@DuncanB fab idea Duncan! We should do this as and when we can while our little 
is in x
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@Byrnebaby 6 ice lollies 2 cups of ice cubes - thank goodness I don’t have sensitive teeth, I couldn’t even talk by the end of it (nurses probably delighted 
)
You definitely want a mix of ice and lollies, they get far too sickly otherwise.
Are your contractions getting closer together? It’s the weirdest feeling isn’t it! Don’t worry if your initial count is not super high as long as it’s high enough - I got the same amount out of stem cells out at 14.8 as I did at 18. You’ll be grand lovely, I’m excited for you to be one step closer, I’m sure you’ll feel better coming out of it xx
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Lovely, just what the doctor ordered @DuncanB 
xx
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I haven’t had that exact protocol, but I remember the anxiety before starting treatment and it was honestly worse than the treatment itself. The unknown is brutal. Try to take it one step at a time instead of thinking about the whole process at once.
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Hello there @alnimi48, welcome to the forum and thanks for that advice. I’m sorry to read that you have experienced treatment and anxiety too, I’m imagining it was treatment for a blood disorder like @Spangleystar, @Byrnebaby and others have been discussing here.
If I may ask about your diagnosis we can share some relevant information for you. I understand that you may have all the information you want, or may not want to share more.
Please do tell us more about how you’re getting on though, and perhaps have a look around the forum for others that may share experiences with you @alnimi48.
Loved your idea of sending @Spangleystar best wishes with “virtual fresh air” @DuncanB!
Dear @Spangleystar, here are a few snaps from my hike yesterday for you when you need a break from seeing hospital walls. Thinking of you and your treatment doing really well 
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Thank you @Duncan woken up feeling a bit queasy, my obs are fine so probably just the dex making me sleepless, tired and hungry! This will make @Byrnebaby laugh, it was only 8mg - I’m such a cheap date when it comes to that and I’m now after 2 hours sleep, wide awake and jittery, she was taking 40mg at a time 
!
This has given me a lift, I’m great with living vicariously for this phase so thank you very much for sharing. Your dog’s so cute, those ears are adorable, fennec fox-like and the virtual fresh air comes through xx
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Gosh I started to reply (again ) and then must have got distracted, there’s always something happening here!
Thank you @DuncanB
The colour on those photos is incredible- did you brighten them, or is that the glorious natural light. I’m awestruck. I like to imagine where pathways lead to when I see them, in my head, the first one leads to a beautiful loch 
xx
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Oh goodness you’re up early, or is it late @Spangleystar?! I suppose it’s to be expected with comings and goings overnight and the general strip light vibe of hospitals! We have to become our own pharmacists too don’t we, knowing which one does what and when, it’s enough to send me to sleep! Glad to know you’re being looked after and observations were fine.
And so funny you should mention fennecs as we call him our little fox, his ears are incredible! He’s twitchily dreaming next to me actually, sending you sleepiness from afar…
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I think it’s both, early and late I’ve cracked open the emergency ginger ale in my fridge - can’t stand the stuff but it does quell nausea better than anything. I usually go for pears, they seem to work for me and I like them, but the conference pear season is over 
Ahhh how cute ‘ twitchily dreaming’.
My dog is sulking apparently- not only have I left her for a while but she’s having to sleep in her own bed downstairs! My husband is using the time to get her out of my bad habit of letting her on our bed because she can’t be allowed when I’m out. Bless him xx
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Aww I can well imagine how yours is sulking, missing her human mummy. If only we could explain our silly human rules to our hounds, right?! Don’t know if you’ve seen the film Project Hail Mary but I suddenly had an image of your dog in a sort of spacesuit bubble so you can cuddle safely 
I spoke too soon—mine is now wide awake, demanding dinner with his eyes, although he only just ate his breakfast. Typical!
Sorry to read you’re feeling nauseous, is that a typical side effect of the treatment? Do mention it to your nurses if it’s not, although I bet you know what to expect. I love ginger ale, and actually now you’ve got me craving Crabbie’s!!!
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Yes the high dose melphalan is the main culprit, with the dexamethasone egging it on like a pair of school bullies
No I haven’t seen that film, but I’ll look out for it - dogs in space bubbles sounds fun!
I loved everything ginger until my second pregnancy, it got me through the first without any physical morning sickness, but my second more than made up for that! I was eating and drinking ginger everything, chews, biscuits, ale, tea and was still super sick. It’s been 13 years and I did shudder as I sparked the can (fever tree, not sure if you get that brand although I think I had their tonic water on a delta flight so maybe!) anyhow it’s settling me - I don’t have to like it for it to be good medicine!
Your dog sounds calmer than mine She tries to open the cupboard or bashes her water bowl everywhere at 6pm on the dot every night. Her body clock doesn’t let us get away for a minute
Xx
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Exactly, what a great way to see it as medicinal even if its flavour brings back those memories! Maybe you can give it newer positive associations with its current use.
Ours is a little fussy/traumatised and so we’re trying to be very relaxed about him eating when he can, but there are times when we have to go out in the morning before he’s ready to eat so I always have to take food with me, like he’s a toddler hahaha
Now his ears are pricked because it’s taco daddy’s time to come home, while bread daddy is here all the time, jeez how boring of me 
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@alnimi48 hello! And welcome to the group, sorry you find yourself here and hope your treatments are going well 
pull up a chair, join in, you are very welcome here x
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@Duncan beautfiful photosDuncan and what a beautiful pup! Whats his name? The ears are magnificent! Ears are what brought me to my rescue Bilbo 
sadly, I lost him in July x
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@Spangleystar good morning/night lovely hope you’ve managed some sleep, and sorry you had to endure dex! I’m guessing it’s to help the melphalan? And you would have had it late in the day too x
Is it re-birth day today for you or tomorrow? I’ll be thinking of you today as I follow in your footsteps and hopefully get these cells out, I think I gave birth multiple times last night and feel the irony as it’s my Dans 33rd birthday today x take care and rest when you can x I’ll check in when I can, but I’m not expecting to be able to use my phone much x
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Aww beautiful Bilbo, look at those ears! Distant relative of ours, perhaps. I’m really sorry you lost him @Byrnebaby, thank you for sharing such a sweet photo.
We called our little buddy Rusty LaBeija and were lucky to adopt him from a local shelter last year. He’s already in bed for the night, still tired from hiking yesterday!
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So I just realised you’re definitely up early @Byrnebaby, intentionally I hope! If it’s for treatment then I trust it’s going smoothly, do let us know.
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Let’s hope so @Duncan
Bless him - He’s a sweetheart and I’m sure he loves bread daddy as much as taco daddy! You’re making me hungry was it Taco Tuesday for you yesterday 
!
Xx
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