I had my 6 monthly check up with Mr Merrick today at Maxilo Facial. He was delighted that I have no lumps or bumps and everything is looking fab.
See me again in 6 months - woo hoo!!
Thursday 12 August 2010
Monday 14 June 2010
Lung test Results
I received a letter today from the consultant, to say that my lung test results were normal.
Wednesday 5 May 2010
Lung Function Tests
My appointment for Lung Function Tests has come through. 8th June, at Taunton.
Not too sure what this involves, but it says the appointment could last an hour.
Not too sure what this involves, but it says the appointment could last an hour.
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Respiratory Clinic Appointment
Saw Mr Pepperell today for the first time. He was very interested in my medical history (as are most people in the medical profession). He was quite astounded at the thickness of my file - over 3" thick.
He looked at my CT scan results and yes he could also see mosiac patterns, some white, some black and some just grey matter.
The black areas he thinks are areas that either have air trapped, or could also be where the blood vessels have narrowed.
If I had had chemotherapy, he would have expected there to be damage. But all in all he is not certain what it is.
As I am now painfree, and not at all breathless, he would prefer to leave well alone. He could offer me further xrays and scans to see if it has gone, but that would only open me up to further radiation damage.
Radiation can shrink vessels in the lungs, which he seems to think this may be the problem.
He is having a meeting with radiologists over the next few days, and I will be discussed to see, if they have any bright ideas on what this could be. I will hear the outcome of this meeting by letter.
He did say that he didnt really want to go down the lung biopsy route, at this stage.
Anyway it has been left that I have an open appointment, and if I ever feel poorly like that again, I must ring his secretary and she will get me an appointment with him, very quickly.
He looked at my CT scan results and yes he could also see mosiac patterns, some white, some black and some just grey matter.
The black areas he thinks are areas that either have air trapped, or could also be where the blood vessels have narrowed.
If I had had chemotherapy, he would have expected there to be damage. But all in all he is not certain what it is.
As I am now painfree, and not at all breathless, he would prefer to leave well alone. He could offer me further xrays and scans to see if it has gone, but that would only open me up to further radiation damage.
Radiation can shrink vessels in the lungs, which he seems to think this may be the problem.
He is having a meeting with radiologists over the next few days, and I will be discussed to see, if they have any bright ideas on what this could be. I will hear the outcome of this meeting by letter.
He did say that he didnt really want to go down the lung biopsy route, at this stage.
Anyway it has been left that I have an open appointment, and if I ever feel poorly like that again, I must ring his secretary and she will get me an appointment with him, very quickly.
Saturday 27 March 2010
Tuesday 23 March 2010
Costochondritis
Been to the doctors again today. Having constant pain in lower ribs on left hand side, which is piercing right through my back, and up my neck. Anyway she seems to think its muscular (Costochondritis) and could take a while to go away. She has given me co-codamol 30/500, which if nothing will help me sleep. She has asked for a chest xray too.
Thursday 11 February 2010
Wednesday 10 February 2010
Hard to lift my mood
Saw my Maxillo Facial consultant today, for my 3 monthly check up. He is very pleased with me. No new lumps or bumps to be seen or felt. As its coming up for my 2nd anniversary since the surgery, he has promoted me to 6 monthly checks from now on. Obviously this is a good move, from my point of view.
BUT I feel so down at the mo, I just seem to slip from one illness straight into another. My mouth is still rank, and although using this Nystan, doesnt seem much improvement yet. I am constantly tired, and lack enthusiasm, to do or go anywhere.
Hoping this will lift soon.
BUT I feel so down at the mo, I just seem to slip from one illness straight into another. My mouth is still rank, and although using this Nystan, doesnt seem much improvement yet. I am constantly tired, and lack enthusiasm, to do or go anywhere.
Hoping this will lift soon.
Monday 8 February 2010
Oral Thrush
You know what its like, you start to feel much better, and something else bites you on the bum!
My tongue and inside the whole of my mouth is covered in a white furry matter, with lots of little blisters on my tongue too.
I have tried, hot salt water rinses, bought some Dequadin and still its very sore and quite umpleasant.
So contacted GP today, who has prescribed me Nystan. Hope this works pretty quickly
My tongue and inside the whole of my mouth is covered in a white furry matter, with lots of little blisters on my tongue too.
I have tried, hot salt water rinses, bought some Dequadin and still its very sore and quite umpleasant.
So contacted GP today, who has prescribed me Nystan. Hope this works pretty quickly
Friday 5 February 2010
Blood back to what it was in 2006
Dr is happy, CRP level is now 11. Which I know is high, but she feels that my levels would be high - due to my immune deficiency. Further bloods to be done on 16th, just to check they are behaving.
Tuesday 2 February 2010
Talk about Above Average!
Been drs this morning. CRP levels should be between 1 - 3. Above 3 is high. Mine were 129 (one hundred and twenty nine) last Tuesday. When it was done at the hospital on Thursday it was down to 68. Bloods redone today.
Have another appointment on Friday.
Doctor has no idea about these mosaic patterns on my lungs, hense the referral to respiritory clinic.
But on the whole feeling alot better. Gonna give work a try tomorrow.
Have another appointment on Friday.
Doctor has no idea about these mosaic patterns on my lungs, hense the referral to respiritory clinic.
But on the whole feeling alot better. Gonna give work a try tomorrow.
Saturday 30 January 2010
5 tablets down - slight improvement
I have now taken 5 of these super duper anti-biotics. And thankfully they seem to be working. My pain is more of a dull ache now, in my chest. My shortness of breath is definately improving to. My energy levels are pretty low, and I keep needing to go to sleep.
My arms and wrists are covered in bruises.
Woke up this morning with a runny nose, and tickly cough, whether that is connected to my chest problems, I am not sure. But would much prefer a bad cold, to what I have been suffering for almost a week now.
My arms and wrists are covered in bruises.
Woke up this morning with a runny nose, and tickly cough, whether that is connected to my chest problems, I am not sure. But would much prefer a bad cold, to what I have been suffering for almost a week now.
Friday 29 January 2010
Acute GP Care Unit
Was a long day yesterday. Got to drs at 8.50, to then be sent home and await a phone call from Acute Gp Care (based at taunton hospital) at 10am. Was told to go straight in and to take an overnight bag just in case. Rung Dave, he came home and we were in the ward (!!!!) just before 11.
I was sat in an armchair for the whole duration, apart from when being sent off for test etc. I knew it was gonna be a long day. I told Dave to go home at 1.30, as he was so behind at work, and although he was happy to stay with me, I knew he would only have to do it when we got home.
So Dave left, and I attempted to read my book, no chance, so many people coming and going.
Eventually got taken down for a scan, and they had to put the drip into the inside of my wrist as all my veins had fucked off somewhere by then. They had already had 3 goes in one arm and two in the other for bloods. Its so painful in your wrist. On previous CT scans, I hadnt needed a drip, so that was new to me. It was so it would show up my blood vessels in my lungs. So painful when the fluid was turned on that I let out a wince.
Anyway by 5.25, eventually got the results of the scan, and was told that they hadnt found what they were looking for (P.E.) so would be sending me home with anti-biotics. So to be honest they still dont know whats causing the pain, or the raised CRP levels. And they just hope that the antibiotics with knock it on the head.
Havent been brave enough to look up mosiac shadowing yet - scared shitless it will be cancer !!
So all tests etc probably havent finished yet, still on stricked instruction to ring 999 if I feel worse before I see GP (probably Tuesday) which is not at all re-assuring really.
These were the results of yesterdays hospital visit. (copied from letter I have to give GP)
Chest Xray - No obviously infection, No Pneumonia
Bloods - Raised Inflamm markers and Neutrophilia
CT Scan - No Pulmonary Embolism, but mosaic pattern shadowing on lungs
Needs to be refered to Respiritory Clinic
To have Bloods repeated next week
On one weeks Clarithromycin 500mg
I was sat in an armchair for the whole duration, apart from when being sent off for test etc. I knew it was gonna be a long day. I told Dave to go home at 1.30, as he was so behind at work, and although he was happy to stay with me, I knew he would only have to do it when we got home.
So Dave left, and I attempted to read my book, no chance, so many people coming and going.
Eventually got taken down for a scan, and they had to put the drip into the inside of my wrist as all my veins had fucked off somewhere by then. They had already had 3 goes in one arm and two in the other for bloods. Its so painful in your wrist. On previous CT scans, I hadnt needed a drip, so that was new to me. It was so it would show up my blood vessels in my lungs. So painful when the fluid was turned on that I let out a wince.
Anyway by 5.25, eventually got the results of the scan, and was told that they hadnt found what they were looking for (P.E.) so would be sending me home with anti-biotics. So to be honest they still dont know whats causing the pain, or the raised CRP levels. And they just hope that the antibiotics with knock it on the head.
