Pain gone!

Physically feeling tons better today

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.

Referral Appointment

My appointment for Respiratory clinic - 25th Feb at 5pm

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

Swine Flu Jab

Had my swine flu jab yesterday, arm a bit heavy, and generally feeling a bit achy.

DECIDED IN ANGER TO WRITE A LETTER TO MY OLD ONCOLOGY DEPT.

Dear Mr B**

Ref: ***

As I was discharged from Mr Steve ****’ clinic back in 2006, I thought I should keep you informed of my ‘cancer’ history since then. As it may be of some interest to you.

As you know I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease in 1981 at the age of 16. I was treated with mantle radiotherapy, and surgery. Thankfully making a full recovery.

In 2005, Ductal Carcinoma In Situ was diagnosed in my left breast, which through my choice, I had a double mastectomy.

In 2008, Mr Merrick (Maxillo Facial) diagnosed Mucoepideroid Carcinoma inside my mouth, this was treated with surgery. I am currently on 3 monthly checks.

Yesterday, my GP diagnosed Basal Cell Carcinoma on the right hand side of my neck, which was removed under local anesthetic in his surgery

I am positive that all these subsequent carcinomas are due to the radiation I received in 1981. Would it be possible to tell me what stage my Hodgkins was and what dose of radiation I received?

I was also wondering if, given my seemingly ongoing medical conditions, it would be possible to have a periodical scan, if only for my own peace of mind. If that is possible who would I need to arrange that with?

I look forward to hearing from you

Results back eventually today, by letter. It was a Basal Cell Carcinoma. So yet another cancer to add to my list. Feeling very pleased that its all gone, but upset at the result

Stitches out

Stitches out today, the nurse said i healed very well. The line is quite red, but only about an inch long. No results back yet!

Mole Gone

Gosh that was a bit sore, I have 3 external stitches and a couple inside. The actual surgery wasnt too bad, but the huge dressing on it is irritating my neck and making the sore area even bigger.

Went and bought some different dressings and trying to leave them off when possible. Not allowed to get it wet - fun washing hair!

Stitches out next Friday

Went to see Gp on Tuesday

I have an odd mole on my right hand side of my neck which has only probably been there for 18 months or so. It dries up, cracks and then bits fall off, it then bleeds and regrows.

GP thinks its sun damage, I am not sun worshipper, and never been on a sunbed. So I believe its from the radiotherapy I had when I was 16 for Hodgkins Disease.

Having it removed under local anaesthetic next Wednesday at the Surgery

November Appointment

Once again Mr Merrick is happy with me. Pointed out about the potassium levels in my last blood test, but put it down to the medication I am on. Not back to see him now until 10th Feb 2010