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8th April
Now that Bob has settled down he has fallen into a distinct routine. Unlike me when I used to work shifts he works hardest through the night doubling his output and expecting me to wake so as to make room for more. I don't have much choice since there would be an awful mess to clean up if I roll over. So I'm up 2 or 3 times a night to tend to him. It means that I never get a full nights sleep and the quality of sleep is not so good since I'm waking to check. Just after breakfast...
7th April
I've been awake since around 2.00, my head full of all sorts of stuff so I'm unloading them whilst having a cup of tea. I've just realised whilst checking the date that it is 36 years to the day when I first started work. Thinking how much water has passed under the bridge, what has been achieved and all the mistakes I have made. There's not that much I regret. All in All I haven't done too bad after being the lad from Kilton who was always lighting fires, shooting guns and fighting...
Saturday Morning 31st March
The past few weeks have been a life changing experience. Just the simple things like Sue let out a big fart last night in bed and I envied her - What's that all about? But look on the positive side I can have a crap whist in bed, whilst talking to my mother and on the phone (I think I might have done that one before though). I have been self conscious that that the bag may smell and I'm not aware of it however Sue and Graham have assured me it doesn't. Apparently the...
Wednesday 28th
The weather has been fantastic for this time of year so it has been nice to sit out in the garden. I'm having some small meals and trying to drink plenty of tea and water since much of the water in food is taken out in the large bowel. Again loads of phone calls and visitors including the stoma nurse and all very welcome . The great thing about food at the moment is that I can eat all the unhealthy shit that I never did before this whole business like crisps, white bread...
Sunday 27th March
Back Home at Last after a long wait in my room for the NGH Pharmacy to send up my drugs. Drain removed (ouch) Shauna my allocated Stoma Nurse assessed my self care with the help of Micky Winfrow who had just popped in (Cheers Mick and thanks for being the first welcome non family face to visit me last Thursday) Dressed and ready by 11.00. Maxine the oher stoma nurse thinks I'm an Ironman having done better than anyone she knows. They are all lovely
A very surprised...
19th March
It's been a week since I hit my lowest point when my op got postponed. Since then I've had another consultation through the NHS, another pre op assessment and plenty of fresh air to clear my head. I have had a few walks including one on Saturday with Graham then yesterday we went over to Andrew's and Micky's house in Shipley Country park for dinner. It was just a shame I was on a low fibre diet in prep for my op. Only meat, potatoes and Yorkshire pudding for me but it was good...
13th March
I've just come back from seeing the consultant at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. I set off at 07.00 to make sure I cleared the traffic and got a parking space for my appointment at 09.00.
The Consultant informed me that he had got me a slot in the operating theatre in the afternoon of the 20th assuring me that the weeks delay will have no impact on my condition whatsoever since I have proberbly had the problem for several months or even a year. I've been asigned my own...
12th March
I was due in tomorrow for my operation however BUPA have called to say that I'm not covered for cancer treatment and we just cannot afford to pay this as a private patient.
It's a massive blow when I was all prepared and had also been in for my pre op assessment this morning. My head is just spinning at the moment. I cannot laugh or cry. I find myself just staring into space vacantly.
I have a new appointment tomorrow with the same surgeon at the Northern General so I can get...
I think its worth a note on my symptoms of this condition and Colour Blindness.
See I've always had a problem on the snooker table when it comes to red and brown. I have on numerous occasions potted the brown by mistake for the red. Both look the same to me unless I study them closely and compare one with the other. Obviously or not so obvious is the difficulty in spotting blood in faeces which for me I have not noticed. The only symptoms have been the very occasional messy / slimey bum wipe which...
7th March
I've just returned from my consultation at Thornbury Hospital. Arriving 45 minutes early it was a nail biting 1 hour wait to hear the news.
Good news is that the 2 polyps were both benign
Bad news is that the area found in the rectum is cancer.
Good news is from the scans it appears that it has not spread and in the Dukes scale it is about A/B.
Operation wise to perform this simple "Re Plumbing" I'm in on Tuesday afternoon and will remain in hospital for up to 10 days. I may need a...
