Heart attack

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Second Chemotherapy Cycle

The weather is wet and windy as I write this at 6.30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The rain has since  turned into snow, which was a bit of a shock when I peered out of the bathroom window a little later. I've been out to clear snow from the car windscreen as we're off to the oncology department at Milton Keynes Hospital for Carol to have her second cycle of chemotherapy. She has a blood test at 9.30 and then, if the results of that are positive, she can begin the actual chemotherapy at around midday. So what exactly are we supposed to do between whiles? Twiddle our thumbs? Just wait in the department? Come home and then go back? You ask me. If it hadn't been for the Christmas holiday, no doubt we'd have been there on Monday so Carol could have the blood test and then the chemotherapy would have begun on Tuesday. But never mind. Our main concern is not being bored as it's quite a long time sitting and doing virtually nothing as the treatment progresses. I've been looking for a Travel Scrabble set as we like playing Scrabble, but my searches have not managed to find a set. None of the local stores, Toys R Us, John Lewis or Smythe's have it in stock. It appears that everyone wants computerised games (which we don't) and a travel version would be easiest to pack up and set up in the oncology department. I just hope that the carpark at the hospital as well as all the paths and other outdoor walk-ways are clear and relatively slip-free as the last thing we need is either of us slipping over. Just doesn't bear thinking about otherwise.

A bit later. We've been to the oncology department and Carol has now had the blood test as well as blood pressure taken. It was busy when we arrived and as a result had to wait some time before there was room for all the tests to be done. We have to be back in the department by around 12.30 for the chemo to continue. Although it depends on the blood test results.

It was raining as we left the hospital to drive home. But now (11.25) it's snowing quite heavily. I just hope it doesn't settle and make life difficult.

Fortunately the snow fizzled out. Probably not the best way to describe snow that doesn't amount to much. A cold description rather than one for possibly something hot, such as a firework.  Given the go-ahead for the next stage of the chemotherapy and as a result it was quite a long afternoon, and we didn't leave the oncology department until about 6.15. Be back there on Friday afternoon. Carol has another pump for the next couple of days as she had at the end of the last chemo cycle.

I have to laugh about the parking. All that effort to get you to pay (it is annoying, but as we get our parking free if we go to the macmillan unit and get the ticket punched.) The barrier at the carpark was raised at the exit. No doubt it can't cope with the freezing temperatures, so drivers can leave without the need to put their ticket in the machine which would normally raise the barrier. I am appalled to learn that N.H.S. hospitals across England make £174 million out of car parking. Just another money-making scam.

No comments: