| The fifth element.................disappointment!
Category: Life Harumpf! Strangely I didn't bother washing my hair this morning, I thought, no I'll save the hair washing (with right arm in a plastic bag, it's such a chore) until Wednesday when I have my final chemo pump removed (pump number 15 in total) and PICC line. I had already planned to wear a new lovely purple shirt today which was a birthday present (thanks Angela  ) because it looks great with the purple Accessorize bag I put the pump in (again thanks Angela!). Having been awake (as is usual for me these days) until about 4 or 5 am I dozed off after waking at 8 and multipurpose life sized swiss army knife Becky was again my alarm call and chauffeur, not to mention chemo companion for the day. All was not good with Becky........but not for discussion here! Suffice to say with my lack of sleep we were both growling on her behalf by the time we arrived at the hospital after a quick shower. It started well. A lady in a little car pipped and waved.............no we hadn't nicked her space (oh yeah I left my blue disabled park anywhere for free badge at home  ) it was the red cross lady! She said not to hurry because there was no-one there to make us a cuppa, she was running late. Becky stayed outside to take a call and I strutted off in noisy heeled boots to the pathology dept. I checked my phone before turning it off (out of courtesy as they still have the out of date no mobile phone signs up) and was grinning at a text message. Tapped out a quick reply during which time some spineless jobsworth woman (a patient) remarked to her husband "There's a sign over there". Not sure why she was telling him because he wasn't using his mobile............. I told her "Don't worry I'm turning it off in a second" Obviously upset that I'd dared to respond to her talking about me whilst I could blatantly hear her, she offered this little gem: "You shouldn't be using it at all". Now as I'd had a) very little sleep b) very little patience with people who can't say something to my face c) enough other concerns to reduce nosy parker tolerence levels today I really couldn't be bothered to recite the following information, which I have been aware of for well over a year and having been an in and out patient at the hospital over the years I know how many doctors and nurses use mobiles in all parts of the hospital. I also know that they don't mind me using them when I've been in for treatment. This is not me playing the cancer card it's because of recent guideline changes reported in the British Medical Journal back in October 2006. They write that the new, more relaxed, guidelines from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are "less restrictive but still overcautious".
Dr Stuart Derbyshire of Birmingham University, UK, and Dr Adam Burgess of Kent University, UK, point out that patients, staff, and visitors often have their mobiles switched on, and there is no firm evidence of serious consequences.
The new MHRA guidelines state: "A total ban on mobile phones [in hospitals] is not needed and is impossible to enforce effectively" but "mobile phones should be switched off near critical care or life support equipment and should be used only in designated areas."
The guidelines add that ring tones and conversations may disturb patients, and that the use of camera phones may undermine patient privacy.
But the authors believe this could be more restrictive than the old regulations. They highlight the potential benefits of mobile phones over standard pagers, such as speeding up communication.
Interference with medical devices is rarely a problem, they say. In general, studies find it is "merely an irritation and ultimately harmless to the patient".
"We urge hospital managers and clinical directors to adopt a more flexible approach to the use of mobile phones on the basis that the advantages clearly outweigh their largely mythical risks," they conclude Now I'm no technical genius but I didn't notice ANY critical care or life support systems in the waiting room for blood tests. It's on the ground floor right in a corner of the hospital away from anything else. Miles from Critical Care (I know I was in there in June). Rather than attempt to explain this to the woman I just said "I know what I can and can't do I come here often enough" "So do I" was the witty retort................... "If you have a problem why didn't you say it to my face instead of talking about me when you know I can hear you?" "Oh SHUT UP!" Hmmm................well there seemed to be no other choice than to tell her to "Piss off". I took my coat off and the sleeve that was covering my bloody PICC line and dressings in preparation for blood tests and line flushes - hoping she'd see it and think I was like really ill .............oh wait.........I am hahaha! Becky came in a minute or two later so I warned her "I hope you have turned your phone off because this "lady" will tell you off otherwise, she has a problem, an ATTITUDE problem" Yes I know I wasn't exhibiting the best attitude myself, but seriously couldn't she have just said "Excuse me but I don't think you're supposed to use that in here, there's a sign on the wall". But no, she had to be rude about it so I'm afraid I snapped. I imagine she is rather like Blanche from Coronation Street spreading malicious gossip about all and sundry. Anyway my blood test hurt and we trotted off to the chemo suite. Neutraphils were 1.2........great. Had my line flushed and then went through my DLA claim form that had been sent to the hospital (received by them over a month ago but sent on 3rd October). It asked amazing questions like Explain the condition and include whether it is mild, moderate or severe in your answer................Hmmm Stage 3b rectal cancer..........how bloody severe IS a life threatening disease. Bloody severe I'd say. At least we got to use the phrase faecally incontinent again........loving that hahah! So FIVE deferrals, refusals whatever you want to call them and now my trip to London is on the same day as my next chemo day. Also I had arranged to meet someone who was arranging travel details on the Tuesday. Faced with the dilemma of needing to finish chemo, meet friend AND attend London meeting without being affected by Oxali side effects. After debating my entire social life we decided I'll go to London, come back then have chemo at 9am on Tuesday and meet my friend there...........bit weird but well I'll be sat in a chair for a few hours and we just want to meet for a chat. Plus we get free tea from the lovely red cross lady! Sorted. To compensate for our joint crappy day (two other chaps had rubbish blood and were sent home too, we were all pretty downhearted) we went off for a spot of shopping and lunch at the local department store for a whinge fest. It was great. Washed it all down with a cappuccino. 17:48 - 8 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove | 
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