Archive for November, 2010
Hello again from Qingdao
Well last night I had my 4th transfer, my 2nd spinal. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as smooth as the others. A different doctor done it for this this time, she had difficulty getting the right area, it took her 2 goes to get in in until she finally got in in on the 3rd with help from another doctor. The first and 2nd try, was complete agony!! I could feel sharp pain along my back and then it was pins and needles all done my legs. I was just about to tell her to stop when it stopped and it was done. THANK GOD!! I was pretty upset after, but the nurses and Matthew took good care of me. Thankfully, I was fine after, no pain etc and slept most of the night, I feel great today, surprisingly! My lower back, butt and back of legs are a little stiff but I feel great otherwise.
We think I have had enough spinals in one lifetime, and patients 2nd time round seem to have more discomfort with spianls.I am getting a retro bulber injection on Monday, and supposed to be another spinal on friday but I dont think my poor back will be able for it but we’ll see.
After all that, we decided to take a break and stay in a hotel downtown for the night. Just to get a good sleep, lie in and do some sightseeing on sunday.It will be nice to forget about last night and needles!!
Anyway, I shall write again after our trip. Hope ye are all enjoying the snow back home…..cant believe Im missing it!!
Lots of love
Valerie and Matthew
November 27th, 2010
Hi there,
I didn’t get to write over the last few days! I had my 3rd stem cell last Monday night via IV. I had to get the nurse to take the canula after as it was very sore, it had gone swelled up and very red so she took it out. She said she would have to put in another one if I got a temperature but luckily enough I didnt!!
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were fairly quite, I had acupuncture, electric wave in the morning and acupressure in the afternoon so it broke up the days nicely. We didnt do too much besides talking with others here and cooking!!
I have decided after much discussions to get a retro bulber injection, into the eye. My doc seems to think it will make a great difference. She says my right eye has better acutey but my left eye has better nerve function. So its up to me which eye!
Anyway, I am just waiting for my spinal now, so I will fill in the rest later.
Until then
Valerie
November 26th, 2010
Hi guys,
Well, its Sunday here and I will fill ye in the details of the spinal now. I had it around 9pm on friday evening. Dr Tony done it which I was delighted with, Melody was with me as well which was brill. I did think it was pretty painful. I felt every bit of it this time, but it didnt last long. I wasnt in agony or anything like that it was just uncomfortable sharp pain. But only lasted about a minute!!
I was great after, perfect temp and blood pressure. Slept right through the night. I was a bit sore Saturday, felt like I pulled a muscle in my lower back, but only when i got up from sitting to standing. We didnt do much, decided to rest instead. Lynn and Brian from Canada cooked us a big feast of speghetti and Gilles and Emilie brought fab desserts. We stayed up eating, drinking (not us patients of course) laughing, singing and talking until around 12. It was great fun!
Today, we went to century park, it was a fab day so we walked all around it. We went out for dinner, which was lovely! were just back now and were gonna settle in for the night. Tomorrow will be my 3rd stem cell via IV.
Night to all
Valerie and Matthew
November 21st, 2010
Well, hope everyone is keeping well. I am writing this on our 5th day here! But its really early 
Yesterday we had a busy, good day. It started very early at around 4 am. I havent adjusted to the time difference yet and havent been sleeping great. I had morning therapies with Andy until 10. We then sat on the lovely orange couches and chatted with others. We got a taxi to pizza hut and had a nice big feast for ourselves!!We were back then for 2 as I had accupressure with Andy….my god it was fabulous!! I was so relaxed after and my head felt great. My eyes were so tired from not sleeping that after I felt great. Melody and Joyce brought us down to where I had a chest xray and ECG, all were normal. We had a great laugh with the 2 girls. Matthew and Melody were learning from each other and lets just say it was hilarious!!From here, we skyped home,
We then made our tea, chatted with other families on the orange couches again!! We watched some shows on the laptop and I fell asleep around 10.30 and slept straight through until 5.30….it was well needed!! Finally a good night sleep.I skyped home to say goodnight to daddy and now Matthew is gone for a run
I have my 2nd injection tonight, a spinal. I m not too nervous about it, just hope it goes as well as all my others last time around.
Thats it for now, il write again later
Good night to all my Irish friends and good morning to all my chinese friends
xxx
November 19th, 2010
Hello there,
well, today started with my usual therapies with andy,he was all excited to see us back! We then popped over to the lotte mart to get some supplies for the day. We were really tired today, think settling in this time is a bit harder than the last. Our sleeping is all over the place!! We made dinner this evening with our own gravy The stem cell nurse came around to tell us that my stem cell would be delayed because the flight was delayed due to fog!! So we had to wait another 2 hours til 9.30! Finally it arrived and Melody brought us to the iv room. It was just us, as im the only one getting stem cells at night because Im O negative!! We had great fun with Melody, laughing, learning chinese and she was trying to get Matthew to sing!! The stem cells went in really well, all took about 45 mins and we were back in our room! We watched some shows on the laptop and went to slumberland! Im up now again since 5 am…..im hoping by the weekend I’ll be back on track! Well thats it for now, til tomorrow…..
Night night
November 18th, 2010
Hello!!
We arrived safe and sound on Monday at around 4pm after a long trip here. All our flights were delayed so we were very tired when we got here. Really nice flights over, thank god! Ethiad airways were great!! Jack picked us up at the airport with a big welcome! We were also greeted by Matthew and Keith from Beike so we headed straight back to the hospital. We have a diffeerent room this time, room 6! Everyone from thr nurses to the cleaners recognised us! It really feels like we never left….strange feeling! Alice is gone so its a bit different here!
I then met my doctor, she is lovely! So happy with my improvements. She wants me to consider getting 1 retro bulbar injection, into the eye! Im a bit unsure yet.
Anyway, we fell asleep at around 6.30 that evening until around 2 am Had by blood work done at 6 am and busy morning again. Doctor came around to discuss a treatment plan and go through tests etc. Joyce brought us to the hospital downtown for tests even the doc down there recognised us! We sure do sstand out i guess:) All mu tests show improvement from when i was here last march.So hopefully this round will work just as well.
When we got back to the hospital,the translators had arranged a party with loads of food! We got to meet all the other familes, there is 14 here now…big difference to when we first were here!! Its great to have Loretta and Larry from Meath right down the hall. They gave us bread and eggs for our brekkie cos we didnt get a chance to nip over to the shop yet!!!
Well, thats about it for now. Were trying to stay awake a bit longer tonight so we’ll see how that goes!!
Chat again tomorrow
Valerie and Matthew
November 17th, 2010
Hello,
just wanted to let you all know that were are starting our trip to Qingdao tomorrow.:) I’m excited, nervous, sad, EVERYTHING!!! This time around I’ll have some buddies from home over there, I will know the staff and where were going so that is a big comfort. I am hating the thoughts of getting on a plane!!! Im petrified!! But I am determined to get over my fear of flying once and for all.
Anyway, we will arrive in Qingdao on Monday 15th. I’ll have 2 extra gaurdian angels looking over me this time instead of just 1 since the last time!! I know all 3 of my gaurdian angels will be with me all the way watching over us!!
Until China……..
Lots of love
Valerie and Matthew
November 13th, 2010
