Date

Treatment Blog - May 09

31.05.09

Food List

Last day of May and another scorcher, we had, or should I say Jane and the kids had lunch, I carved the leg of lamb - some left too for a nice butty tomorrow with lots of mint sauce hmmm. On the left is a link back to the OPAs web site and a guide to some food to eat when its difficult. That’s what I assume I’ll be starting on in a couple of weeks time. For the moment as I suspected I’m down to nothing orally at all and I can feel saliva getting blocked as we speak and it is really quite uncomfortable.

We wanted a walk in the shade this afternoon, not too far, so we went to Wollaton park to plod around the lake, only to find the annual motor show on there and £3.50 to park. We did the walk and had just enough left for three ice creams. Another time there’s a days outing there, old and new cars, bikes, scooters, buses, funfair, food and drink. I’m still hoping to go to the Splendour Festival there in July it was great last year  but I prefer this year’s line up.

I saw a note from Keith in the weekly Church newsletter emphasising the value of the prayers being offered for me and the family and the surgeon and medical team who will be in attendance on Thursday. I know there are others doing the same and I thank you all for that.

Mick is coming in the morning to mow the lawn and cut the hedge, we normally have a bit of a grin and put the world to rights, its inset day for the kids so a chance for Lydia to do her homework!

30.05.09

I managed half a cup of tea today but nothing more orally, I’ll try and lick at a glass of wine later tonight but I’m not holding out much hope.  My weight is still the same so pleased with that and as Cathy said yesterday just keep an eye on the colour of your urine and gauge your fluid requirements from that, back to toilet talk again aren’t we? Pumping water in through the tube is easy enough to do it just isn’t as satisfying as I imagine a nice cold pint would be on a day like today.  Which reminds me I must get out my list of soft foods that I’ll be able to start eating soon. Went visiting and had visitors today, at my Mums this morning then Barry came by on the Harley just as Helen & Andy came, Helen to see Jane and Andy to look at the broken oven. It appears someone had set the timer but with the clock not working it never moved so wouldn’t switch on, someone with small fiddle fingers to blame for that I think. Another favour I owe him but I suppose that’s what makes the world go around.

Managed my last dance session for a while, just half an hour but it seemed longer, I was beginning to tire at the end but still enjoyed it. Jane received her carers allowance award this morning but will of course have to relinquish it for the next couple of weeks while I’m in hospital but then I’d say start to earn it!

And for all those who found it so good first time here is the Squirrel Catapult again

29.05.09

Met up with Keith & Dave from the ‘Treetops Six’ along with Jane & the kids for the handover of the cheque. Photographers from the Derby Telegraph and the Advertiser were there and took some good shots with a bit of thought behind them. I’ll scan the paper articles when they appear as usual and post them here. Miriam managed to get in on the act and sort of stole the show a bit, fair play to her. The grand total was £1266.60 and I have to pass on the thanks from Treetops Hospice to everyone who did the walk and everyone who put their hand in their pocket and gave some support through sponsorship.

I had a couple of concerned calls last night after I’d mentioned I was having trouble taking fluids orally. It was no better this morning and I’ve had little success all day. I called Cathy at the hospital and she said I was doing the right thing in getting it via the NJ tube on top of the nutrition overnight so I’m not really concerned. I don’t know whether its from all the prodding last week or the chemotherapy still shrinking the tumour or whether its growing again and to be honest I don’t really care as ‘IT’ will be coming out in a few days time. Looking back on the ‘What to eat’ page, near the bottom I see I wrote about those who have trouble swallowing their own saliva well I think by Wednesday morning I’ll be in that category too!

On a domestic note the oven appears to be broken so no chips tonight! I popped round to see Andy he’ll come and have a look at it tomorrow and also gave me six eggs from his free range chickens and a Satsuma for my Mum. If you knew him you’d understand - or perhaps not.

Using the new PC at last - just need to sit and write a thank you note to Stone Computers - for their generosity.

