The view from flu is coming to an end....

Well, I've got a feeling when I get home this experience is going to seem very surreal.

It's coming to the end of day 10, which means tomorrow morning I leave quarantine, and that's it, done. Tomorrow morning is standard procedure, and then we are discharged from quarantine at 11.00. We then go to the clinic area next door, have a shower and get given our spare change of clothes (the uncontaminated ones) that we left with them before we entered the quarantine unit. Unless i need a repeat blood test, I am then free to go! Yesterday I started taking tamiflu (not sure if that's the correct spelling), which is an anti-virus drug, twice a day, to get rid of any traces of flu that might still be in my system. I'm not sure how long I've got to take it for, but I believe it can have some side-effects. They advise you not to drink too much   alcohol when you leave because it's not certain how mixing the drugs and alcohol can affect each other. But obviously I'm going to have a few bevvies!!!!


All I can think about now is leaving here, breathing in the fresh air, getting back to New Cross and seeing my flat mates......and conveniently,  it's halloween tomorrow, which is even more of an excuse to PARTAAAAAAY. Excited doesn't even justify how I'm feeling right now!

Being confined to a room for 11 days makes you appreciate and look forward to all the simple pleasures! I'm expecting it to be pretty overwhelming tomorrow when I step out of here. It's going to seem so busy and chaotic, which it is anyway, but taking into consideration the environment I've been in, even more so!!!

The experience I have had in the past 10 days has really emphasized how important it is for me to step back, slow down and spend time in my own company. Itt allows me to think, reflect and appreciate everything. I think it's really important that you understand the value of spending time alone and being able to gather your thoughts. It's always go go go and constantly doing one thing to the next, I love being this way and wouldn't change it for the world, however, it's only when you stop that you realize how exhausted you are which is why having this time has done me the world of good.

Taking part in flu camp has been beneficial to my studies in allowing me the time to read a lot, but also in the way the nature of the experience informs the areas I learn about on my course such as psychology, sociology, cultural studies and anthropology.

Day 10 Video: Sorry it's a bit blurry!

 

My mum moved house yesterday from my hometown where she's lived since the 80's when her and my Dad moved from Worcester. So it's a pretty big deal! It's a whole new exciting chapter for her and her new life in Shrewsbury. All my mums side of the family live there so it's going to be great having them just round the corner. Even though I couldn't be there to help her move in, she shared her happiness with me when I spoke to her on the phone last night, I was overjoyed to hear how at home she was feeling and how well the big day had gone. We couldn't contain our excitement about seeing each other next week! So it's been very odd being here while this really significant thing has happened!

So I thought it would be nice to show you some of the cards I made for her! Recently I found a card I made for my mum when I was 9, I'm going to give her that along with these. I tried to paint a really childish picture of my mum outside her house (the green thing in her hand is a watering can haha).

These are the two covers I've made to go on the mix CD's I've made for her.

So tomorrow it's back to normal life and out of this bubble I've been living in. It's on to the next with a job interview pretty much as soon as I leave tomorrow afternoon, Halloween celebrations of epic proportions, and two of my best friends coming down for the weekend. No rest for the wicked. 

On reflection I've felt very emotionally secure throughout the entirety of the experience, maybe that's because there is a set routine to every day and you know what to expect. I'm sort of surprised and sort of not that I've not felt anxious at any point. I think the environment just makes you feel very safe and comfortable and therefore there's nothing to feel anxious about. The fact that you are doing everything at your own accord and not to please anyone else also probably has a massive thing to with it, you can just get on with what you need to do without any disruption. Have I got what I wanted from the experience? It's more of a case of the fact that I've accomplished the things I planned to do, which is really satisfying! 

In my opinion, it doesn't matter what age you are or what you do, this experience can be beneficial to everyone mentally and emotionally, it just depends on how you approach it and what you feel you can gain from it. If you approach it positively and see it as a life experience, then you're going to gain a lot from it.

Thank you for reading my blog and sharing this experience with me, it's been really encouraging getting everyone's feedback from it and I appreciate all the support so much. And to those of you who are planning to do Flucamp - enjoy!!!

Lots of love 

X

Saturday: A week later....

