Here he is in all his finery: I bought him two new shirts and a pair of trousers. Typically (after I had secretly bought these), he came home the other day with three pairs of charity shop "bargain breeks", but these are much better quality and fit properly (or that's what I am telling myself anyway!) No, before you ask, I have no plans to sew him some shirts. I keep him in hats and socks - what more can a man ask?!
As a special birthday treat, he had his regular appointment today at Haematology. He was taken surprisingly quickly, and the Consultant seemed determined to fast-track him in and out without time to draw breath. Perhaps she had an appointment with the Olympic Torch.
I had primed him to report his various pains and upsets (as blogged here) but she didn't seem terribly interested. The lung trouble in particular was dismissed as "not important" as long as he wasn't suffering from some kind of infection (to be determined by the colour of his mucus). Don't get me wrong - she was very kind, and she listened to what he had to say, but her focus was on other matters.
And what were they?
In response to his query, she said his kidneys were "better than last time", but that he was (I quote) "no spring chicken" ! She had his Freelite result from last month, which she did not share, but said was "showing improvement". But, unusually, she sent him for an unscheduled blood test today, to request another Freelite test from Birmingham, "and to check his calcium levels". She said this quickly, almost as an aside, as we were walking out of the door, so we didn't get a chance to ask why. It was only as I sat in the waiting room that it dawned on me that he had his calcium level tested only last Friday, in preparation for this appointment. So it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to deduce that something (i.e his calcium level) must be up... and that she didn't want to worry us by dwelling on it.
And then I got to thinking about Sean and about Paula and Hamada and Andre. And feeling so very very sad that Myeloma has taken away so many wonderful people. Huge sigh.
But we need to gather our energies to just get on with this living lark and enjoy the metaphorical sunshine while it lasts.
Dare we book a holiday for September? Or leave the decision until next month? I will knit a sock or two while I think about it.
18 comments:
The rainbow hat is just fantastic. I hope he has a matching rainbow bi-plane to fly!
Happy Birthday, FL! Looking very festive in the fabulous rainbow hat!!
Happy Birthday FL. That's some hat!!!
A very happy birthday to FL in all his colourful finery. I do hope you're understandably concerned unnecessarily -too many un-s, but I hope it communicates. My OH has had the 'spring chicken' comment, or a variant thereof - getting older isn't fun even without the challenges your FL faces.
Love the rainbow striped hat. I do wish consultants were required to carry and wave a red flag so that their patients/partners knew when something of importance was being said. It is so frustrating to walk out of an appointment and then think ..."hang on didn't he/she just say x is raised, too low or whatever" and then spend the next few weeks worrying about it. Equally patients could carry a similar flag to wave when they want the consultant to LISTEN to what they are saying carefully
I like xtiand's idea... and I also think that having to wait for a month for information is cow-pucky.
FL's hat is a brilliant topper to his birthday outfit... I can almost hear him saying "Are you done yet?" though, like most men not wanting to stop doing long enough to be caught NOT doing...LOL
Your mention of Andre was a reminder that it's been a little over four years since I was pulled kicking and screaming into this MM 'club' and I think that was how you and I connected. He was at Seattle's Cancer Care Center along with my relative. I realized as I thought about our other MM losses of Hamada and Sean and Paula that we cannot avoid caring... and then grieving.
I shall be intending that you are enjoying whatever metaphorical or real sunshine there is and while you are knitting up the 'raveled sleeve of care' in the form of a sock or two, that the decision of your holiday comes clear to you. Hugs...
Perhaps she had forgotten she had already gotten a calcium level? Are the test results back? I work as a medical transcriptionist and tonight typed a report in which the doc had to request a test a second time just because she forgot to put the proper label on the first one. So many reasons! Why not book the holiday and get away from it all?
I love your blog. I found it this past spring and have read all of your entries. I live in a fishing village in Nova Scotia, and my life is so different. I really enjoy reading about life across the pond, and I enjoy admiring your latest creations. You always look so elegant, even when wearing wellies!
--Judy
Happy birthday to FL! He looks dashing!
Good luck with the results. I wish they would pay more attention to you instead of rushing you through. Bah.
I say, book the holiday. I also say---why are some doctors so stupid? A month of worrying and wonderment...fabulous!
Happy birthday FL. I love the hat. I'm less enamored of consultants!
HB to FL -- what a handsome husband you have! Book the holiday, put the worries about the extra tests into a box and shut the lid for a month, knit the socks, putter in the garden, enjoy the dog and children over the summer.
Happy birthday to FL! I, too, adore the hat. And I say... go for the holiday.
Belated birthday wishes to FL- he looks very handsome in his rainbow hat.
I agree with everyone else- book the holiday and have a restful summer- hopefully.
LindaC
Happy birthday wishes to your FL! He looks very smart in his new outfit...and love the rainbow hat!
I am hoping all is well with the calcium. I hope the Hospital will make contact if they need to and not let you wait a whole month!
Kerry
Thank you everyone! Yes, the doc definitely had the result from Friday as it was part of the same package of tests she DID tell us about (kidneys etc). We will probably wait til next month to book as we can't go anywhere til September anyway.
Sandy - I had forgotten how we "met". I hope all is well with your relative.
didn't want to miss a chance to say happy birthday to FL, and how much i admire his debonair appearance - the hat is FABULOUS! glad the dust has settled and you are at peace with both the consultant's rush-through and booking the holiday. this is late, but still...know i am thinking of you, roo, and your FL, and wishing you both every good thing. hugs, karen
Belated Happy Birthday to FL and I just love his hat! It has been a sad time lately with the further MM losses, has made me so sad once again but I say you should book that holiday. Never postponed anything that you can do together. Although life is good for me - I miss my man - I would do anything to be planning another holiday with him. All very best wishes to you both.
Happy birthday to F! I would say to book a holiday. XOXO
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