It's all about the ..... Platelets!!

Day 24

(Day 0+6)
 
Looks like I'm 2 days behind but I think day 24 was a pretty slow one in ISO so I'll brush over that pretty quick..  I thought my right hand man was going to do that update as he had a much more exciting day out in the real world (of Pirogov Hospital) being a part of a socialising, helping people and being able to be a involved in 3 birthdays!!  So very excited for them.  I got to do a quick FaceTime though the double doors to say happy birthday so that was lovely.

Facetime with these guys keeps me going!

Tongue arrived for lunch and I was talking to Dad on FaceTime at the time so he said get it into you, that's what you need to get those platelets on the rise and so I listened to my dear Dad (who would be proud), not too bad mixed in with the mash and salt and pepper!  To those that are coming here I can tell you , I am a fussy eater!  But there is plenty of food to eat and if you try and mix and match and add some spices it is all good.  The nutritional value is definitely here for us all and it's just about adjusting to another culture of food. 

Prue & Bjorn's new birthday

My levels are still on the low side but all going according to plan says Dr Fedorenko and he is happy, except maybe platelets.  I won't get to see him tomorrow for the first day since I've been here as he is off to a conference in St Petersburg, (still ever working, to present on HSCT I believe).  We need to get the words of this great man out into the world!

Did go to bed a little excited (as of course late night toileting) is almost a must I had a bit of a tug at my head and pulled out some threads - something must be happening!

Paul - cue  fill in some exciting party news here!!


Day 25

(Day0+7)

Nights I don't sleep so well still, things rattling around in the brain and I was constantly excited as to how much hair I may have shed by morning - Matt and I had decided to do a photo pillow comparison - wasn't too much excitement there once I turned to light on..  Gradually the day has gone on and I'm getting a little patchy here and there!

Fluids done and bloods taken early, now to wait for a Dr F fill in doctor to come and let know results.  About 11am a lovely doctor comes in to sit and go through everything.  Haemoglobin still good, Leukocytes still low but that's okay, Platelets are too low now down to 13 so looks like a platelet infusion for me today.  Felt a bit teary as it wasn't something I wanted to do and I felt good and everything going in the right direction.  It's really no big deal, sounds like about 50% of patients need to have this but I guess sometimes you don't want it to be you..  Chin up though, this means that it should help boost everything else onto the right track and I'll levels will start flying tomorrow..

Danger, Danger, just kidding...  I just need a blood transfusion to get my Platelet count up!



On the tram - only -6C!

Only thing now is to wait...  I want to see Paul to tell him, he's on the way on the tram (in the freezing cold).  I want that big cuddle that I can't get - but I'm okay, oh my god I can't wait for that!  I want to be Strong - I can do this but it's the unknown, don't know when, don't know how it comes.  Anastasia comes to have a chat and gives me a big hug to let me know it is perfectly fine and it is done all the time.  We just have to wait till department is ready to come.

Long afternoon and finally about 5.30pm a bag of platelets come in and get hooked up.  Thinking I'm not ready as I don't know how long it will take (like to have my digital organised around me), I pretty much pushed that aside and just drifted away.  It was very exhausting, although considering I'd probably been awake since 5am didn't help either.  The doctor checked to make sure it had started and the nurse was constantly in and out watching the level go down and I just drifted away.  Maybe only took half an hour and then I think I slept for an hour, waking around 7pm.  Waking to of course desperate pee time but not sure if I should just jump out of bed too quick.  I called the nurse and she helped me to the toilet,  she then sat me back down and brought my waiting dinner and made sure I was settled to eat something before going back to bed.  This nurse had no English but she communicated in such a caring way to make sure that I was all okay.  Made sure I had everything for my dinner and then came back to make sure I had eaten and gone back to bed.

Signs its working - my hair is falling out!

Transfusion time to boost my Platelets

In through the neck catheter

Back to bed and lights out for the night - haven't been that exhausted since transplant day..

(Thanks to Emma for the quick chat in the day for keeping my mind at rest as well - it wasn't bad at all just the build up!)

Oh and I also ate the liver and buckwheat for lunch - I'm hedging all my bets today - Fingers crossed for some good results tomorrow!!!