28.05.09

The kids were at Cadbury World today with Auntie Karen & Uncle Dave (two of the ‘Treetops Six’) so Jane & I went into Nottingham to do a bit of shopping, mainly some bedding for Lydia then just some retail therapy for the both of us, I still had my John Lewis vouchers burning a hole in my pocket!

We went on to the City Hospital to visit Helen, she was very chipper all things considered. She had a mastectomy yesterday and has a CT scan next Thursday to check on any possible spread as its in 10 lymph nodes then she starts 6 months of Chemotherapy 10 days after that. Fingers crossed it’s all gone now and the chemotherapy will do its stuff on the nodes.

At home I’ve had a few emails from well wishers, from work - close colleagues and those not so close but just thinking of me and from my old pals on the 21 bus! Then a few people have stopped me in the street or in the shop and wished me all the best, not just a passing gesture either but well meant and sincere and some even opening up with stories of their own that I knew nothing of. That to be honest is the attitude I’ve found all along and have been proper impressed with how old friends, family, colleagues and total strangers have rallied round and supported us all.

As I mentioned last night and it’s the same again today really having problems drinking any fluids so having to up the intake via the tube, thank heaven for small mercies eh!

27.05.09

Not loads happening today, fiddled with my new PC. It could be a bit of a money pit as it uses old DDR1 RAM, only has an AGP video card slot and an IDE HDD. If that’s gobbledygook to you then I’m sorry but to my colleagues at work it’ll be clear as day - suggestions welcome guys! At the moment it’s just like my old one, sat on the desk with the case open looking a bit sorry for itself. I hope though to have it in a state tomorrow where I can at least update the blog from it.

If I wasn’t due in hospital next week I’d be more concerned but I am now really struggling to drink anything in any sort of quantity, by that I mean all I can manage is to sip half a cup of tea, struggle for an hour with a bottle of Fortisip and can’t really manage anything without discomfort.

I’m meeting up with David Finn next Monday for a coffee (see blog from 27 Feb 09), a date by the Lions which will probably be my last outing before the operation so perhaps fitting it is with someone else who has undergone the same one.

Here then is what I hope is my final swine flu joke sent to me by my sister.

If you receive an email from the Department of Health, telling you not to eat tinned pork because of swine flu - ignore it.

It's spam!.

26.05.09

OK here’s a picture of what I assume has caused the adhesions, the old operations and the scars they have left. This is returned at the top of the list when you search in Google Images for “hideously deformed abdomen” but hey I’m still here!. 1 & 2 are where my pelvis was externally fixed, 3 points to a couple of drain holes or crocodile bites as I tell the kids, 4 is the site of the colostomy I had for about a year, 5 as far as you can follow it is a foot long laparotomy scar twice or was it three times opened up and stapled shut again the last cut longer than the previous ones and joining onto 6 which is a scar where a metal plate was inserted to hold the front arch of the pelvis or pubic bone together. 7 is the new scar from last week’s procedure still a bit bruised and 8 is what is now a poor excuse for a belly button. That’s just the front, I’ll spare you any further views, can’t wait to see what it’ll look like after next Thursday! When I go in on Wednesday I’ll take some time to get an explanation but I’m sure Mr Catton will have the same thing in mind, I’ve started a list of questions in my little notebook that I want to ask him.

My new PC from Stone Computers arrived on my doorstep this morning by courier, I’ll be writing to thank them for it as soon as I’ve had it up and running. Paid the sponsorship cash into the bank today and we’ll be doing the handover at 10am on Friday with the local press, Advertiser and Derby Telegraph in attendance. Also sent my new sick note into work, has to be done, for another three months - the last of my time on full pay.

The comments from around the globe now extended to Dubai thanks to my brother Barry.

