Update on oggbashan's health

[Bud_Spencer]

Fingers still crossed.

Best of luck, amigo.

 

[oggbashan]

1st (of six) chemo sessions this afternoon. 3.5 hours of boredom.

 

[KeithD]

1st (o six) chemo sessions this afternoon. 3.5 hours of boredom.

I wouldn't be bored. I'd be wondering when the next opportunity was to be able to get to a bathroom.

Endure.

 

[oggbashan]

I wouldn't be bored. I'd be wondering when the next opportunity was to be able to get to a bathroom.

Endure.

That was a nuisance. I had to make three trips pushing my pump as I went into the disabled toilet. The pump continues to run on an internal battery, but the leads and injection line are a pain to manage.

But since this is my second set of chemo treatments, I knew what to do.

 

[Handley_Page]

That was a nuisance. I had to make three trips pushing my pump as I went into the disabled toilet. The pump continues to run on an internal battery, but the leads and injection line are a pain to manage.

But since this is my second set of chemo treatments, I knew what to do.

Been there, done that.
It's no fun, really.
Fingers crossed, Ogg.

 

[oggbashan]

Check for pre-chemo this morning.

BP 135/70. Blood oxygen 100%. Now I wait for the blood test results before the second chemo session on Tuesday.

 

[sirhugs]

Check for pre-chemo this morning.

BP 135/70. Blood oxygen 100%. Now I want for the blood test results before the second chemo session on Tuesday.

Great results. Best of luck with the blood work. Having gone through chemo, I know how the anticipation ban trigger anxiety.

 

[oggbashan]

Second (of six) Chemo sessions today. Five and a half hours of boredom with no side-effects. But they have difficulty finding my veins. They're too deep so they have to use ultrasound to find them. Half an hour to put a line in - find the machine, find a trained operator, six nurses watch as she demonstrates how to do it...

 

[SamScribble]

... six nurses watch as she demonstrates how to do it...

Ah, yes. The watchers. I have been known to explain to the watchers (in my case, they seem to be mainly med students) that we, the patients, might feel more confident if they, the watchers, didn’t frown quite so much while they observed proceedings.

 

[Handley_Page]

Ah, yes. The watchers. I have been known to explain to the watchers (in my case, they seem to be mainly med students) that we, the patients, might feel more confident if they, the watchers, didn’t frown quite so much while they observed proceedings.

Bloody magic.

 

[LAHomedog]

Second (of six) But they have difficulty finding my veins. They're too deep so they have to use ultrasound to find them. Half an hour to put a line in - find the machine, find a trained operator, six nurses watch as she demonstrates how to do it...

And this is why when I was in treatment they ended up putting a port in. A double-lumen Hickman. A PICC line. I resisted it, but it was so much easier. I ended up very happy I got it.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

You continue to amaze, sir.

 

[oggbashan]

Ah, yes. The watchers. I have been known to explain to the watchers (in my case, they seem to be mainly med students) that we, the patients, might feel more confident if they, the watchers, didn’t frown quite so much while they observed proceedings.

Whenever I see a consultant, they usually have one or more medical students because I am an 'interesting' case. The consultant usually asks the student(s) to suggest what is wrong. The answers can be interesting because the consultant doesn't know either!

 

[Handley_Page]

Whenever I see a consultant, they usually have one or more medical students because I am an 'interesting' case. The consultant usually asks the student(s) to suggest what is wrong. The answers can be interesting because the consultant doesn't know either!

And presumably you do not let on. . . .
Fingers Crossed

 

[oggbashan]

And presumably you do not let on. . . .
Fingers Crossed

I don't know either. It was assumed, eventually, to be Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome - a rare condition never seen before in my county's hospitals. It isn't. My muscles are too strong as I proved my lifting a consultant off his feet.

The lung cancer had produced an enzyme that affects my speech, eyesight, and balance. After treatment with steroids, speech and eyesight are better but not balance - yet...

I am still an 'interesting' and puzzling case.

 

[Handley_Page]

I don't know either. It was assumed, eventually, to be Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome - a rare condition never seen before in my county's hospitals. It isn't. My muscles are too strong as I proved my lifting a consultant off his feet.

The lung cancer had produced an enzyme that affects my speech, eyesight, and balance. After treatment with steroids, speech and eyesight are better but not balance - yet...

I am still an 'interesting' and puzzling case.

May you manage to confuse them for a long time, Ogg

 

[oggbashan]

Visited my oncologist today. She was very pleased with my progress but I have a small cancerous growth on my outer ear. I have to make an appointment with my GP who might arrange for it to be excised at the surgery or referred to a different oncologist...

The last time I saw that oncologist I had a growth inside my nose. I had an appointment to have it removed but five days before the surgery date I sneezed and it fell out...

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Sneezles by AE Milne

Christopher Robin
Had wheezles
And sneezles,
They bundled him
Into
His bed.
They gave him what goes
With a cold in the nose,
And some more for a cold
In the head.
They wondered
If wheezles
Could turn
Into measles,
If sneezles
Would turn
Into mumps;
The examined his chest
For a rash,
and the rest
Of his body for swellings and lumps.
They sent for some doctors
In sneezles
And wheezles
To tell them what ought
To be done.

All sorts of conditions
Of famous physicians
Came hurrying round
At a run.
They all made a note
Of the state of his throat,
They asked if he suffered from thirst;
They asked if the sneezles
Came after the wheezles,
Or if the first sneezle
Came first.
They said, “If you teazle
A sneezle
Or wheezle,
A measle
May easily grow.
But humour or pleazle
The wheezle
Or sneezle,
The measle
Will certainly go.”
They expounded the reazles
For sneezles
And wheezles,
The manner of measles
When new.
They said, “If he freezles
In draughts and in breezles,
Then PHTHEEZLES
May even ensue.”

Christopher Robin
Got up in the morning,
The sneezles had vanished away.
And the look in his eye
Seemed to say to the sky,
“Now, how to amuse them today?”

+++

Moral: Go, Ogg!

 

[oggbashan]

My oncologist knows I am a (partially retired) community activist. Her hospital does not have a patients' forum. She asked me whether I would form one. I declined. That would be more grief than anything. Her management doesn't like moans from patients and they get enough in writing from me already...

My moans are mainly about the admin, not the clinical services which are excellent but fucked about by the admin staff, who are low paid and overworked.

 

[Handley_Page]

My oncologist knows I am a (partially retired) community activist. Her hospital does not have a patients' forum. She asked me whether I would form one. I declined. That would be more grief than anything. Her management doesn't like moans from patients and they get enough in writing from me already...

My moans are mainly about the admin, not the clinical services which are excellent but fucked about by the admin staff, who are low paid and overworked.

And controlled by a central organisation that cares little and does even less.

 

[oggbashan]

And controlled by a central organisation that cares little and does even less.

I know. A good ward clerk can have a better impact on a patient's recovery than two nurses - but there are too few ward clerks.

 

[oggbashan]

Pre-Chemo check this morning.

Blood Oxygen still 100%. Blood Pressure 135/71. All depends on the blood tests...

 

[Handley_Page]

Pre-Chemo check this morning.

Blood Oxygen still 100%. Blood Pressure 135/71. All depends on the blood tests...

Fingers crossed.
I got a package this morning, thank.

 

[oggbashan]

Fingers crossed.
I got a package this morning, thank.

Thanks HP.

I am pleased the package arrived so quickly.

 

[oggbashan]

Dermatology this morning for examination of small growth on an ear. It will have to be cut out - another hospital visit.

Back to the hospital this afternoon for more chemo...