Well I have missed you!
Thanks to those who e mailed me but my absence was caused by serious computer problems, £110 worth to be precise. Sadly I have lost all my music and photos as well as some documents.
Think I am getting accident prone as I am getting older, I managed to trip over a sheet of chipboard the other day and managed to badly cut and bruise my toes forcing one of the nails back.
Andy
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
I nearly died
Rather a dramatic title I know but sadly its true.
As you know we had our family get together on Saturday 25th July and I felt fine and enjoyed myself. I will post some pictures later.
Anyway woke up on Sunday morning still feeling ok but by the afternoon was begining to feel breathless but put it down to the heat and having to much to eat the day before. Went to bed about 11 on Sunday and dosed off but woke up about 2.30 shivering violently enough to shake the bed! This was followed by a period of profuse sweating. I rang the chemotherapy help line at the hospital and was told that it was sun stroke and to take a couple of paracetamol.
I was no better in the morning so I took myself to hospital and they discovered that my blood pressure had dropped to 70/42 and my body was slowly closing itself down and risking chronic kidney failure as I was suffering from an e coli infection. They admitted me to Intensive Care where I stayed until Saturday night when I was transferred to an ordinary ward coming home this evening.
I can not praise the staff in Intensive Care and Lord North Ward at Maidstone Hospital enough but suffice to say that it was an experience I do not wish to repeat and its thanks to there efforts that I am still here.
Andy
As you know we had our family get together on Saturday 25th July and I felt fine and enjoyed myself. I will post some pictures later.
Anyway woke up on Sunday morning still feeling ok but by the afternoon was begining to feel breathless but put it down to the heat and having to much to eat the day before. Went to bed about 11 on Sunday and dosed off but woke up about 2.30 shivering violently enough to shake the bed! This was followed by a period of profuse sweating. I rang the chemotherapy help line at the hospital and was told that it was sun stroke and to take a couple of paracetamol.
I was no better in the morning so I took myself to hospital and they discovered that my blood pressure had dropped to 70/42 and my body was slowly closing itself down and risking chronic kidney failure as I was suffering from an e coli infection. They admitted me to Intensive Care where I stayed until Saturday night when I was transferred to an ordinary ward coming home this evening.
I can not praise the staff in Intensive Care and Lord North Ward at Maidstone Hospital enough but suffice to say that it was an experience I do not wish to repeat and its thanks to there efforts that I am still here.
Andy
Friday, 24 July 2009
I am back!
What you did not even miss me!
Have been without the computer all this week as somehow Windows had become corrupted, how I am not sure but it still cost me £55.
Had the third session of the clinical trial of the new drug Ofatumumab yesterday and so far so good. No side effects and my hair is growing back. They dont do a CT scan until week 11 of the treatment so I just hope its working. I certainly feel better in my self than I have for a long time. Ofatumumab is not chemotherapy but is a monoclonal antibody.
Saturday is our yearly family get together and there will be about 40 people there so a good chance to catch up with one and other.
Take Care
Andy
Have been without the computer all this week as somehow Windows had become corrupted, how I am not sure but it still cost me £55.
Had the third session of the clinical trial of the new drug Ofatumumab yesterday and so far so good. No side effects and my hair is growing back. They dont do a CT scan until week 11 of the treatment so I just hope its working. I certainly feel better in my self than I have for a long time. Ofatumumab is not chemotherapy but is a monoclonal antibody.
Saturday is our yearly family get together and there will be about 40 people there so a good chance to catch up with one and other.
Take Care
Andy
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Reflections
Today July 12th would of been my Mothers 85th birthday. Sadly she passed away in August 1998 with heart disease. I know every one says this about there parents but I was blessed with two of the best. My Father passed away when I was 9 in 1961 and my Mother had the job of bringing my brother and myself up on her own. She never complained or moaned although I am sure we must have caused her grief on more than one occasion. In those days state aid was practically non existant, when my brother started secondary school she was offered the paltry grant of half a crown (2/6) which would not even by the school cap!