25.05.09

I’ve been doing a bit of research into the ‘adhesions’ mentioned by the surgeon after the abandoned procedure last week. Originally I thought it was where internal tissue was stuck to the underside of the scar tissue you can see on the outside but that’s not the case. I’m sure I recall the surgeon saying he couldn’t access or had difficulty accessing the peritoneal cavity because of the adhesions or perhaps that’s where they are worst. I’ve seen adhesions described as glue, chewing gum like and even like spiders webs but I’ve also read how they can be bypassed or removed as they will need to be for surgery next week. I know a little knowledge can be dangerous so I might ask my friend who works in Endoscopy at the City Hospital for a bit of clarity. Now I understand though while a couple of people asked and were surprised I’d not had any problems in the past or at least since the surgery in 1987 that obviously caused all this.

Other than that it’s been a quiet day but another day closer to Wed 3 Jun. My neighbour Tony kindly cut as much of the front hedge as his cable would allow, “Mick the Mower” is on holiday but has promised to come and do the hedge and lawn when he returns. I have a full diary for the rest of this week, fingers crossed for Helen’s surgery on Wednesday and I need to find my missing PC, collect the cheques for Treetops and be there on Friday morning to hand it all over. When all that is out of the way I’ll be just days away and getting my bag packed.

24.05.09

Glorious weather today and we all managed to get a bit of sunshine. Jane has started walking more instead of swimming three times a week, she was getting a bit too muscley from 250 lengths a week and Helen, her swimming partner, is out of action at the moment anyway. She toddled off down the Nutbrook Trail this morning then our parents came for lunch and later I took the kids to Bramcote Park for a mad half hour and an ice cream. This evening Lydia has gone for a sleep over so with Miriam in bed Jane & I can put our feet up from 7.30 and just relax.

The small scar on my stomach from the Laparoscopy is healing well, stitched from the inside so it looks very neat, once the bruising and swelling has gone down a bit more I’ll have to take a picture of it!

Darren my bike mechanic pal and general petrol head came round in his buggy last night, it’s based on a VW Beetle but has a Honda CBR600 engine bolted on the back and goes like stink. Next project is turning a BMW estate into a pick up truck! Dave H’s insurance has run out on his Yamaha R1 or ‘widow maker’ or ‘mobile organ donor’ or whatever you want to call it so please don’t knock the Superdream, while the R1 will beat it just using 1st gear she’ll do for me.

23.05.09

Walk photos

Jane & Lydia have collected just about all of their sponsorship in now and we think the grand total will be just over £1200.00. A really big thank you to all those who supported them for what is a genuinely worthy cause. We’ll do the handover on Friday at Treetops They both plan to do it again next year and so do I.

I had a visit yesterday from an old friend Bob Towle, he’s the first of our old gang to turn 50 and then later I had a message via Friends Reunited from Paul Munro who if I remember right will be the youngest of the lot. Some of you will remember one or both of them, the comment Paul left, having a go at Barry reminded me of the most unpopular fan at a Borussia Monchengladbach game, the one who shouted “give us a B”. Not being able to spell the school he attended hasn’t stood him so bad though, saw a text message from his this morning “just landed in Dubai for a spot of sailing”

A few doses of Co-Codamol today and the pains are just about gone now, both sets of parents for lunch tomorrow then I think Jane is ‘closing the kitchen’ for a while and then next week is half term so it’ll be nice, especially if the weather is good, to have a few days with the kids before I go into hospital

22.05.09

Phew! Back home at around 3pm today with a very sore tummy and a throat like the inside of the exhaust pipe of my 28 year old 250 Superdream. All started OK on Thursday morning, got there around 7.20 am and found my way to the Elective Admissions Lounge, a normal ward with chairs instead of beds filled with about 16 people waiting for surgery on two different lists. Just before 3 pm when that ward closes I was alone with two other ladies, one who was unfortunately after me on our list and an older lady who had eaten a banana from the newspaper trolley although nil by mouth and had been shoved to the end. As you can see from the photo it can be a lonely place when the most exciting thing to happen to you all day is an MRSA swab of your perineum (or as it was described to me, the bit between your bum and your dangly bits!) We then went to Edward 2 ward where, as soon as I had put my bag down, I heard a porter call my name. I got changed - hey not just the backless gown on this ward but get this, paper pants to wear as well! They were ‘one size’ the size to fit Hattie Jacques!

