Round 2 - Day 3

So it finally arrived R2D3, no where near as snappy a title as day 2, but potentially my last day of taking an MS disease modifying drug for a few years if all goes well. Wouldn’t that be pretty damn amazing if it were the case.  It’s not quite as liberating as it sounds as I’ll still have to attend for blood and urine tests every month for 4 more years, and I’ll still be on the alert for any of the random side effects this can cause even years down the line. But still no more of these dreadful drugs in my system for a bit will be a bonus once I’m out the other side.

After getting finished R2D2, having my late obs done and getting an extra shot of insulin for my trouble,  I had my nice pillow ready to go, only to discover my sheep had all legged it back to the hills and sleep wasn’t going to be happening for me much. I tried reading my Christmas mags, a spot of solitaire, but despite my best efforts was still sat on the side of my bed doing my puzzle book at 02:30 when Rob took pity on me and brought me another cuppa. I made a really concerted effort again at 03:30 and at a push managed just under 2 hours of car napping.  Today has been a long day! 

Had a visit from the MS nurse this morning to go through some of the discharge stuff.  It’s official, as I’m getting antibiotics for a month this year I only have to do the diet for two months. Yay for me, I’ll get off on 18th December just in time for all those Christmas goodies and Boxing Day buffet! This makes me such a happy lady!! There were lots of other things discussed, but this was my takeaway headline!!

Then I had a visit from the Consultant, two consultants actually and a few friends. This was more of a surprise and made me less happy. They weren’t happy with my blood sugars and said I had to stay tonight and see where they’re at in the morning, not unexpected to be fair. But the fact he wants them in single figures for discharge is less so. They haven’t been below 17 since the steroids started, tomorrow could be interesting. They changed the treatment regime a little, higher dose and lower treatment threshold. Fingers crossed.

I had a lovely long chat on the phone with my old boss, which was lovely. A visit from an old colleague from my St John days and a bit of a reminisce with him. Both very nice and helped pass the day till my evening visitors arrived with a nice large cuppa. 

The infusions themselves passed uneventfully in the end, a bit slow due to shortages in trained staff again, but no real issues to report, finished around 9:30 again. The blood sugar wasn’t quite so cooperative.  4 more lots of insulin throughout the day and still nothing really below even 20.  Eventually the infusion came down, I got ready for bed, had some more obs and blood sugar taken another 6 units given for good measure. watched a bit of TV, read, then settled down around 23:30, with my cannula out and my nice soft pillow, I was determined to sleep.  I think at some point I did drop off too, then the nurse came knocking to do my BM and obs about 1 pm, and another 6 units was given.  But you know, I’ve got this sleep thing going, it’s all good! Till she wakes me up at 01:45 to check it again. Still not below 20 and now I’m wide awake.  

I’m getting out of here tomorrow one way or another. Thankfully the lovely nurse is on and I’ve lobbied her already, she’s going to get the docs to work out a temporary management plan for me to go home under. Hopefully she’ll convince them. One of the doctors from this morning poked her head in too, and I lobbied her, so she was going to talk to her colleague that will be here tomorrow. Keep everything crossed. 

I’ve cooked up a plan of my own otherwise, I’m going to take a hostage, to use as a bargaining tool to negotiate early release. I’m thinking possibly the tea lady, I’ll have supplies to keep me doing during negotiations then, plus the rest of the ward will want her releasing quickly to get their cuppa so I’m guartanteed popular support? Look out for the local headlines later.......