Steve here this evening...but before everyone gets worried, today is finishing much better than it started.
As one might detect from the title, we are still in town....at the General Hospital.....on Rayner Ward...the site for so much unpleasant news over the last three years or so....but at least this evening the latest is that the stomach ache is much improved....not gone, but much better. As our reader will know from this morning's update, we haven't had the most pain free last few days....and this morning it was time to seek some more "professional" advice....
Can I say from the outset that the staff here have been brilliant today ( as always) nothing has been too much trouble...quick diagnosis, fast tests, quick results, prompt action....within half an hour of arriving we were much improved....within a couple of hours Jill was, by her own admission, having the least pain she had "enjoyed" for the last five days. I won't go in to the dramatic "toilet tales"....I've got into enough trouble recently with my vivid descriptions of hospital procedures....but let's just say that some gas has been produced...not quite enough to make jill really happy...but things have improved. Along the line we've also had intravenous drips for pain relief and also saline...and additional pills for spasm reduction....and pain relief of course. An X-Ray was taken to see the state of the bowel....not totally impacted, but some obstruction....let's just say it's been dealt with and leave it there without any graphic and (probably unnecessary) detail....no point in upsetting our reader by making them feel nauseous so close to bed time.
As I type Jill is on a saline drip that is due to finish at 10 ish...after which Bex and I are going to take her home....despite our attempts to persuade her to stay!!!!
There'll be more updates as things progress...all Jill's temperatures and pressures are fine, and have been since the op. Things are not100per cent this evening, but a huge amount better than they were when we left home this morning. It will be a big relief to get over this stomach issue so we can concentrate on the bigger picture....the annoying thing is that I think that Jill is recovering from the actual operation really well...this secondary issue is literally a pain in the backside....but hopefully we can get over it really soon.
More tomorrow.....bet you can't wait.
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Sunday 31 August 2014
Sunday 31st August
Bex writing - Mum dictating
Since Wednesday when I believe I made bad food choices I have been in constant pain 24/7. The drugs take the edge off but don't get rid of completely. The last four days I haven't eaten or slept properly.
We phoned the hospital this morning and we are now off to see if they can help.
Will update later.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Since Wednesday when I believe I made bad food choices I have been in constant pain 24/7. The drugs take the edge off but don't get rid of completely. The last four days I haven't eaten or slept properly.
We phoned the hospital this morning and we are now off to see if they can help.
Will update later.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday 30 August 2014
Saturday 30th August
Hi Steve here again. Saturday I'd finally here and we are an hour away from leaving the flat and heading for Gatwick via Victoria. The last twenty four hours had been a little up and down.....but generally a better night than previous. The sun is shining and today had already been an improvement...We even had a text from JP who used easy jet yesterday and texted to say That it had gone really smoothly and much better than expected. I'm going to put Jill in a wheelchair if only to get through security much easier....and because I can then keep her out of shops in duty free. No doubt there'll be another blog later...it will be do much easier when we have WiFi again....but having said that,we are so grateful for the user of this lovely flat...it really had been helpful to put it mildly.
More later.....
More later.....
Friday 29 August 2014
Friday 29th August
This short update is brought to you by the wonders of modem science....blog uploaded from a copied text sent on mobile.
We've had a better night...food eaten, pills taken, drink drunk,
Jill's pain is slowly easing...and moving..it's also a relief that the doctors were right and indigestion is the issue. I'm tempted to make some sort of quip about running as part of a training regime....back and forth from the bathroom,....but won't.
We'll hopefully find some WiFi later so I won't go on....We're still on target for a flight tomorrow....home mid afternoon. With luck there'll be another update today...fear not.
We've had a better night...food eaten, pills taken, drink drunk,
Jill's pain is slowly easing...and moving..it's also a relief that the doctors were right and indigestion is the issue. I'm tempted to make some sort of quip about running as part of a training regime....back and forth from the bathroom,....but won't.
We'll hopefully find some WiFi later so I won't go on....We're still on target for a flight tomorrow....home mid afternoon. With luck there'll be another update today...fear not.
Thursday 28 August 2014
Thursday update...
I uploaded the last blog...was waiting for the iPad to update some social media stuff....and Jill decided that she needed to find the girls room,....she's just back....a different person....much happier and relaxed....as the advert says, "what a relief for everyone"...... She feels a little better...have to go befor it starts raining.
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Thursday 28th August
Another blog post started at 5am, I'm hoping to distract myself from the pain....thank goodness painkillers by 7am! Really didn't realise it was going to be quite so awful post op, pain is exhausting.
Good to be out of the hospital though and in the flat, I managed to walk to shop for food and clothes, although no interest in the former and having to buy a size bigger in the latter. We also managed to successfully leave my cardigan in M&S, having so few clothes and then leaving what I do have in a shop.......
I have an appointment at the Marsden at 9 am with the lymphoedema nurse a kind of squished in 'she'll be able to see you before clinic starts appointment,'
Of which we are grateful, and hope she can answer some of our questions.
( we will also be able to use the hospital wifi and post this blog).
When did doctors stop wearing white coats? (Random thought for the day)
Dr luce has been honing his nursing skills, although we forgot the lunchtime painkillers, and last nights injection broke a small vein....he is however quite a dab hand at tea making, and I did say I was going to invest in a "nanny" bell when we get back home. She rings the bell, Pops comes to do her bidding, seems a good system to me...
Our flight has been booked for Saturday afternoon, whilst I am looking forward to that immensely, I'm not so keen on the flight itself.
Steve here....just topping up this blog before posting...we are at the Marsden and have just popped up to the ward for them to have another quick look. The balance of opinion is that the steak sandwich that jill ate yesterday lunchtime was on balance NOT the best thing to have done.....looking back, all we were thinking about was getting as much protein into the system so we could....it turns out that the steak has probably just blocked everything up....back to the flat for a bottle of laxatives?
Jill's sister Sally has decide to visit...she'll here at lunchtime....that will hopefully distract jill while I get on with things...things like going back to M&S to see if her cardigan is still there....and buying soups and other liquids foodstuffs to try to get things working again.
That's about all for now....let's hope that by tomorrow's blog we are back on form.....weather better today which is a big help...roll on bing able to get home on Saturday.....hopefully.....no more delays required please.
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Good to be out of the hospital though and in the flat, I managed to walk to shop for food and clothes, although no interest in the former and having to buy a size bigger in the latter. We also managed to successfully leave my cardigan in M&S, having so few clothes and then leaving what I do have in a shop.......
I have an appointment at the Marsden at 9 am with the lymphoedema nurse a kind of squished in 'she'll be able to see you before clinic starts appointment,'
Of which we are grateful, and hope she can answer some of our questions.
( we will also be able to use the hospital wifi and post this blog).
When did doctors stop wearing white coats? (Random thought for the day)
Dr luce has been honing his nursing skills, although we forgot the lunchtime painkillers, and last nights injection broke a small vein....he is however quite a dab hand at tea making, and I did say I was going to invest in a "nanny" bell when we get back home. She rings the bell, Pops comes to do her bidding, seems a good system to me...
Our flight has been booked for Saturday afternoon, whilst I am looking forward to that immensely, I'm not so keen on the flight itself.
Steve here....just topping up this blog before posting...we are at the Marsden and have just popped up to the ward for them to have another quick look. The balance of opinion is that the steak sandwich that jill ate yesterday lunchtime was on balance NOT the best thing to have done.....looking back, all we were thinking about was getting as much protein into the system so we could....it turns out that the steak has probably just blocked everything up....back to the flat for a bottle of laxatives?
Jill's sister Sally has decide to visit...she'll here at lunchtime....that will hopefully distract jill while I get on with things...things like going back to M&S to see if her cardigan is still there....and buying soups and other liquids foodstuffs to try to get things working again.
That's about all for now....let's hope that by tomorrow's blog we are back on form.....weather better today which is a big help...roll on bing able to get home on Saturday.....hopefully.....no more delays required please.
