This blog includes all entries about Marcus Döring's experiences with his health and disease issues.
You might want to start with the
oldest entry.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 1 June, 2001 - 17:00
"The last few days have mainly consisted of an early drive to the hospital to get my blood tested. I have changed the procedure this time. It's not my family doctor visiting me, but myself being driven to the hospital. By doing so the blood is not taken out of my veins, but can be taken out of my finger tips. That is a lot easier for me, especially with these low numbers of red blood cells. Additionally I can immediately get the numbers waiting in the laboratory where the assistant took the blood sample.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 26 May, 2001 - 17:00
"It's day nine of the third chemo-cycle. That means driving to the hospital to get an infusion of Bleomycin.
When Andrea drives me to the hospital we are not quite sure whether the doctors will really vote for the infusion. We arrive at the ward and nurse W. walks us into an empty room where we should wait. Ten minutes later B. arrives and we learn that he has been on night duty. ...
He takes a blood sample and asks us to wait. The blood sample will be brought to the laboratory. As soon as the numbers are returned we could start. Although it might take some time as it's Saturday.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 24 May, 2001 - 17:00
"My condition has improved since there was no chemotherapy yesterday either. Fortunately this development is reflected in my blood count today. It has improved!
When the doctors come for the round in the morning I urge them to let me out of the hospital. It is just regular blood checks that have to be done. And as we live just a ten minutes drive from the hospital we could do that easily by coming in every morning.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 23 May, 2001 - 17:00
"As the blood check this morning reveals still no improvement I learn that the fifth day of this chemo-cycle will be fully skipped. The liver is still too toxic to justify another infusion. It's just too risky as A. says during the round.
I ask B. whether there is a need to stay in hospital then. He disagrees that I could leave as my blood has to be closely monitored. Another day in paradise! But what about my central venous catheter? He agrees that it could be pulled out and will arrange it with the nurses.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 22 May, 2001 - 17:00
"Yesterday was a little better than the day before yesterday. It seems as if my body accomodates to the cytotoxica. I had to throw up a few times, but not as heavily as earlier on.
The regular blood check this morning reveals that my blood has become quite toxic. The cytotoxica are obviously working. Unfortunately they have such a toxic effect on my body, especially the liver, that the team decides to pause for a day.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 20 May, 2001 - 17:00
"What has started late yesterday evening continues throughout the night. Throwing up another two times. It is like an urge to get the cytotoxica out of my body as soon as possible. At least once every hour.
Eventually my body is exhausted and there comes the sleep.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 19 May, 2001 - 17:00
"It's the second day of the cycle today. I had my first cytotoxical infusions yesterday.
My condition is quite good this morning. It's always that the mornings are the best time of the day during the chemotherapy.
I didn't sleep a lot last night. Mainly because my dosage meter had recurring problems with the cables and my neighbor was quite restless. He gets his stomach probe pulled out today.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 17 May, 2001 - 17:00
"As Andrea is working early today it's my father's turn to drive me to the hospital. We arrive at the private outpatients' department and learn that the lady at the inhouse registration is ill today. So we have to leave the building again to go to the central registration office at the main entrance. There I learn that the computer system has crashed and I will neither be able to get all the printed paperwork for the ward nor to load my phone card.
Nevertheless we return to the department of urology.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 15 May, 2001 - 17:00
"I hardly slept last night. Still I must have dreamt because I remember moments of nightmare. Although I can't remember what it was in detail.
We have breakfast in our wonderful hotel and leave as soon as we have finished to head north.
It takes less time than we estimated, mainly because of almost no traffic jam or tailbacks. When we arrive in Düsseldorf we drive home first as there is plenty of time left.
Submitted by Marcus Döring on 14 May, 2001 - 17:00
"Andrea and I had a great weekend. We relaxed by visiting some historical sites like castles along the river Neckar, monasteries or well preserved late-medieval villages. We made picknicks in beautiful landscape,- the area east of Heidelberg is truly worth visiting - and met a good old friend of mine on Sunday.
We leave the hotel in Neunkirchen on time this Monday morning and Andrea drives us to Heidelberg. The nearer we come to the city center the more nervous and worried I become.
How foolish, it's just another opinion we are after.
