Happy New Year!
Quite a lot has happened since my last post. My consultant decided that I need not keep my PICC line any longer. The benefit for me would be less visits to Bristol to have the dressing changed and less risk of infection. This had been my third PICC line and again it was amazing to have it withdrawn so easily and without any pain whatsoever.
You may recall that in November I had my first infusion of immunoglobulin. That infusion was to be the first of six given every four weeks. The second, in December, was rather more noteworthy as I reacted to the medication. The first indication was a strange pulsing sensation in my legs. Soon I started to feel very cold and commenced uncontrollable shaking (rigor). The nurses were fantastic and reacted very quickly stopping the infusion, reassuring me, checking my vital signs, and giving me a cocktail of medications. Soon everything was calm again. Once the doctor had checked me over, the infusion was re-commenced with continued monitoring of my condition.
This week I returned to the BHOC for this month's immunoglobulin infusion. I confess to being somewhat wary after my experience in December. I needn't have worried. The cocktail of medications I had been given in December were now given as a pre-med. All I can say is that they did their job; no reaction.
With the agreement of my consultant, I could now seek re-vaccination against Covid. It is presumed that my CAR-T cell treatment would have negated my previous two vaccinations and I had been precluded by the trial from getting a booster. My consultant sent a letter template to my GP which had originated from the Antony Nolan Trust and re-published by Myeloma UK. It sought to explain the situation and that I would need three re-vaccinations. When I spoke to my GP he did not mention the letter but referred me to our local "vaccination hub". They provided an appointment the same week. On arrival I encountered a very long queue inside a rather small waiting area - hardly satisfactory but at least everyone was masked.
Eventually I was ushered into a treatment bay.
The administrator was concerned about how to record re-vaccination but the vaccinator understood the subject and I received the first of three doses of Moderna vaccine. Unusually the patient information leaflet suggests that I should have the second dose after only 28 days - we shall see!
Finally, I am just starting to feel sufficiently energetic to start taking exercise again. I must now find a way of controlling the inevitable back pain. I have previously been advised to take paracetamol alongside Oramorph. I am now on Zomorph and will now see the affect of paracetamol.
The bad news is time flies
The good news is you're the pilot
Michael Altshuler
Let us hope for peace in 2022. Keep safe, keep well
Stephen