Some how we all survived though and looking back I realise what a struggle it must of been for her. If somehow she is reading this all I can say is 'Mum thank you'.
Monica Ishbell Friend 1924 1998 RIP
Changing subjects tomorrow the 13th sees the release of the latest CD 'All the Ghosts' by the delightful Gwyneth Herbert. My name is already on a copy at HMV. If you have never listened to her I recommend her wholeheartedly, she is a wonderful singer/songwriter who deserves a lot more recognition.
Andy
Some how we all survived though and looking back I realise what a struggle it must of been for her. If somehow she is reading this all I can say is 'Mum thank you'.
Monica Ishbell Friend 1924 1998 RIP
Changing subjects tomorrow the 13th sees the release of the latest CD 'All the Ghosts' by the delightful Gwyneth Herbert. My name is already on a copy at HMV. If you have never listened to her I recommend her wholeheartedly, she is a wonderful singer/songwriter who deserves a lot more recognition.
Andy
Thursday, 9 July 2009
One of Eight
Well had the first session of the new treatment today and all went well-apart from the fact that it went on for half as long again as the four hours it was supposed to! Have to back for further sessions of treatment every Thursday up to 27th August.
At least they through in lunch and I had a really nice sandwich salami, turkey and salad with mayo. Not a combination I had ever tried before or even thought about but it was extremely yummy.
Andy
At least they through in lunch and I had a really nice sandwich salami, turkey and salad with mayo. Not a combination I had ever tried before or even thought about but it was extremely yummy.
Andy
Friday, 26 June 2009
All well...so far!
Went to hospital today to sign the consent forms for this new treatment. All went well in the usual pre treatment tests-blood pressure, ecg etc.
Have to back next Tuesday for a bone marrow biopsy, that is something to look forward to!
If everything goes to plan I start the new treatment on july 8th and is an injection once a week over a period of eight weeks followed by a whole series of checkups.
One good thing about this kind of tratment is that it does not involve any hairloss, its only just starting to grow back after the chemotherapy.
Another plus is that it does not involve any overnight stays in hospital--I think I have had my share of hospital food this year!
Andy
Have to back next Tuesday for a bone marrow biopsy, that is something to look forward to!
If everything goes to plan I start the new treatment on july 8th and is an injection once a week over a period of eight weeks followed by a whole series of checkups.
One good thing about this kind of tratment is that it does not involve any hairloss, its only just starting to grow back after the chemotherapy.
Another plus is that it does not involve any overnight stays in hospital--I think I have had my share of hospital food this year!
Andy
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Bad News followed by Good News!
As you are probably aware I had an appointment at Kings College hospital last week to discuss stem cell transfer. Well all I can say is that I have never ever been treated in such a rude way before. All the doctor said was that as the tumour had not shrunk enough for stem cell treatment there was no treatment he could give and that I would probably die within a couple of months. He did not even say it in a kind or sympathetic manner.
After a very miserable week I saw Mark Hill at Maidstone Hospital yesterday and he said that there are plenty of treatment options available. He has booked me in for treatment using a new drug called Ofatumumab which involves a weekly injection over a period of 8 weeks with regular blood tests and CT scans. This is followed by regular monitoring over a period of 5 years. If this treatment does not work there are other options available including a different chemotherapy regime and/or radiotherapy.
The dark clouds from last week are rolling away fast but whatever happens I am not giving up.
Andy
After a very miserable week I saw Mark Hill at Maidstone Hospital yesterday and he said that there are plenty of treatment options available. He has booked me in for treatment using a new drug called Ofatumumab which involves a weekly injection over a period of 8 weeks with regular blood tests and CT scans. This is followed by regular monitoring over a period of 5 years. If this treatment does not work there are other options available including a different chemotherapy regime and/or radiotherapy.
The dark clouds from last week are rolling away fast but whatever happens I am not giving up.
Andy
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