Well, I escaped last Monday - whch was also a joke.
Waited 3 hours for medication, which was then all wrong.
Luckily Mark rescued me, and we got a direct train home, which took just over 2 hours - I could just cope with that, whilst inflicting my radiation on the general public.
The past week has just been normal, apart from not having close contact with anyone. After tomorrow I'm 'safe' again around adults.
I went to Christies today for a check-up and blood test.
My White count was 4.5, HB 11.4, and platelets 566.
My platelets (high because of the lymphoma) are the ones that are most expected to drop in the next few months (because of the treatment), so I'm to be a regular visitor of Christies for the next 3 months.
I'll be going [at least] every Monday! Oh, the fun!
Monday, 12 July 2010
Prison - Day 7
I knew the weekend would be bad, but this bad......I didn’t expect.
Firstly, if I was going home tomorrow, I really think I would discharge myself. Theres no way I could stand another day of being treated like crap.
Yesterday (Saturday) my breathing and chest was bad, and the doctor who came round said I should go on a nebuliser, using Salbutamol. The nurse came into my room at 3:30ish and set it up, showing me where to put the liquid, and how to turn the air on and off. The she left. Did she tell me when to turn it off? No. Luckily I know. Did she, or anyone else come to check I was ok, if it was helping, that I had done it right? No.
Haven’t mentioned in my blog earlier, but been having a problem getting drinks. For my first 2 days, someone came round with a trolley shortly after each meal was served to offer tea or coffee. This suddenly stopped, and no amount of telling/complaining to different people made any difference. I told the radiation man, who told the Staff nurse, who came and asked me why I hadn’t told her. Errr, I had, the day before.
Well, today things have come to ahead – after only being offered a cup of tea at breakfast time, and having to buzz and ask for one the rest of the time, It came to tea time, and I was quite hungry.
Following every other day I have been here, someone comes round about an hour before serving time with a menu, and takes my selection. In an evening, it’s approx 5pm when they come with the menu, and 6pm when we are served.
Tonight it got to just after 6pm, and no one had even been with a menu. As you can imagine, I was pretty hungry by now, so pressed my buzzer so I could ask what time meal time was (I don’t know, perhaps they have it late on a Sunday?!)
Pressed my buzzer and waited a while, and a lady popped her head round the door and barked “What do you want?”
Me – What time is supper time? (it says supper on the menus, so thought I would say that instead of the Northern ‘Tea)
Her – What?
Me – What time is supper time?
Her – What?
Me – [getting a bit annoyed] Food. What time is food time?
Her – Medicine?
Me – NO. Food, you know, eat.
Her [shouting] – you have to wait while we prepare it.
I started to tell her I hadn’t even seen a menu yet. She went and got a menu, and held it out (standing at the door, where I can’t even get near)
Her – Here. I come back for it.
Me – You can’t, once I have it, you can’t have it back
Her[shouting] – I CANT COME IN. (She can come in, only up to the barrier, like everyone else). TAKE IT.
Me – I can’t.
Her – I leave it here. [and put it down on the sink, that I’m not allowed to touch]
Me – Can you get a nurse please, I’m not happy.
Her [storms out of the room and begins to shout] – ROOM 10. SHE SHOUTING. I CAN’T DO 2 THINGS AT ONCE.
Honestly, I’ve never encountered anyone who works in a hospital to be so hostile! I’ve been nothing but polite to the people who have brought me food and drink, but if she comes near me again, there won’t be a ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ in sight!
Firstly, if I was going home tomorrow, I really think I would discharge myself. Theres no way I could stand another day of being treated like crap.
Yesterday (Saturday) my breathing and chest was bad, and the doctor who came round said I should go on a nebuliser, using Salbutamol. The nurse came into my room at 3:30ish and set it up, showing me where to put the liquid, and how to turn the air on and off. The she left. Did she tell me when to turn it off? No. Luckily I know. Did she, or anyone else come to check I was ok, if it was helping, that I had done it right? No.
Haven’t mentioned in my blog earlier, but been having a problem getting drinks. For my first 2 days, someone came round with a trolley shortly after each meal was served to offer tea or coffee. This suddenly stopped, and no amount of telling/complaining to different people made any difference. I told the radiation man, who told the Staff nurse, who came and asked me why I hadn’t told her. Errr, I had, the day before.
Well, today things have come to ahead – after only being offered a cup of tea at breakfast time, and having to buzz and ask for one the rest of the time, It came to tea time, and I was quite hungry.
Following every other day I have been here, someone comes round about an hour before serving time with a menu, and takes my selection. In an evening, it’s approx 5pm when they come with the menu, and 6pm when we are served.
Tonight it got to just after 6pm, and no one had even been with a menu. As you can imagine, I was pretty hungry by now, so pressed my buzzer so I could ask what time meal time was (I don’t know, perhaps they have it late on a Sunday?!)
Pressed my buzzer and waited a while, and a lady popped her head round the door and barked “What do you want?”
