New Haw Saint Bladder Cancer journey

FINAL POST & TIMELINE (17 September 2020)

2020-10-15T07:35:00Z

Can you believe it was 3 months ago this week that I had my operation? I know it was because I was back at Charing Cross hospital yesterday and today for my first set of follow up scans.I then had a consultation this afternoon with my lead surgeon to...(read more)

THANKS (31 July 2020)

2020-10-15T07:34:00Z

Although my bladder cancer journey will continue forever (in the short term getting used to my Neobladder and in the long term quarterly, bi-annually and then annual scans), I wanted to draw a line under this blog.The first entry was on 7th June and ...(read more)

USING NEO (31 July 2020)

2020-10-15T07:32:00Z

Was back in hospital on 30 July to begin using my Neobladder. For the record my Neo was constructed using 60cm of my small intestine. Sounds a lot, but we have about 7 meters of small intestine and my bowel function, which could have been affected, s...(read more)

20 DAYS ON (29 July 2020)

2020-10-15T07:32:00Z

It’s been 20 days since I’ve been taking it easy and waiting for the next hospital appointment which was today.Time has been spent building strength and following my routine of the 6 hourly bladder flushes, and of course taking it easy. B...(read more)

TAKING IT EASY (9 July 2020)

2020-10-15T07:31:00Z

Just back from another trip to Charing Cross hospital but this time for a scheduled check up with my urology nurse and one of the two surgeons who operated on me. Two little steps forward to normality. Firstly, the pressure pad that covered the wound...(read more)

HOME – AGAIN (1 July 2020)

2020-10-15T07:30:00Z

Being hitched up to the IV machine for 6.5 hours a day for the last week has done the job and wife brought me home last night. Bladder flushes are back to every 6 hours, so without hospital noise and light, plus only 1 bag to worry about and being to...(read more)

STILL IN CHARING CROSS (29 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:21:00Z

Sunday night was my 5th night in hospital after the problem with my drain bag filling with urine.That’s a night more than I was in after the operation.However, it is much easier being in hospital when you are feeling well, especially as I can g...(read more)

FRUSTRATION (26 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:20:00Z

This post is being typed from my hospital bed on Friday 26 June which is 11 days post-op, and I’m here because during my short time back at home I was not cleaning the new bladder correctly. Yesterday I spoke to the same nurse who had said he w...(read more)

A SETBACK (24 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:18:00Z

When I left hospital on Friday I mentioned an issue that caused stress, and that same problem has me back in Charing Cross hospital today. Staying the night and potentially tomorrow. I must repeat two things:1. All care I have received has been excel...(read more)

DAY 1 AT HOME AND MY NEW SKILLS (21 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:17:00Z

First night at home was dreadful as I had an unrealistic thinking that being in my bed all would be well. It wasn’t. Just as bad as hospital. Maybe should have stayed another night. Even though I do now have a Neobladder, that will take time to...(read more)

HOME (20 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:16:00Z

The epidural removal didn’t really affect me. The nurses kept checking where the block was by blasting either side of my body with freeze spray but I could always feel it, except for a bit by my knee. Intravenous paracetamol was then used. I ha...(read more)

DAY OF OPERATION (18 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:14:00Z

Still extremely tired and sore, but want to put a few things down in the coming days. Remember this is hopefully going to be of use to a future patient. Spoke to surgeons and anaesthetists on Monday June 15th 2020 about 8:00. Also saw Stoma nurse who...(read more)

IN RECOVERY (17 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:13:00Z

That was tough. I can’t pretend otherwise. Monday 15th June knocked me for 6.Operation was somewhere between 8 and 10 hours. I do have a Neobladder so no stoma and bag, ICU after op and all day yesterday yesterday. In ward now absolutely shatte...(read more)

NEO DAY -1 (14 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:12:00Z

Mission accomplished yesterday, with a helping hand from my work colleagues who sent me some beer. It’s like going on holiday, just not looking forward to next week as much as I did Italy last year. Talking of holidays, me and 18 year old steps...(read more)

NEO DAY -3 (12 June 2020)

2020-10-15T07:11:00Z

In case you were wondering what all the “wife’ references are about rather than using her name, well it’s because we wanted this to be pretty anonymous. Obviously you all know who she is, but my plan at the end of all this is to put...(read more)