Tuesday morning arrives and I'm up by 6:15am, showered, had breakfast and overnight bag packed.
Jessie decides that today is a good day to have one of her 'episodes' of trembling and lethargy.
TH arrives just after 8am, loads two dogs and gibbering middle aged woman into his car.
Arrived at the airport in good time for a 9:55am flight.
No problem through security ( except a toiletries check - that's happened twice now - my air of total calm persona doesn't 'wash' with these guys).
Cash machine worked, another plus, and so I settled down to wait for the gate number to be called.
The screen showed there would be a delay of 15 minutes - not too bad. Gate number came up and we dutifully filed through security and waited again. After twenty minutes we were told that the plane that had just arrived had been hit by lightening and consequently would need a engineer to look at it, and that he was on his way (!) and would take about twenty minutes to arrive.
A later announcement claimed it would take about an hour and we were offered a refreshment voucher back in the departures hall. Again we filed out and queued , fortunately I knew someone on flight and we chatted to pass the time.
Just as we arrived at the desk they called us to the gate again- our flight was ready to board.
Onto the plane and waited for take off slot. Pilot was very apologetic and said we would make good time and be around 40 minutes in the air.
Flight wasn't totally smooth , too many thunderstorms brewing, flew over Brighton and the pilots voice ( once again extremely apologetic) came across the tannoy. Unfortunately there was no slot for us to land , and we would have to hold for 25 minutes!
Back on land I joined a very long queue for a train ticket, to hear that sadly there had been a ' body' on the track and this had caused major delays and disruption to the train network.
Squeezed into the aisle of a packed southern train, made for a pretty unpleasant trip into the city- however I overheard a man say that at least our carriage had air conditioning, unlike the previous one, which was 'baking'.
Worked my way to the underground and two easy tube stops saw me arriving at the hospital two hours late for my clinic appointment.
Husband had called ahead to explain and apologise, saying I was on the delayed flight and would be there as soon as I could.
I had lost the chance of having a CT scan, but had a blood test and saw the registrar and later the consultant - found the facilities desk, collected my key for the accommodation , went to pharmacy and picked up my tablets ( wonder if I'll get them through security this time?).
And so ends the first day.
Thankfully the hospital can fit me in a scan today although 3:30pm makes it tight for time to re trace my journey back to Gatwick, particularly as I have just heard the news that due to staff shortages there is an amended service on the Gatwick express.
Still very hot and humid here, fortunately there is a large fan in the room to push the warm air around, and as I have a walk to the tube station I'd rather it be warm than pouring with rain like some parts of the country . ( yes, I could take a taxi, but I'll have been siting or lying down most of the day !)
Off to the hospital shortly for first set of kidney tests at 9 am- I have to say that despite all the set backs yesterday I was reasonably together last night, even managing to take a walk to find the accommodation I hope to be staying in later this month, and to check in with the local sports centre!
The bit I did have a belated wobble over was signing the consent form. I appreciate that the side effects won't be pleasant , and that I may or may not experience all or just some of them, but it was the more permeant damage that I could end up with, most noticeably the bowel.
There will be damage to the kidney too, and the fact that the tumour is high up will affect the stomach, definitely a good chance of nausea, and possibly ulcers. The tablets I have been issued are the same as I had with chemo (psychologically not good) and they come with side effects too!
Of course bladder and liver are in the firing line as well, and the icing on the cake is a minuscule risk of spinel damage....
Leaving the hospital I just felt cross, cross It was happening to me, and angry that it will be months before I feel well again, and then a high possibility that I will be left with permanent damage.
And then when I'd calmed down and eaten and thought a bit more, why shouldn't it be me? What makes me so very special ? I should be grateful that these amazing people can offer me this medicine as without it my life would be considerably shortened - and so it's just another challenge that life throws at you.
This last paragraph feels particularly poignant as I watch the incredible Paralympics and feel nothing but awe at the adversities so many of them have to overcome on a daily basis.
À la préchaine!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
No comments:
Post a Comment