Stem Cells China Day 15 12.03.07
Awoke this morning feeling a lot stronger, although, my fingers could do with improvement. I had a full day’s therapy ahead and was eager to get going after losing a few days because of illness. The door seemed to go as usual every 5 minutes until I then retorted
1 comment March 15th, 2007
Stem Cells China Day 14 11.03.07
What a difference a day makes I was feeling a lot better and a lot stronger even though I was still feeling little weak. I was so glad as it was the hospitals day of rest and everyone was planning to go to a nearby Mall with lots of shops and I was determined to go, so proceeded to get ready PDQ. I knew that if I lingered too long there’d be another drip in my arm so promptly went missing!
The taxi vehicles arrived which were very high class. High being the operative word and had to be first lifted onto the step and then onto the seat. All carers gave a hand to each other for what was quickly becoming a close knit family because nothing that each one of them wouldn’t do to help assist each other. At last I was seeing a little more of Shenzhen. The living is fast and trying to jump lights at every opportunity and horns are almost compulsory to keep the traffic moving with one horn or another being blasted every few seconds.
The Mall had five floors with every inch of space used to sell someone’s wares. They weren’t so much shops as glass fronted stalls all selling much of the same items, electrical, leather, tea’s, shoes, speciality items. It was a great place for haggling
6 comments March 12th, 2007
Stem Cells China Day 13 10.03.07
I was determined to get out of bed this morning despite instruction as I new that if I could just have a shave and shower I would feel a lot better. No sooner had I done this then the door was knocking and then every ten minutes or so for the rest of the day with Doctor after Doctor after nurse checking on my condition and progress. I did feel better after the shower but still felt lousy so I wrapped up warm as directed before being put onto yet another drip! The weather was like pea soup with a constant smog all day, everyone was going out this evening for a meal at a fish restaurant and I was very much playing it by ear. Richard ventured out to get some shopping and was shocked when he returned with him almost gasping for breath. He made the decision for me that I best stay in tonight as that smog was murder and would do me no favours. Richard however, bless him had a surprise in store and was gone for almost an hour. He returned with Steak, Chips, Beans and Tomatoes what a feast it was great and threatened to tell his wife that he could cook. Unfortunately I had to leave some as by this time I was absolutely full before settling down to watch a DVD. During the course of the day my temperature had hardly moved albeit lower than the previous day and was just hoping for a better day tomorrow. I kept in touch with my family, my sister and sister in law during the day always a tower of strength, which was just what I needed.
Add comment March 12th, 2007
Stem Cells China Day 12 09.03.07
Not much to report today unfortunately, woke up and just couldn’t lift my head from the pillow, my arms were like two rag dolls, and my head was mildly aching but nothing too bad. The Doctor came and that was it I was ordered to stay in bed and have complete bed rest! The last time I was in bed for a long spell other than sleep was when I was five with chicken pox, so this was going to be hard to grasp. My temperature was running at 38.7 and my skin like a flame thrower! Well I don’t know how they expect me to have complete rest as every five minutes there was either a Doctor or nurse or coordinator by my bedside. I’ve never had so much attention. I was on a constant drip of anti-biotics, saline solution or anti inflammatory. In the end I told Richard to leave the door open which was a good job as the next thing to come into the room was a large air purifier to cleanse the air of any bugs that were about. The attention to care was second to none and everyone concerned for my well being. Then came the bombshell, my Stem Cells had been cancelled that had been planned for Monday because of this damned fever. To say that I was gutted was an understatement and my psyche almost immediately went into negative mode. I knew that I couldn’t afford this to happen and was a constant battle to try and bring myself back. Then click I knew how hard people had worked to get me here and it was up to me not to people down. Richard, well he’s been a brick just being there for absolutely everything, I was just so lucky!
4 comments March 10th, 2007
Stem Cells China Day 11 08.03.07
Day 11 in the big brother house:
1. Richard threatens to move to another room because of Ian’s snoring.
2. Ian has found a Chinese author for his forthcoming book on Black Country Expeditions – By Wee Yo Binn
3. Irene the nurse wants to teach Ian Chinese only if Ian can teach Black Country Lingo!!
Got Up this morning feeling absolutely great, no headache and almost wanting to jump out of bed. I moved my left arm to lift myself up; then I thought I can’t do that! But I did, my right arm felt a little better too. I just couldn’t wait to get the day started. Got showered dressed had breakfast in ultra quick time and had loads of time to spare. Then I had the thought pass through my head that I’ve got a full programme of therapies this morning and they’re gonna want to see results! I was in such a great mood that I even got the Chinese dictionary out to learn how to say ‘Good Morning’ in Chinese how sad is that? Everyone I came across I said good morning to and people were in stitches, Richard thought I’d gone demented!!
I went to rehab and said good morning to Judy the therapist who promptly corrected me; I’d got my pronunciation wrong. Well who cares everybody knows there’s nothing better than a Black Country dialect. Judy proceeded to put me on the inversion table and then wanted me to lift a 2kg bar above my head whilst standing. Well I did my best before nearly wrapping the bar around Richard’s neck as he seemed all of a sudden to think he’s the therapist! Went onto my massage which as expected Judy wanted a bit more effort, she really put me through it! Ok I thought at least OT won’t be so bad
Add comment March 10th, 2007
Stem Cells China Day 10 – 07.03.07
Well the weather here today is drab to say the least nd the smog that is usually present now looks like low lying fog, but it’s set improve so I hear. Richard & Lynn’s cooking went well last night and we used one of the staff rooms for what appeared to be a banquet! It was a great idea of theirs as it got everyone together from all nationalities and there doesn’t seem to be any barriers where food is concerned. Fabio from Brazil was the star eater he really got stuck in and we had a great laugh with Lynn telling naughty stories! As the food came to an end my head started to thump again and had to resort to the usual Chinese medicine to knock me out and dream of tomorrows thrashing in rehab.
