27.5.16

Ive remembered a few other things.  Haha chemo brain isn't gonna beat me!!!
Food. I can't eat anything thats not been cooked or peeled. No berries, no salad, no yoghurts, no soft cheese or soft boiled eggs, no shell fish.  Not too much of a problem cos i probably won't be able to taste anything anyway! My taste buds will go again. Maybe thats why they don't seem concerned that the hospital food is so dire. Most patients don't have taste buds that work!
I remember last time i was in, Dr Jack came to see me and i had discarded my meal. I think it was some sort of hotpot and peas.  Dr Jack commented, and it so tickled me.
'.....and they're not petit pois!'
NHS food and petit pois don't really go together, do they?
Ive been told to wear condoms! I did point out i didn't have a willy....!
Driving. After discharge, drive round the block to check I feel 'sharp'.  I will issue a statement when this is about to happen so you can all go indoors.
Of course i'll be having regular checkups and bloods. I think initially it will be weekly.  Id better ensure I'm sharp with my driving pretty quickly!
My Kickman line will still be in if my platelets are low, i may need a transfusion at a later date, otherwise it will be whipped out before i go home. Oh how wonderful, a proper bath where i can immerse completely like a hippo.....in more ways than one!
No holidays for 12 months,  but if i absolutely must, only to Europe. Im not allowed any holiday vaccinations.
Irradiated blood for life if i ever need a transfusion. This will ensure i don't get Transfusion Associated Graft v Host disease (TA-GvHD). This is a rare but serious complication for people whose immunity is compromised, lymphoma sufferers. The blood is treated with X Rays which removes all white cells prior to use.
My skin is likely to be dry, so plenty of moisturiser and Prosecco. I added the last one cos i feel it an absolute must for keeping moist!
And the last one.
Im expected to lose weight cos i won't be up to eating too much (i hope I'm not the exception to the rule). But if i lose 10% of my body weight whilst I'm in hospital they will want to pass a naso gastric tube on me in case my body goes into starvation mode. That'll be a first.  But have no fear, I'm sure i won't lose more than 10%, and if anyone comes near me with an NG tube, i will stuff as much food down my sore throat as i can.
Sore throat. Thats funny. More like raw throat.
My lovely district nurse, Tracy,  was  here today, possibly for the last time. Wow. It feels good saying the last time. Fingers crossed.
And i must say the nurse who came last week, Linda, said i was a 'Ray of Sunshine'. Maybe she means, I'm a star, hot, shiny and illuminating, but more than likely, radioactive,  giving off gas, and in the shape of a ball!