Returns and Replies

I'm home!  And this is all for today.  Tomorrow there will be all the news that I'm capable of.

*  *  *

CHERYL - No computers in hospitals here.  We've only recently been able to use our own cell phones.

JOHN & CAROLE - You lose John, but if makes you feel any better, you didn't lose to me.  The room mate had 42 staples.

GEORGIA - Bananas were the first thing I thought of.  But, also: does downing litres of water per day wash the potassium out of your system?

SUSAN IN CALIF - You've got your priorities right! No cake.  :-(  The nurses felt kind of bad when they hadn't noticed my birthday.  (I have pages and pages of bar code labels over my files, my wrists, all my medications, my charts, e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g,  Each contains my name, place of birth and birthday  Every time they touch me, they have to verify who I am.  Stuff just doesn't stick does it?)  They thought they should have had at least a flower.  Since they didn't, we shared my little wooden and woolen cats.  I'd already had the best birthday present it was possible to have.

EVERYBODY - who wrote called and commented.  Thank you.  You might have to be there to realise how important the support is and I don't wish that on you.  Just use your imaginations.

Good Day in Hospital - II

The things I forgot when writing last post.

Told the doctor my neighbour made me up some homoeopathic oil for my feet and hands.

"It won't hurt," he said. Then, "As long as it doesn't cost too much. I hate it when it costs a lot." I reassured him that it was a gift. He felt better.

I have the impression he believes it's harmless -- and ineffective. And so far it isn't doing anything, but we'll go through another three weeks of chemo and decide.

I'm still on shots to augment my white blood counts. Told the doctor I still have leftover EPO for my red blood counts. "Save it," he said. "Don't be selling it to any cyclists." Told him I was going to be a cyclist. "Not yet," he said.

He asked me if the doctor in charge of my program in Lyon explained things to me in French or English. "French," I replied. . . pause. . . "Does he speak English?" "He must," said my new doctor.

Live and learn. But I think the doctors prefer to speak French to make sure they don't screw anything up. If I screw up, nothing lost.