Churchill Hospital clinic done and home again. Registrar took my history and examined me for lumps in neck, groin and abdomen = none found. I did see the great man himself as he walked past in the corridor but he didn't run the session himself.
Follow-ups will be split between them and Stoke Mandeville Plastics clinic so I’ll be seen every 3 months and they will each have a six-monthly review.
I’m not suitable for the only current drug trail which requires lymph nodes to have been removed and I also have a separate condition (aneurysm) under treatment and they do not trial new drugs on people who are currently being treated for a different condition. I think, on balance, I’m glad not to be eligible for drug trials.
There seems to be some confusion about repeat CTscans; the registrar said they were using the scans from December and that they need a repeat around now for comparison purposes. My brain was cottonwool about dates so although I did say I'd had another 2 scans since then I couldn't remember the dates. Since I came home I've checked and I had a lower pelvis scan on Feb 10th and another neck/thorax scan on Feb 26 so I'd guess the results just need to catch up with my available notes.
The Registrar told me that, if they do find anything that needs to be treated they will recommend using drugs, not surgery. The surgeon already told me I'd been referred because he can ONLY offer surgical treatment.
March 8th: despite the assurances from the nurse two days ago, I checked with a magnifying mirror and took a photograph of myself this morning to find I have at least six more stitches to come out from the bottom of the scar, where I did tell her there would be some. I'm still impressed by the surgery but not by that nurse. The stitches are very visible blue thread but I'm still quite swollen and I suppose she just discounted what I said as she couldn't immediately see them. I just phoned the hospital clinic line and they told me there is a nurse clinic running at the same time as my appointment with the surgeon next Wednesday so I guess I'll hold on for that.
Today doesn't feel like a good day
