Onwards and upwards!

Went back to the hospital for a recount yesterday and was relieved to find that my treatment is working. My count is now at 116 (which is about 30% of where it should be) but it's high enough to be generally safe - and a vast improvement on the 11 that it was at last week. So I get to avoid the transfusions - yay!! :)

The only down side is that I am looking at long term steroids - and the side effects are starting to really kick in now - but I can start to reduce the dose from today so they shouldn't get any worse.

My parents have been in a bit of a panic for the last week (it doesn't matter how old you are does it?) and my Mum wanted to come with me yesterday "just in case". I had to point out to her that she hadn't been to a doctors appointment with me for well over 20 years and I didn't think that she really needed to start again now. I thought that I had done a good job of convincing myself that "of course there would be an improvement", but my relief when I saw the results was immense. It's funny how after the event it is easier to admit that I was actually, for the first time in a long time, felling pretty scared about the whole thing.

I think that the hardest bit has been my concern over how my daughter has taken it all. She has always known that there was something ticking along in the background - but this is the first time that I've had a relapse and she's been old enough to understand what's been going on - it must have been quite a shock for her. She is a such a star, and has a wonderful way of lifting my spirits.

Thanks to everyone for the messages of support and offers of help and assistance - they were all very much appreciated. What a lovely bunch of folks you all are!!!