In January/February I underwent a stem cell gathering procedure and about 6 weeks ago I underwent a stem cell transplant. The main treatments went very well and my blood and bone marrow have almost recovered from zero to normal blood counts on red and white blood cells. They reckon another 4 weeks should see me more or less back to normal.
Unfortunately in the 2nd week of the transplant when my white blood cell count was at zero, (no immune system), I got an infection and my system went berserk. I was transferred into an HDU ward, (High Dependency Unit), where they filled me up with fluids and anti-biotics with close monitoring of my systems, I had about a dozen cables and tubes attached to me! It was a really difficult couple of days and I came close to bidding this world goodbye, however I recovered after a few days and transferred back to my room in the cancer unit. Unfortunately, they put so much fluids into me that my legs were extremely swollen, also my testes and penis did the same, like something out of the Elephant man
They spent the last couple of weeks getting rid of all the excess fluids and this is almost fixed, I can actually see my ankles. They decided that I had been stable enough over a period of time to let me go home, I got home yesterday after spending about 5 weeks in hospital. It was such a release, sleeping in my own bed etc.
Just taking it easy this week and will start to build my body back up next week. I've been in a lot of pain and they quadrupled my painkillers dose, so a lot of time I'm pretty much out of it but that'll get better as I heal.
Next I start bone repair treatments and hope my bone damage will get back to normal over the coming year. Can't play much at the moment but this will get better as the year progresses. I have to get all my Covid shots again and all my childhood vaccinations as the chemo I had as part of the transplant wiped them out. So I'm in full isolation atm and will probably be for at least another 6 months.
Anyway, I'm now in full remission and feeling a lot better overall as each day passes. So feeling optimistic that I should be able to start leading a normal life again early next year. It's been a long hard slog but I'm over the worst now, fingers crossed, with no more chemo planned for the near future.
All the best to you all, I continue to keep in touch with regular reading of the forum, not been able to post much which is just as well as I'd be gibbering more than usual!