Havent been brave enough to look up mosiac shadowing yet - scared shitless it will be cancer !!
So all tests etc probably havent finished yet, still on stricked instruction to ring 999 if I feel worse before I see GP (probably Tuesday) which is not at all re-assuring really.
These were the results of yesterdays hospital visit. (copied from letter I have to give GP)
Chest Xray - No obviously infection, No Pneumonia
Bloods - Raised Inflamm markers and Neutrophilia
CT Scan - No Pulmonary Embolism, but mosaic pattern shadowing on lungs
Needs to be refered to Respiritory Clinic
To have Bloods repeated next week
On one weeks Clarithromycin 500mg
Wednesday 27 January 2010
C Reactive Protein
dr just rung. ECG ok. BUT my bloods are showing a high level of the C Reactive Protein, my GP is not at all happy, and I have to go back at 8.50 tomorrow. With the possibility of being sent to the hospital for Aqute Testing !!!
All fun and games in the Englefield house!
All fun and games in the Englefield house!
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Bloods and EDG done. Still feel quite poorly. Dr looking at ECG this afternoon and will ring me with results if anything to be alarmed about. The only thing the nurse said was i had a fast heartbeat.
If i hear nothing today, I have to ring on Thursday afternoon for blood results, and take it from there
If i hear nothing today, I have to ring on Thursday afternoon for blood results, and take it from there
Chest Pain
Went to bed last night at 9pm, and fell asleep quite quickly. Woke up for a wee at 10.20, with a really bad pain in left side of neck. Felt like my gland was up. Only a few minutes later the pain moved down into my collarbone, and then sat in the bang centre of my chest. The pain is like a crushing pain and although there all the time, catches me on every breath in. Was up all night, debating whether I should ring an ambulance.
Went to doctors today, who is a little concerned. I have a slight temperature. My BP is normal, my sats are 98%
She has booked me in for an ECG and blood tests tomorrow.
Feeling very sorry for myself, still in pain and now very very tired
Was told if pain gets worse, or I feel nausea or breathless to ring 999 overnight
Went to doctors today, who is a little concerned. I have a slight temperature. My BP is normal, my sats are 98%
She has booked me in for an ECG and blood tests tomorrow.
Feeling very sorry for myself, still in pain and now very very tired
Was told if pain gets worse, or I feel nausea or breathless to ring 999 overnight
Thursday 7 January 2010
Oncologists Reply
Dear Mrs *****
I apologise for the delay in replying to your letter but I needed to review your notes to obtain the information that you require.
You presented with stage IIA Hodgkin's disease in 1981 and received mantle radiotherapy at a dose of between 35-39 Gy.
There is an increased risk of second cancers in patients with a past history of Hodglkin's disease whether chemotherapy, radiotherapy or combined treatment is required. Cancers related to radiation usually arise within the radiotherapy field and it is therefore likely that your past history of breast cancer is a consequence of mantle radiotherapy.
Your other two cancers are likely related to suppression of your immune system as a consequence of your past history of Hodgkin's disease and neither of these would have been detected by CT scan. Routine surveillance CT scans are not indicated in this situation as the pick up rate is low and each scan involves the administration of a significant dose of additional radiation.
Vigilance is required to monitor for future problems and any unexplained symptoms should be reported to your GP. Avoidance of risk factors for cancer (eg smoking) and active involvement in National Screening Programmes (eg cervical smears) is also to be encouraged.
If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards
I apologise for the delay in replying to your letter but I needed to review your notes to obtain the information that you require.
You presented with stage IIA Hodgkin's disease in 1981 and received mantle radiotherapy at a dose of between 35-39 Gy.
There is an increased risk of second cancers in patients with a past history of Hodglkin's disease whether chemotherapy, radiotherapy or combined treatment is required. Cancers related to radiation usually arise within the radiotherapy field and it is therefore likely that your past history of breast cancer is a consequence of mantle radiotherapy.
Your other two cancers are likely related to suppression of your immune system as a consequence of your past history of Hodgkin's disease and neither of these would have been detected by CT scan. Routine surveillance CT scans are not indicated in this situation as the pick up rate is low and each scan involves the administration of a significant dose of additional radiation.
Vigilance is required to monitor for future problems and any unexplained symptoms should be reported to your GP. Avoidance of risk factors for cancer (eg smoking) and active involvement in National Screening Programmes (eg cervical smears) is also to be encouraged.
If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards
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