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday 27 August 2014
Wednesday 27th August 5am
Sorry nothing new got posted last night, I was a bit disappointed with the news the doctor gave in the afternoon, plus I temporarily 'lost' the wifi.
The good news is I am to be discharged today, apparently my medication is already sorted, so I am assuming it will be by mid morning when I get my marching orders. The bad news is I will not be fit to fly until the weekend.
This was a bit of a blow, and not what I was led to believe.
I wish they had included a ' note' in the info they had sent me previously stating that a) this would be likely, b) I would certainly need loose fitting clothes.
My abdomen is still vey swollen and painful and whilst this is the case the hospital want me to be near enough should I require further treatment. I'm not even going there, I have visions of another procedure and a drain fitted to release this fluid.......total over thinking.
It is very difficult now being on this ward, because I am far fitter than anyone else here, and so feel a bit of a fraud, also I am sure that being able to walk a little further than twenty paces, will help disperse this lymphatic fluid and whatever else besides.
Of course Steve has had to change his timetable once again, and cancel stuff he had organised for the next few days, he always says it's not a problem, but I know he does not like to mess people about in this way.
We also know that we will have to fly back via Gatwick as no flights to Jersey from City airport. Hopefully we can get that sorted later today.
Thank you to the folk that have stepped in to help walk Jessie over the next few days, suddenly the boys are all working and Bex is on her job hunting course. I do appreciate it.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The good news is I am to be discharged today, apparently my medication is already sorted, so I am assuming it will be by mid morning when I get my marching orders. The bad news is I will not be fit to fly until the weekend.
This was a bit of a blow, and not what I was led to believe.
I wish they had included a ' note' in the info they had sent me previously stating that a) this would be likely, b) I would certainly need loose fitting clothes.
My abdomen is still vey swollen and painful and whilst this is the case the hospital want me to be near enough should I require further treatment. I'm not even going there, I have visions of another procedure and a drain fitted to release this fluid.......total over thinking.
It is very difficult now being on this ward, because I am far fitter than anyone else here, and so feel a bit of a fraud, also I am sure that being able to walk a little further than twenty paces, will help disperse this lymphatic fluid and whatever else besides.
Of course Steve has had to change his timetable once again, and cancel stuff he had organised for the next few days, he always says it's not a problem, but I know he does not like to mess people about in this way.
We also know that we will have to fly back via Gatwick as no flights to Jersey from City airport. Hopefully we can get that sorted later today.
Thank you to the folk that have stepped in to help walk Jessie over the next few days, suddenly the boys are all working and Bex is on her job hunting course. I do appreciate it.
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Tuesday 26 August 2014
Tuesday 26th August
Sorry, back to boring old me now after the wealth of witticisms that has sprinkled the blog posts over the last four days, it could be a real come down.... Many thanks to my husband for sharing my intimate details with the rest of the entire WORLD, not at all in the deal we struck before I was intoxicated with mind numbing drugs.
I would like to set the record straight on a few facts however....
This surgery was quite different from the previous operation, with just the removal of two lymph nodes, seemingly simple but sadly not attainable, as one of them was so wrapped around the renal vein it was inaccessible. The operation itself lasted about two hours, but I spent the best part of nine hours in recovery and then about another 20 hours in HDU.
I had forgotten just how awful being in hospital and having surgery really is, I was grumpy and irritable and miserable, ( no, I'm not normally like that !) I was also in a great deal of pain. The staff at the Royal Marsden are truly wonderful , and while being very efficient, have a great empathy for us the patients. This does help you to recover more quickly I'm sure. In my limited knowledge of hospitals this whole hospital is quite different from the others certainly the main fact being that every single person in here being treated has had or has Cancer... And there were plenty of ladies around me that I feel are worse off than me. Three young ladies in my ward, one of which was pregnant with a two year old at home, had a large tumour removed from her leg. It made me feel very humbled and very grateful for the life I've had so far, and absolutely no right to winge on about my situation.
My tummy is still very swollen, I feel as full as an egg, but at least the pain has subsided. Although part of it was due ( and still is to 'gas') mostly it is full of the lymph fluid from the disrupted node removal. It means that my abdomen ( and it's not large) is full of fluid that has to gradually disperse into my blood stream, well, not actually into it but into the ' third space' the empty bits between cells etc, at least that's the rough explanation I got from one of the lovely nurses. This can only take time, sometimes they fit you with a drain during the op, which works very well, but then there is the difficulty of when to remove it, and the increased risk of infection. In my case it was better to let the body deal with it itself ( apparently according to the surgeon I have a perfect body for surgery, not exactly an accolade I ever hoped to achieve.....)
After a lovely chat with the doctor yesterday MH, ( I hope she does come and do a bit of work in Jersey, she's lovely!) we came to the decision that while my stomach is so distended the pressure in the flight could make it far worse, so better to wait another 24 hours or so, although I may actually be discharged today I can't fly until tomorrow ( thank goodness for the flat) .
Meanwhile back at the ranch..... The children ( and extended children !) have been amazing, fortunately Tom was able to take two days off last week and work from home, but he also did many chores, including dog walking, cooking and cleaning, Dan seems to have spent the best part of the last five days at sea, and so was excused from duties, but Jack and Bex have also done their fair share, including gardening, grass cutting, etc. I was sent a lovely photo of them eating supper last night that Tom had cooked, ( they did say don't bother coming home, far more fun without me- I think it was a joke ....) :-)
I had forgotten about the surgical stockings - four weeks of wear, tricky when sea swimming....... I had also forgotten about the stinging injection ( tinzaparin) that has to be administered every day for a month. Essential to prevent blood clotting but painful all the same, ( I don't know how you coped MR injecting yourself every day, but then you're a man)
As for the hilarity with my brother and sister in law yesterday , Colombo ( with the hat) it will take some explaining, and did no favours to my tender disposition. Still in my single room fortunately, I just had the space to entertain my 'guests' , who had bought their own refreshments including a bottle of water. DN when emphasising a point gesticulated with her arm while holding the bottle ( that had no lid ) and poured most of it over my brothers arm and down his leg. This took a lot of tissues and a bit of floor mopping to clear up. Goodness know what the rest of the ward made of the laughter - I then decided we were safer to move to the small day room down the corridor. So my brother attempted to gather up his coat, brolly, hat etc for the move whilst his wife was stood at the sink working out how the tap and soap dispenser worked. My brother bent over, my sister in law squirted the liquid soap which was angled away from the sink and shot straight down the back of his trousers.........I was incapacitated with laughter watching this happen from my chair, these three adults stumbling about in each other's way, Donnas apologetic with yet more more tissue wiping, Pete with that resigned air of the inevitable, and Steve trying hard not to get involved.
Lastly, a very big HUGE thank you to all of you out there that are wishing me a very speedy recovery, although I can't always reply to each person, please know that it is appreciated.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I would like to set the record straight on a few facts however....
This surgery was quite different from the previous operation, with just the removal of two lymph nodes, seemingly simple but sadly not attainable, as one of them was so wrapped around the renal vein it was inaccessible. The operation itself lasted about two hours, but I spent the best part of nine hours in recovery and then about another 20 hours in HDU.
I had forgotten just how awful being in hospital and having surgery really is, I was grumpy and irritable and miserable, ( no, I'm not normally like that !) I was also in a great deal of pain. The staff at the Royal Marsden are truly wonderful , and while being very efficient, have a great empathy for us the patients. This does help you to recover more quickly I'm sure. In my limited knowledge of hospitals this whole hospital is quite different from the others certainly the main fact being that every single person in here being treated has had or has Cancer... And there were plenty of ladies around me that I feel are worse off than me. Three young ladies in my ward, one of which was pregnant with a two year old at home, had a large tumour removed from her leg. It made me feel very humbled and very grateful for the life I've had so far, and absolutely no right to winge on about my situation.
