In and out of day case

The place is really nice, but i'd rather not be here 

Today loads of tests, and two or three IV drips, and subcutaneous injections

Luckily they do not need me in tonight for a repeat dose of Ganciclovir - with travel it takes 4 hours

Getting there slowly 

Having various IV drugs over the weekend

I have a series of IV drugs at 8:30 a.m. And 8:30 p.m. Each day over the weekend, including Monday, which is a bank holiday 

To do this I am sat in a lounge in the inpatient ward. 

This is much better than than the day case unit, just because the get on with things without delay

I know virtually all the staff which helps

Cup of tea on its way

Hopefully being discharged today

Monday is a bad day for discharge, mainly to get the medication from the labs and through the paper work

I shall have to come in once a day for an hour or so for an IV drip. And blood tests I guess

The hope is that my morning drips can be done by yet more tablets. 

They are weaning me off steroids, which has stopped me being hyper. I was awful a few weeks ago

Anyway

I can go home during the day today, come back for an evening drip

Then I go back to being a day case patient

Hoorah

Out for a few hours

The treatments have improved for the better

The labs decided the main issue is CMV virus, not Graft Vs Host (GVH)

So I am on Intravenous drips to counter that. Over a few days they expect the bowel to settle down

The fungal infection will gradually come under control with the AmBisome

So I am at home for 6 hours or so. Bit of our own steak for lunch and a sleep in my own bed will be lovely

It's a beautiful sunny day, which helps enormously

So things have taken a turn for the better

CT scan results

I haves nasty fungus on my lungs, which has got to dealt with fast

Intravenous AmBisome

AmBisome (amphotericin B liposomal) is an antifungal medication that fights infections caused by fungus.

AmBisome is used to treat serious, life-threatening fungal infections including leishmaniasis, and a certain form of meningitis in people infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Two interesting procedures

The first was a colonoscopy – used to examine your large intestine (colon)
 which basically did not find I had anything seriously wrong other than it is incredibly tender, probably caused by GVH. So no cancerous polyps or anything. Which is good

I also had an MRI SCAN, which is fun technology. I have a chest infection that they wanted data on

Busy day

Another few days

They still have not got to the bottom of this probable GVH in my gut

So loads of tests coming up and a change in drugs

Endoscopy

MMR Scan

Loads of advanced micro biology tests

And change in drug regime

Some a bit experimental

I feel like a lot of a guinea pig

Several things take a while to do, but while in hospital they will happen in a few days as opposed to weeks 

My consultant says she basically wants to get on top of it this week to maybe get my home at end of week

Picture below shows two prunes - one dehydrated and the other re-hydrated

This was a bit like my body felt like after being given a three saline continuously over 20 hours

Quick inpatient stay

I am being admitted for an endoscopy test tommorrow to check out my lower bowel

My liver and kidney, and normal blood results are OK

We just need to sort out what is happening to my bowels

I am at least eating a bit better, and getting to do a few more things

Meanwhile the weather is awful, which when it improves will make everyone feel better

My friend Pete popped around this morning and we had a lovely chat about Parrots, lighthouses and fast cars

GVH in my gut

I have been suffering badly with Kidney and liver problems but they are just about OK now

The problem is GVH graft versus host desease which is giving me terrible diarrohia particularly overnight

I have managed to cope with it and still keep a bit active around the farm and in the house

Barbara has been a star, taking most of the brunt of lambing while running the farm and looking after me

The long weekend is a bit of a pain as it throws plans to change medication and try and get this GVH under control

But it's only a few days to put up with

I would dearly like to get my appetite back for fish and chips and go out with my friend and fellow patient Pete. Perhaps in ten days

We have booked a lovely house for a holiday in Cornwall in August, so I must get better well before that

Our staff our doing a great job running the day to day jobs on the farm