3 nearly faintings

I have this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutropenia (right on the border of 'moderate' and 'severe', last time they checked)

And on Wednesday, I had one of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_marrow_biopsy

It was the most excruiciating and uncomfortable procedure ever. I have not given birth, so I cannot compare the two, but at least you could have an epidural when you are in labour. I had a local anaesthetic, which hurt very much as it was being injected. In fact, I almost fainted (#1). Luckily I was lying down.

Then the doctor took a sample of my bone marrow and also some bone from my hip. I'm not going to go into detail about how it felt to have a needle passed through bone to get to said marrow.. all I'll say is that you can still feel the bone marrow being sucked into the syringe, despite the anaesthetic. That was possibly the most painful part, and very unpleasant - not nice to feel something being siphoned from inside your body.

Jeremy was very supportive - he sat with me throughout the entire procedure. I think his hand has even almost recovered from being completely crushed..

Afterwards, I could hardly walk, it was so sore (yet still being numb from the anaesthetic). I nearly fainted in the waiting room afterwards (#2); I had gone into a shock a bit. Jeremy ran to get a nurse, and I managed to avoid passing out by lying down on the seats. The nurse brought a bed, and I was wheeled through the corridors to the day ward, where I had to lie for about an hour. At 11am Jeremy took me to work, but after 40 minutes I called him to take me home, as I had nearly fainted at my desk (#3). How embarassing!

So I spent the rest of the afternoon at home, taking ages to do anything which involved moving. And I watched Dr Phil, as any good invalid does.

It's Saturday now, and I am starting to walk around more comfortably. Sleeping is still pretty uncomfortable, because I can't put any pressure on my hip.

And that's my tale of woe for today. Back to cleaning the house. Jeremy is out all day and all night today, so I hired a movie I've been looking forward to seeing, and will thoroughly enjoy having some time to myself.

And tomorrow Jeremy and I are going to pretend it is Christmas, because our other Christmas will be spent miles away in a hotel. We even have stockings, and crossiants, and all the paraphernalia associated with Christmas morning.