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Needles and Neutrophils: The Hobnob Chronicles

999 replies

biscuitsandbandages · 11/05/2014 07:15

Four weeks today I woke in my own bed with my 8 week old daughter in my arms and waited for the inevitable sounds of approaching 4 and 6 year old boys. I had everything I had every dreamed of. Life was difficult and tiring but we were getting there and I had plans for the summer and dreams for our family's future together.

Twelve hours later I was on CCU plugged into a monitor with fluid around my heart secondary to a diagnosis of adult T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. I've not been home since.

Statistically my chances aren't great but statistics don't apply to individuals and leukaemia hasn't met me before. My personal survival statistics calculated by me and based on stubbornness, amazing support from family, friends and my mumsnet backup crew and the healing powers of 3 small children are 100% and I won't accept less.

I have superpowers. I have grown three entire human beings. Piddly little leukaemic cells haven't got a hope.

But.....at times I am very scared. This should not be happening to me. It's was not how I planned to spend my maternity leave. My precious year when I was just going to be their mum and nothing else.

This is my second thread but I'm not going to link back as I'm moving forward. Thank you for moving forward with me.

Biscuits x

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
ajandjjmum · 04/06/2014 18:49

Good old Mr. B! Glad he knows the ropes.

AWombWithoutARoof · 04/06/2014 18:52

Well done Mr Biscuits, getting all Arnie on their asses.

BeingAMummyIsFabulous · 04/06/2014 19:18

Oh biscuits...I cringed as I read your post about being admitted and being in a bay so neutropenic especially with coughing people. I'm so very glad you are in a side room now. The nurses were out of order smiling and seeming amused. Well done Mr Biscuits...glad he's used his knowledge as a HCP. Here's to hammering the sepsis. Good luck biscuits....keep that focused mind of yours.

Fideliney · 04/06/2014 19:29

V pleased to hear it. Smile

So what's the deal with neutrowhatsit sepsis? Lashings and lashings of IV antiBs?

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 04/06/2014 19:31

Good work team biscuits.

Glad you're in a side room now, hopefully with a move back to a more familiar ward soon.

Are you able to carry on with the chemo while you're neutropenic or do you need to build those cells back up? Hope you're not feeling too poorly with it.

Keep dunking!

weebarra · 04/06/2014 19:40

Glad you are away from the germs biscuits! Boo to neutropenia!

Swex · 04/06/2014 20:47

Go mr b!
I second Iwishiwasmoreorganised - can you continue chemo?
Good luck b and thinking of you

Only1scoop · 04/06/2014 20:52

Biscuits just read your updates....

Glad you have been relocated away from the hackers....

Hugs n hobnobs Thanks

HypodeemicNerdle · 04/06/2014 21:00

Mr biscuits rocks, love the polite toy throwing. Good for him

Hope you have a peaceful night away from the germy lot in the main ward

saffronwblue · 04/06/2014 21:22

Well done Mr Biscuits. You have a good one there, biscuits. Hope you feel safer now.

Mama1980 · 04/06/2014 21:25

Well done mr biscuits Grin I hope you are feeling safer now and can get some rest.
What's the plan with the sepsis thing? Anti biotics?
Stay positive x

storytopper · 04/06/2014 21:58

Just catching up with your thread - I've been away. Well done Mr. Biscuits - what a hero. Hope you feel better soon. x

Mumsfret · 05/06/2014 10:43

Biscuits, so sorry to hear about the sepsis setback and the fact that you're back in hospital. What a bloody nuisance! But just a setback, remember, so don't despair. I hope they're blasting it with Domestos-strength antibios abd you're feeling a bit better already. We need the neutrophil count to go back up, is that right? Well, I hope it's all moving in the right direction either way.

Very relieved to hear that you're in a side room, and for Mr B for his fabulous polite toy throwing!! I did chuckle at your terminology. What a guy!

Maybe use this time to speak to docs about your worries and forthcoming plans. In some ways you have more leverage as an inpatient. I hope you are managing to keep your fighting spirit and good humour.

Keep us all posted! Hugs to you xo

BehindLockNumberNine · 05/06/2014 12:39

Bugger, I wrote a long post but the netbook ate it!!

To summarise:

Woohoo Mr B!!
Boooo Sepsis.
Go go go Up up up Neutrophils!
Stay stale Biscuit xx

blondepip · 05/06/2014 18:56

Just saying hi, I'm still following and thinking of you! Hope you here about a donor soon.

Anthony Nolan now has a message board, I may have mentioned before but seems the most active UK transplant board, I posted this week and have had a good few replies. There is a pre transplant group on there!

allisgood1 · 05/06/2014 21:26

Hope today was ok biscuits and you're feeling a bit better

Superking · 06/06/2014 09:52

I hope you are feeling better biscuits. I have been following your threads but haven't posted before, but thought of you today as I have had a message from Anthony Nolan saying that I am a potential match for someone needing a transplant. I know the odds of it being you are slim but you never know!

I joined the register two years ago after reading about a mumsnetter's daughter who was desperately ill with leukemia. So I wanted to let you know that your posts on here, as well as hopefully providing you with an outlet and some moral support, may also make a real practical difference to others in your situation by encouraging people to sign up to the bone marrow register.

Wishing you all the best.

DreamOfMeBaby · 06/06/2014 19:17

Thinking about you Biscuits....here holding your hand through it all. I've posted a few times, but under a diff username...I had to change it. Hope the sepsis is being kind to you and is quite frankly 'buggering off'. Glad you are safely in a sideroom too.

Mumsfret · 06/06/2014 19:35

How are you doin' Biscuity one?

Hope you got onto your friendly haematology ward? Hope you're feeling better too.

Fideliney · 06/06/2014 20:19

How exciting super, I bet that was a shock. What happens now? More tests?

Probably a good moment to post the Anthony Nolan link again Smile

Hope you're kicking the sepsis in to touch biscuits Flowers

Stuffofawesome · 06/06/2014 21:37

Go superking

Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 06/06/2014 23:12

Superking - I salute you xxxx

Whether you are a potential match with Biscuits or not, you could be a life saver for some poor person.

Thanks Thanks Thanks

Note to MumsnetHQ - we need a congratulations/well done smiley!!!!!!

catsrus · 07/06/2014 01:48

Yes congratulations to superking and hang on in there biscuits - positive vibes beaming your way from all corners of the MN universe.

Panicmode1 · 07/06/2014 04:39

Hurrah for Superking and hope you are getting some rest Biscuits - well done Mr B!
Stay stale Thanks

Superking · 07/06/2014 07:34

Thanks all, it is by no means certain that I will actually donate as apparently they contact several apparently suitable donors and then narrow it down with further tests. So I have competition! I would love to be able to do it though, what an amazing thing it would be to have a chance to save someone's life.

It is SO straightforward to join the register, you just have to give a spit sample using a kit they send in the post. So no needles until you get to the stage of potentially being a match!

Thinking of you biscuits.