memories and what has happened so far

3 minute read time.

Sat here at 2 in the morning can't sleep so here goes.

I have never tried to put my thoughts down for others to read before, thought about it but never done it  so you will have to bear with me if you read past this bit.

First the title my father passed in 1980 with some sort of cancer  his brother about two years earlier. my father was 47  my uncle was a couple of years older.

the worry this put in my mind was quite stressful and for ages after I wondered if it was a family thing as my grandparents had passed on at an early age as well with similar cancer's. when I reached my mid forty's the worries came flooding back ,  eventually I confided in our family GP who was more understanding than I expected and sent me to the cancer unit in Nottingham the doc's there where very understanding and quizzed me about the family history and a few weeks later they had news they believed the family had a slight genetic weakness involving the sphincter muscles but that was as far as they could go without more history, and told me not to worry easy for them to say but it did ease most of my fears and life carried on.

As for now in 1996 I changed jobs moved the family 50 miles south and settled in a much nicer area life was good then in 2000 the wife became ill and very suddenly she had multiple ill's heart and lungs then became diabetic and arthritic so not too good then two grandchildren came to live with us life became full, I took forced early retirement so be came a full time house husband . probably the hardest job I have ever had ( give me shifts any time ) . and carer

that gives you a bit of background about me.

Now in late April I started with a dull ache just under my ribs on the right hand side not bad more annoying than anything but I haven't got time to be ill so of to the GP's who sent me for an ultrasound scan, rather quickly  and marked as urgent,  oh ho panic wonder what he thinks it is,  I messed up and drank a coffee about 3 hours ish and that's a no no the milk blocks the area they wanted to see. a second appointment a few days later on the following Monday, this time I read the instructions correctly and the lady who did the scan was very thorough. she told me I results would take about a week to get to the doctors. Wednesday  just two days later I got a phone call for the doctor asking me to come in and see him they had seen something on my left kidney and wanted me to have a CT scan.

it's only been two weeks and of to the main hospital for the CT scan with contrast on a Sunday again marked urgent, now I am really getting worried Sunday lunch time and they send me for a scan must think it is urgent. I didn't know they worked seven days a week .

managed not to show the wife and kids I was getting really worried but inside my stomach is churning and my head is screaming inside. I held it together and allowing for the bank holiday I did not expect to hear anything till after the holiday. ten days after the scan no news so I decided to give the urology department a ring and try and find out what was happening. Nothing could not get in touch with anyone in the department, left message on the answer machine and tried the second number given out the message again no answer so I had left my number and thought they would get in touch the next day but no. no contact I rang again and the same again no answer this is getting strange no one in the department at all for two days what is going on ?

I decided to ring the hospital and go through the switch board they put me through to the same number and still no one answers so I gave up no news is good news maybe.

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Sorry to hear the stress you have been under.  Fingers crossed that it is nothing to worry about xx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Right it has been five months ( seven since I went to the docs ) after visiting 3 different hospitals one 3 times 4 different doctors finally tomorrow I am in Sheffield for RFA on my kidney

    at Doncaster they asked me to pick what kind of treatment I wanted no advice offered to help me choose and sent me to sheffield

    the person I saw I think he was a surgeon on my first visit to Sheffield when I said I was leaning towards RFA he jumped up said she will take care of you nodding towards the nurse in the room as he headed towards to door

    each time another month slowly went past so now its time to find out fingers crossed

    good luck to you all

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    hello all

    I know not many have read this but I have had some great news

    had the kidney RFA done under general anesthetic 4 and 1/2 hours under last thing I remember as the needle went in was being told that it could send me blind since I would have to be face down for the op.

    it went fine did not have any problems except for a very stiff sore neck and both arms felt like they had been hit with a hammer but that was it I was able to walk talk and even go to the toilet all was good and I was itching to get discharged but the doctor did not do his rounds till after 5pm.

    that was the operation out of the way now the wait for the results 15 days after the op. I received a letter from the consultant the tumour was BENIGN........... what a relief all the worry gone just a scan to check eveything is ok then thats it.

    so happy I decided to go for the RFA and not the surgical removal, must admit I felt like a bit of a fraud as I was in a ward where the other chaps who had gone the other way.

    It seems I have been let off for now and my thoughts turn to those not so lucky. one thing I did find out is that there is very little around my area for the people who need support and believe that something needs to be done for them so I am going to find out what I can do to help

    for those who do read this I wish only the best for you and yours and hope the news is as good as mine, good luck

  • What brilliant news after all those months of worry.  Now get on and do all those things you've probably been putting off!!!