The Drugs! Argh the drugs!

Note the drug reference!!

Well the keyboard has been ignored for long enough! In this week of spectacular astronomical how-do-you-do I can only step up weakly to my "weekly" blogspot. At the time of writing the predicted partial eclipse has not yet arrived on the cosmic clockface. It will certainly arrive but we may be blesssed with those usual limp grey skies so favoured by God for this neck of the woods. Probably by the time you are struggling with my tortured text you will have the advantage over me and know if all was revealed. (edit) God bless the BBC - it was a white out here!

Matters Medical

The last fortnight has been overwhelmed by matters medical. The first week we attended hospital every day: including spending a whole working day hooked up to some nasty chemical feed-line supplying Rituximab that made me as woosy as whatsit and brought my pulse rate up from it's pleasant, laid back, pedestrian usual 50 to something boringly normal as 65 - a veritable four-to-the-floor drum 'n bass anthem! 

Since ten o clock on the morning of Thursday 12th March I've been under the chemical cosh. Technically the Rituximab is not really chemo. It's a really powerful drug that has to be taken very carefully, by means of infusion, and comes with a Risk Assessment / disclaimer that I had to sign off.

Rituximab belongs to a group of cancer drugs known as monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are sometimes called targeted therapies because they work by ‘targeting’ specific proteins (receptors) on the surface of cells.

Rituximab ‘locks on’ to a protein called CD20, which is found on the surface of white blood cells called B-lymphocytes (B-cells). CD20 is found on normal B-cells and on most of the abnormal (malignant) B-cells that occur in many types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. CD20 is also found on some of the abnormal B-cells that occur in Leukaemia.

Rituximab destroys both abnormal and normal B-cells by triggering the body’s immune system to attack the cells and destroy them. However, the body can replace normal B-cells that are damaged, so their numbers recover over time. But they make me very vulnerable to the slightest infect: from within my normal bugs and beasties or those that lurk in among the population. Hence my isolation.

When this added to the increased doses of the cocktail of stuff I had to take at home (chemo) there is no surprise that I was almost crawling up the walls in discomfort and mental incapacity. All my weak spots were exploited and compromised – so for me the bladder and throat, giving me a bit of trouble in normal circumstances, took the brunt of the pains. Also because of this I was finding it difficult to breathe lying down and almost impossible to sleep for more than an hour at a time – despite sleeping pills.

End of Matters Medical

Today I feel almost human; enough to do something creative and cognitive. So my brain is starting to uncoil and try and make a bit of sense of it all. Trouble is, by the time it does – it will be time to start all over again!

I had to inject myself with some other drug (in my belly) Believe me, although I was brave, I made it a challenge of mind over matter, man over mouse or that sort of thing.

My whole medical team, Macmillan, NHS, family and particularly Kym have performed beyond good. We've had some contact with DWP and other organisations and have to record that everyone has been helpful, positive and focused on providing support where possible. I thank them all

No trips out during this time. On Sunday I had a yearning for steam and temptingly the Leighton Buzzard Railway was running – but no dice!
. Lovely Leighton Steam.

I had just tipped into the critical non-immune time. I think we managed to walk around the Wardown Park lake once. To be truthful, I haven't had any energy or motivation to get up and go. In fact I spent two days just lying in bed. Bargain Hunt was such a treasure!

The lovely cards continue to float in. Thank you everyone. Despite my little cynical aside; I really appreciate hearing from people. I've never been in this situation before. I've never had more than a two-week stretch off work. I'm assured they are coping without me - all to do with them not me.

No visitors; consequence of isolation. I've been grateful for telephone calls - even the lady from the pension place and the nice cold caller called Colin from Microsoft in India telling me I had a virus on my computer - I kept him talking for hours - I wouldn't want their phone bill - all the way from India - I ask you!

My personal hygiene has improved - I've had a bath pretty well every day. Just for something to do. I exaggerated - I've got what I call creepy skin. If I paid lots of cash and had a conversation with a model who said she was worth it or a normal nice girl with smooth armpits I could pay for the treatment at Boots. But Kym wisely bought a bottle of Fengel (my mother's favourite) and a languish (possibly wrong word) in suds-free luxury. I actually prefer something cheap, cheerful and citrus from Lidl. Bless Kym - she's got little money and she spends what she has on my bathing pleasure.

World Events and the rest

It's Lent, for all you heathens a time for reflection and self-examination. What have I done? I've had plenty of time at least! I spent Lent watching Borgia: faith and Fear et seq. It's a challenge! It takes sacrifice ANDif you ever thought about joining the Roman Church - well think again! It's got more sex, violence and infidelity than a season of Club 18 to 25 in Malia. All I will say - the Church was much more exciting in the 15th Century - although they liked their gruesome apparatus a good deal

Last Sunday the Mouth of Hell was wide awake, gave a blast from its depths and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke. (a plot straight from Borgia!) No something much more down to earth (literally)

The lovely! Northampton Greyfriars Bus Station was blown up. Watch the video.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/31906518

Above is Sarah's photo - possibly the best picture ever taken in a "warzone" Interesting!

An unfinished building in Hemel Hempstead. We went their for a pre-medical treat. Kym is beckoning - I'd better respond.

Most of you know I like music very much; particularly rock tinged with tears and a bit of country melancholy. Well I recently discovered Townes Van Zandt - give him a listen.

The music of the late Townes Van Zandt - "No Place To Fall"

He was truly a troubled-soul troubadour. Alcohol and drugs killed him in the mid 1990's. His music was very well respected and left a tender legacy reflecting some of the pain he undoubtedly felt in his real life. His music is worth exploring.

GP's back on track - on the trail and the turntable. 

Graham Parker & The Rumour have confirmed the release of an album entitled Mystery Glue on May 18.

It was recorded in just six days and features the original lineup of Graham, Bob Andrews, Brinsley Schwarz, Martin Belmont, Andrew Bodnar and Stephen Goulding.

The band say: “Written in Graham’s second home of New York and recorded in the legendary RAK Studios in London, Mystery Glue is a real return to form for this seminal British songwriter and powerhouse band.”

And then there is  . . .

I think I've got tickets for the Union Chapel - before they sold out. I want to go - but might have to offer them out as it might be in a chemo-out-time!

Thanks to all you who have read to the end. You probably know that I champion the non-commercial (as Mr Little would say - "you ole romantic you.)

Please keep in touch and make any comments - I'm old enough and ugly enough to take it - I don't worry whether my hair falls out (Kym chuckles - "you're a bit late for that laddie!"

Thanks to everyone at Headway, HighTown Methodist and the Luton & Dunstable Hospital.

I've not wrecked any computers, ruined any guitars or made any risky ebay purchases- I'm learning or I've just stopped trying!!

I never mentioned the Budget - oops I just did! Will we be any better off?

Bless you all - keep you granny away from Netflix Borgia!!

Roger n Kym 19th March 2015