So H hasn’t been feeling too good since his first chemo on Friday. Pretty much to be expected but we were keeping an eye on his shortness of breath as the more concerning of the various side effect symptoms. Had a nice evening at home last night, he set the chiminea up outside, had supper, headed to bed about half nine, wild things that we are.
Got woken up at 11.30pm, H experiencing pulsing pains running up and down his body. He had been downstairs for an hour but was getting worried and feeling awful. Rang Parkside who couldn’t reach his consultant (well it was 11.45pm by now), and advised us to go straight to A&E at St George’s.
H wasn’t too keen but there wasn’t much choice so up we tipped up at midnight. Got triaged by a very nice sensible chap and straight into a cubicle.
Not exactly the loveliest when the person behind in the queue is a prisoner being escorted to jail, handcuffed to a warder, and the usual hospital sounds ranging from babies crying, and someone saying ‘I’m bleeeeeeding’ to a distressed lady repeating ‘I want to go home, you’ve kidnapped me’ and a poor old boy shouting ‘I’ve had no food all day’ fill the otherwise quiet night air.
Long story short, H got admitted and I headed home at 4.30am. A new discovery – parking at St George’s is free between 10pm and 6am. Quite keen not to benefit from it again ideally! At least the animals were pleased that there was an early breakfast to be had.
Went back early doors and H was by now in a single room with double aspect windows, not too bad. Saw the oncology doc and then his own chap Khoo appeared. Who said that the pulsing pains are due to the injection H has to give himself – the same stuff that generates stem cells for me is meant to stimulate his bone marrow, and it can really hurt. So more painkillers next time now we know it’s not a scary thing, just grim. Hoping he will escape home tonight, if not it’s tomorrow.
And the words of Khoo ‘next time just listen to your body’ seem to be resonating. … !
View here from his window. Love the irony that the hospital is bang next to the huge graveyard, hey? X