My tummy is still very swollen, I feel as full as an egg, but at least the pain has subsided. Although part of it was due ( and still is to 'gas') mostly it is full of the lymph fluid from the disrupted node removal. It means that my abdomen ( and it's not large) is full of fluid that has to gradually disperse into my blood stream, well, not actually into it but into the ' third space' the empty bits between cells etc, at least that's the rough explanation I got from one of the lovely nurses. This can only take time, sometimes they fit you with a drain during the op, which works very well, but then there is the difficulty of when to remove it, and the increased risk of infection. In my case it was better to let the body deal with it itself ( apparently according to the surgeon I have a perfect body for surgery, not exactly an accolade I ever hoped to achieve.....)
After a lovely chat with the doctor yesterday MH, ( I hope she does come and do a bit of work in Jersey, she's lovely!) we came to the decision that while my stomach is so distended the pressure in the flight could make it far worse, so better to wait another 24 hours or so, although I may actually be discharged today I can't fly until tomorrow ( thank goodness for the flat) .
Meanwhile back at the ranch..... The children ( and extended children !) have been amazing, fortunately Tom was able to take two days off last week and work from home, but he also did many chores, including dog walking, cooking and cleaning, Dan seems to have spent the best part of the last five days at sea, and so was excused from duties, but Jack and Bex have also done their fair share, including gardening, grass cutting, etc. I was sent a lovely photo of them eating supper last night that Tom had cooked, ( they did say don't bother coming home, far more fun without me- I think it was a joke ....) :-)
I had forgotten about the surgical stockings - four weeks of wear, tricky when sea swimming....... I had also forgotten about the stinging injection ( tinzaparin) that has to be administered every day for a month. Essential to prevent blood clotting but painful all the same, ( I don't know how you coped MR injecting yourself every day, but then you're a man)
As for the hilarity with my brother and sister in law yesterday , Colombo ( with the hat) it will take some explaining, and did no favours to my tender disposition. Still in my single room fortunately, I just had the space to entertain my 'guests' , who had bought their own refreshments including a bottle of water. DN when emphasising a point gesticulated with her arm while holding the bottle ( that had no lid ) and poured most of it over my brothers arm and down his leg. This took a lot of tissues and a bit of floor mopping to clear up. Goodness know what the rest of the ward made of the laughter - I then decided we were safer to move to the small day room down the corridor. So my brother attempted to gather up his coat, brolly, hat etc for the move whilst his wife was stood at the sink working out how the tap and soap dispenser worked. My brother bent over, my sister in law squirted the liquid soap which was angled away from the sink and shot straight down the back of his trousers.........I was incapacitated with laughter watching this happen from my chair, these three adults stumbling about in each other's way, Donnas apologetic with yet more more tissue wiping, Pete with that resigned air of the inevitable, and Steve trying hard not to get involved.
Lastly, a very big HUGE thank you to all of you out there that are wishing me a very speedy recovery, although I can't always reply to each person, please know that it is appreciated.
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Monday 25 August 2014
Rainy days and Mondays....
So, this evening's blog title is another song...and there are a few i could have chosen....New moon on Monday (Duran Duran) .... I don't like Mondays (Boomtown Rats) ...there's a few others..but settled for the girl with best voice I have ever heard.....Carol Carpenter. If you ever need to listen to someone with a genuine perfect singing voice then she's your girl....anyway, I digress.
Today has been better....and a LOT less swearing.....less indoor wind and more outdoor wind...and rain as well for that matter. Tipping it down outside all day so far...but we gather that it's the same at home. Jill has been much more "normal"....and we've discovered that the "full tummy" may not be just air...but also some fluid. Apparently if your protein levels are low you may have fluid "hanging around in void spaces".....so that could be the reason why Jill's put on weight!!!! Protein tests being done as I type....
.....and we have some sort of cooking programme on the TV at the moment...the last comment from the bed was..."too runny, looks like cow sick"...funny that, as an ex farmers wife, you would have thought that jill would know that cows can't be sick..well not quite as we humans know it.....Also, it's a bit mean to pass such quick judgement on someone else's cooking....the poor student had been hours preparing it....whatever it was (I'm not really concentrating on the TV).
The doctor is very happy with progress....but not all that happy about the thought of flying tomorrow. Pressure in tummy will only get worse at altitude (and, sorry, the girl that prepared the "cow sick meal" has just gone home in tears....so jill must have known something).....anyway, no flying home tomorrow...maybe Wednesday. That means it's the flat for us tomorrow night as I cannot see us being allowed to stay after tomorrow's doctors rounds. We are still awaiting the results of various "liquid" tests from samples taken this morning early...being a bank holiday I guess there's not many people working in the labs...which has reminded me that I hear there is an infectious disease in one of Jersey's schools...Ebeaulieu.....sounds nasty. Anyway, when the tests are back and all okay I am sure that we will be out on the street with all the people trying to find their way home from the Notting Hill Carnival....it's a shame for them....just like our own battle of flowers...all that hard work and it rains all day.
We had a really nice visit from P and D at lunchtime...up on the train from leafy Surrey. We ended up doing a lot of laughing...all of which made Jill's stomach hurt even more...anyway,it was really good to see them...and we all (except Jill obviously) ended up in a real Thai restaurant for a late lunch.....proper Thai food and proper Thai beer....my first real hot meal for a few days...and just when my diet was going so well (not). They are due to visit us at home in a few weeks time, so we look forward to seeing them again soon.
Lots of lovely messages keep rolling in from all sorts of various technological routes...iPad, iPod, texts, instagrams, Twitter, Facebook and good old conventional email...the list goes on and on..what did we do when we only had a phone and a dial? It's good to hear from everyone...which reminds me..I was outside the hospital on the phone this morning when a man walked past with a very large parrot on each shoulder...under an umbrella obviously...it made me think...if we were in Sheppards Bush and not Kensington I could have done a joke about better a bird in the hand than two in the bush....but I won't.
Tributes being paid to Lord Attenborough....he certainly has given us all some epic films....my favourite of course is the Great Escape, (how often did our boys try to recreate the Steve McQueen motorcycle jump when we were at the farm) .....but there was also Brighton Rock, (got to love Graham Greene) .....and then Jurassic Park..just like St. Ouens in the bad old days of Bal Tab etc....but of course there were a lot less scary animals in Jurassic Park.
Final thought for the day....I read that it may soon be illegal to call someone a Jersey Bean....what's all that about?.....people hardly pay me any compliments these days, and being called a Jersey bean IS a compliment....there's so few of us left. Political correctness gone totally potty as usual.
Finally a contribution from her on the bed,.....a photo she took of Peter earlier. More tomorrow peeps.....but fear not if there's nothing after lunchtime...no wifi in the flat and it may need a text message from us to home and upload from there for tomorrow's epistle. Speak soon.....
Peter in his "rainy Monday in London" clothes....lucky he didn't get arrested!
Today has been better....and a LOT less swearing.....less indoor wind and more outdoor wind...and rain as well for that matter. Tipping it down outside all day so far...but we gather that it's the same at home. Jill has been much more "normal"....and we've discovered that the "full tummy" may not be just air...but also some fluid. Apparently if your protein levels are low you may have fluid "hanging around in void spaces".....so that could be the reason why Jill's put on weight!!!! Protein tests being done as I type....
.....and we have some sort of cooking programme on the TV at the moment...the last comment from the bed was..."too runny, looks like cow sick"...funny that, as an ex farmers wife, you would have thought that jill would know that cows can't be sick..well not quite as we humans know it.....Also, it's a bit mean to pass such quick judgement on someone else's cooking....the poor student had been hours preparing it....whatever it was (I'm not really concentrating on the TV).