I can't comprehend the fact that I've been here a week! It has floooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn by. It is quite disorientating as you lose all sense of what day it is. Today I feel as well as I did a week ago, which just goes to show that doing Flucamp doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get ill - bonus!

So I see I missed some blue skies today, but I've been glad to avoid the apparently freeeeeeezing cold temperature!! It's going to be a shock to the system when I step out those doors. Really looking forward to wearing all my cozy winter attire! 

I always look so possessed at the start of all my videos.....

If you haven't already, have a look at my tumblr of all the photos I've taken of the view from flu this week all in one place! - http://emilyjoychapple.tumblr.com/

In four days I'm going to be back in the big bad outside world. On the same day I leave I have a job interview later on in Covent Garden.....fingers crossed, it's all go go go. Mum says I do too much, she is always right as I've come to realize, however, I'm not going to change my ways anytime soon, soz mum. She really isn't happy about me doing Flucamp, which is to be expected because after all she's my mum so she's going to feel concerned....and she's a nurse which makes her even more wary! I'm sure when it's over and I've come out in one piece, she'll understand how much I've benefit from it.

There's always sooooooo many red squiggly lines over all my writing, I can't spell for shit!

The view from flu

I've decided to put the photos I've taken with my iPhone on tumblr. They aren't great quality and I don't claim to be the most skilled photographer in the world but I like to think they have been taken with a creative eye! Some lovely views of East London.

Here's the link - http://www.tumblr.com/blog/emilyjoychapple

I didn't realize that if you've not got a tumblr account you can't look at peoples profiles - I know a lot of people probably don't have it so I'm just got to put some of the photos on here as well!

My favourite is a photo I took on Wednesday when it was sunny. It's of two builders in the distance on some scaffolding on the roof of a house. It would have been an amazing photo if I'd have used a camera with higher megapixels and a lens, but it's still a lush photo regardless. You see the builders silhouettes faintly against the back drop of a clear sky. 

Fit as a fiddle

It's Friday and I'm still feeling pretty normal, still only mild symptoms on and off. The last couple of days have been back to standard procedure, very chilled. Although, this morning I had my blood sample taken at 6am which clearly really woke me up! The past couple of days have been productive, I've been reading a lot, especially yesterday as I felt very alert all day (buzzing from the drug maybe? ha).

Everyone has been asking me if I've gone nuts yet from being confined to my room, surprisingly not, like I said before, I think it depends massively on how you utilize your time and how much you like your own company. I'm wild enough as it is anyway, with or without 11 days in confinement.

Although I haven't lost it yet, I do wonder how being back in the outside world is going to affect me. Will it all be a bit too much? Will I feel anxious? Will I be able able to cope with being surrounded by lots of people? Will I be more irritable? I don't think it will affect me that much to be honest as I consider myself to be stronger than that, but these are some of the feelings people can experience who have been engaged in reclusive behavior or a similar circumstance of confinement. To be honest, although I did a lot of research into the nature of medical trials prior to arriving in quarantine, I didn't investigate much into other peoples individual experiences of Flucamp before I arrived, I wanted it to remain a bit unpredictable. If I had looked at what other people had written and videos they had taken of their experience I would have had too many preconceptions of what to expect, which would have been no fun.

A number of people who have are interested in doing Flucamp or have had their first blood test, have been commenting on my videos on YouTube  Although I personally didn't want to know too much before I got here, I'm glad that my videos have been helpful to those people who are interested but just need a bit of reassurance and an idea of what general day to day life here is like. 

So in terms of flu - really not a lot is happening! I keep being asked 'are you ill yet?' by friends and family and I'm being told that if I don't get ill soon my blog is going to get incredibly boring, haha, despite how well I'm feeling I will do my best to maintain your interest!

Day 4: Drip

Yesterday I was given the flu medication, which was administered through the process of cannulation. A cannula was inserted into a vein in each arm, which looks like this........

The drip was then attached to the cannula of my right arm, the less dominant. The one on my left arm was just a precaution. When the cannula was inserted, it wasn't very painful, just a strong prick when the needle went in and a lot of pressure put on my arm. The staff here really put you at ease. I managed to remain really calm whilst it was being put in - I'm impressed with myself! I've obviously got so used to needles and having my blood taken. 

