Another photopheresis…

Last monday morning, I had another photopheresis at Saint Antoine Hospital.

On arriving, as the temperature was “hot” in Paris, the nurse did not think that I would need my special “heating blanket” to soften my veins, and thus make the machine for the photopheresis works OK…

Also, in order to help make the veins visible, the nurse gave me a soft ball to squeeze in my hand. She gave me a pear-shaped ball. Of course, I started to protest as my regular ball is heart-shaped ;-)! The nurse told me that next time I will have the one I requested :-)!

After two “errors” stopping the machine,  I got my regular heating blanket and after then everything went well!

During the treatment the nurse told me that I had to meet with the “day hospital” doctor before leaving. It was the first time in almost 20 photopheresis. After talking with the doctor, who wanted just to know if I was fine, I told her that physically I was OK but that “the spirit” was not as good. She told me that it was kind of classical: after fighting against a disease like MDS, all the energy is gone and little is left for “le moral”. In the department they have a psychologist who can help people like me. So, I will soon take an apointment with her…

I left the hospital under a bright sun! Of course I was wearing my sun glasses, and long sleeves, as recommanded by my favorite nurse ;-)!

Next round of photopheresis will be in one month, early june.

I am now 23 months after the stem cells transplant. At the end of may and in june, I will have several physical exams to test if everything is working well…

As I always do, I cannot stop here without thanking again my kind graft doctor, my donor, the doctors, the nurses and, of course my family and friends, They know that I love them all!

Take care and enjoy life!