The upwards trajectory has continued and I've been allowed some "day leave" today. It's the first time I've been home, or anywhere off the hospital site, for 25 days.
The Consultant delivered the news that I'd be allowed home for a few hours today - and possibly tomorrow - as I troughed a full omelette. This is more progress as my diet gradually gets more solid. It seems my platelets and white blood cells continue to generate on their own and the high temperatures and fevers have abated.
I had a visit from a couple of old uni mates on the 9th of February. It was really good to see them both, talk about the "good old days" and have a laugh.
My Partner visited later in the day. The weather wasn't great but we had a walk around the hospital gardens anyway and I really enjoyed getting outdoors. We chatted about all the things we are going to do when I get back to some level of normality.
After she'd left, I had the canular in my right arm removed. This had been bugging me for a while as it was in such an awkward position on the crease of my upper and lower arm. I never had full range of motion while it was in place. It was such a relief to have it taken out and meant I could start using my weights again (my massive 1.5kg dumbbells).
On the 10th of February the Doctors told me that my infection markers were creeping up again. They were concerned about my temperatures as well and said I was really vulnerable to infection. This scuppered any hopes of getting home for a couple of hours. Something I'd be hoping I'd be able to do for a while.
I got a bit of a lift late in the day when I found out a load of my work mates will be doing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks for Reorg and Cancer Research. It's a challenge I've completed myself and I'd love to be at the finish line, cheering them on when they come in under their 12 hour target.
I decided to have a little nap and woke up hours later at 6pm. I'd missed my tea and felt massively disoriented. I was convinced for a while that I'd slept all night and it was 6am. The rest of the night was pretty uneventful, although I didn't have any temperatures.
I started to notice on the 11th of February how much weight I'd lost. Most of the water weight had gone by now. I's shocking to thing that it takes months, years even, of training to build up a decent muscle mass and a good level of fitness. A couple of weeks after chemo and it's pretty much gone. Don't worry Cyril, I'm already making plans to get it all back.
The Doctors came in with more positive news. I should be able to get home this week. Better still, if my white blood cells continue to rise I should be allowed home for a week before Round Two starts. They said Round 2 might look different and they may take me off Idarubicin because of the awful side effects I've endured. Hopefully that means I've seen the worst Cyril has to offer now.
I had another lovely visit from my Daughter. More colouring in, playing games and chatting.
My mates visited in the morning. We had a good laugh and they were very impressed by my hospital compression stockings.
It was about 2pm when I got the news that I'd been hoping for and I'd be going home for the afternoon. Mum picked me up and I was able to enjoy a few hours of bliss in my little house. I got a few things organised, my mate came round for a bit, I had a nap in my own bed, watched a bit of telly. Nothing spectacular but it felt amazing to be back in my own home and away from the hospital for a while. I'm hoping I'll be able to do the same tomorrow and have my Daughter round.
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