Bren’s rant

So there I was, on the phone to my mate one night a few weeks ago. I was in my computer room, which in reality means - the spare bedroom. And with me being on my umpteenth cup of coffee needed to lose some of the liquid. Toddled to the bathroom and peed a few cups worth. Still on the phone (it's a man thing ladies, just like you go in pairs at the pub) "Oh ****" I said to him "That's not right, I'm pissing blood" So to cut a long story I found myself in the doctors surgery 36 hours later explaining the problem. Events moved pretty quickly and he gave me forms for blood and urine tests at the hospital. It was only a mile away so I went straight away. He had told me the appointment would be within two weeks. However the second of those two weeks was already taken up with a little break we had organised to Amsterdam. Seeing no other episodes I had more or less talked myself into thinking it was nothing to worry too much about, well at the front of my mind at least. The appointment came through before travelling and was for Monday 10th Nov. I wouldn't be here if I had been right, but the diagnosis of bladder cancer came as no less of a shock. Even in spite of the massive shock to my system hearing the news I was still aware of the marvellous way I was being treated. While still on the examination bed the doctor had his diary open and organised a date for admittance with me there and then. Two weeks and I am being admitted, surgery the same day. I was escorted through the hospital, rather than just being sent, to see the pre-op nurse, and as soon as I sat down outside her room I was shown instead into a room opposite and introduced to a Macmillan nurse, she spent about 15 minutes with me going through things. Once this was done I had to wait only about five minutes to have a pre-op exam. Tomorrow I have an ultrasound scan, it didn't seem too important at first but taking more time to work my way around it may well be. As a self employed person I put in place certain things for the unforeseen circumstances that may hit you in the future. So one thing I have, or rather had, is hospital plan insurance. Paid this for many years, and only when I see the direct debit on my bank statement do I think about it. Once my brain started functioning I set to work getting arrangements in place financially. Having moved house 3 times in the last few years, one of them times when I bust up with my wife, the address details of my hospital plan insurance were not up to date. I contacted them yesterday and asked for policy info and claim forms, giving my current address. Today a letter arrived addressed to my wife, we split in January '05 and she has never lived here. I opened this, thinking it was their cock-up and it said they couldn't change HER details on the word of a third party (me). One phone call to the insurance company later I find out that she has cancelled my insurance. Yeah you're wondering how can she cancel mine if I can't change the address on hers. Well as in most marriages financial matters get interwoven. For example, I insured the car she drove and she insured mine, because it was a couple of hundred pounds cheaper that way. As it turned out she was paying my insurance and I was paying hers. She stopped paying so it lapsed. I could be in hospital for only 4 days, but on the other hand it could be just the first of a number of times, depending on the outcome of this first one. The top hat on a "wonderful" year in my life!!!!!