Almost as soon as I got up this morning I could feel my head start to thump albeit slight at first so I resorted to taking my own pills again as I’d have been late for my appt. I started on the inversion table and then went through to the acupuncture room where I thought I was in for muscle massage. What a shock I was in for as they rolled up my trouser legs and started sticking needles all over the place. If I never have acupuncture again it’ll be too soon, I’m sure Richard is setting me up! I had no more treatments planned as I was having my second lot of Stem Cells at 4.30 and had to rest. We watched a DVD which promptly sent me to sleep, what better rest could I have? Sure enough on the button my Cells arrived and had finished by 8pm. I didn;t feel any different but was starving so we sent out for a pizza. Got to bed at 1130 which is late for me, i think I was expecting some miracle to happen! See you in the morning.
There’s no more treatments today as I’m having my second shot of Stemm Cells by IV drip and so it’s given me time to update my blog. Well I can’t say that there have been any real significant improvements other than my earlier report but I suppose it’s early days yet.
1 comment March 8th, 2007
Stem Cells China Day 9 06.03.07
By 7am I was right as ninepence, and felt raring to go. Got up showered had breakfast as I’d been told off the day before for missing the first meal of the day! As soon as I showered my head started to thump again! There was no way I was having any more Chinese medicine anyway it was too early for sweet & sour!! So I took one of my own pills and off I went.
The morning went relatively quickly and seemed to have achieved more than the previous day because quite frankly if Virgin airlines had turned up outside the hospital yesterday I’d of quite easily got on board!! I new I was doing much better as my sense of humour had returned and soon had the OT dept and Rehabilitation dept laughing despite the language barrier. Richard went shopping with Lynn from Australia to Walmart which was a bit more reputable than our previous expeditions and came back laden with all sorts and about ten ton of fruit to help me with you now what! Lyn and Rich later went off to cook our tea and it seems as though all the other patients are coming as well, It’d better be good as it’s my second dose of Stem Cells tomorrow!
Add comment March 7th, 2007
Stem Cells China Day 8 05.03.07
Up early as usual ready for the days events but just after showering had a repeat of yesterdays migrane and not wishing to miss any of my therapies requested pain killers from the doctor. I don’t know what was in the small pill that they gave me but within 5 minutes it had gone! The day was somewhat difficult in so much as I couldn’t summon up the energy to fully participate for some reason. The massage with exercises seemed harder than the day before and the electrical acupuncture sent both my legs into spasm which was difficult to relax with needles all over them!
I returned to my room and there waiting for me was a drip which allegedly was to relieve any reoccurrence of migrane. It seemed to take ages to empty and I was absolutely starving. Managed to get something to eat before the next round but again I was feeling rather sluggish and was starting to dither and sweat. The migrane started to return and Richard couldn’t lift me and my legs just wasn’t wait bearing at all. I was bungled up stairs to my room on the 14 floor, where, wait for it another drip was waiting for me and no it wasn’t Richard! Rich went off to cook some tea, baked beans, spring onions, tomatoes, scrambled egg and chopped ham & pork, well anything’s better than more Chinese food!
I later went to bed still with a mild headache, the nurse came to check on me later in the evening and couldn’t believe I’d still got a headache so she prescribed what they call Chinese medicine it as well of been a sweet & sour pork for all I knew! I later started sweating and straight away thought a week in bed.
1 comment March 7th, 2007
Stem Cells China Days 6 + 7 03.03.07 + 04.03.07.
Yet again I had a very restless night but this was due to the outside temperature which as risen to 25 degrees and had made it very uncomfortable. I was woken at 4.00 am by the nurse to check that I was okay, which I could have done without and I again watched the clock go around before arising at 7.00am with no ill effects after my first stem cell injection. We then had a coffee before attending rehab with muscle massage, acupuncture and a session on the inversion table. I have just returned from shopping with Lynn and Richard today which has been by far the best and warmest day. During my sleep last evening I dreamt that I was able to write, a function that I’d lost some considerable months ago. I forgot about the dream until later this morning and whilst on my own started to write a few sentences with fluency and clarity I hope this function remains with me as it is the first real sign of function return. Whilst I am overjoyed I must still remain realistic and not build my hopes up too much. Later this afternoon I had terrible migraine and had to return to bed for the rest of the day.
I awoke on Sunday morning as usual but we don’t need to get up early as this morning as this was the Chinese day of rest. Soon after taking a shower I developed another severe migraine and returned to bed once more> I arose at 1.30pm and decided to put together my blog as I was feeling a whole lot better before going out for some fresh air and undertaking some further exploring, we were pleasantly surprised to be stopped by a Chinese business man called Daniel who stopped and chatted for some twenty minutes about his business ventures in England and later was welcomed to China by a Chinese lady we returned to the hospital to continue with my blog
1 comment March 5th, 2007
Hoping for a better tomorrow.