drewcotgrave's blog

Saturday night and it’s like bloody Picadilly Circus. The mysterious man is having lots of attention. Alarms are bleeping, nurses in and out and hushed conversations. I fear the worst for him. Sunday morning and we are up bright and early. No lie ins in hospital. Probably not healthy! Breakfast consists of porridge, cereals and toast. The porridge is made with milk (I make mine with water) but I manage to eat it. The…

I was shown to my bed and told to wait. A young nurse who was originally from Cotgrave arrived with a questionnaire – all of the usual information. Do you take any prescription drugs – I take nine different ones for diabetes and blood pressure. She asked me what they were called. Blast! I knew I should have brought my repeat prescription form like I normally do. And why do drugs have a medical name and a manufacturers…

Saturday morning 21st February and I now know I have got an infection in my jaw. I had a major abscess about four years ago and there is swelling and a lump so it’s definitely an infection. I have phoned the hotline and got an answer phone! The pain has lessened but there is a swelling on the left side of my face making my already fatter face fatter if you know what I mean. It also means that the curry night is off.…

Jervis Pearson Ward, Nottingham City Hospital, February 2009. I have walked amongst giants hewn from solid oak and granite Reduced to splinters and sand And women so ravaged that all that is left is their beauty from within. We are the cancer community – a brotherhood so strong That we will kick the arse of this vile disease And god help anyone who gets in our way! We may be dribbling, incontinent, sometimes vague…

Wednesday 18th and I blotted my copybook. In my kitchen I have a whiteboard which I put most of my appointments on. I call it the “wailing wall” because quite often I miss something and then shout “oh no!” I arrived at the clinic at 1500, “Hello” said the radiographer, “we expected you at 1300. You have mistaken the time with the consultant’s appointment yesterday. I explained that I had been on a speed reading course…