For about six weeks I have been experiencing feelings of faintness and dizziness when I stood up. My exercise physiologist measured my BP when I stood up, and found quite a drop compared to the measurement of the sitting condition. She altered my exercise program, which I am now having one-on-one rather than in a class.

Following this, I have had a few new things happening:

• a transfusion of a couple of units of blood, and
• having scans to assess whether I should move to lutetium-177 treatment.

For some years I have had moderate iron anaemia. Tracking down the causes of this condition had been thoroughly undertaken by my previous gastroenterologist, by way of a colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and use of a pill camera. Rather than repeating these rather invasive tests, my current gastro, Dr B, had chosen to do various blood tests, and contrast their results over a few months. My haemoglobin had been 89 in January 1924; it was now 83. Red blood cells were deficient (I don’t have scores for this). He decided I was moderately anaemic.

Dr B thus arranged for me to have a bed in the hospital and have a transfusion of two units of blood. This was done; my beloved ferried me in some PJs, a clean shirt, and a change of socks and undies from home. She also obtained my evening and morning meds and my e-book reader, an ideal piece of kit for these circumstances. This enabled me to just settle in and wait for the blood to be obtained, a process that took several hours.

The transfusion was a slow process too, only finishing about 11.00 that night. I felt better afterwards, and had more colour. Fortunately, also, the faintness and dizziness on standing up has virtually disappeared.

Dr P wants me to cease the chemotherapy, moving instead to a newer treatment involving lutetium. (This treatment is well explained here, so I won’t attempt to paraphrase it.) First, however, I have to have two scans to assess my eligibility for the treatment. I have had one of these scans; the other will take place tomorrow. I will then be seeing Dr P this coming Wednesday, who will explain the scan results, including the all-important yes or no to my being able to commence the treatment. I’ll post or email following this consult.