Hi everyone,
Well, turns out I would have had to see GP today anyway, so really glad I had an appt booked. I’m now on Day 8 of TC (Doxetacol and Cyclophosphimide) and Herceptin. I felt yesterday I had turned a corner and was starting to feel a bit better with regards to SE’s.
I did something really stupid and got my waxing done 3 days before my first chemo, seriously, who does that?? I have no idea what I was thinking! Anyway, all was well until yesterday I noticed redness, inflammation and a sort of bumpy rush in my underarms and bikini line. After closer inspection late last night after shower I realised I had some “sores” which were very red and inflammed with some broken skin. I phoned the out of hours number and explained, they suggested I went to A&E miles away and I said I’d rather not so agreed for my local chemo unit, a ten min drive away, to call me in the morning.
Oncewild- it’s interesting what you say re: separation and A&E. I was told at the very start of chemo I would be given a 24 hour helpline number to call, not to worry about a thing, someone would always bet there etc. etc. I was also told that as I live so close to my chemo unit I would always be seen there and not asked to go to A&E. My nearest A&E has recently closed down and other two in my city are huge and mega busy and not very handy. I had a missed call from a "blanket NHS " number, in Scotland whenever anyone, in any dept from the whole of my NHS Board, this number comes up and you are unable to call it back as it doesn’t receive incoming calls. Assumed I had missed the call I was told to expect from Chemo unit, so called them back. After eventually getting through, I was told that, yes, I was on the list for a call back but they had not yet done so and would do so. Eh?, well I’m on the phone now speaking to you, could we not discuss things now? Apparently not and they called back an hour and a half later. Nurse told me to see GP re: skin and get antibiotics, keep an eye on temp and let them know if I had further problems as I would need to be admitted for IV antibiotics. I also had to phone them at the weekend and was referred to NHS 24 to see a doctor so I thought I’d question the nurse about the the protocol. Apparently if I become unwell between 8.00-6.00pm I could attend my chemo unit but if I become unwell after 6.00pm, I would need to attend AND be admitted to A&E general hospital AND stay there, not be transferred to chemo unit. I pointed out that this wasn’t really ideal for a patient having chemo and an infection to be treated at a general hospital and was told “That’s just how it works.” So, I’m a bit disappointed really as it seems the reassuring information I was given at the start of chemo was not strictly accurate and if I become unwell during my chemo treatment I will be pretty much treated the same as any other patient.
Anyway, got to GP’s and asked receptiontist if I could wait outside the fire exit as they had it open and often do when the weather is nice. No, I couldn’t apparently. Ok then I said, I’ll be waiting right outside, you can come and get me as the waiting room was packed full of people coughing. GP decided I did have skin infection but that it was fungal and did not prescribe antibiotics but antifungal cream instead. I trust him so that’s fine by me. We chatted about the protocol and had a bit of a laugh re things. My GP’s practice is very busy and I don’t feel he should be dealing with every medical matter that arises as a consquence of my chemo when I am under the care of a Consultant Oncologist. Anyway, I’ve decided that in the future if I have any chemo related issues I will simply turn up at my chemo unit rather than attempt to phone and wait ages to be called back.
AJ Silver, I think we may share the same Cancer Centre? PM me if you want.
Sorry for long post but feeling a bit let down by under resourced NHS and conflicting information today. I don’t blame the staff, more the lack of funding causing problems in the NHS although obviously I am very grateful to have them.
Hazel. x