Me – What time is supper time? (it says supper on the menus, so thought I would say that instead of the Northern ‘Tea)
Her – What?
Me – What time is supper time?
Her – What?
Me – [getting a bit annoyed] Food. What time is food time?
Her – Medicine?
Me – NO. Food, you know, eat.
Her [shouting] – you have to wait while we prepare it.
I started to tell her I hadn’t even seen a menu yet. She went and got a menu, and held it out (standing at the door, where I can’t even get near)
Her – Here. I come back for it.
Me – You can’t, once I have it, you can’t have it back
Her[shouting] – I CANT COME IN. (She can come in, only up to the barrier, like everyone else). TAKE IT.
Me – I can’t.
Her – I leave it here. [and put it down on the sink, that I’m not allowed to touch]
Me – Can you get a nurse please, I’m not happy.
Her [storms out of the room and begins to shout] – ROOM 10. SHE SHOUTING. I CAN’T DO 2 THINGS AT ONCE.
Honestly, I’ve never encountered anyone who works in a hospital to be so hostile! I’ve been nothing but polite to the people who have brought me food and drink, but if she comes near me again, there won’t be a ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ in sight!
Friday, 2 July 2010
Prison - Day 5
Slept until 8:20, when I was woken by a knock on the door alerting me breakfast was here.
Radiation man came early to tell me it will definitely be Monday when I am released. Rads are 55.
It’s getting harder to write anything, simply because nothing is happening, and I guess when you are cut off from speaking face to face with people (apart from the odd word from doctors/nurses popping in), everything starts to blur into one.
I’m glad there’s no clock in the room, as I’m sure each hour would feel like a day. Only the weekend left here I suppose, but I’m unsure as to whether that will be worse and time will go slower or not.
Radiation man came early to tell me it will definitely be Monday when I am released. Rads are 55.
It’s getting harder to write anything, simply because nothing is happening, and I guess when you are cut off from speaking face to face with people (apart from the odd word from doctors/nurses popping in), everything starts to blur into one.
I’m glad there’s no clock in the room, as I’m sure each hour would feel like a day. Only the weekend left here I suppose, but I’m unsure as to whether that will be worse and time will go slower or not.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Prison - Day 4
Woke up by a nurse this morning asking if I knew where Nuclear Medicine department was. Nope, was my reply. And if it’s far, I need a wheelchair.
Didn’t really sleep well last night, and my chest is tight and breathing laboured. Damn aircon.
I managed to have my breakfast (Rice Krispies) before the porter came. He was actually nice and chatty!
I was wheeled down to Nuclear Medicine (yes, actually allowed out of my room for this!), told to empty my bladder and remove my jewellery.
Not sure what the scan was – to measure radiation I think, but I’ve never had one of them before. After the scan, I was wheeled back up to my room, had a cup of tea, and settled down for a nap seeing as I was feeling tired.
The ‘air’ outside the room actually helped ease my chest for a short while.
I got woke up by a nurse, and a delivery man – bringing me a very special package for Bernie, a lovely friend. The package included drinks, crisps, chocolates, smellies, a lovely card, a word search book, and a pen. I was feeling quite down before I received it, but it definitely cheered me up!
After that was lunch – a blob of food on the plate, not resembling what it was supposed to be!
The doctor and nurse popped in to see if I was ok, and the Lymphoma Nurse gave me a carrier bag full of magazines.
So far the rest of the afternoon has been a blur. I remember watching things on my laptop, and probably having a doze, but I’m definitely having one of those ‘off’ days.
I got a message on Facebook from my Mum this morning, which strangely brought a [homesick] tear to my eye!
Rads are at 60
Didn’t really sleep well last night, and my chest is tight and breathing laboured. Damn aircon.
I managed to have my breakfast (Rice Krispies) before the porter came. He was actually nice and chatty!
I was wheeled down to Nuclear Medicine (yes, actually allowed out of my room for this!), told to empty my bladder and remove my jewellery.
Not sure what the scan was – to measure radiation I think, but I’ve never had one of them before. After the scan, I was wheeled back up to my room, had a cup of tea, and settled down for a nap seeing as I was feeling tired.
The ‘air’ outside the room actually helped ease my chest for a short while.
I got woke up by a nurse, and a delivery man – bringing me a very special package for Bernie, a lovely friend. The package included drinks, crisps, chocolates, smellies, a lovely card, a word search book, and a pen. I was feeling quite down before I received it, but it definitely cheered me up!
After that was lunch – a blob of food on the plate, not resembling what it was supposed to be!
The doctor and nurse popped in to see if I was ok, and the Lymphoma Nurse gave me a carrier bag full of magazines.
So far the rest of the afternoon has been a blur. I remember watching things on my laptop, and probably having a doze, but I’m definitely having one of those ‘off’ days.
I got a message on Facebook from my Mum this morning, which strangely brought a [homesick] tear to my eye!
Rads are at 60
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