Week 21 – Thursday 25th & Friday 26th: Straya Day

I slept well last night and the good news is the team thinks I will be out in 3-4 days time which seems amazing given I still feel pretty ordinary and quite drowsy.

It is expected that there will be a big turn around in my Neutrophil levels over the next few days. My throat is feeling a lot better so I am taking most of my drugs orally again.

I am still getting some pain relief from a slow release patch (think nicotine patches) on my right shoulder. This is the only opioid I am receiving now which is good because I have really not enjoyed the headspace that the opioid drugs put me in. Along with the fatigue I have been feeling confused and anxious due to the number of thoughts circulating over and over in my head. Often I was unable to articulate them or describe them which was frustrating. Happily, that is slowly starting to fade now but I am still feeling very sleepy.

On the upside, I have received two bags of blood today which might pep me up a bit due to higher oxygen carrying capacity. After I am released I may continue to receive blood products for quite some time to supplement the work of my new bone marrow as the transplant usually focuses on regenerating the immune system before generating the other blood cells.

My favourite child Claire is visiting given that it is the Australia Day long weekend and is today’s guest blogger. There is lots of activity in the ward with families and kids visiting patients which brings a bit of excitement. Isn’t it great to see so much controversy about Australia Day – let’s hope some of those politicians (Lamb etc) take advantage of the ceremonies being held to be naturalised!

Speaking of lamb, I am back eating again but only small snacks like little pots of yoghurt, the soft middle out of white bread rolls and small bowls of soup – not quite up to an Australia Day BBQ just yet!!

Wishing you a fun long weekend.