Osteosarcoma p4

                  PART 4

Christmas held mixed emotions for me, on one hand I was able to spend time with my family, the other, I was still feeling pretty unwell even though the infection had cleared.

Watching the grandkids open their presents with the aroma of roasted turkey in the air was worth a million quid. New year came and went far too quickly and it was time to think about Round 2 of Chemo, waiting by the phone yet again felt like I was waiting to go to prison. 15th January came and I was back on the ward, I felt a little dejected knowing what I was about to endure.

17th January came “D-Day” in goes the Chemotherapy, I knew what was coming in a few days and oh boy did it come, I couldn't stop throwing up no matter how much anti-sickness they gave me, something felt wrong this time, my stomach felt really horrible. I had been telling the nurses for hours before the inevitable happened, I needed the Commode and I needed it pretty quickly, I kept pressing for assistance then eventually a Commode appeared, I hardly had chance to get on it when my bowels decided to dispose of its contents, that happened every 30 minutes for around 5 hours, i was absolutely knackered.

The Dr came to see me the next day and advised that a sample had been sent off for culture, it's where the lab grow germs and find out if there is any infection. Just my luck the day later the Dr came and advised me I had Gastroenteritis, yet another infection I had contracted whilst in hospital. Staff put me on a course of antibiotics and a drip to rehydrate, a few days later I felt a little better and even managed some soup 🍲. The next few days I spent focusing on trying to eat more and get around the ward in my wheelchair, I was lucky I had a side ward and a view onto the helipad, the football pitch was also visible to the side, others had no view to speak of, they simply looked out at other wards facing.

Home time came again and this time I was looking forwards to tasting my wife's Chilli Con carne, I know that sounds a little sad but I really was, I arrived home and before I even got in the door I could smell it! Yet again the wife was there waiting, I had a mouthful of the chilli and oh boy, it burnt my mouth so bad, it would seem my taste buds had suffered at the hands of Chemotherapy. Still I was not going to surrender to Cancer.

I spent quite a good period at home this time, being with the wife was simply amazing, she took care of me in every way, washing, cooking and making me know how much she loved me.

I had an appointment with the professor at the royal orthopaedic 16th February, this was to talk about the next course of action he and my oncologist would be taking, the options were pretty obvious, amputation or prosthesis.

I got called back to the ROH on the 24th to see Mr Abudu, it was good news he could save my leg, the bad news was, the chemo had only contained the tumour not shrunk it however, the operation could go ahead. More bad news was a part had to be made to measure and would take about 6 weeks to manufacture, in the meantime I would have another round of Chemotherapy just to contain any further development. He gave me a preliminary date for the operation of first week in April, my sights were firmly set on this date, I had to be strong enough or it would not happen.

Mid March I was back in the QE Birmingham having my PICC line fitted for another round of chemotherapy, this time they struggled to get the line in but persevered after about an hour.

2 hours later and the bleeding still hadn't stopped.

Finally after about 6 dressings the bleeding stopped, and chemo could be administered, a nurse came in and advised me I was being moved to a side ward, I asked why but never got an answer, once i had been moved to the side ward a nurse came and advised me i had tested positive for COVID yet again! A few days in and I noticed my leg and foot had swollen (left), I mentioned this to the Dr who arranged for a doppler scan, the scan confirmed what I had suspected myself, I had a DVT, what else can the world throw at me I thought. I sure hope this wouldn't affect my operation first week in April, Doctors reassured me that it wouldn't affect my operation.

With that in mind I just rode out the effects of chemo and started on blood thinners. Dr Sherriff came to see me the day after and told me that Mr Abudu wanted me to have IVC filter fitted.

IVC filter explained- An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a small device that can stop blood clots from going up into the lungs. The inferior vena cava is a large vein in the middle of your body. The device is put in during a short surgery. 

I was able to go home for a week before I was going to be admitted to the ROH for my operation, again the wife was an angel, looking after my every need, at times I simply do not know what I would do without her by my side.

Part 5 to follow.