The process of cannulation lasted for about 2 hours and 15 minutes, from 11.00 - 13.15. During this time I read and before I knew it they were 'undripping' me. You can technically move and bend your arm with them in but it doesn't feel right because it's so bulky after all, it is a needle in your arm!

They left the cannula in my left arm in throughout the day and overnight as a precaution. I didn't sleep as well as the other nights because I was conscious of the position of my arm, it was hard to get comfy. I can't wait to get it out of my arm now!!

 

 

 

      I had a  busy schedule yesterday and after the medication administration process I was absolutely knackered! We had our lunch and then apparently most of us konked out straight after, ha. I woke up at 18.00 and it was dinner time! I still wasn't feeling any symptoms, other than backache. I'm avoiding sitting on  on my bed now and  using my armchair like a Grandad in the hope that I'll be relieved of this back pain! 

I've been thinking about how I'm not doing any exercise because I'm confined to this room that's giving me one of the symptoms of flu: muscle and joint ache. It's interesting how the environment is actually causing the symptoms rather than the actual flu! But then again I may not have been given it! Who knows; I still  have no idea when or if I'm going to feel the symptoms. 

This is one of the schedule sheets I get given every day, so you  can get the idea of how detailed it is. So far they've changed each day, but I think from today (Weds, day 5) they'll stay pretty much the same everyday because I've been given the flu and the drug.

The wrongest fish pie I've ever consumed. We get fed really well here, it's only the evening dinners that aren't that nice, but it really doesn't bother me, you can't expect them to be that tasty!!

Despite how busy it was yesterday, I  had a productive day work wise, I managed to do a lot of reading for uni which I'm really enjoying. AND I GOT SOME BOURBONS!!! Haha

Day 3: Flu me up, baby.

So today I've been inoculated, which means I officially have flu......or not because it's a double-blind placebo controlled study, I could have nothing, which will mean 11 days of quarantine and no illness, brill! Had a busy day so far, my schedules slightly changed now I've been inoculated. I now have a spirometry in the morning and an ecg in the afternoon. Also have to put my used tissues in a bag - absolutely LUSH. 

I could apparently be feeling symptoms by the end of the day....it's a bizarre position to be in, waiting to feel ill! 

Day 3: Video update. Inoculation and foggy weather!

Had a skype with my brother Pete earlier. It was so funny, because he was skyping from his iPhone. For ages it was as though I was taking to a kettle because the iPhone 3Gs only has a camera on the back! Haha!!

I feel like I've been thoroughly entertained so far by friends and family on skype!

My friend Lotte asked me if it was feeling weird and to be honest, it doesn't. I've got used to being here. The people who work here are so friendly and considerate that they instantly make you feel comfortable in what really is for most people, an unconventional environment. One thing that I realized makes a huge difference to settling in is having a daily routine, it also makes time go a lot quicker.

Bon apetite..........

              Just eat the most unfish and chip tasting fish and chips and I've ever eaten, haha.

Had a funny/awkward moment with the guy in the room opposite me during inoculation today. I can't stop laughing to myself just thinking about it. I hope I can justify the hilarity of the situation now...... was after I'd  been given my dose of flu, I was sat in bed and I looked over at the guy opposite and he was sat on his bed too and there was a massively awkward moment of eye contact... . with a great big peg on his nose aaaaaaaaaaah it was so funny. It was the way he looked at me so sternly, clearly embarrassed I looked away so quickly it must have been so obvious how amusing I found it.

   DON'T BE SHY MATE EMBRACE THE PEG!!!

Day 2: So far, so good.

I'm coming to the end of my second day in quarantine, so far, so good. On reflection, I think this would be a really difficult thing to do if I didn't enjoy my own company but I really do. It gives me the chance to think and not think and just do what I want to do without any pressures or demands. I feel and I hope it's going to be a productive time for me. I'm finding it very peaceful and relaxed so far and I guess that's because I'm doing everything at my own pace, it's as though any concept of time is non-existent. 

