Dancing in the rain
Anyone who thinks that only sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain...
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* Myeloma
- Myeloma Beacon : Independent, up-to-date news and information about myeloma, from the USA
- Myeloma blogs : A place to find other myeloma blogs, or even add your own
- Myeloma UK : Supporting people with myeloma and related disorders
- Myeloma XI trial : Information about the clinical trial I was on at the beginning of treatment
- Wendy : Living with Myeloma in remission, in Manchester, UK
Cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support : Providing practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care
Donating
- Anthony Nolan : A UK charity that registers and matches potential stem cell donors for people with a blood cancer
- Be the Match : National Marrow Donor Programme, in the USA
- Give Blood : If you’re generally healthy and aged 17 or over, do something amazing!
- Nottingham Marrow : A student group recruiting people to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register
- Organ donation : A place to register as a donor – even as a living donor
- Register & Be a Lifesaver : A UK educational programme to raise awareness of blood, stem cell and organ donation
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Tag Archives: infection
Blurred lines…?
So, with my new resolve to write shorter, more frequent posts, here’s the next one… My Hickman line half fell out on Friday 13 June. I don’t believe the date was to blame. I do wonder though, if perhaps nurse … Continue reading
Posted in * Myeloma, Graft versus Host Disease
Tagged amnesia, anchor, Bed Manager, Brighton, cannula, cannulation, central line, Cetirizine, chronic GvHD, Cluedo, conscious, cuff, Daycase, diarrhoea, ECP, extracorporeal photopheresis, GvHD, Haematology, Hickman line, infection, infection risk, lumens, lung GvHD, mosquito bite reaction, nurse, observation, PICC line, Piriton, radiologist, radiology, sclerodermatous GvHD, sedation, sickness, skin GvHD, SSSU, Surgical Short Stay Unit, The Ceramic House, thermometer, tubogram, unconsciou, vomit
3 Comments
Infection alert!
Friday morning, 4 April, saw me not-quite-leaping, more like cautiously rolling my stiff self, out of bed at an early hour to go off to volunteer at a Register & Be A Lifesaver [R&BE] stem cell register recruitment event at … Continue reading
Posted in * Myeloma, Graft versus Host Disease, Other health
Tagged Anthony Nolan, antibiotic, Certificate in Playback Theatre Practice, Chellaston Academy, Derby, endocarditis, Fletcher ward, Flucloxacillin, Haematology, Hickman line, hospital, infection, IV antibiotics, Jenny Parrish, myeloma, Nightstop, Nottingham City Hospital, osteomyelitis, Playback, Playback Theatre, pneumonia, R&BE, Register & Be a Lifesaver, School of Playback Theatre UK, Specialist Receiving Unit, SRU, staph. aureus, staphylococcus aureus, stem cell donor, stem cell register, temperature, Vancomycin, volunteer, volunteering
6 Comments
Vlog #2: Admitted to hospital
I’ve just spent eight days in hospital due to a serious infection via my Hickman line. I’m in the midst of writing about it, but having difficulty concentrating, so it may take some time. In the meantime, here’s a little … Continue reading
Bronchoscopy for lung GVHD
Rather than trying to find the time to catch up and do things in the correct chronological order, I’m just going to post this now. A lot of health issues have gradually come to the surface over the past few … Continue reading
Posted in Graft versus Host Disease
Tagged allogeneic stem cell transplant, Amy Binnion, Andrew Fogarty, bacteria, Bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchoscopy, Cancer Research UK, cannula, cannulation, chronic GvHD, donor stem cell transpant, FEV1, fungus, Graft versus Host Disease, GvHD, infection, James Donaldson, knitting, lavage, Lung function test, lungs, SCT, sedation, virus
7 Comments
Boiling down south
Sadly, the title of this post bears no relation to weather conditions up north, down south or otherwise… I’d have to go a lot further south. On Tuesday, I was driving down the M1 while the non-drama of my light … Continue reading
Posted in * Myeloma
Tagged abscess, antibiotic, bitter taste, Clarithromycin, Easter, Inadine, infection, lance, lancing, latex gloves, light chains, local anaesthetic, minor operation, saline solution, Viva Lewes, wound, wound packing
4 Comments
Just when you think it’s safe…
It’s over 7 months since the transplant and I’ve been very lucky… 100% chimerism, undetectable myeloma, very mild GvHD and no serious infections. Until now… For the past three days I’ve had an increasingly painful sore throat, with a phlegmy … Continue reading
Breaking a taboo
It’s taken me quite some time to dare to write this post; it feels like such an unmentionable topic. But, I’m coming out… I have genital warts. There, I’ve said it! Phew! But, don’t fear, I will NOT be posting … Continue reading
Posted in * Myeloma
Tagged Aciclovir, Aldara, aqueous cream, CMV, cryotherapy, cytomegalovirus, GUM, HPV, HSV, human papilomavirus, immune suppression, immune system, immunocompromised, infection, liquid nitrogen, Pentamidine, sexual health, suppressed immune system, taboo, virus, Warticon
7 Comments
“A walk in the park…”
These were the words uttered by my consultant a couple of weeks ago, in relation to my forthcoming allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant… “It will be like a walk in the park compared to the autologous (my own cells) transplant.” … Continue reading
Posted in * Myeloma
Tagged allogeneic stem cell transplant, blood group, chemotherapy, chimerism, CMV, cytomegalovirus, DNA, donor stem cell transpant, Graft versus Host Disease, GvHD, immune suppression, immune system, immunocompromised, infection, irradiation, mini-allo, mini-SCT, MUD stem cell transplant, reduced intensity chemotherapy, rejection, suppressed immune system, total body irradiation
10 Comments
Tue-Fri SCT Days 19-22
On Tuesday, I had an appointment with the specialist nurse at the hospital. The friend who normally accompanies me wasn’t available, so I drove myself. I was told that my neutrophil count is now within normal range, so it’s ok … Continue reading
Posted in * Myeloma
Tagged cannula, depression, infection, neutrophils, Penicillin, stem cell transplant, x-ray
3 Comments
jet black living... 