The doctor is very happy with progress....but not all that happy about the thought of flying tomorrow. Pressure in tummy will only get worse at altitude (and, sorry, the girl that prepared the "cow sick meal" has just gone home in tears....so jill must have known something).....anyway, no flying home tomorrow...maybe Wednesday. That means it's the flat for us tomorrow night as I cannot see us being allowed to stay after tomorrow's doctors rounds. We are still awaiting the results of various "liquid" tests from samples taken this morning early...being a bank holiday I guess there's not many people working in the labs...which has reminded me that I hear there is an infectious disease in one of Jersey's schools...Ebeaulieu.....sounds nasty. Anyway, when the tests are back and all okay I am sure that we will be out on the street with all the people trying to find their way home from the Notting Hill Carnival....it's a shame for them....just like our own battle of flowers...all that hard work and it rains all day.
We had a really nice visit from P and D at lunchtime...up on the train from leafy Surrey. We ended up doing a lot of laughing...all of which made Jill's stomach hurt even more...anyway,it was really good to see them...and we all (except Jill obviously) ended up in a real Thai restaurant for a late lunch.....proper Thai food and proper Thai beer....my first real hot meal for a few days...and just when my diet was going so well (not). They are due to visit us at home in a few weeks time, so we look forward to seeing them again soon.
Lots of lovely messages keep rolling in from all sorts of various technological routes...iPad, iPod, texts, instagrams, Twitter, Facebook and good old conventional email...the list goes on and on..what did we do when we only had a phone and a dial? It's good to hear from everyone...which reminds me..I was outside the hospital on the phone this morning when a man walked past with a very large parrot on each shoulder...under an umbrella obviously...it made me think...if we were in Sheppards Bush and not Kensington I could have done a joke about better a bird in the hand than two in the bush....but I won't.
Tributes being paid to Lord Attenborough....he certainly has given us all some epic films....my favourite of course is the Great Escape, (how often did our boys try to recreate the Steve McQueen motorcycle jump when we were at the farm) .....but there was also Brighton Rock, (got to love Graham Greene) .....and then Jurassic Park..just like St. Ouens in the bad old days of Bal Tab etc....but of course there were a lot less scary animals in Jurassic Park.
Final thought for the day....I read that it may soon be illegal to call someone a Jersey Bean....what's all that about?.....people hardly pay me any compliments these days, and being called a Jersey bean IS a compliment....there's so few of us left. Political correctness gone totally potty as usual.
Finally a contribution from her on the bed,.....a photo she took of Peter earlier. More tomorrow peeps.....but fear not if there's nothing after lunchtime...no wifi in the flat and it may need a text message from us to home and upload from there for tomorrow's epistle. Speak soon.....
Peter in his "rainy Monday in London" clothes....lucky he didn't get arrested!
Sunday 24 August 2014
Sunday Sunday .....
Steve here again....Thought I would entitle this blog after a Momas and Popas song (that's probably lost half the blog readers already) but the next line is " so good to me..." .....and while today hasn't been bad, it could have been a little more pain free. There's no doubt that the benefits of the anaesthetic have properly worn off now....pills still being taken...but the big pain of the day has been wind....and not the type whizzing around in the sky. I seem to remember the same happened two years ago...it's all the air that gets trapped in your body while the operation is taking place ... It doesn't all get out before they finish...consequently there is always some left to give you discomfort....and today is the day that it all came to say "hello" and remind us that it is there. (as I said to Jill, it's just a little like trying to get all the air out of a bag of freshly blanched vegetables in a freezer bag just before you pop them in the deep freeze.....as you can imagine, that went down well) Shifting the pain is an issue...some walking around, some moving about, some sitting still....nothing really seems to be working....but we have eaten better today...lovely bran flakes for breakfast and then a baked potato for lunch....yum yum.. The doctor has just been...he says that it's just something that you get with this type of operation....and it will pass...I won't relay what Jill's reply was after the doctor had left the room!
We had another visitor this afternoon....JP has her Mum in a ward downstairs at the moment....she popped in for a brief chat....good to see her and we're pleased her Mum is doing okay. Apparently we have yet another Jersey lady in another part of this ward somewhere....I must make an effort to find her...although whether she wants to see me is very debatable....you come to London to get away and find you have some Radom politician doing bedside visits....you can sure tell it's election year!
The interesting fact for today is that, apparently, there are also a large number of people from Gibraltar that use the Marsden. These Gibraltarians (??) get the option of a Spanish hospital or here....as our nurse said, a no brainer if ever there was one. I note that this week there was a news article about the large numbers of Barbary macaques in Gibraltar...and how they are going to have to reduce the population. Maybe they should ask every patient that arrives just to bring one with them....they could make a garden for them at the hospital...maybe that would help....maybe it's time I stopped writing down every little bit of random rubbish that comes into my head.
After the doctor's advice, Jill has just got up and gone down the corridor to make a cup of tea. She needs to move as much as she can apparently... Little does the doctor know about how much she is moving already....when we were here two years ago Jill got up and had a bath....when she was supposed to be staying in bed....blooming woman. And now one of the orderlies has spotted her, stopped her and then said that she has to sit on a special chair that takes your weight....and the "computer says" she now weighs more than when she arrives...once again, you can imagine the response....."I haven't eaten anything....how can I weigh more?" Etc.etc.
There's been no mention of going home today...we've decided it's because there is probably paperwork involved in sending you home...and no one wants to do paperwork on a Sunday...can't see anyone wanting to do paperwork on a Bank Holiday either....I suspect that may mean that we are here until at least Tuesday....either way, it's probably just as well...trying to organise flights tomorrow may be a bit tricky....and then there is the weather....I can't see Jill running across the road to get out of the rain just yet....
Right, I've been told to shut up and stop typing...far too long...who will want to read all that.. telling the world about the "bodily functions " that have happened today....I could go on, but that really would be a big turn off, and at tea time too.
Can't go without mentioning the shock we had this morning....a picture was uploaded of T and J doing housework....mopping and hoovering....well, that's what it looked like. We haven't worked out if it was staged for the camera...but it looked pretty authentic....we are impressed parents...maybe we should go away more often. It's also quite possible that the house was in a real mess after some random party....either way, Jill was very happy to see her kitchen being looked after.
More tomorrow gang...if you can cope with the suspense of waiting!
We had another visitor this afternoon....JP has her Mum in a ward downstairs at the moment....she popped in for a brief chat....good to see her and we're pleased her Mum is doing okay. Apparently we have yet another Jersey lady in another part of this ward somewhere....I must make an effort to find her...although whether she wants to see me is very debatable....you come to London to get away and find you have some Radom politician doing bedside visits....you can sure tell it's election year!
The interesting fact for today is that, apparently, there are also a large number of people from Gibraltar that use the Marsden. These Gibraltarians (??) get the option of a Spanish hospital or here....as our nurse said, a no brainer if ever there was one. I note that this week there was a news article about the large numbers of Barbary macaques in Gibraltar...and how they are going to have to reduce the population. Maybe they should ask every patient that arrives just to bring one with them....they could make a garden for them at the hospital...maybe that would help....maybe it's time I stopped writing down every little bit of random rubbish that comes into my head.
After the doctor's advice, Jill has just got up and gone down the corridor to make a cup of tea. She needs to move as much as she can apparently... Little does the doctor know about how much she is moving already....when we were here two years ago Jill got up and had a bath....when she was supposed to be staying in bed....blooming woman. And now one of the orderlies has spotted her, stopped her and then said that she has to sit on a special chair that takes your weight....and the "computer says" she now weighs more than when she arrives...once again, you can imagine the response....."I haven't eaten anything....how can I weigh more?" Etc.etc.
There's been no mention of going home today...we've decided it's because there is probably paperwork involved in sending you home...and no one wants to do paperwork on a Sunday...can't see anyone wanting to do paperwork on a Bank Holiday either....I suspect that may mean that we are here until at least Tuesday....either way, it's probably just as well...trying to organise flights tomorrow may be a bit tricky....and then there is the weather....I can't see Jill running across the road to get out of the rain just yet....
Right, I've been told to shut up and stop typing...far too long...who will want to read all that.. telling the world about the "bodily functions " that have happened today....I could go on, but that really would be a big turn off, and at tea time too.
