March Clinic - Fragility

Yesterday, Tuesday, I attended my routine clinic. I was also to have then received some infused medication called zoledronic acid. I receive this every 56 days and its intention is to account for the damage that myeloma has done to my bones. As it happened, I had been phoned last week and asked to attend on Sunday because the unit would be very busy with patients needing chemotherapy. This I was, of course, happy to do.

In the early hours of yesterday morning I was awoken by fairly intense pains, mostly in my legs but also generally through my body. It felt like flu. I have two potentially conflicting instructions from my health care team. Firstly, if my temperature exceeds 38 degrees to tell then and travel to Bristol for assessment. The second is to stay away from the hospital in case I should infect other patients! I had heard that zoledronic acid had side effects so I looked them up. Sure enough, the pains could be a reaction.

Before going up to Bristol I checked my temperature which was 37.6 so up a bit. I phoned the unit and received the reassurance that I should come in. In the event, although I still had some pains, the journey did me some good. When checked again, my temperature had fallen to 36.4 so there was no further concern. I saw the doctor and received the reassuring news that my paraprotein at the last appointment was still 5 - excellent news. Once I collected my prescriptions, I made my way home again.

I seemed to miss much of the evening. Having become so tired, I slept through much of it! On retiring to bed I realised that I hadn't felt ill for a great many months. All of us recognise when we feel ill. How many of us ever think to realise that we are well and have no pain?

Today I have almost completely recovered. The experience has served to remind me of my good fortune but also of my fagility.

Keep well everyone and KBO.

Life is like Mecano. Make of it as you wish

Stephen