Week 7
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Day 32 Monday 9th June Collected by Alan 08;45? I was sleeping at the time, I’ve been up since 05:30 and done all my catch-ups with emails etc.. I was 2nd passenger again . Arrived Q E foe 10:00. After the enema thing, I was asked to be ready for 11:20. Out after 20 minutes, Alan was waiting for me. I was 2nd passenger again, we took the lady home first after missing her turn at Alrewas so a plan to get off at the next junction which was no plan at all as it was a no through road. Why does he not listen ? Anyway, after faffing about and a detour, I was back at home by 13:15.
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Day 33 Tuesday 10th June Collected by Alan 08:30 solo passenger today. Arrive at Q E 09:30, After the enema thing I was asked to be ready for 11:00, a general service was being performed on all equipment and all appointments were affected I discovered that I was the first patient in the day long queue. I then had to wait until 14:00 before I was collected by Alan to go home arrived 15:00. A long day indeed.
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Day 34 Wednesday 11th June Ambulance called 09:55 I was solo passenger arrive Q E 11:10 I was asked to drink straight after the enema thing. Called in after 20 minutes for the scan, seems everyone has been picked up late this morning, scan completed I was told my transport was waiting for me. Almost… I did have a 10 minute wait. Back home for 13:15 same vehicle & driver, I was told that I may be travelling with him tomorrow.
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Day 35 Thursday 12th June Collected by Alan 08:35 as first passenger , we then went to Yoxall for the 2nd . Nice area quite photogenic, I’ll have to take a trip sometime with the camera. Arrive Q E for 10:10 after enema thing asked to drink straight away. Good, I should be done for 11:30 at the latest. Transport with Alan again, off to Erdington followed by Yoxall then me. Home for 13:15 There is one thing about my radiotherapy, the operators always look happy to see me and always look happier when I leave as if to say “That’s another out of the way” The nearest thing to banter I ever had was when one of the ladies moved me, her hands were like ice, as per normal. I asked if she had been in the freezer again , and the reply was “Yes, just for you” friendly but with minimum interaction. OK, no problem just 3 to go now then I get my life back for a while.
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Day 36 Friday 13th June 09:35 phone call from transport control, my driver will not be collecting me for at least an hour, he has gone elsewhere. 11:05 collected by Alan. He had two conflicting running sheets, I was not on either. Alan called to Coventry for his passenger who was not in. He phoned control asking for advice, and was asked where he was phoning from. Then a difference of opinion ensued over the phone call. Without going into detail. I was now a PM patient. We arrived at Q E by 11:55 and as the Dr’s clinic finished shortly after my arrival, I was told to go see him before radiotherapy. The following visit went well, I confirmed our next meeting is for 10th July. I started to drink for the scanner after seeing the Dr and was in the scanner for 12:55. Transport home was one of the best drives I have had, the driver was a post graduate and in driving terms far older than his years, he missed nothing one of the most observant people I have ever travelled with. After driving through the dark depths of Birmingham, we arrived home for 15:15. All in all, a pretty good day under the circumstances.
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Day 37 Monday 16th June 09:30 I have just made 3 calls to Birmingham. Transport control, Transport bookings & room 6, Radiotherapy dept. I am not on any listing for collection as far as control are concerned. I was given the bookings number and also the switchboard number. Bookings can not do anything regarding collecting me, as they need notification from room 6, they do however still have my details, so things perhaps will be straightforward. Room 6 is now emailing bookings to sort out my transport, so I should be collected sometime today. It sounds like room 6 did not allow for these last 2 days. 11:30 Alan collected me and got me to Q E for 12:25. I did my enema thing and was then told to start drinking for a 13:30 session. It was nearer to 13:45 before I was seen, nothing unusual about that, get a time then add 10-15 minutes. I was out in reception for 14:00 to sign out. Some 1-1½ hours later, I was awakened by the ambulance driver asking if I was all right. After a very lengthy tour around Birmingham, we finally hit the M42, homeward bound at last. Somewhere around 16:45 I was back et home. Strewth, what a day.
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Day 38 Tuesday 17th June Today is the last day of radiotherapy, it took long enough to get here, what with break downs, cancellations and Bank holidays, also, I do not want a repeat of yesterday's farce. Alan collected me 08:35 his sat-nav was frozen, I suggested he turn it off for a minute or two. As per usual, he did not listen. We spent the next 10 minutes or so driving (if that is what it is called) trying to sort out his problem, eventually pulling into a lay-by near to the M42, where for the next 5 minutes, problem solving was the issue. After much playing around he did switch off (accidentally, I hasten to add). He thought he had broken it, wondering how he was going to get to his next pick-up he inadvertently switched it back on again. Shock and delight, it was working. He told me he did not know what he had done, I did not have the heart to tell him. After collecting out two passengers from Walmley, we made our way to Q E for 10:05. After my enema thing I was asked to drink, and to be ready for 11:00. I had just drunk my first beaker of water when a voice called my name, it was my driver ready to take me home, that’s one for the book. I explained I would not be ready until 11:45 at best, so he went off looking for his other passenger(s). Having drunk my last beaker, I was called in to see Liz for a debriefing. It seems my treatment has gone well, all were satisfied with me, as I was an easy patient to deal with, no bowel or bladder issues. Also, good news, I do not have the RAPPER gene. Don’t ask, all I know, is that if needed, I can take a much larger dose of radiotherapy with little or no side effects. After treatment, I was given a sheet to read and keep for future reference,and a ‘phone number in case of further enquiries. I said my goodbyes to the staff and thanking them, I went to look for my ride. WE collected the couple from Walmley, we were off, job done. A record day, I was back at home for 12:30. Now I play the waiting game. Zoladex implant on Friday, blood test 8th July, see my Oncologist 10th July. Here my saga ends.
