Hi Kate
Lovely to hear that you are feeling so much better - what a fighter you are!
Wishing you lots of good days with your family,
Take care,
love Polly
Hi Kates
So glad you’re feeling better. May you go from strength to strength. Thinking of you often,
Love
Linda x
Hi,
Like everyone I am over the moon that you are feeling better and hope you are home soon with your family. You are the most amazing person and have enormous inner strength. You have taught me so much and given me so much inspiration, I will never be able to thank you enough.
Think of you everyday, love to you and your family.
Linda.x
Hi Kate
Wow - wot an amazing lady you are and such a fighter. I am soooo pleased to hear that you are feeling better and things are going in the right direction. I hope that you are home soon as well with your family, although u need to make sure you take things easy.
Sending you lots of love and gentle hugs, and hope to see you back here very soon.
Love
Dawn
xx
HI GIRLS - MESSAGE FROM KATE…Had a lovely trip to see her today. Wifi problems continue…so we put this on a memory stick…
Thank you so much for your kind words - have not really read them as 10 mins had no wifi access and now do - for some bizarre reason so need to make post short.
Have had a massive shock by becoming so ill and then picking up again so quickly that it feels really unreal.
As Heather and others said, I went into hospital on 1st November with a mild chest infection and then really nearly had a respiratory arrest on tuesday 4th nov when my lungs and heart sac filled with fluid. I thought I was seeing things on the monitor but the look on the newly qualified nurse’s face said I was right to be panicking about the readings on the machine and how I felt. It’s on my blog anyway all that bit upto tuesday when I came here to the hospice.
The same thing happened last year. I had a good October and then chest infections in November but instead of this time last year, my oncologist wanting to give up on me, he is really enthusiastic about treating me even though my lungs and heart are in worst state.
Nobody expected me to get better from where I was at the end of last week so although I can’t walk very far - about 10m and with 2 litres of oxygen - I’m so much better and able to eat and breathe and just move. Never had feeling of having rubber legs before but that’s what they feel like and I’ve lost a frightening amount of muscle due to lack of waste and steroids. Now on reducing dose of steroids so only 2mg dex now - much to the relief of anyone near me as I do shut up some time now. Still on 40mg frusemide -water tablets - which they are re;luctant to reduce at present and i’m glad of that as feel so awful in the mornings that i do need that help to get the water out of my lungs. On 80mg MST which is not always helping my hip pain which got aggriavated by the ambulance journey here. Also having some lorazepam to help my breathing at times. The frusemide has given me my ankles back and improved my lymphoedema as well so can cope with the 30 min frequency trips to the loo in the morning - just for about 2 hours so well worth it. Still getting quite wheezy which is concerning me as my heart is so sensitive to ventolin now that I can’t have a full strength nebuliser or it goes far too fast.
Much better in the hospice - wonderful care and atmosphere but me being me, doesn’t accept the help offered and then gets upset when they think I can do something which I can’t. Now been moved into sideroom which is lovely as was getting very depressed in main Bay with 3 elderly, seriously sick women. 1 of whom was getting increasingly agitated and confused who would then set the man in the side room off so didn’t get much sleep last night so hope tonight will be better.
Planning on getting home but need to organise care package so that not on own for 2 days a week and to see if can fit stairlift and bathlift thing. Left that to Pete to discuss and see.
It’s good to think I can get home and that my reserved oncologist feels there is a futeure for me beyond christmas and that I should be able to have more chemo. Think I’m a peculiar woman who is actually much better on chemo than off it!!! Didn’t think this time last week I had a future beyond the hospice so good to think my bedroom sanctuary will be put to good use again.
Definately need the oxygen - woke up last night very confused as it had fallen off and had tried for a few minutes yesterday but go rather a fetching colour of purple/blue so don’t think I’ll try that again.
Thank you so much for all your support and will wait till tomorrow to read your replies to Heather’s earlier posting as must make the most of this link.
Love to you all
Kate
As i said previously quite new to the site, but from what i’ve read about you Kate your an amazin lady. Glad things are improving for you and your family. Hang in there…
Sending loads of the good stuff
Best wishes
Jo
Oh Kate, so glad you’re doing better and now have a room of your own. Thrilled the onc is talking about being here after Christmas - that must be so comforting. Whatever we think of it, it IS an important time for family.
Big love and hugs
Jacquie xxx
Always thinking about you Kate xx
Kate - how fantastic to hear from you - I have been checking everyday, as probably like everyone, when you first became unwell, I was very concerned for you. I cannot believe wot a fighter you are and how much will power and determination you have to keep on going and fighting, even when the odds are against, and just hope I can be as strong as you, as and when the time comes.
It is good to know that you are now in a side room, cant be nice being in a ward especially as you say having very ill and old people around you, not good for you either in helping you recover quickly.
I do hope you get home soon too, as there is no better than being in your own bed to help recover. I know that from being in hospital this time last year, and getting home, although tiring with the kids, was like a tonic to me.
Make sure you keep resting, keep up your recovery and speak soon.
Take care and lots of love
Dawn
xxxx
Heres wishing well kate and fingers crossed for the poss trip home. Love Irene XXX