What a rubbish 4^th cycle of chemo!  I started to feel ill on the Wednesday of the 1^st week post chemo, first with a sore throat.  This then developed into full-blown flu by Sunday.  Last Sunday morning I called the hospital because my temperature was rising, and I felt awful!  The on-call specialist nurse said I should go to the accident and emergency (A&E) department ASAP to have my bloods checked.  Theoretically, I should have gone to the Royal Marsden, but they were full, so I needed to go to any A&E. I was not keen on going to the Homerton in the view I most likely needed to stay the night, so Suzie and I decided I should go the Chelsea and Westminster, which is far nicer hospital, from my own experience.  Minna called our friend Maxine, who got out of bed early morning to drive us to the hospital, bless her!

By the time at the Chelsea and Westminster my temperature was 38 degrees of Celsius.  The normal protocol would have been to put me on a drip for antibiotics and fluids, but since the nursing staff had no idea how to use my PICC line, they decided to give me the drugs orally, with no fluids.  I was quite disappointed, and shocked.

I had to stay for one night, which was not too bad.  The good thing about being immunosuppressed is that I get to have a side room, i.e. my own room with my own bathroom!  The view from my room reminded me a little bit of inside of Silja Line cruisers in Finland (please see the pics below).

I was very weak when I got back home.  Since then, I have had upset tummy, which has wiped me out.  I am beginning to feel better.

On Tuesday, Steph changed my PICC line for the 1^st time!  She did a fabulous job; I raise my hat to her.  Like Suzie, she has no nursing/medical experience, but she managed to do it under my supervision to perfection!  I had my bloods taken the following day and the phlebotomist was impressed by the PICC.  I mean, the (trained) nursing staff at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital would not touch my PICC line, but Steph is allowed to flush and change the dressings of it.  Peculiar.  Must be some insurance thing..?

The view from my room in Chelsea and Westminster hospital.

Inside of a Silja Line cruiser. See what I mean? OK, I admit, I'd rather be in a cruiser than in a hospital... I so need a holiday!