That sounds like a joke waiting for a punchline 

Great news about the chance of getting home tomorrow.

Good luck for today, Dougie... fingers crossed.

Just been told I will be going home today, just waiting for the release letter from the doc, and the pharmacy to sort out my medication. At a guess, I would say probably mid afternoon, and I'll be on my way.

I would like to say a big thank you for all the thoughts, hugs, vibes, and encouragement I have received during my 13 day stay here. You all helped out no end, and it certainly made for an easier life for me.

Great news Dougie!  

Don't stop posting to this thread though.  We still want to see you through this and we all care about you.  

Of course I will carry on posting Carol, as and when anything is newsworthy. I have all my bits and pieces now, and I am being picked up around 19.30, so should be home around 20.30. Nothing in the house, so will have to do a bit of shopping on route. The thought of sleeping in my own bed is sooooooooo gooooooood.

I will be back here on the 24th for a consultation with the Haematology team, another visit to be booked to see the Encology guy's, and then a couple of days later the new chemotherapy cycle should start. Come to think of it, it would be easier to stay here.

Ha ha! But I have no doubt you'll issue a big sigh of relief to be in your own home.

I guess you never had time to see if any of your worldwide companions were weather fans!

Take it slow when you get home mate.

Best

I guess you'll be on your way home now and a bit closer to your own bed. 

As Bertie says, take it easy when you get home!  

Home now, and oh so grateful. I shed a little tear when I left, and got hugs from the staff, they were wonderful. If I did have to go back in at any stage, I know I would be well looked after.

Welcome home Dougie. 

Yes, you made it Dotty, and thanks to all the others for the welcome home. I have a drug list with 13 different items on it , plus the stomach injection. Some are long term, some just for a couple of weeks, but they take some sorting out, not to mention having to get them down my throat. Still, they have made me feel a bit better, so onward and upward I say.

If I can stay awake long enough, I will try to do the OP for the current conditions. Catch you all later, you lovely people.

 Yes I know what you mean about meat Dotty, it gives me the most trouble. Whilst in Guy's, they introduced me to Quorn, not had it before. I must say the shepherds pie they made was more than presentable, and I started looking out for meals including quorn, and will get some myself once I can get to the shops.

I think the blender will be working overtime for a while.

Haven't seen you around today Dougie.  Hope it's all going OK.  Maybe you're still enjoying your own bed and catching up on lost sleep.  

Had lots of plans for today Caz. In the event, nothing was done, it's been sleep all the way. Have just been to Waitrose, (not out of choise, it's just that it is the closest) and bought some bits and pieces for dinner which I am just about to do. Getting back into the swing of things will take some time I feel.

 Sleep and rest is good.  You can't expect to get straight back into a routine after spending so much time not doing it and after surgery too.  

The secret is to listen to what your body's telling you to do.  Take small but sure steps towards your goal and they'll be successful ones.  Try to run and you'll fall short and disappoint yourself.  Be kind to yourself and have patience man!  

Nice to hear from you though.  Enjoy your Waitrose fayre!  

Morning Dougie.  Just wondering if life's getting a little easier for you.  How's the new eating regime going?  

Morning Caz, well here we are into the third day of freedom, and nothing much has changed really. However, yesterday I did manage what for me was a huge meal of mash, peas, green beans, quorn, and loads of gravy, and I kept it down. Progress, although slow, has been made in this department, so I am quite pleased about that. It would be nice to be able to be weighed, which will be on Monday at Guy's, and not show any weight loss.

My greatest problem is in the taking of the prescribed medicines, 13 in all. Some are very large and promote vomiting, some have to be taken twice a day, some three times, and some 4 times. Trying to get this right has become a full time job, and I do suffer if I forget.

I know it sounds silly, but I remember not understanding what the problem was when trying to get my Mum to take her medication. On the surface it seems so simple, but the brain does not function the way it used to, some of this is age related, and some comes from the medication itself. At the best of times, I can only describe my condition as being in a constant state of being drowsy, which is not helpful. To go further afield than the High St would be nice, but I have banned myself from driving in the short term. I do get out as much as possible, and my local cafe has tables and chairs outside, so I can sit and watch the world go by, but it's not so nice now that the weather has changed.

So there you have it, a few small steps forward, yes, but it's going to be a while before any raise in the quality of life will take place. My biggest worry inow s that in about a weeks time, they are planning to embark on the next stage of treatment, that is the new chemotherapy cycles, which can be quite brutal in its own way.

I probably sound quite depressed, but I am not really, I am looking forward to a somewhat better life than I have had over the last 7 months, and that is what is keeping me going. It's just that there are many hurdles to get over to achieve this. Whilst there is life there's hope.

Let's hope you get through this phase pretty soon and you get a good second wind to face the rest, Dougie.
Keep your eye on the finishing post, old bean.

  Yes you're making a lot of sense.  Small steps are good and at least they're in the right direction.  I won't quote the 'no pain no gain' adage because it seems so cruel in cases such as yours, where not everything works for everyone but you have to try it anyway.  But you're spot on - where there's life there's hope!   

Way back earlier in my treatment(about 4 months ago) I was asked if I would like to be considered for an experimental alternative to the standard form of treatment. Well, I think in times like these, you tend to hang on to anything that might work. The latest chemotherapy which starts soon is not it, but I did give 6 phials for blood, which were sent to The Royal Marsden Hospital for DNA testing. The results are not known by myself as yet, and it maybe that what took place afterwards has scuppered anything that might have been to my benefit, but it may help them to understand the complexities of this disease. DNA, I think, will be where the next big breakthrough into treatment will occur.

New forms of treatment are being brought on almost daily, the problem being the time it takes from clinical trials to mass treatment, takes a couple of years on average. I always said that I was probably born 10 years too soon, for it to make much difference to me, buy hey, you never know, miracles do happen.

I understand your sentiments Dougie.  Medical science is making progress all the time.  My nephew's ex partner is a cancer research doctor, I think he's at Guys, we used to have some good conversations about medical advancement.  I'd certainly take part in experimental medicine.

My son, like me, had carried an organ donor card since my cousin had a successful lung transplant a few years ago.  Sadly they couldn't use his organs as they had to do a post mortem due to his death being sudden and unexpected but I signed papers for them to take body tissue samples to use in medical research.  So he did give something and it may help save lives in the future.   

A bit late to this thread but just want to wish you the best of health for the future Dougie. I hope everything goes as smoothly as it can for you so your quality of life isn't compromised 

Keep us in the loop as best you can - you're amongst friends here 

The more the merrier Steve, thanks for popping in. I feel a bit down at the moment, but it's hard to feel anything else with all the medication.

Keep on keeping on Dougie.  You're the man.

Thanks for the Gee up WI, it is much needed today.