This weekend I have mostly been sat in hospital waiting rooms and hunting for a product called Gelclair.
I’ve got a very sore mouth and the elusive Gelclair is one of the only things that soothes it. God knows what’s in it, but it bloody works. Diflam ain’t got nothing on Gelclair.
Gelclair I love you
The only stash I had, donated by a generous friend, ran out last week and it’s been Mission Gelclair ever since.
My Gelclair quest has caused some drama over the last few days. I had a Mary and Joseph moment and nearly sobbed when I was turned away from the umpteenth pharmacy when they said “no Gelclair here!”. My first trip to out-of-hours also nearly ended in tears, when I was handed a prescription for Bonjela.
Anyone who’s been through chemo will understand how painful & debilitating ulcers can be, and how pointless and ineffective Bonjela is. As one doctor later commented, it’s for babies.
After waking on Sunday with an all over body rash and an ever deteriorating mouth, I was sent back to out-of-hours and finally admitted to hospital yesterday evening.
The mucous membrane of my mouth has eroded in places leaving gaping sores and ulcers. The pain is excruciating so I’ve been on heavy duty painkillers. Eating and drinking has become a painful game of “avoid the ulcer”.
My white blood cell counts are low, not low enough to be neutropenic, but low enough to have my own room. There are some bonuses to having a chemo damaged immune system.
I’ve been keeping myself busy with some colouring in. I treated myself to Johanna Basford’s Secret Garden. Here’s my first attempt (note the hospital blanket frame):
It’s very therapeutic, although it doesn’t do much for mouth ulcers.
The Gelclair is finally on order and I’m told it should arrive Tuesday. I just realised that’s actually tomorrow….never have I been so excited about receiving some oral mouthwash!
Until then it’s back to the colouring.
KillerK 