You can be forgiven for wondering why I chose the title of Frustration and why the first image is that of a pear.
Let's just say that yesterday things went somewhat pear shaped.
I will try to explain.
Yesterday, Wednesday, I again attended the BHOC as scheduled for bridging therapy. This involved yet another early start. Things seemed a little difficult when the nurse could not bring up my treatment details. Such things are no real problem. Let's be honest, software has been know to play up and is also prone to duff in - duff out.
Things did then deteriorate rather more seriously when the trials nurse told me he had received an email indicating that my lymphosytes, the product from Tuesday's aperesis, had left Bristol bound for Germany. The package had reached Kent (presumably Dover or the Chunnel) whereupon it had been stopped in customs (Brexit perhaps?). The cells would have been packed in cold containment but would deteriorate with time. It seemed as though everyone who could get involved was doing so. Never the less I was extremely frustrated. I did ask why my cells were going to Germany on their way to the USA but nobody seemed sure.
If the T cells became unviable then I would have to go through apheresis again and in the meantime I could not start bridging therapy. I was to be called with an update later and could go home. Sure enough just before 5pm I was called and told that the package had been released from customs and would arrive in Germany within the requisite timescale. Furthermore I was now scheduled to receive my bridging therapy.
This morning was the third early start in a row. As Margaret once remarked you have to be fit to be ill. It was confirmed that the package had arrived at its destination in Germany. To cut story short, I was given pre-meds and after one hour received received the Daratumumab injection. I also took Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone (both are thankfully oral).
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This picture shows the various medications and the copious documents I received today.
My nurse likened them to Jenga!
Now back home, all is calm as I embark on the next 4 weeks of bridging therapy.
Stephen
