit.  :-)

Part 1:

I stop filming as we go through the waiting area out of deference to all the people there

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Waiting to go back

I was wheeled out into the anteroom again and the Paracetamol was still dripping.  I asked Denwin if I needed it.  He said yes, luckily for me, because a few minutes after the drip finished, the site started to ache  - Denwin was right.

Chrissie:

??:
Sarah:
Desiree
Hassan:

So we hung around for a bit, waiting for a porter, and waiting for Ricky and then they arrived:

In the X-Ray procedure room

I swallowed Barium so they can see the Colon - we want to avoid that.  They pump some air into my stomach to make it easier to hit.  Local anaesthetic and Paracetamol in the line and a couple of other drugs.  I am astounded by the resolution of the x-Ray image.  Nick pushes a wire through the muscle and stomach wall and then slides other hollow wires down over it gradually dilating the hole he has made until it is big enough to slide the rig tube over. Then they remove the wires and the tube stays in place.  Sounds simple and Nick certainly made it seem simple.

X Ray Scanner
At the end of the procedure Nick kindly took some pics for the Blog:

My Colon and dye in my stomach indicating that the tube is actually in my stomach

Happy patient congratulates the team:

First Floor - pre procedure

So they wheel me in a bed down to the first floor, and I meet a new team of people - all very nice and professional.

Denwin looked after me and talked me through it

Sister from afar:

Denwin and Ricky:
Nick Burfitt - the Doctor who performed the procedure - he talked me through it in detail, and I signed the disclaimer for him too:

Preparation for Rig Tube

Marimen (picture later!) put a line in my right arm, and I had to swallow a tube that she put up my nose - that made me weep in my right eye, uncontrollably.  But it was not too unpleasant.  And of course I have a gown for the procedure:

And right now

Back in Charing Cross Hospital for Rig Tube Insertion today, and another round of Chemo starting tomorrow for 5 days. So I am Nil by Mouth since 07:15 which was when I had a bit of Breakfast and started again on the steroids - Dexamethasone.

Ricky checked me into my room and took my details.

More treatment from Julian

After a visit to the China Design Now exhibition at the V&A in the morning and a hectic afternoon, our friend and Chiropractor/Massage Therapist Julian came by and gave me and Nicki a treatment.  Very relaxing and helpful.  Thanks again Julian.

Sunday - Iron Man

I took Nicki on a date, & finally made it to see Iron Man at The Everyman Gallery.  Possibly the most expensive tickets ever because I had already bought 2 tickets before and wasted them......

Anyway - Iron Man was entertaining for both of us.

Saturday 24 was my Birthday

Celebrated in relaxed style with a glass of Billecart-Salmon

St Mary's Hospital

Dr Stewart asked me to go to St Mary's for a blood test and a consultation

Fran took my blood:

And then I saw Dr. S in his office

We got the blood results really quickly and he was very happy with my white and red cell counts, so we figure I am in good condition for round 2 of chemo (next Wednesday, Rig Tube fitting on Tuesday).

I also spoke to Radiography at Charing Cross today about the procedure (Barium, Nil By Mouth 6 hours before) and checked in with Shaun.

Acupuncture with Harvey

Harvey was very pleased with my progress (as am I)

So he tweaked what he did last time and then he did it again!

Early Walk on Heath

We went early onto the Heath this morning and had breakfast at Kenwood House.  Nature is a miracle, and the flowers are beautiful. Nicki took this with her iPhone

The light in the trees:

Hair Today.....

I noticed a week ago that my hair was not growing as fast as it was (from shaving my face and head) but now I notice that (pubic) hair is falling out, not in huge clumps, but steadily....... So it looks like I am going to be bald(er)! I had not thought I would be bothered about hair loss, but when this started I realised that it is a bit easier for me because I shave my head anyway there is not going to be that dramatic change of image that there would be if I had a full head of hair.

I get creative :-)

Simon sent me a link. I had fun.

Healing with Matthew

Matthew in his garden (which is a small piece of paradise):

I've just returned from Suffolk where we visited our friend Matthew Manning. I had an appointment yesterday for a healing session, and we stayed up in Suffolk and had a lovely evening and dinner.  It is always good to talk with Matthew, and his particular knowledge about cancer has been a valuable resource for me since I was diagnosed.  Thanks Matthew.

More Creative Visualisation

I had another helpful session with Claudia, and resolved to practice the techniques every day.  It's Mind over Matter!

Monday at the Dentist

The Oncology Team needed me to have  a pre-radiotherapy dental checkup, and I already an appointment booked in for a check up. My excellent dentist is a cancer survivor so it was interesting o talk to him from a new perspective.  Anyway - teeth cleared for Radiotherapy.

Life Before Death

We caught the last day of an amazing exhibition of Photos and Text at the Wellcome Collection, featuring pictures of people shortly before and shortly after their deaths.  Very moving and profoundly interesting.

Sunday at Quakers

I am not a member of the Religious Society of Friends but I am a regular attender of Sunday Meeting for Worship.  I value and enjoy the Quaker Silence.  I have received a lot of positive and warm support from Friends at the Meeting.  Thanks Friends.

My Mother sent me this card

Thanks Mum!