The local..

I should know better by now. I am due in for a checkup at the hospital I think they will just be putting me on a drip for antibiotics and perhaps some platelets. This should mean I'm home for lunch. In a scary way all the nurses greeted me in and I recognised the majority of the patients in the ward. The ward in a strange way resembles a local pub... You walk in and are greeted by nurses who all know your name, start chatting to others in the same situation, but instead getting a nice drink you get hooked up to another drip.

Blood count results are not good. Haemoglobin count is down to 6, normal is between 14 and 17. But I feel fine?? It is decided that I need a further 2 units of blood on top of what I was due that day. I'm now booked into the hospital for the day.

I've made a start on Lance Armstongs book. I can relate to his experiences so clearly. In fact I've nearly finished it already. Also made a slow start on learning Spanish. Must make use of this time waiting.

As the week progresses I still don’t get used to not working. I am still able to wonder round without any difficulty so pop out to get lunch when I’m at home. However feeling very OCD, I walk into Somerfield and its crowded and quite a few people who look ill to me. I end up leaving quite quickly. For the rest of the week I am in and out of hospital and the nurses start to run out of spaces in my arm to put needles in. I will need an operation to put a permanent line into my chest by the end of the week.

Second round of Chemo is on Thursday. I am expecting to have more side effects this time, but am relaxed about the process itself. Still no side effects.. Maybe I should ask them to increase the dose?? I may need to get a haircut after all.

Friday morning and I arrive early into hospital for the operation. It does not really feel like they can do much more to me so surprisingly not that worried about it. I don’t think the guy in the bed has been in hospital much, after been asked what he wants for breakfast he requests croissants and jam. He is actually surprised when they laugh at him. I am on nill by mouth until operation is over, the talk of food is making me very hungry. Bizarrely the treatments are making me more hungry rather than less? I eventually am wheeled of to surgery at 10:30.

During the surgery I will have local atheistic and should be able to feel the tubes been passed into my chest. After a few initial prods the procedure is fairly painless, spent most of it talking about wine & rugby. Before I know it I’m all done… But now I have a permanent tube coming from my chest. This will be with me until the treatments over. It’s the first physical mark the disease has had on me… However when it is removed it will be a huge milestone. For now I will just have to learn to live with it.

Will “King Of Lao” comes round for rugby complaining he has not had enough mentions in my blog, France play Argentina in the 3rd place play off in the world cup. It turns out to be a great game and with Will supporting France its hilarious to watch them fall apart with PTB & Whittle.

Helen is down for the weekend, after a brief trip to the hospital its good to get some Fresh air and head up to OB’s to watch the 3rd XV vs St Marys. It’s a typical 3 XV fixture comedy to watch at points but very entertaining. Rob The Tan scores a 70 m try, followed by Monty. I’m glad to see quite a few of the team but just wish I could be out there on the pitch. Also in a way glad to show my face so people see that I’m not on deaths door. Unfortunately can’t stick around to socialise as aware of infection risks. Also is a shame I can’t watch the world cup final with the team..While I have been lucky with treatment to date, some side effects are taking effect.. sleeping patterns are all over the place and ending up sleeping throughout afternoon. I know that this will get worse and am starting to realise how much of a long haul this will be.