Neutropenic Sepsis

Well, I thought I was completely done with telling you about the side effects of my 1st chemo so I could move onto some more of the pleasantly exciting areas of my life, but it seems this cancer lark had other ideas ! 

I was admitted to Kettering General Hospital  late on Thursday 20th July and I'm writing this update from my hospital bed! 

There was really nothing dramatic about it all , and I wasn't really experiencing anything other than fatigue and general 'Blahhhhness' that I recognised as the usual symptoms of chemo ! 

Melanie my niece had come up on Thursday ready for a day out the next day to the Xfactor boot camp auditions , and at bed time I noticed a small lump behind my ear and noted a temperature between 37.8 and 38.1. I was advised by my oncology team to go to A&E as I was in the stage of my chemo cycle where I'm most susceptible to infection due to low blood count.

Kettering A&E were prepared for me when I arrived with Melanie and they took me straight to a side room and took my bloods .

I had been through this with my primary diagnosis and treatment a few times and was always sent home following blood tests, so I expected nothing else this time and I was determined that cancer was not going to interrupt my plans with Melanie!

It was 11pm and I didn't even call Danny and told Russ, and only because he happened to call me, that he didn't need to come and that I would call him when I got home. 

Thankfully, Russ didn't do as he was told and appeared about an hour later just as the Dr arrived to confirm that I was 'neutropenic', had high infection markers and would need to stay in Hospital for IV antibiotics. It was not clear at that time how long I would need to be admitted for. 

I was then determined that Melanie should take advantage of the Xfactor tickets and I sent her home so she could enjoy them with 

Tom, her boyfriend.

There were strict instructions for Melanie to send me pictures, so imagine my excitement when her first text came through the next day, but then the disappointment as I  read that they wouldn't let her have  tickets without my ID!  Sounds as if I have some making up to do with cookie dough ice cream for starters! Lol! 

So.... there were no beds or side rooms available and I spent the night on an A&E examination bed before being moved 12 hours later to an assessment ward. 

I sent Russ home about 2am to care for Reuben and get some sleep. 

I was desperately tired and got 'some' sleep though the sores in my mouth and lips that had been developing since presenting at A&E were preventing me from eating the food offered and reaching the sleep I craved. 

It took over 7 hours and 3 reminders to get the 'Difflam' I had asked for to relive the symptoms, though by that time Russ had brought my bottle of the stuff from home.

The information I had  been given was rather patchy. I was not my usual enquiring feisty self , but was happy with the efficiency of A&E and their  focus on treating the infection with IV antibiotics. 

It was the consultant on the assessment ward that confirmed I had Neutropenic Sepsis and by this time I was clearly more alert to the seriousness of the condition. Basically my immune system had flat lined with neutrophils at 0.1 and I had an infection somewhere that I had no chance of fighting off without hospital treatment. 

To look at me you would wonder what the fuss was all about, though it is 'classed as a medical emergency' and there is great emphasis and advice given on avoiding infections. I had been tempted to seek advice the following morning, and the Dr told me that if I had, this could have been a very different emergency ... and not in a very good way! 

An 'oncology' nurse, Kathy was sent to assess me and advise the Dr's on the assessment ward  on my treatment pathway plan. 

Kathy immediately noted the blistered rash on my hand and was surprised that this had developed and alluded to some careless treatment and advised that I speak to my oncologist about it.

It got me wondering if I should have pushed for a blood test on the Wednesday when I was in the NGH assessment bay about the blisters and whether I was 'neutropenic' then ? 

Anyway , Russ had somehow managed to pull off; Reuben duties, work and family commitments AND ensure that I had all the essentials for my hospital stay! What a legend! 

It was after Russ left at about 2.30pm on the Friday that I probably started to feel all tired,  emotional and a huge burden on all those around me . 

There has been absolutely nothing that anyone  did to have made me feel this way and it's probably a 'default setting' of mine. I just 

feel guilty for bringing cancer into the lives of my loved ones.  Another typical effect of cancer  I'm told! 

Don't worry, I have been told how ridiculous this is and know I need to work on it. Never the less, it's been tough to navigate the 'being needy and feeling out of control' part of this whole affair and have  found it difficult to ask or respond to the many offers of support and realise that this is frustrating for my cheerleaders!

So, having been in the assessment ward for about 6 hours , I was transferred to Deene ward... a big thanks to Taymar who settled me into my new 'cell' during a  'surprise' appearance on the Friday evening. I loved that she just turned up and gave me a much needed boost! 

I would admit to having a few wobblies on the Saturday and probably feeling a tad sorry for myself, but nothing that my VIP  visitors that day didn't sort out ! Thank you Danny, Russ and Mary; you helped helped more than I will ever admit lol !!

I've  been otherwise happily distracted with social media and motivated by the weekend adventures of my friends and family. 

There's been lots of  texts, calls and face time from my cheerleading gang to occupy my time and of course there has been the  excitement of the hospital food that each meal time has brought ! 

             'Food a la NHS'

  Face time with Reuben ! 

Cheerleading pics !

I am writing this blog on Sunday evening, the time  has gone rather quickly, feeling too 'tired' and 'icky' to be bored or bothered about the cell like room that I am in! 

I was supposed to be at the family pic nic that I had arranged today with over 25 of my family members and not writing this blog from my hospital bed ... but I'm deterred  not, the plans are merely postponed and  I look forward to sharing some special moments with those I love very soon .

I got to see Danny today and entertained by his awesomeness...  he left me with 'boofle' to keep me company and a 'cheerleading' pack that he lovingly prepared with 

DIL! 

I'm expecting to learn tomorrow whether my neutrophils have increased and whether the 6 hourly IV antibiotics have done the trick ! 

I've been having daily G-CSF injections to stimulate my bone marrow to produce blood cells , so I'm hoping this has worked so I may go home tomorrow to my home comforts and  my lil' love bug Reuben x