Time Out

It feels like I have been on an extended holiday over the past week. Actually I have been in hospital with low neutrophils (Low white blood count, so no immune system, thanks to the chemo). Last Sunday night I was feeling a bit grotty. I had been feeling like I was getting a cold but just figured it was a side effect of the chemo. I had also picked up a sore throat (everyone here is coughing). Anyway, after Ruby’s feed at 3, I went into the bathroom and took my temperature. It was 38.1. Our instructions are that if our temperature ever hits 38, we must go straight into hospital. It was 3 in the morning and I wasn’t going to wake Laith up to take me into A&E, so I went back to bed to nurse my fever.

Monday morning, I took my temperature again and it was 37.3, so I figured crisis over. I called the chemo nurses anyway just in case. They told me to come in and get my bloods checked out. With one thing and another, it was the afternoon before I managed to find the time to go to the hospital. Joanne told me off for delaying but told me to come in straight away. I got my bloods done and went home. Joanne called me when she got my results and told me to go straight to A&E. I did. The gave me intravenous antibiotics within an hour and after loads of questions and loads of prodding and 5 hours later, they had a bed for me on the cancer ward. I was put into isolation as my neutrofils were dangerously low and all possible risk of infection was a danger to my health. Everyone coming into my room had to wear an apron and gloves and when Laith and my mum and the kids came to visit, they all had to wear masks too. They all went to see the gp on the Tuesday and were advised not to come and see me as it was too dangerous to my health (I will have to thank him for that next time I see him)!!!Not.

So I spent the week watching tv and reading. Not being allowed out of my room and with few visitors (big thanks to Cherry and Florrie, my mum and Ruby). Fortunately Tracey had been admitted a day before I was so we were at least able to speak to each other on the phone as she was in the same boat as me. A big thanks to Tracey for the magazines and newspapers and excellent company.

It is nice to be home now. I missed my family. Mum and Laith are well and did a good job of keeping things together for the girls. Ruby has grown and Laila is my little star. We spent some time today cuddled in her bed reading her new books, we also had a bath together and I lay with her until she was asleep. It is full on but that’s my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.