Exciting Excursion

Over the past few days my energy levels have gone up and I can get a shower without rushing to sit down afterwards. Don’t get me wrong, I still get tired quickly but it seems to be an improvement.

On Monday afternoon the nurse came in and told me that my platelets were here ready for transfusion. I had no idea I needed a transfusion and it seems she didn’t until they arrived. Apparently the doctor had ordered them! Nice to be informed!

My platelet count on Monday was 23. Just to put it in to context when I started treatment on 20th February my count was 210.
Platelets are needed to help your blood to clot. So the low count doesn’t seem to make me feel unwell.

So I had the transfusion Monday and all was ok. Then Tuesday my platelet count was down further at 7. This shouldn’t have happened after the transfusion yesterday and they decided they would give me another transfusion and if it didn’t work this time it must be because I have antibodies that are fighting against the infused platelets. This would mean that I would have to have some specially matched platelets from somewhere else. So I started the 2nd transfusion which was due to take 30 minutes.

Half way through I started to have an allergic reaction. First I started sneezing uncontrollably and then my nose started to bleed. I started to feel itchy, water spots appeared on my body and my chest was tight. My nose became blocked and my eyes were itchy. I pressed my buzzer and thankfully the nurse came quickly and put some piriton and hydrocortisone through my line. This seemed to clear up my symptoms quickly and will be issued again before any other platelet transfusions.

Wednesday day +8 – Complementary therapist came round again today, she commented on how much brighter I looked from last week. I had lovely foot massage this time. Lovely and relaxing.

This morning I got missed for breakfast and at 9am, when the nurse was in doing my medication, I asked if breakfast was coming round. She looked shocked and said have you not been asked if you wanted anything. She got me some toast and it was freshly made so can’t complain.

Then I had another surprise. A nurse came to tell me I was going down for an X-ray and I had no idea this was happening. I have had a slight cough for the last two days, no other symptoms but I was swabbed to check for infections and I guess this was why I went for an x-ray. But I am guessing. I would have liked to have been informed and given the opportunity to ask questions. I like to know what’s going on so to not know that things have been prescribed or ordered for me is quite frustrating and annoying. Anyway, I got out of the room I’ve been in for 13 days for the first time today and I enjoyed my little trip out.

Fingers crossed for increasing blood counts across the board tomorrow, including platelets!