March 2024

This month I'm actually adding this post on time!  It must be spring. Of all the seasons, spring always promises so much and always delivers.  

This year, spring was first signed when a bumble bee appeared on the delicate flowers of our cherry tree

Our garden has been a riot of colour: the blue of Grape Hyacinth, the red of Ribes (flowering currant),and of course the yellow of Primrose and Daffodil.  Perhaps the greatest show was provided by our magnolia tree.  For once all the buds appeared at the same time and lasted for such a long time.

Just one issue though; we now have an awful lot of petals on the grass and just when my mower has decided to sulk.

I'm reminded that I must mention my health.  I can't deny that this winter has been a bit of a struggle with a bout of flu followed by a least one cold.  As the weather improves, so does my health.  I've visited  the BHOC for my routine appointment.  All my blood results are excellent.  The consultant checked my paraprotein and it seems to have been hovering for some time at the very low count of one.  So barely detectable and presumably being kept low by the CAR-T cells.

Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it
Confucius

Keep well, keep safe

Stephen

February 2024

OK, yet again I'm just a little late posting, this time for February.

So far as myeloma is concerned, there is nothing to report.  I attended routine clinic and without any drama.  In respect of my ongoing health issues, I spoke to my GP about my hearing problems and was prescribed some sodium bicarbonate ear drops for the left ear which contained some wax.  After using the drops for a few days I carefully washed the ear out and was rewarded with the offending wax.  He also prescribed some nasal spray to try to clear my eustachian tubes.  It seems to be slowly working.

I also consulted him about a small growth on my forehead which HRH had been nattering me about for some time.  That meeting was on a Tuesday.  

The BRI

By the Saturday I was at the dermatology centre at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.  

The GP's belief that the growth was a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) was confirmed.  I was asked if I had spent much time in the sun. Yes, four years living in Cyprus not wearing a hat or sun screen probably did it. I was to return on the following day to have it photographed.  I did so only to have surgery!  This was just five days after I had seen the GP; amazing.

I've also attended a new (independent) opthalmologist.  The check he undertook was by far the most thorough I've ever had and justified my loss of faith in a certain high street opticians.  

Given my recent surgery for cataracts and now for the BCC rather suggests that I am getting just a little old - or maybe just "vintage".

Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength
Betty Freidan

Keep well, keep safe, and "KBO"

Stephen