Can't go without mentioning the shock we had this morning....a picture was uploaded of T and J doing housework....mopping and hoovering....well, that's what it looked like. We haven't worked out if it was staged for the camera...but it looked pretty authentic....we are impressed parents...maybe we should go away more often. It's also quite possible that the house was in a real mess after some random party....either way, Jill was very happy to see her kitchen being looked after.
More tomorrow gang...if you can cope with the suspense of waiting!
Saturday 23 August 2014
Saturday evening .... Update II
Apparently it's exhausting even to text, so it's Steve here again, in charge for another evening update.....but before people get concerned, I have to say right from the outset that progress had been good (almost rapid) all day....but those of you who play sport with Jill will not be surprised.
Aunty Betty came on a surprise visit from the wilderness that is East Anglia....but it was only a surprise for Jill as I knew what was happening. Betty's visit has perked things up...and apart from an hour while Jill slept and we filled our faces at the cafe across the road, Jill has spent most of the day chatting....so it's not really surprising that she's a little tired, in any case, I suspect she is holding her breath and girding her loins for the return of the doctor this evening....and I don't mean the doctor, I mean The Doctor. ...and if you are saying "who?" then you are the right track.....Capaldi may be a bit on the old side, but I'm sure he'll do just fine....not that I'm really bothered as I would be much happier watching the rerun of grand prix qualifying.....however, for you sporty types the important news is that Chelsea won 2-0....for the non-sporty types the news is that there's an ash cloud about to explode in Iceland....and that's not because the deep freezers have caught fire in the store at the New Era. We will be waiting with baited breath...the last thing we will need is to find that all planes are grounded next week. Talking about return travel leads me to say that I suspect we will discussing our hospital exit with the powers that be in the Marsden tomorrow....progress really has been that good that I think they will be asking us to drink up and vacate the premises probably on Monday, and before you ask, yes, we have seen the weather forecast. If we find ourselves out on the street, well Fulham Road to be precise, I think we will (like Her Majesty was telling me the other day) reside in London until Tuesday...(I hate name droppers, don't you?) and wait for the turbulence to subside in the upper atmosphere....the last thing Jill will need is an hours bumpy trip on a plane....and the weather really doesn't look good for Monday at all.
For those of you with a thirst for medical details....all the tubes have gone...just a needle in one hand "just in case it's needed" ....Jill's popping a few small pills on an occasional basis, but on the whole doing very well considering it's not much more than 48 hours since the op. In and out of bed like a yoyo....however, we suspect that the laxatives that were taken pre-op (and didn't really work) have just realised what their real job is....I'll say no more.
I think that will probably do for now....if progress is maintained overnight then I would hope that all you blog followers may get to see a few words from the wise one in between sleeps tomorrow.....stay safe Jersey.
By the way.....very very many thanks for all the messages of good wishes..they are arriving by means of all sorts of modern digital technology...I'm sure Jill will respond as soon as she can....we're very grateful.
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Aunty Betty came on a surprise visit from the wilderness that is East Anglia....but it was only a surprise for Jill as I knew what was happening. Betty's visit has perked things up...and apart from an hour while Jill slept and we filled our faces at the cafe across the road, Jill has spent most of the day chatting....so it's not really surprising that she's a little tired, in any case, I suspect she is holding her breath and girding her loins for the return of the doctor this evening....and I don't mean the doctor, I mean The Doctor. ...and if you are saying "who?" then you are the right track.....Capaldi may be a bit on the old side, but I'm sure he'll do just fine....not that I'm really bothered as I would be much happier watching the rerun of grand prix qualifying.....however, for you sporty types the important news is that Chelsea won 2-0....for the non-sporty types the news is that there's an ash cloud about to explode in Iceland....and that's not because the deep freezers have caught fire in the store at the New Era. We will be waiting with baited breath...the last thing we will need is to find that all planes are grounded next week. Talking about return travel leads me to say that I suspect we will discussing our hospital exit with the powers that be in the Marsden tomorrow....progress really has been that good that I think they will be asking us to drink up and vacate the premises probably on Monday, and before you ask, yes, we have seen the weather forecast. If we find ourselves out on the street, well Fulham Road to be precise, I think we will (like Her Majesty was telling me the other day) reside in London until Tuesday...(I hate name droppers, don't you?) and wait for the turbulence to subside in the upper atmosphere....the last thing Jill will need is an hours bumpy trip on a plane....and the weather really doesn't look good for Monday at all.
For those of you with a thirst for medical details....all the tubes have gone...just a needle in one hand "just in case it's needed" ....Jill's popping a few small pills on an occasional basis, but on the whole doing very well considering it's not much more than 48 hours since the op. In and out of bed like a yoyo....however, we suspect that the laxatives that were taken pre-op (and didn't really work) have just realised what their real job is....I'll say no more.
I think that will probably do for now....if progress is maintained overnight then I would hope that all you blog followers may get to see a few words from the wise one in between sleeps tomorrow.....stay safe Jersey.
By the way.....very very many thanks for all the messages of good wishes..they are arriving by means of all sorts of modern digital technology...I'm sure Jill will respond as soon as she can....we're very grateful.
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Saturday morning...Marsdenland.
Just a short update as this is the first time I have been allowed in the hospital at this time of day. Overnight blood tests and monitoring proceeded apace and this morning jill is eating her first toast and jam with a cup of some queer tea infusions thingy. Still very tired, but fit enough to start requests for all sorts of unimportant things....and also now watching TV...goodness knows what's on at this time of the week. I'm only allowed to be here from 9 until 10... So will post this before I get evicted. More stunning instalments this evening. S
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Friday 22 August 2014
Day two....
Well,it's Steve here again tonight for another gripping episode of life on the wards ....the only gripping being that which Jill is doing in her efforts to get up...but of course she's not allowed yet...which of course didn't stop her this morning before coming up to her new ward. I have to say that she's already pulling herself up in bed, so that's a good start...but the painkillers from the operation will start to finally wear off tomorrow...so we will see how easy it is then.
She's deliberately not been taking any morphine...two reasons ...one, she doesn't want it and two, if you have the morphine connected then you have to have the tube blowing oxygen up your nose ...and that's irritating. So, when she asked the nurse to unplug the morphine she was told no....mainly because they want to be completely sure that there will be no pain when she starts eating again tomorrow....so, the morphing stays for now. When thomas called earlier he was appalled that Jill wanted to get rid of the drugs....people should always make the most of offers of free morphine apparently.
So, what else has happened today? Not a whole lot really ....Jill is already bemoaning the fact that she's confined to bed....a brisk walk around the ward would be preferable .... But if she did that she'd be dragging the bed behind her...still a number of tubes plugged into various places.
With luck we may lose tubes tomorrow....the deciding factor will be keeping solid food down without pain...once we've got that cracked then things can happen. The liquid diet is also a highlight .... Jill was lucky to be given an oxo cube in hot water for her main meal this evening....the joys.
So that's about it for now....I had expected her to want to write the blog this evening... But she does short bursts of activity and she has a little doze...with me at the controls of the tilting bed....I have warned her that if she doesn't behave then I'll set the machine to tip her on the floor...
so that's it for now...more again tomorrow...
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She's deliberately not been taking any morphine...two reasons ...one, she doesn't want it and two, if you have the morphine connected then you have to have the tube blowing oxygen up your nose ...and that's irritating. So, when she asked the nurse to unplug the morphine she was told no....mainly because they want to be completely sure that there will be no pain when she starts eating again tomorrow....so, the morphing stays for now. When thomas called earlier he was appalled that Jill wanted to get rid of the drugs....people should always make the most of offers of free morphine apparently.
So, what else has happened today? Not a whole lot really ....Jill is already bemoaning the fact that she's confined to bed....a brisk walk around the ward would be preferable .... But if she did that she'd be dragging the bed behind her...still a number of tubes plugged into various places.
