Needles and Neutrophils: The Hobnob Chronicles

[biscuitsandbandages]

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

Come on one marrow in general! Make lovely healthy cells. You can do it!

Good vibes heading your way

Come on neutrophils. Get to it.

Come on neutrophils!! Thinking of you biscuits x

Thinking of you, biscuits, and cheering on those neutrophils.

Dont know what my neutrophils are doing (nor for wqnt of asking) but ive had platelets without swelling up like marshmallow man and a lumbar puncture without punching the haematologist (and only a brief scream)

The nurses were regaling me on outpatients this morning about how all the other patients knew I was having a bone marrow yesterday because I was screaming and crying :-o

I really like that doctor. He has gone really ouy of his way to reassure me and ensure scans qnd results and everything will b reported by Friday.

But he is never doing a bone marrow biopsy on me again.

Keeping fingers crossed and prayers prayed for you Biscuits - glad some of the horrid bits are out of the way. x

Praying for you for Friday. Really hope it's good news!

come on neutrophils
^
| those are pom-poms

Well done for getting through the lumbar puncture. Good news about the platelet transfusion going without a hitch this time too. It sounds reassuring that you've got a Dr who is reassuring and pushing things through.

Lots of love to all of the biscuits clan.

Congratulations to weebarra too - great achievement. Xx

Another night in hospital although this time I sort of volunteered.

My temperature went up a but twice during the transfusions which can just be be blood effect but I've had a slightly sore throat and the sniffles for a few days, basically a very very mild cold...... Fine except when my neutrophils came back at 0.1

The suggestion was made that since my transfusion wasn't finishing till 10 and my ct scan was at 10 the following morning it might be more sensible not to go home with a risk of being back in a & e overnight and not having a bed on the unit to go back to.

I feel ok. Miss the kids but would have only seen them long enough to get them dressed and off to the childminders and nursery this morning which in our house only takes 20minutes!

Still no more anaphylaxis at least?

I do hope the rest has helped the neutropenia. Does it work like that? It must do. You just need to rally a bit

Sounds very sensible, biscuits, although I'm sure you'd rather have been at home. Hopefully back with the mini-biscuits tonight?

Probably in middle of your CT scan now. I've had a few of those, with the contrast dye (?) that makes you think you've pee'd yourself! What will the scan tell you? I hope the results of that are what you (& we!) want to hear.

So, today is the day those neutrophils start increasing. Let's all visualise them breeding/multiplying/proliferating and cheer them on! Oh, and those pesky sniffles can sod off too.

Stay stale

Can I just ask other Mumsnetters who use the phone app, is this emoticon a biscuit?:

If not a biscuit, what is it? And when is it used?

This has bothered me for some time! I keep wanting to use it for biscuits but not sure if appropriate!

I think it's used more for 'that takes the biscuit' when people post something startling. And not in a very good way either.

Come on neutrophils!!

I really don't have much to add other than Come on Neutrophils and Stay Stale Biscuits, which sounds a bit lame....

But you are in my thoughts often. Hang in there, wise decision to stay in hospital, better to be safe than sorry.

Hang in there my lovely xx

Oh I see. Thanks magi.

Maybe we could adapt the biscuit function for the purpose of this thread?

0.1? Fecking neutrophils, sort yourselves out

Sensible plan to stay overnight albeit a bit pesky

I am copying iwish with some neutrophil encouraging pom-poms and general supportive chanting

neutrophils
neutrophils
neutrophils

Ahh sod it, my pom poms disappeared and bolded the neutrophils instead

This was the plan >

* neutrophils *

I like be pompoms....... Not working yet as they are still 0.1 but consultant thinks I'm 'sensible' and is letting me go home.

Think I might feel safer here but I feel ok otherwise so will play it by ear. If I get a temperature I will need to come right back anyway :-(

Take care and rest biscuits - give those neutrophils chance to get their act together!

Hope the night is peaceful and non feverish!

I decided consultant was not sensible and im still here :-)

I looked at my full blood results and it really looks like they could be in the way down not up. Platelets still dropping dramatically.

Will see what the morning blood bring but when thr evening nurse came on and was surprised I was gping home as "you sound like youve got a stinking cold" well you can get me out of the bed with a barge pole.

To be honest, I think that is very sensible!!!

Definitely sensible!! I hope you had an uneventful night and the bloods are on the up!!

Stay stale xx

Thinking of you today biscuits

Sensible decision. Hope you had a good sleep.