A mammoth undertaking

Gillian and a friend drove down to the hospital, bringing my laptop, some books, and several changes of clothes last night. Unfortunately the hospital is closed to visitors, because of an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting virus on several of the wards — not mine, thank goodness — so they weren’t able to stay for very long. We did manage a short conversation through the open door, but it’s not very satisfactory with me in my room and them standing in the corridor.

As Gillian said in her post, I was suffering quite large temperature fluctuations, which the doctors thought were due to an infection. I’ve been treated with two intravenous antibiotics, and those fluctuations seem to have calmed down.

The main reason that I’m being kept in, however, is because my neurtrophil count is low. Until yesterday, it was falling, which made me very susceptible to infections, so hospital really was the safest place for me to be. I’ve been told that I can go home again when that neutrophil count goes back up again, even if it is still at a low absolute level. That will be a relief. It’s been really quite boring sitting here with virtually nothing to read, and only a choice of an armchair or my bed to sit in.

The last thing I’d like to do in this post is to thank all the people who’ve sent their good wishes my way. I’ve replied to all the comments left on Gillian’s post, but there have been others who have phoned or wished me well through other means, and I’d like everyone to know that I’m grateful. Thank you, all.