Now back to the story. Tuesday was mighty busy with a veg delivery from Riverfood and then the chimney sweep. Sadly the rain prevented him from putting up the required bird guard but at least we can start having real fires again as we move into autumn and winter. I was able to squeeze in quite a lot of work on the old computer and even managed to empty and then re-stack the dishwasher.
On the medical front I was trying something new, the convex stoma bag! And they are brill. I could wax lyrical for hours about the many many types, sizes and shapes they have for stoma bags and the first six months or so are about trying the different ones out and seeing what suits you best. And so far I think that the convex ones suit me fantastic at the moment. I love the NHS, all I do is to talk to my stoma nurse and they suggest alternatives and then arrange for free samples to be posted to me. Then it is just a case of choosing my fav and then just placing my monthly order and they are delivered right to my door within 48 hours!
The evening was, for a change(?!?!?!?), filled with the task of watching things we had recorded during the last week and not yet got round to watching yet.
And so we arrived at Wednesday. A day with no appointments and no expected deliveries or visitors. A day to plod through a bit of work work and, if time permitted, some home work. But I did need to pop to the local shops for supplies of bread, milk and eggs. Can't do without my tea or my egg sandwich for dinner!
But it was a weird afternoon as I couldn't get my head round my work. Perhaps it was due to concern about the hospital appointment in the morning. Perhaps it was worry about how many men had actually stepped out onto the moon. Guess one out of two. Prizes for the correct guess!!
And so it was a nervous A that went to bed last night. I even tried to read a "positive thinking" book that a friend had given us when my cancer was first diagnosed. Must admit the boredom of reading so much psychobabble soon made me drift off to sleep!
6am the alarm went off this Thursday morning. 8 weeks to the day since my big op and I was soon to be back in the car and on my to the hospital. A quick bath and change of stoma bag and we left home exactly on time as planned. Being a diabetic I had an early 8.15 appointment for my endoscopy, no food or drink since 9pm last night, no breakfast, no early morning cup of tea. Quite pooh really and I was dreading the whole procedure. The idea of them putting a camera down my throat was filling me with horror. Give me a major op under a general any day!
Well, we signed in and the nurse checked my details to make sure I was who they thought I was. And yes, I was me still. It was then a lay down on the bed and I was soon wheeled into the main treatment room. Spray down the throat, then some sedative pushed into my body and the consultant was soon fitting my mouth guard and the camera was on it's travels.
Now I have to say that I do like sedatives as the whole thing was easy peasy. And 5 minutes later I was on my way back to the ward for my tea and toast and then 15 mins later I was on my way home with a discharge letter that said normal, normal and normal.
Me a happy A
T a happy T
Roll on the 2nd of November for the next CT scan and fingers crossed it will be good news again.
Love and hugs to you all and thanks again for your best wishes.
Andrew xxx