I must have got to theatre about 4pm and can remember talking to the anaesthetist who I had seen at pre op and recall him telling me the smell of the oxygen was about to change and that I’d soon be asleep, that’s all I remember until I got back to the ward about 6.30. Mr Catton, who will be doing my surgery, came to see me in the evening but I really don’t remember the conversation. Fortunately he repeated it this morning and on the discharge letter it was summed up by saying “This gentleman was admitted for staging laparoscopy and upper GI endoscopy and was found to have adhesions so the procedure was abandoned”. Basically the endoscope wouldn’t go down my throat - no surprise there, and once he’d cut in through my stomach everything was ‘stuck up’ on to old scar tissue from previous injuries so that bit didn’t work either. The upshot is that he now knows what to expect in terms of ‘a bit more work to do’ but is still unsure of what he might find, I know he has the CT to go on but actually having a look would have been better, but not essential.

This morning after being told I could go home the consultant’s secretary came to see me with a letter with the surgery date, go in on Wed 03 Jun for 10am and surgery is the following day Thu 04 Jun, Cathy vB came to see me as she had done the day before as well which is always a pleasure, she is always so calm and reassuring. The vampire nurse came to see me to take bloods, a student doctor then sat with me a good half hour doing a case study then Ebron, a friend of my sisters and avid blogger came to say hello and then I was booked to have a lung function test at 1.30 consisting of blowing really hard into a tube which considering I’d just been stabbed in the stomach was a real barrel of laughs. So Jane & Miriam collected the sponsorship money from work then got to the ward just as I returned.

Nearly all sponsorship is in now so I’ll say my piece on that next week and oh yes - has anyone at work seen my new PC?

20.05.09

I had the pre op assessment this morning, usual clinical observations plus an ECG then saw the anaesthetist who discussed tomorrows procedures Laparoscopy and Gastroscopy. Nil by mouth after 2am so I need to get hooked up to the pump this afternoon to get the litre of nutrition in then Keith is picking me up at 7am to check in for 7.30. I’m a way down the list so won’t get to theatre until after lunch and then it is done under general anaesthetic so an overnight stay. Because I’m late in tomorrow the surgical registrar didn’t bother coming to see me this morning, he’ll do his bit in the morning and then I’ll get a date out of him for the main operation, the anaesthetist seemed to think it would be next Thursday not 4 Jun! Whenever it turns out to be this mornings goings on brought it a bit closer and I’m beginning to realise that now, if anyone is familiar with the expression “sixpence, half a crown” then yes that’s what its starting to do!

 A sign in the Pre Op Unit did say all procedures were done in the unit including blood taking so I was a bit miffed to have to wait nearly an hour with the plebs in outpatients, if I’d known I would have pulled a ‘deli counter’ ticket on the way in.

Anyway there’ll be no blog tomorrow, I’m not expecting any visitors tomorrow evening so even Lydia won’t be able to update for me. Jane’s best friend Helen (see blog from 17.03.09) had the results of the biopsies from the lumpectomy yesterday, let’s just say it could have been better, she’s having more surgery next week and a CT scan same day as my operation then we’ll probably be at the chemotherapy clinic together in July - hard on Andy & the kids but we’re a tough lot on the Lane!

19.05.09

Thanks to Gay Evans at Treetops for sending me the picture of the walkers, with me tagged on the end. I’ve left it quite big but if anyone wants a decent copy, I’m thinking of those who did the walk not just a stalker or crazed fan, then just email me and I’ll send the original. No I’m not thinking of becoming a body double for Phil Mitchell but is this really NOT me with Minty? Thanks for that! See the original today only at http://www.virginmedia.com/ Eastenders Spoiler.

I had a call from the Surgeon’s secretary with the schedule for this week. In tomorrow for 9.30 am for pre op assessment on Edwards Unit, bloods, see the anaesthetist then home again. Then in again for 7.30 am Thursday, Simpson 1 for the staging Laparoscopy / Gastroscopy which apparently does involve an overnight stay, not what the Doc told us last night. So out again for Friday lunchtime then in to work to collect my new PC and the remainder of the sponsorship money from colleagues. Still on for the 4th of June as things stand at the moment so I applied for my postal vote this morning, wouldn’t miss that now would I?

