The Well

A much better day today, I'm glad to say.
Not only was I feeling better, but I'm trying harder too, though I hate to admit it.

On the Up

Cyclosporine level is stable for second day running on steady dose.

Promising.

No sickness or headaches.
Even more promising.

Neutrophils up to 2.38, well inside the 'normal' range.
Beyond promising and highly positive.

Feet and ankles badly swollen on account of water retention, but this will resolve as I eat and exercise more, which I am resolutely determined to do.  Easier of course when you don't have headaches and nausea.  Feet not painful anway.  Unless you tread on them.

My Major Aim is now to be out of hospital ASAP.  It will be much easier to eat and exercise more when the menu is a little more appetising and I am not cooped up in a room twelve feet by twelve. In this room there is also a bed, a bedside cabinet, a wardrobe, a desk, an Electric Chair, a fridge, an exercise bike, a drip pump on wheels, a medical trolley, a large pedal bin, a pair of scales, a wheeled table....and me.  When I have visitors it becomes crowded.  In fact, it is already crowded.

Only issue yet to be satisfactorily resolved is why I still get occasional temperatures.  What is the nature of this infection that eludes all the antibiotics we are pumping in and has still not succumbed to the Renewed Resurgence of the Neutrophils?  Will we ever know?  Do we care?!

More tests today: an MRI scan of my head which successfully located the small particle of brain which became accidentally lodged there at birth, but failed to find a reason for my headaches (that's because it was the Cyclosporin overdoses, I suspect); and a Lumbar Puncture - the removal of a small quantity of spinal fluid (not as painful as it sounds, I'm glad to say) - to check for abnormalities; answers tomorrow on that one, though we're not expecting to find anything significant, just covering all bases.  And I think that test completes the checklist for the full 50-year MoT.

With luck the Neutrophils will do their stuff and bring the temperature under control without any further outside intervention or tests.

Finally, I had a Moving Vision this morning (and no, the telly wasn't on).
It brought tears and catharsis and involved all of you.  Scary, huh?



Grand Mosque, Kairouan

 This is the courtyard of the Grand Mosque in Kairouan in Tunisia.
I was there in 1975, and still remember it clearly.
Kairouan is the third Holiest City of the Moslem world, after Mecca and Medina.  Construction of the mosque was begun in 670 AD (the year 50 in the Islamic calendar) and is not only very old, but hugely impressive.
Set at intervals in the enormous courtyard are several wells.  There is a marble one in the foreground of this picture on the left.

Groovy Well

In my vision, I am at the bottom of that well, standing in the bucket, to which are attached many sturdy ropes.
As you can see in the detailed picture of the well (see right), the rim is scarred with the grooves of many centuries of ropes hauled from its depths.  Attached to the upper end of those ropes is You.  One each.  All I can see looking up is a beautiful circle of bright blue sky and the occasional face peering down to shout encouragement or insults, depending on your fancy.  So pick up a rope, pull away and I will soon be back with you again.  No hurry, it's already happening.

Thank you all so much for all the hauling you have done so far.