Hospital Update

Thanks to some energetic sand- and snow-shovelling, we made it out into the world today for FL's hospital appointment (and to buy a Christmas pudding).

Photo: FL digging for sand.

I started knitting a sock in the waiting room, as is traditional on these occasions, the Paul Atwell by Emily Johnson. The Yarn Harlot just made a pair, but it was not a conscious decision to be a copy-cat!

Oh look - I am changing the subject!

OK, Myeloma buddies, here is the news: his Kappa score is up to 44.7 from around 12 or so last time. If you are of a scientific bent, I am sure you can plot the graph in your head and imagine that swooping upward curve. This is not good.

Actually, this is BAD.

So despite the Doctor greeting FL with "You are looking well!", he swiftly changed his story when he checked the numbers, and put his "concerned" face on.

Photo: View looking East from the front door this morning.

It was Dr Nuisance himself. The ideal person to break the news that they want to treat FL with Lenalidomide, popularly known as Revlimid, and sooner rather than later. You might remember that this is the Drug of Last Resort in FL's case. Splendid. FL's assertion that the NHS should not waste their money on him was swept aside by the Doctor who said firmly: "It has been decided".

And then we had one of those conversations:

Me: "So... the main issues with this drug are platelets and babies?"

Doctor (speaking directly to FL): "Err... yes, but neither of those will be of concern to you."

FL (raised eyebrow, sarcastic tone): "Oh? And why's that then Doctor?"

Doctor (looking shifty): "Um... errr... well... because we have no concerns about your platelets!"

FL (triumphant): "Aye right! That's fine then!"

In case you don't get the joke - Lenalidomide is a close relative of Thalidomide, and FL has to sign an undertaking that he will not get me (or anyone else) pregnant while he is taking it. This Doctor has previously voiced the assertion that this was not relevant to a person of FL's advanced years. Really? If you say so, Doctor.

The Doc wanted to write FL's prescription there and then, but he was called away to take a bone marrow sample, leaving us time to think.

I am so glad we did, because when he came back, our questions uncovered the fact that FL will need to go on Warfarin (to thin his blood) and that this will require very regular blood tests at the local GP's surgery while they work out the right dosage. In our current snowed-in state, this is a commitment we didn't feel able to take on. The alternative would be for them to send a District Nurse to the house, and frankly we don't think that is fair on the Nurse in this weather, when he is not actually ill.

Photo: View looking West from the front door this morning.

So the plan is that FL will make a GP's appointment in the New Year to commence Warfarin. Once the optimum dosage level is found, he will then ring the hospital to make an appointment to go in to collect his first Revlimid prescription. Oh - and Dexamethasone (steroids).

Because it can't snow forever, can it?

Sweet, fluffy seasonal joy to all men... and a partridge in a pear tree (not here, obviously!)