This is my window looking out onto the corridor. The blind has to stay half open all the time, at first I felt a bit apprehensive about this lack of privacy, but honestly, I've got used to it now and it's not so bad as I have an en-suite which I can get dressed in. It's really funny, me and the guy opposite can see each other through our windows. Decided I'd break the ice earlier and give him a cheeky wave, haha.

The view from flu............

I love how you can see St. Pauls and The Shard really faintly in the background

Where all the magic happens.....

Daily schedule

06.20: Symptom diary card
06.30: Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure
07.10:   Directed physical examination
08.00: Breakfast
10.20: Symptom diary card
10.30: Temperature, blood pressure
11.30: Blood samples. Exploratory bloods: PBMC (x3 tubes), RNA (x 3 tubes) influenza serology (x 1 tube)
13.00: Lunch
14.20: Symptom diary card
14.30: Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure
17.40: Dinner
18.20: Symptom diary card
18.30: Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure
22.20: Symptom diary card
22.30: Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure

Today has gone quicker than I thought it would. I've been skyping friends and family all day and watching  Breaking Bad, lush. Dad has been referring to me as 'Fludude' and Flucamp as 'The Flu Flucker Trial'......rolling my eyes and sighing as I write this.....

 I plan on studying from tomorrow, thought I'd give myself a few days to settle in first. Really looking forward  to doing a lot of reading. Rinsed Goldsmiths library good and proper....

 Tomorrow I will be given the flu........and the fun begins. I'm confident I won't be so ill that I won't be able to do anything, that would be pants. No idea how I'm going to feel/how crap it's going to make me feel..it's all a mystery......

Ordered one of my faves from their very limited DVD selection today.....lush......

By Tuesday I think I'll have a good routine to my day going. It's only the end of the second day and I feel like I've got used to my schedule already. The doctors, nurses and biochemists are all so friendly and considerate, they really prioritize making sure you're alright. I'm glad I'm feeling really comfortable. I dread to think of what it would be like if I didn't! If there's one thing I've learned about myself so far it's that I've got an adaptable nature.

It's 23.30 now so I'm going to go to Bedfordshire now and have some sweet dreams.

Looking forward to what tomorrow brings......(other than flu)

What? When? How?

PROTOCOL TITLE: A Phase 2a, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of TCN-032 (Human Monoclonal Antibody Directed Against the M2 Protein Influenza A Virus) In Subjects Challened with H3N2 Influenza A Virus.

I'm taking part in a clinical trial with the virology research company Retroscreen Virology Ltd, for the purpose of developing treatments for respiratory viruses such as influenza, hence the name given to the studies; 'Flu Camp'. For 11 days from the 20th of October until the 31st, I am staying in a quarantine unit among a number of other volunteers. We stay in rooms on our own with an en-suite and we are confined to these rooms for the duration of our stay, so the only people we talk to are the doctors, nurses and assistants who work on the unit. They take blood, blood pressure, temperature, and nasal swabs daily. We are provided with 3 meals a day, water, tea and coffee. They also have a variety of films and games you can choose from, as there is a television and play station (won't catch me playing on call of duty anytime soon haha). I think being a student, taking part in Flucamp is a really worthwhile experience. Not only is it morally a rewarding thing to do but it also gives me the opportunity to read and study, and of course, earn a good sum of money. I applied for Flucamp by registering my interest online and within a few days they called me and invited me in for a blood test to check if I had the range of anti-bodies they were looking for in potential participants. After I got through the first stage, I was invited back for a full screening; urine samples, blood, ecg, spirometry test and reflexes. A week or so later I got a call from them and the tests had been successful,
all that was left for them to do was receive the go ahead from my doctor and I could arrange when I was going to take part in the trial.

Here's a video I've made on reflection of my first day at Flucamp: 

My lovely flat mates (the Surrey House massive) are the sweetest, they sent me off with these....

"ENJOY DA FLU INNIT.....but then get well soon really quickly and then you can make me soup and I can buy you other pointless flu related gifts..."

.

"Get well and then get better soon!"

"We'll miss you, use the time to make plans for how we'll party when you're back!"

"Hey home G,
hope flu camp don't give you green wee, I'll miss you like a 'lil sweet pea, 'cus you put the leaves on my tree, big love, big hug, big sucky sucky xoxo"

"The Bronx will miss you, come home!"

So much love for them X