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Hi Seamus - Congratulations on your anniversary. Yes I agree, some dates do stick - I was the proud owner of an indwelling catheter from Christmas Day 2021 to 5 November 2022. They are hard to forget.

At least we are both going in the right direction - Here's to the 10th anniversary..

Hi Seamus, 5 year's gone and long may it continue, as for remembering date tomorrow is the 7th anerversary of a member of the incurable group, your all giving me targets to aim for

Brian, glad you enjoyed Amble.  I was away in Clumber Park this week, staying at one of the National Trust cottages.  Originally I was aiming for 7,000 - 8,000 steps a day.  On Monday we went to Sherwood Forest, just a 15 minute drive, and I put in over 28,000 steps.  It nearly killed me!!  Took me a few days to get over it!

If you were abroad and called someone from Northumberland a Geordie they would have lapped it up.

You are right about being English abroad when having a pint.

Steve, 28000 steps!! Good on you!!! I did 16500 on Christmas Eve and was knackered all over Christmas!! Well at least you had a good break. I am having the weekend in that there London down south!! Watching football (Dagenham and Redbridge  away) and Sunday the Natural History Museum. No doubt come back tired and broke!!

Brian.

Hi Steve,

I haven't posted for a while but thought I would jump in for an update. Did you go back on Budesonide?

Hubby has now finished his course and we are, especially me, hoping that the diarrhea does not return. However, last Monday he was again complaining of a pain around his scar which was from his partial bowel resection three years ago. He has been moaning about this for a few months now and I just thought it was because he has put weight back on. On examination though, I found the pain was not actually on the scar but further to one side and there was a lump. Dr Google said it could be an incisional hernia or even a strangulated one, so I wrote to the surgery via their online service. Next day, amazingly, we got an appointment last Friday morning to see the doc. At the face to face, he said he needed a scan and if we went via a gp referral it could take two to three months, but if we went via A&E with a letter from him, he would get a scan that day. 

Well after over 9 hrs waiting, he finally was seen and scanned but they found nothing. Having been discharged with advice to take paracetamol, we now have had an appointment through for yet another colonoscopy. They never mentioned that, and he is now trying to wriggle out of the procedure saying it no longer hurts. But having suffered with this pain for months, he is not getting out of it, so this week we are on the low residual diet!!! So boring and everything I think of cooking seems to be a no no and then of course he has to face the dreaded liquid drinking bit before his procedure on Thursday morning. He can't move fast at the best of times, so it could prove a challenge to get to the loo in time . 

Also, talk about get your money's worth, he had his urine flow test a couple of weeks ago, and now we have an appointment to see Urology at the end of April. I am wondering if they will suggest the Turp procedure.

Gina

Hi Gina - Steve's away in the Lake District this weekend so the reply might be delayed a bit.

By the heck you haven't half been through the mill!!  They sent me 3 packs (I think pints) of "mango juice" before my  colonoscopy - an informed source advised me to drink it through a straw - fantastic advice!!

I have had a TURP - yes it sorted my flow out - it's much better than the pre TURP although I did have an indwelling catheter for the 10 months prior to that. i was only in hospital overnight.

Hope all goes well'

Kind regards - Brian.

Hi Brian, 

I know, it seems one thing after another. I now have a handbag specially for hospital visits - coffee, book, phone charger etc. Luckily for me this time, I had the dog in the back of the car and after three hours at 4.30 pm. the docs say they will try and get scan done by 10pm, I bailed out and went home.

However, I just had to sit there and wait for the call to collect him. I got a call at 11.15 to say he was coming out so had a half hour drive in the dark (hate driving at night) to collect him and then another half hour drive home. Got home and forgot I had left the boot open on my Discovery Sport with a big spoiler and drove into my garage. Next thing, I hear a crunch and realise it was stuck. Got out the car and then realise that he had fallen over in the drive. By now it is 12 at night and raining. 15 mins of trying to get him to his feet with the aid of a broken bench in front garden, and then finally managed to dislodge the spoiler from the garage door with only minor damage (last time I did it, it cost me £500 to repair!!"). 

I had a large whisky and finally got to bed at 1 a.m.!!!

What was the advantage of drinking through a straw?

Best regards

Gina

Gosh Gina, it can't get much worse!! Poor lad, he's been through it. Of course no one considers people like you and Mrs Millibob who are unsung heroes looking after us men.  It's a blessing to live within walking distance of Oldham hospital, I can even go direct on the bus 9 stops - because the car park is always full!!

The straw!! Well the drink to me tastes like an awful sweet syrup so a quick gulp with a straw it goes down right down the throat without the awful taste and the gag reflex.

Kind Regards - Brian.

Not sure what concoction he has been sent as parcel arrived this morning. Just got to get through a week of boring food before we get to the 'potion' and running shoe stage so will get the straws out in the hope it helps. The worst thing I have found is that I give him the liquids and then have to keep nagging him to drink it within the hour.  I think if I put gin in it, it would go down much better!!!

Thanks

Gina

I just close my eyes and take a good straw full and try and gulp it down in one go - thus trying not to taste it. I hate sweet things. A personal preference too - ditch the toilet paper and use wet wipes!! (I know I am sad!!).

Having said that at Oldham you have the option to follow the camera on the TV screen if you want to - I find that fascinating!!

Have a great weekend - No nuts beans etc etc ,,,,,,,,,

Kind regards - Brian.