With luck we may lose tubes tomorrow....the deciding factor will be keeping solid food down without pain...once we've got that cracked then things can happen. The liquid diet is also a highlight .... Jill was lucky to be given an oxo cube in hot water for her main meal this evening....the joys.
So that's about it for now....I had expected her to want to write the blog this evening... But she does short bursts of activity and she has a little doze...with me at the controls of the tilting bed....I have warned her that if she doesn't behave then I'll set the machine to tip her on the floor...
so that's it for now...more again tomorrow...
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Location:marsden
Thursday 21 August 2014
First post op visit
Steve here again....sitting in the flat...composing a few words on the iPad...the idea being that I can upload it myself ( if I'm lucky) when I visit this evening. Jill is in recovery ( I called a few minutes ago) and was told she is doing fine. Apparently she's pain free....but I think that it must be drugs that are keeping the pain away. We decided this morning not to go for the pre-op back injection to ease pain...there was a very slim chance of reduced leg strength after...not something you want if you have to do as much exercise as Jill. The op has gone reasonably well...not perfect, but better than it might have. The long and short is that there were some bits that were too well attached, and Jill would probably have lost a kidney if the surgeons had persevered and tried to get the last bit out. Consequently there is some of the cancer remaining...I don't know the exact detail yet...but they are confident that chemo will sort this out. The really good news is that there was no other lumps, or anything else, that they could find....and that's a BIG positive. There's no doubt that Jill will be " disappointed" about another course of chemo, but we won't know the detail of how much and how many units etc. until the experts over here and at home have he a chance to discuss what they think is best. As I said, Jill is still in recovery, but at least I can visit....I'm going at 6...and hopefully can stay until 730. I'll leave it there for now....it's quarter past five...I'll upload this when I arrive at the hospital at 6 and then maybe post a short bonus blog after I've got on the recovery ward....speak again later.
So, here I am in reception after my first visit to the recovery room. Jill is still pretty zonked....her carbon dioxide levels are quite high apparently...this is helped by talking...so it's a real surprise that it's an issue...talking isn't normally a problem. Seriously though...I counted seven or eight tubes...all going in to various, some unmentionable, places. Her time for moving to the overnight high dependency unit is quarter to eight this evening...I'll call there at nine tomorrow and see what they say...probably moving to a ward/room early tomorrow I would have thought.
Okay...I'm going to try to post this while I have wifi connection at the hospital...that will be a feat on it's own...I'm not use to ipaddy things...let alone blogs ... The last thing to say is that I will be calling a few people this evening...apart from family I have spoken to no one. Tomorrow I expect that the iPad will stay with Jill...and we can all expect more regular updates...me included! Returning home will take at least a couple of days to decide...the week end and bank holiday will complicate things...but, as I said to Jill, if she spent a little time at the flat before going home that would be good...I'm sure there'll be some domestic jobs to be done before we head back to the rock!!!
Seriously, a though day all round...but we're coming out of it better than we might have done.
More bloggy stuff tomorrow peeps.
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So, here I am in reception after my first visit to the recovery room. Jill is still pretty zonked....her carbon dioxide levels are quite high apparently...this is helped by talking...so it's a real surprise that it's an issue...talking isn't normally a problem. Seriously though...I counted seven or eight tubes...all going in to various, some unmentionable, places. Her time for moving to the overnight high dependency unit is quarter to eight this evening...I'll call there at nine tomorrow and see what they say...probably moving to a ward/room early tomorrow I would have thought.
Okay...I'm going to try to post this while I have wifi connection at the hospital...that will be a feat on it's own...I'm not use to ipaddy things...let alone blogs ... The last thing to say is that I will be calling a few people this evening...apart from family I have spoken to no one. Tomorrow I expect that the iPad will stay with Jill...and we can all expect more regular updates...me included! Returning home will take at least a couple of days to decide...the week end and bank holiday will complicate things...but, as I said to Jill, if she spent a little time at the flat before going home that would be good...I'm sure there'll be some domestic jobs to be done before we head back to the rock!!!
Seriously, a though day all round...but we're coming out of it better than we might have done.
More bloggy stuff tomorrow peeps.
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Thursday 21st August
Okay people..it's 0915..Thursday morning....things you need to know. 1, Steve here ( not unexpectedly, as her ladyship is otherwise detained at the moment). 2, no WiFi. 3, this is an attempt at farmers tech...text messages via phone to daughter who is uploading to blog. 4, short messages to update everyone are better than nothing. So here we go....
Flat is great...200 yards from the Marsden (can't say how grateful we are for such wonderful and generous neighbours) ...hospital blood tests last night went well....walked up south Ken and found new pasta parlour...top food...slept well under the circumstances...no food or drink for Jill this morning..."checked in" to hospital at 730....loads of the usual questions, but all go this time..went through the usual sexy clothing change, tight tights, paper underwear, hospital gown, plastic"shoes"....resisted the urge for photo, don't want to spoil anyone's day....Jill is first up, so straight down to theatre at 815....still all a little surreal...loads of possible outcomes this afternoon but we are in the best place,with the best people...whatever happens, we know it will be the best option....Just a question of waiting to hear now...I'll send another text when I get the update crook the surgeons...I expect Bex well upload this "textblog" during the afternoon .....maybe I'll have more news later..Steve.
Flat is great...200 yards from the Marsden (can't say how grateful we are for such wonderful and generous neighbours) ...hospital blood tests last night went well....walked up south Ken and found new pasta parlour...top food...slept well under the circumstances...no food or drink for Jill this morning..."checked in" to hospital at 730....loads of the usual questions, but all go this time..went through the usual sexy clothing change, tight tights, paper underwear, hospital gown, plastic"shoes"....resisted the urge for photo, don't want to spoil anyone's day....Jill is first up, so straight down to theatre at 815....still all a little surreal...loads of possible outcomes this afternoon but we are in the best place,with the best people...whatever happens, we know it will be the best option....Just a question of waiting to hear now...I'll send another text when I get the update crook the surgeons...I expect Bex well upload this "textblog" during the afternoon .....maybe I'll have more news later..Steve.
Wednesday/Thursday 20th &21st August
Honestly, you couldn't make it up.
Tuesday afternoon went well at the hospital ( Jersey) saw my consultant and the haematologist , had a blood test...got issued with medication. We decided I would have the G-CSF injection as a safe guard, (Steve to administer lunchtime today! )Also received two big hugs, ( they weren't on prescription!)
Went off to play tennis ( obviously) weather was lovely and sunny and we were just getting into the match when one of our ladies ( I use the term loosely) got herself tangled up with the racquet and swung it hard in an upward motion, spec-tactually missing the ball and clobbering herself in the process, just below the eyebrow..... Lots of blood, ( fortunately not on the court, wouldn't want to spoil that). She did weave about a bit, declaring herself fit to play on, also fit to drive herself to the hospital, neither request was granted. The eye socket was swelling up rather quickly and certainly not enhancing her looks so
AH took her to hospital where she was duly checked over and 'glued'. I wanted a photo so I could put it on the blog, but was told that was a step too far.........
With the tennis called to an abrupt halt, I had time to go for a swim, it was gorgeous and flat calm, just me, Jessie and oystercatchers, bliss.
Whizzing back home , having just had time to prepare a chicken /rice dish for family supper, I went off to play netball, it was ok......just filling in for the A team and rushing about for an hour.... Actually I really, really loved it, and wether the rest of the team were on a vow of silence, nobody shouted at me when I missed the ball ( occasionally) or threw a rubbish pass ( more frequently !) . Although I'm sure they'll be pleased to have their full squad for the next game and not an out-of-date oldie!!!
Today, had a fab walk around Flicquet with my dog, then racquetball and coffee with my pals.... ( photos later!) . Few jobs to do and then another final swim , meeting my friend Pdlh at my fav beach. Frantic packing ensued before we left house at 3:45....
