Tuesday 8th January 2019
“I didn’t want to fall into the trap of complacency.” — Taj Mahal

Day 1 PM – So going back to last night, lots of folks took the time to read my blog, and the facebook post that Jayne posted, and I spent ages looking and replying to comments which is a welcome distraction and show of support from people. For the first time since being diagnosed, I had a tear in my eye (thanks Jayne!), which was equal parts of the emotion brought by my surroundings, an inconveniently timed sad song and reading her post about me being brave. Some people chatted to me across WhatsApp/Messenger etc, and I had my group of guys in here to talk to. Time flew…

To recap, I had 1x 1 hour Etoposide, and 2x 2 hour Cisplatin IV’s, with a 4 hour electrolyte drip on for 4 hours overnight. Other than phantom tingly fingertips briefly, and a slight feeling of wooziness, it was all normal. Although I fully expected to wake up feeling terrible once it all kicked in.

Stayed up chatting til midnight, went for (another) pee dragging Bob (the IV stand/pump) with me, then dozed awkwardly on the bed with music. Woke up about 2pm, checked Bob to see how much was left, and he was dead ! Out of battery ! I’d forgot to plug him in… so I call the nurse, plug it in, and she gets it going. Then its blood pressure check time for the other chaps in the room, all the time Bob keeps beeping because something isn’t right. She clears my Cannula with saline and it’s working. But I’m awake… and I am until 3.30am. Then I doze off again, half enter consciousness a couple of times for the few-hourly blood pressure measurements, but well away with counting sheep.

The next I know it’s 8.15am and there’s a nurse waking me up to take a breakfast order. Walloped that down, no loss of appetite yet. Video called the family, miss them a bit ! I honestly expected to feel awful, and expected walking to the loo (not with Bob for a change as we were disconnected at some point in the early hours) to be an effort. Nothing though yet. Still feeling pretty normal ! But, not too complacent just yet.

So I’ve had a shower, got changed and expect my next chemo drugs at 10.30am ish. Until then, I’ve got free run of the place. Matt next-door isn’t well, he was hoping to go home today so I guess he’s stuck here a bit longer 😦 John swallowed a plastic cannula cap in the night thinking it was a pill in the dark, we joked about how sweetcorn makes it through ok therefore so should that ! The mornings light entertainment 🙂 Headphones and tech this morning, to block out snoring from the 4th bed !

4pm – So it would seem the factory nearby that produces the Chemo bags (to order) has a broken machine and no chemo drugs have arrived on the ward for anyone today. So since I woke at 8.15am, I’ve had no treatment, and theres no update. I have no idea what this means for my cycle, guess it depends completely on when it arrives. Possibly extend into a Weds night stay, who knows.

I nipped out to Sainsburys out of sheer boredom earlier, a 15 min round trip, passed a pub and the waft of beer was unusually appealing. Dave in bed 4 has a cough, honey in hot water has really helped him out but the hospital has run out of honey now. I thought I’d earn some good karma and bought him a bottle. He was made up with that ! In more positive news, I’m having butterbean and bacon soup with a white roll, sweet and sour chicken with rice and mash (yes mash) and strawberry cheesecake for tea. Roll on 5pm…

6.45pm – My drugs are finally here ! Just had some pre-steroids injected, now 15 mins of salts, then the bleomycin. First time, made my heart beat a little faster when she said that. If you are here reading because you are about to go through this, I would hope you’d have finished your cocktail by now rather than just be starting it, so the effect will hit me a little later than you. Skip ahead a little (no spoilers I promise) if need be.

8pm – 1st lot of bleomycin done. No immediate symptoms. It’s handover time so just sat listening to Bob incessantly beeping for more fluids. We’ve got the Spurs-Chelsea match on, all sat around having a bit of footy banter. Just missing a few bottles of beer ! So far so good still.

1 hour of Etoposide loaded in. Then 2 hours of Cisplatin, twice. Then 4 hours of electrolyte fluid again. And probably 5 or more trips to the bathroom with Bob… Feels like a good time to sign off. Expecting again to wake up feeling like I’ve been hit by that bus, which has so far been late ! It’s been a fun day 🙂