My first ever night in hospital

Not long after I wrote my last post I discovered a large bruise on my thigh. I only discovered it because I was showing a girl at work my tattoos and I saw on one of my beautiful ladies faces was a dark purple bruise smudged across her check. Underneath was a large lump, a Haematoma. I didn't think too much of it but I did ask a nurse family friend if I should go to hospital to check it out, after all I only work a ten minute walk away from Grafton.

I ran over thinking it would be a quick pop in and out, I know A & E can be busy but thought I might just miss the Friday night rush. I get there and whip out my cancer gold card equivalent - my special card alerts staff that I am on chemo so they know I may need serious help. Armed with a mask to deter the unsightly bugs lingering in the hospital I am taken through to A&E. My mum joins me not long after and we set in for an hour and a half wait. I see the nurse and doctor and all seems OK but they do want to take some bloods to check my platelet count isn't too low. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting, as I mentioned in my recent post, my platelets were low on Monday but I thought they should have started rejuvenating by Friday night, so I wasn't worried.

After an hour of waiting and we get the results back, Platelet count came back below ten, Transfusion time. I have never had a transfusion, and have spent barely any time in hospital. This was all new to me. I was ushered into the short stay area of the hospital to have my transfusion. When you think of a bloods transfusion you immediately think the liquid would be red, its not, platelets are orange.

Platelet transfusions, actually any transfusion, opens you up to infection... GREAT, AIDS, HEPC, HEPB etc etc I started to worry but I didn't have a choice, I was starting to break out in this horrendous rash all over my legs, arm and neck. So I did it. I then had to spend a night in hospital. I have never done this before and I was scared. With my immune system so low I didn't want to risk any delays in my treatment from getting sick. I was lucky enough to score my own room, with a lazy boy fit for a 61 year old woman's fragile body. So sorry mum. I offered her my bed, but she didn't take it.

Four hours sleep and Big Mac combo later, I was back at home in my own room. I don't think I fancy being back there anytime soon, but the people were incredible and the service was awesome. Made me feel very lucky to be living in a country with such an amazing standard of care, and I received everything without having to shell out any money. Thank you to all of the wonderful people working in the health industry, I am incredibly great full to you.