Previous to this at 10:30am I had received a call from the Marsden saying that I needed a blood test.... " group and save" test, very important for blood transfusion, and so could I come into the hospital tonight straight from the airport? "yes, of course"..... 11:30am another call..... Don't worry about coming in tonight, just come in at 8am have the test and then go back at 11am for admission ..... "Ok" . On the way to the airport I get yet another call, change of plan, come in tonight for blood test, and then come in at 7:30am not 11am as we're doing the operation in the morning and not the afternoon!!!!
So..... We made it into London City on a fairly uneventful flight, to be told our bags were coming in on carousel 2, but as we stood patiently waiting with the other passengers we caught a glimpse of our bags slowly going round carousel 1, fortunately for us the airport is very small and only has the two conveyer belts...
Cases rescued we caught the train into London, only a minor mishap of Steve + bag + rucksack =turnstile sandwich....
Thanks to everyone for your good luck wishes, I have received so many not just from my friends but through Steve and the children , it really is very humbling.
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Tuesday afternoon went well at the hospital ( Jersey) saw my consultant and the haematologist , had a blood test...got issued with medication. We decided I would have the G-CSF injection as a safe guard, (Steve to administer lunchtime today! )Also received two big hugs, ( they weren't on prescription!)
Went off to play tennis ( obviously) weather was lovely and sunny and we were just getting into the match when one of our ladies ( I use the term loosely) got herself tangled up with the racquet and swung it hard in an upward motion, spec-tactually missing the ball and clobbering herself in the process, just below the eyebrow..... Lots of blood, ( fortunately not on the court, wouldn't want to spoil that). She did weave about a bit, declaring herself fit to play on, also fit to drive herself to the hospital, neither request was granted. The eye socket was swelling up rather quickly and certainly not enhancing her looks so
AH took her to hospital where she was duly checked over and 'glued'. I wanted a photo so I could put it on the blog, but was told that was a step too far.........
With the tennis called to an abrupt halt, I had time to go for a swim, it was gorgeous and flat calm, just me, Jessie and oystercatchers, bliss.
Whizzing back home , having just had time to prepare a chicken /rice dish for family supper, I went off to play netball, it was ok......just filling in for the A team and rushing about for an hour.... Actually I really, really loved it, and wether the rest of the team were on a vow of silence, nobody shouted at me when I missed the ball ( occasionally) or threw a rubbish pass ( more frequently !) . Although I'm sure they'll be pleased to have their full squad for the next game and not an out-of-date oldie!!!
Today, had a fab walk around Flicquet with my dog, then racquetball and coffee with my pals.... ( photos later!) . Few jobs to do and then another final swim , meeting my friend Pdlh at my fav beach. Frantic packing ensued before we left house at 3:45....
Previous to this at 10:30am I had received a call from the Marsden saying that I needed a blood test.... " group and save" test, very important for blood transfusion, and so could I come into the hospital tonight straight from the airport? "yes, of course"..... 11:30am another call..... Don't worry about coming in tonight, just come in at 8am have the test and then go back at 11am for admission ..... "Ok" . On the way to the airport I get yet another call, change of plan, come in tonight for blood test, and then come in at 7:30am not 11am as we're doing the operation in the morning and not the afternoon!!!!
So..... We made it into London City on a fairly uneventful flight, to be told our bags were coming in on carousel 2, but as we stood patiently waiting with the other passengers we caught a glimpse of our bags slowly going round carousel 1, fortunately for us the airport is very small and only has the two conveyer belts...
Cases rescued we caught the train into London, only a minor mishap of Steve + bag + rucksack =turnstile sandwich....
Thanks to everyone for your good luck wishes, I have received so many not just from my friends but through Steve and the children , it really is very humbling.
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Sunday 17 August 2014
Sunday 17th August
There is an app on my phone that apparently is a "voice memo"... and as anyone who knows me will vouch, I love hearing the sound of my own voice! It could be very useful to record notes on future blog posts, or even long shopping lists... So, when I'm in the supermarket and you hear this disembodied voice coming over from the next aisle, that'll be me....
Had a great session playing racquetball on Wednesday morning with a few friends, actually got to chat to ST who is now VERY good friends with Kate (Duchess of Cambridge to you lot). They also have plans to host the Macmillan coffee morning in September, so watch this space!
Had a great session playing racquetball on Wednesday morning with a few friends, actually got to chat to ST who is now VERY good friends with Kate (Duchess of Cambridge to you lot). They also have plans to host the Macmillan coffee morning in September, so watch this space!
I've done as much sea swimming, and tennis as I can, it has been brilliant, thank you AH for sorting games out for me, much appreciated.
An early morning swim and the beach to ourselves, bliss...
Thank you also to my BEST friend EH who sent me my 'lucky' elephant, she is watching out for me.
Starting out on a walk the other morning from home we had to pass the farm, and peeping around the door was a sweet little calf who had decided to go 'walk about' on her own..
I called the hospital last week and had a chat with my consultant, (she was lovely as always), only this time I was requesting the medication i needed for the forthcoming operation and also a blood test before i leave. I'm going into the hospital Tuesday afternoon to get sorted, and probably hear the results of last weeks scan. Although its pretty much going to be bad news, my blood markers have been shooting up at rate of knots, which would seem to indicate that the 'lymph nodes' (tumours, lesions?)are much larger than they were a month ago. My one hope is that they are still 'contained' and not spread further, only the operation will tell.
It's still tricky to get my head around it all, especially as i feel quite well, but I really do want this surgery to go ahead, and as my husband said "Thursday will be the first day of you getting better", not as I was thinking of feeling worse!
Basketball, racquetball, volleyball and Fathers day all began in a YMCA.... Fact!
Tuesday 12 August 2014
Tuesday 12th August
Ct scan was ok....ish, a bit uncomfortable, and I still don't' like needles, that part never gets any easier.
I don't need to rush around and get the results, It will be pretty obvious that the tumours have grown significantly over the last six months while I've been waiting for this operation.
I did however have two copied letters from the Marsden hospital today, which at least confirms our last conversation with the consultants and outlining the procedure.
I will however contact our hospital later this week to make sure we are all in the loop and 'singing from the same hymn sheet'. Oh, they did get one thing wrong as my daughter kindly pointed out..... " a pleasant 52 year old lady", of course I'm far from pleasant, let alone a lady'!!!
High tide at my favourite beach ....
'As the earth moves it makes a musical note too low for human hearing; C sharp, 29 octaves below middle C." Fact
I don't need to rush around and get the results, It will be pretty obvious that the tumours have grown significantly over the last six months while I've been waiting for this operation.
I did however have two copied letters from the Marsden hospital today, which at least confirms our last conversation with the consultants and outlining the procedure.
I will however contact our hospital later this week to make sure we are all in the loop and 'singing from the same hymn sheet'. Oh, they did get one thing wrong as my daughter kindly pointed out..... " a pleasant 52 year old lady", of course I'm far from pleasant, let alone a lady'!!!
High tide at my favourite beach ....
'As the earth moves it makes a musical note too low for human hearing; C sharp, 29 octaves below middle C." Fact
Sunday 10 August 2014
Sunday 10th August
A sad goodbye to AB yesterday morning, we did have a good time, albeit too short. Friday afternoon I dragged her off for an early dog walk down Le Saie, with our backpacks full of towels and costumes so we could have a swim at La Coupe....By the time we had arrived at the beach is was just starting to drizzle, undaunted we changed and began swimming. I was aware of a fishing boat further out to sea, but hardly surprising due to the inclement weather we were the only ones on the beach!
Anyway, as I am not OCD and dont have to do 500 or 1,000 'strokes' in the water, and I get cold quickly I got out before AB, which is when I became aware that a smaller fishing boat with two guys on board had come into the bay to pull up pots. It was still drizzling, and not very pleasant trying to change under the towelling robe but I managed. My aunt duly followed me out after her obligatory amount of strokes (best not to ask ) and started to battle with damp costumes, robes and clothes. With a cry of exasperation and throwing caution to the wind she threw off the towel, exposing far more of her body that would normally be allowed on a public beach and carried on dressing. I meanwhile was in mock horror at her antics and had to take a photo.