I should have listened to Abbey at the Chemotherapy Clinic, she said all along surgery would be 7 weeks after the last 12 hour chemotherapy session, 4 Jun is 7 weeks and 1 day after my last cycle!

18.05.09

Jane and I got to see one of the surgeons this evening, the appointment was for 5.40 pm, 21st Century appointment scheduling apparently. Anyway we were there very early avoiding the traffic and even after a drink it was only ten to five!

I booked in and blow me five minutes later we were in the consulting room with the Doctor. It was pretty much what I expected, some scary talk around percentages of those who don’t make it out of the hospital afterwards and the consequences of not having it done at all. I won’t dwell on that. As regards dates I should be in for the laproscopy either Wednesday or Thursday this week, camera in through the belly button and a good look around inside, then if that shows nothing untoward the date for the Oesophagectomy is Thursday 4 Jun 09, just over two weeks away. The date isn’t set in stone but more than likely correct.

The basis for the operation is the Ivor Lewis method, have a look here avoid Googling it you just get the surgeons view of it which is a bit gruesome and difficult to understand anyway. Often there is a ‘keyhole’ element to the surgery nowadays but after I had shown the Doctor my abdomen and existing scarring he sort of ruled that out for me. The schedule then is something like, a day in theatre then off to intensive care overnight. Five days or so on Edwards 2 ward until all the tubes come out, feed tube, drain, catheter, epidural etc etc, nothing to eat or drink for seven days then try a swallow test to make sure the seal is OK. Then all being well off to a general ward for another week then home to recover. I shall savour talking about food another day!

On day 2 I can have visitors - Lydia was worried she wouldn’t see her Dad for a long time but we specifically asked the Doctor that question. When we got home both Lydia and my Mum were shedding a tear about just that, it’ll be fine just no grapes please at least until week two!

Following yesterdays walk we are arranging the handover of the sponsorship money to Treetops for next Friday, enough time to collect it all in and arrange the publicity, seems a shame to let the opportunity pass without getting my mug in the paper again or mentioning my new PC sponsor - Stone Computers - collect it this week!

17.05.09

Treetops Hospice Sponsored Walk

Click the Treetops image on the left for some photos taken during and after the walk today a few of them are worthy of a caption competition. The slideshow should run on its own but there are a couple of control buttons to pause and play if you want to use them. The weather played its part but everyone finished in good spirits. Once we have the total raised by those in the group photo at the end I’ll publish it here and we’ll arrange a handover with Gay at Treetops who was most impressed at everyone’s efforts. Thanks to everyone at Treetops for putting up with the muddy boots and for the never ending supply of drinks, cakes and sandwiches.

16.05.09

This morning I was given another gift and although it was money it’s not the value that’s important. It was nine lucky dragons - the one pound coins with dragons on the reverse. The trick is you are given the 9 Lucky Dragons by someone, you spend just one of them and save the other eight. Click the picture of the coin on the left to see what they look like and what I turned one of them into! Fingers crossed for tonight!

On the left is the happy and quite smug owner of a new Harley Davidson XL883C - bike / rider relationship about an hour old when this was taken. Did you know a ’not new’ Harley is not pre owned or second hand but formerly worshipped! I’ll buy him a top hat for his birthday and he can join the nearest chapter, the initiation might take the grin off his face!

Dancing with Jane and Helen & Andy this afternoon then back to theirs for tea and a bottle of red and a good chat , I’m glad to say Helen is much better but like me waiting for news of progression early next week, haven’t got a photo of me in my lycra though you’ll just have to imagine it. There, now I’ve ruined your evening with that mental image I’m off to watch Euro Vision -  Nul Point - never be the same without Wogan!

