Well I will do my best to do a summary!
Thursday 22nd March was the day of my ileostomy reversal operation, and what should have been a big step to me getting my "old" way of life back and being part of the Dyson duo. I was slightly taken aback when I was greeted by a registra (who I now call the sorcerers apprentice) who told me he was doing the op not my usual consultant, but it was a simple op so I guess a bit of delegation had taken place. Next morning after the op and on the ward and matey comes to see me and says all went well, yay! I was now asked to try to eat some very soft food, but I had no appetite and really struggled to eat more than a couple of spoonfuls of anything.
Saturday comes and I don't feel that special and am sick a couple of times and still no appetite, this is put down to ileus (the bowel goes to sleep after being handled). Sunday and now I really feel poorly and I'm throwing up all the time despite various anti sickness drugs, plus my temperature is climbing, they do a CT scan and think the new bowel join may have a leak. Sunday evening and an emergency doc / surgeon visits me and says he fears I have some major issues and my bloods look bad, but he'll come back in 2 hours and decide what to do. 1 hour later and he's back and said sorry I need to act fast, I'm going to have to operate and reverse your stoma and see what is going on. I was gutted, mortified but also knew I had no choice as I was sinking fast.
Monday morning 2:22 am and into theatre 7 (my lucky number, not anymore!) and bye bye nice clean belly. The next thing I recall is being told I was in intensive care and that my wife and mum were here to see me, apparently my only words were "Good here innit? Supposed to be a walk in the park they said." I was heavily sedated as my bowel was in tatters and I had an infection.
12 hours later I was moved to HDU (High Dependency Unit) where I was to remain for five days. The time spent here was dreadful, I was burning hot, not allowed to drink or have any sips of water and had a mouth full of ulcers. A cold flannel on my neck and head was my salvation, as were my cut off pyjama bottoms. I have limited memories of the time here, but will never forget the time when my heart decided the infection was getting the better of me and it decided it needed to go faster, and faster and faster, eventually peaking at 248 beats per minute. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest, but after various drugs it reduced to 210 and then over many hours back to 100 (by the way way I'm normally a 60 per minute man!). Whilst in HDU, I had a central line put in to feed me, and to put all the other lovely stuff into me (I was on about 3 lots of antibiotics). The specialist nurse who had to put the line asked if I would let a trainee put it in, I politely said no as I had had quite enough cock ups already! The rest of my time was spent throwing up until I think Wednesday when they put a NG drain in (tube up nose, bleedin horrible). Friday and NG taken out and I'm sent to a ward, oh deep joy!
I'm now on the ward with all the nurses I met last year, gradually one by one I remembered them and they recalled me. My fellow patients were a 76 year old who loved his radio (and he kept me sane Sat and Sun), a gentleman who never spoke, a very old man with 2 stomas and a very poorly man with cancer. Things did not improve for me and I kept being sick and they put an NG drain back in again, YUK! I was feeling lower than a snake's belly and what with constant explosions from my bottom that came without warning and having to have a nurse wipe my arse I was a tad emotional. Then the poorly guy, Fred, passed away in the middle of one night and he had the last rites given to him and stuff and I was a blubbering mess.
Next day and my central line falls out and no nutrition for me, "Never mind will we put a PICC line in" says consultant. Oh great, but fate took a twist... The "specialist" who puts the PICC in was very busy and I went all day without it, then the next morning (Weds 4th April I awoke with pains, but these were hunger pains. I told the consultant when he came round and his face lit up, "Ooh, maybe we won't need the PICC line? OK, I want you try drinking water / tea this morning, have a jelly and a fortisip this afternoon and in the evening and see how you go." Oh deep joy, I get to drink! Well I was rather nervous and had a lot of tummy grumbles but everything stayed down, phew. Thursday and onto real food, the first time now for 2 weeks, and it all stayed down and I had turned the corner at last!
Good Friday and I was pleased to get a Hot Cross Bun, but not pleased that the wound had not healed at the bottom and there was now a 2 inch wide hole. All and sundry said never mind, and it looks a nice wound so off you go home and get it dressed every day. Go home, such sweet words, I had seen all the other patients in my ward go home and new ones come in, but now it was my turn.
Since being home I have made daily trips to see nurses who all say "what a lovely wound, but it will take a long time to heal." Best guess so far is 8 weeks, so that means at least 56 times I will be having to pull my pants down in front of nurses and trying to think of something witty as I do my best to keep things covered up.
So I am now on the road to recovery, by which I mean regaining my weight (lost 20lbs), my strength and my fitness. In fact already walking up the stairs is a little easier, and I like to measure these little improvements as a way of seeing I'm getting better. It will be quite a journey I know, but I've done it before and so know I can do it again. The fish are safe for now, and lots of my fishing pals have said they will enjoy having a chance of winning in my absence, I've also had lots of offers of people taking me out fishing and caddying for me, but that will have to wait for now.
Blimey I've waffled, and now I'm a ball of sweat after all this typing, but I have to finish by saying thank you to all my mates on Mac for the huge, massive support, it has been very touching. Of course my wife Wendy has taken a massive battering but she's been by my side every step of the way, such an amazing lady.
Finally good luck Hils, well done EMs and good luck everyone going through "stuff".
Tight Lines
Tim xxx
