Tiny changes can sometimes make a huge difference or a tale of soaps and blankets.
Day 2 of Cycle 2 is complete and it’s a milestone because it was the longest day of the cycle in that I received all three of my chemo meds. Three full days left and so far we are still feeling good.
I’ve had visitors again today and once more it was the highlight of my day. Although – as one of today’s visitors pointed out to me during her previous visit in Cycle 1 – the fact that my friend group is mostly female and I have as a consequence received visits exclusively from a parade of ever changing young women is sure to make some of the nursing staff wonder who the hell that guy in Room Nr 9 is.
I mentioned in previous blog posts that I got quite overstimulated by the environment at the tailend of my last stay here. I knew it was environmental rather than related to the chemo because as soon as I was back home I instantly felt a lot better.
When I came back this time, I finally managed to find the main culprit: the handsoap in the bathroom. It was the source of the smell that made me borderline nauseous last time around. I took action and asked my mum whether she could bring me my own handsoap from home.
Another seemingly small change that had made a world of difference is that I ditched the blanket on my hospital bed for a woollen one that was kindly lent to me by my dear friend Julia. While my sleep quality was already fine beforehand, I cannot begin to tell you how much comfort this blanket has brought me. Not only because of its fine quality, but certainly also because it is not a sterile piece of cloth and rather an incredibly empathetic and thoughtful gesture of love by a friend. It is like an embrace from afar, reminding you that you are not just a patient, but a human that is cared for and cherished by those around him.
It’s these small changes that have really transformed this second hospital stay for me. I know the rhythm now and I have learned from my last stay. I have always found that it is a good idea to taken even a small amount of agency in situations like these as it reduces the feeling that this “happening to you.”
Two days down, three to go. We got this.
Health and happiness to y’all wherever you are. Catch you in the next one.
just thoughts 