Fortunately, not too much flesh on show! But, the really funny thing was when we got back home in the evening and Jack asked us what we had been up to, it transpires that it was actually HIM and his mate in the small fishing boat off the beach. When he asked his friend what he thought was going on, his friend replied he thought it was just a couple of "nudists" having a swim!!! Little did he know at the time it was his mum and Great Aunt, talk about mortifying!!
Friday evening at St Catherines, and a rare photo of my handsome sons (proud mum)
The girls.... believe me that is my aunts 'happy face' trying hard not to blink.... and she's always copied my hair, Bex looks good though!!
What is a normal Saturday evening? Did it consist of your husband balanced in an apple tree collecting fruit? While simultaneously your son uses the hose to fill up the rat hole under the granite trough to flush the rats out?!!!
Love the serious expression on their faces! I meanwhile took the photo and cleared off, I do not like rats! Needless to say they never caught any..just as well as Dan has bare feet...
Got my CT scan tomorrow afternoon, (providing my recent blood test was up to the mark) I must remember to drink two litres of water before, and not eat anything....
Good news is I'm playing tennis in the morning! Did you know that Enid Blyton liked to play tennis in the nude?........ It's a fact!!
Anyway, as I am not OCD and dont have to do 500 or 1,000 'strokes' in the water, and I get cold quickly I got out before AB, which is when I became aware that a smaller fishing boat with two guys on board had come into the bay to pull up pots. It was still drizzling, and not very pleasant trying to change under the towelling robe but I managed. My aunt duly followed me out after her obligatory amount of strokes (best not to ask ) and started to battle with damp costumes, robes and clothes. With a cry of exasperation and throwing caution to the wind she threw off the towel, exposing far more of her body that would normally be allowed on a public beach and carried on dressing. I meanwhile was in mock horror at her antics and had to take a photo.
Friday evening at St Catherines, and a rare photo of my handsome sons (proud mum)
What is a normal Saturday evening? Did it consist of your husband balanced in an apple tree collecting fruit? While simultaneously your son uses the hose to fill up the rat hole under the granite trough to flush the rats out?!!!
Love the serious expression on their faces! I meanwhile took the photo and cleared off, I do not like rats! Needless to say they never caught any..just as well as Dan has bare feet...
Got my CT scan tomorrow afternoon, (providing my recent blood test was up to the mark) I must remember to drink two litres of water before, and not eat anything....
Good news is I'm playing tennis in the morning! Did you know that Enid Blyton liked to play tennis in the nude?........ It's a fact!!
Wednesday 6 August 2014
Tuesday 5th August/Wednesday 6th....
I'm buzzing, can't possibly go to bed without at least starting a semblance of a blog post! Working backwards, I'm just in from a netball 'friendly' ( although anything competitive ends up not being too friendly!) for my old team. I can't commit to being in a team this forthcoming season as I don't know how I'll be post op, and you have to be really fit to play, so I'm just filling in for players on holiday while I wait for the operation date ( August 21st, but don't go counting chickens!)
Anyway, I've had a brilliant game, thoroughly enjoyed the match, ran around, and did lots of shouting, oh yes, and we won! 32-23-bonus!!
Previously I picked up my aunt from the airport at lunchtime, it was a little inconvenient, as I had to cut short my yoga session, and to top it all she had to wait 30minutes for her bag, and so didn't get out to car park for ages.So I could have finished my class, ( next time she can jolly well catch that double decker into town and make her own way to St Martin....) I took her to Bouley bay for a swim on the way home, I thought that if she gave me any grief I could leave her stranded on the pontoon, but she was reasonably well behaved, only flashing her bra at a few other swimmers! ( she was wearing it at the time) .
I saw quite a few people I knew and had some unexpected but totally lovely hugs, thank you guys- no words needed, but got the message.
This morning on my early dog walk I saw the amazing Paul Burrows, who is aiming to complete 7 marathons in 7 days.... I knew him when he worked a lifeguard at the Merton a long time ago and see him around for a chat. He is raising money for Jersey Hospice, and if you get a chance look at his just giving page and read his story. Now this guy really is a true inspiration.
https://www.justgiving.com/RtRx7/
Lastly a very big thank you goes out to BM who has made the family fish cakes for tea tomorrow , and they look 'awesome'! Saves me a lot of time and effort and I really do appreciate it - double bonus- dairy free!
Update
Had a superb tennis match this morning- thanks ladies, sorry AB was rubbish I think she could do with a little more coaching. However SO and AH were outstanding and so made up for it....
Had our first swim at Amy's slip before lunch, and then drove out west to visit small people and walk the dog on the dunes.
Hot and bothered we rushed down to Bel Val to enjoy a second swim, before supper, ( homemade fish cakes of course!!!)
Finished the day with gardening until 8:45...
Off for blood test tomorrow, aim to beat everyone in and be outside hospital doors by 8:45am. Not wanting a repeat of my previous blood test experiences I'm hoping it will go smoothly....
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday 3 August 2014
Sunday 3rd August
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM
Watch the Youtube link....!!
Yes! I'm happy as my Aunt B is coming on Tuesday !!!! Just what the doctor ordered!!
Had a lovely weekend, swimming, Zumba and tennis, trying to keep myself in a happy place, and with the good news that I have family arriving on Tuesday a double bonus!
A view above la Coupe beach
Quotes from my little book....
One of the most useful lessons we learn in life is one of the first-always say please and thank you. Truly appreciate all that you have been given, as well as the things that you have lost. Remember always that the most important things health, happiness and relationships -come without a price.
Particularly poignant in my birthday week...
Watch the Youtube link....!!
Yes! I'm happy as my Aunt B is coming on Tuesday !!!! Just what the doctor ordered!!
Had a lovely weekend, swimming, Zumba and tennis, trying to keep myself in a happy place, and with the good news that I have family arriving on Tuesday a double bonus!
Quotes from my little book....
One of the most useful lessons we learn in life is one of the first-always say please and thank you. Truly appreciate all that you have been given, as well as the things that you have lost. Remember always that the most important things health, happiness and relationships -come without a price.
Particularly poignant in my birthday week...
Friday 1 August 2014
Friday August 1st
Pinch punch?
Sorry not blogged sooner, all a bit upsetting, and quite difficult to stay upbeat and positive.
I went to the hospital on Wednesday and the results of the test were as follows:-
A normal neutrophil count is 1.8 (or more) mine on the 29/7 was 1.49. I had a 'nice positive' response to the G-CSF injection which increased the count to 9.45. This is the positive bit that I need to hang on, it means that my bone marrow has responded well to the injection and i do not need a bone marrow biopsy. Which is good, as that in itself is very painful, and would add more complications.
It has been recommended that i have an injection pre surgery, one post surgery and another three days later, this will hopefully prevent 'chest sepsis' and/or wound infection.
My vitamin B12 assay was normal.....and my CA125?...... it has risen to 400....thats a jump from 79 on the 1st May...
Thats the punch.
Sorry not blogged sooner, all a bit upsetting, and quite difficult to stay upbeat and positive.
I went to the hospital on Wednesday and the results of the test were as follows:-
A normal neutrophil count is 1.8 (or more) mine on the 29/7 was 1.49. I had a 'nice positive' response to the G-CSF injection which increased the count to 9.45. This is the positive bit that I need to hang on, it means that my bone marrow has responded well to the injection and i do not need a bone marrow biopsy. Which is good, as that in itself is very painful, and would add more complications.
It has been recommended that i have an injection pre surgery, one post surgery and another three days later, this will hopefully prevent 'chest sepsis' and/or wound infection.
My vitamin B12 assay was normal.....and my CA125?...... it has risen to 400....thats a jump from 79 on the 1st May...
Thats the punch.
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