leucopheresis

Upon arrival in the clinic, which i have to say looked like a very unassuming house, i was greeted at the entrance desk by a swarm of busy people.
I was asked to fill in the usual forms that patients are made to fill in and then asked to sit in the waiting room. I was then escorted into a small room for the nurse to place a needle in my arm (which will be left in for the leucroprthesis) so as they could take a blood sample – they claim to check for preganancy and AIDS... (?) but i think it’s to also check you are actually the patient ;-)
Shortly after Dr Neddlehut (JNR) and i had a full consultation, where he explained the process in great details (and in so many technicall terms my head started to reel) but it was nice to know there was some-one there attempting to help me feel more comfortable and relaxed with the whole procedure.
After the consultation i was escorted upstairs to a small room where they had thoughtfully placed the bed by the window, bringing in a welcome stream of sunshine, even while the snow fell softly behind.
The second needle was then placed in my other arm and tubes were then attacched to both arms and the machine – yippee, technology today!
A saline solution is first placed through the tube on the right arm, to ensure when my own blood comes through that there are no air bubbles.
I was then asked to squeeze a ball in my left hand to ensure the blood would flow through effortlessly. You are suppose to slowly squeeze it for only the first 10 minutes or so but as i was quite nervous, it would seem my blood did not flow as quick as most patients, hence i was asked to squeeze the ball for most of the whole morning the process was being done. (i was so tired at one point, my friend put my hand in his and sqeezed his hand to make my hand sqeeze the ball) this helped *eternal thanks*
The process is not painful, but i would say slightly uncomfortable.
I felt a tingling in my arms and lips as was told this is normal and they then inserted a calcium syringe into my blood system to ease this. The feeling then soon left.
There is a tv & DVD player at the bottom of the bed, though the dvd selection leaves much to be desired, i’d suggest bringing your own (though not sure the same code works, guess it depends on the player.....)
Luckily for me i had two friends to chat to me to help stop me being so scared, but the nurse kept saying they were distracting me and not helping my blood flow...(?)
The bed you lie on is heated (what a blessing!) and i was covered very snugly in a large duvet. Luckily i also had thick socks on as you will also feel very cold during this process.
Be prepared for efficient service but the cultural difference shows through that we’re not in Thailand! (let’s just say they are not strong on the smiles or gentle soothing words)
The whole process lasted approx four hours and i was very tired and dizzy after. I then tried to eat some lunch but gave up and went to rest there after. I rested a full day / night after, then as we had to wait a week for the ‘harvesting’ to be done of my blood cells i decided to vernture out of ‘DisneyLand’ and hit the land of the living – BADEN –BADEN.

Few tips for you as a patient:
1, wear very comfortable warm clothes. You will be lying down for many hours
2, bring dvd’s
3, you are told “to relax” so bring what it is that relaxes you i.e. comfort blanket, toy (yes, even we adults have teddys etc)
4, the nurse has to move around you the whole time, checking both tubes constatntly, so the less people around the better. (i know you may think you want every-one there, but once you are on that bed, a wave of self awareness and a moment of truth wash over you. You start thinking about all sorts of things. ALWAYS stay in the POSITIVE. If you’re doing this, it’s for a good reason!)
I would suggest one other person to be by your side incase you need anything and a good distraction that will make you smile i.e. favourite comedy film, or piece of music you can listen to on your i-pod.
5, make a plan for what you are going to do for the week you are waiting for them to harvest your blood cells, this will give you something to look forward to and keep your mind off the waiting time. i went to Baden-Baden, will tell you about it on my next blog ;-)
6, SMILE, LAUGH, JOKE, STAY POSITIVE.
i know this sucks, trust me, i know, but you just gota laugh! trust me please, it helps.
;-)