15.05.09

My faith in human nature has been restored this week although I think I was tested this morning before I received my rewards! I went to Trowell Garden Centre early just to pick up a tray to sit a grow bag in - yes I know all very boring - anyway it was raining as I came out and I was just putting the tray in the boot when I heard a voice shouting me across the car park. “Yes you, would you fetch me a wheelchair, they’re just inside the door” an oldish guy sat in his car with the door open and his legs sticking out. Perhaps he thought I worked there I was once mistaken for a B&Q worker when I went there with a red t-shirt on, maybe it was the hat I don’t know but I fetched the wheelchair. I helped the man into the chair and to save time and get out of the rain I locked his car for him and gave him the keys. “Would you push me over to the door?” Well he couldn’t have parked further away from the door but I duly pushed the chair as directed, we mumbled pleasantries and both grumbled about the weather and we were soon inside the door. “Just get me over this lip and past the barrier would you?” I was in no hurry and this chap - whoever he thought I was - obviously needed a bit of help so I obliged again. Then without a word or a backward glance he wheeled himself in the direction of the coffee shop! I smiled , admiring him for his cheek I suppose or was it just confidence borne out of necessity? He asked and he got. The reward?

A few weeks ago my main PC I use, a six year old AMD self build packed in, the motherboard had developed a fault and amongst other things it wouldn’t see the hard disk IDE or SATA. I knew it was a lost cause and reckoned on having to bite the bullet and buy a new one. I knew I could perhaps do the self build again and economise but reckoned hey if you don’t ask you don’t get so I penned a letter to a computer hardware supplier, not a circular, just to the one I knew best and asked if they would be able to help me out so I could continue the web site and blog and save my pennies until I needed them when I take a drop in pay. By today it really had become a chore to do anything on the laptop I’ve been using but then this afternoon Emma Jones from the Stone Group asked where I would like my new PC to be delivered to. How about that? After all the generosity from yesterday and my colleagues at work a new PC - with software as well!

The generosity continued as the sponsorship money pledged for Sunday to the family members taking part passed the £1000 mark. As I said - my  faith in human nature has been restored (Members of Parliament excluded!)

14.05.09
Flowers
Card

A bit overwhelming today to be honest, I just went in to work to collect a few quid sponsorship money which Andy K had  kindly been passing around for me and was met with an informal presentation of a ‘get well card’ for me signed by what seems like everyone in the department as well as £150 in John Lewis vouchers, flowers and Thorntons for Jane and more chocolate goodies for Lydia & Miriam and then to cap it all over £250 sponsorship money! I chatted with as many staff as I could, old and new, those departing under redundancy and those restructured for the Nth time. It wasn’t really until I was on the bus home did it dawn on me that in less than a week my colleagues had stumped up over £400 and just as importantly taken the time to write the card and buy the gifts and give some thought to not just me but to Jane and the kids as well - really really pleased guys so a great big thank you from all of us.

A bit surprised about Rob leaving (check the ‘Thanks to’ page) but somehow I doubt we’ll lose touch, anyway I couldn’t get a snap of the chocolates as the kids had already laid claim to them, it would have been easier to wrestle a  bone from a Rottweiler!

Then there was this little nugget from Wayne in my mailbox

Someone once said “When a black man becomes President pigs will fly” Sure enough 100 days later ‘Swine Flew’!

And this from me because it still makes me laugh and I dearly want him to work for me.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch It’s Terry Tate but be warned there are loads of related videos and they’re very addictive!

13.05.09

Postman came early this morning and as well as an offer of a Barclay Loan for £82000 I also got a letter from the hospital with my appointment to see the consultant in the general surgery clinic, next Monday at 5.40pm. What I hope will happen after that is that I’ll go in for the laproscopy the same week then in for surgery still before the end of the month as per the original plan.

I’m looking forward to going into work tomorrow, the sponsorship for the walk is going better than I expected and between those family members taking part we have over the £500 we set out to get already. I’ve been flicking through the notes  I have from a Photoshop course I did at college a few years ago to figure out how to make web photo catalogues to show off some of the pictures better rather than just creating links to individual photos - I’ll try that with the photos from Sunday’s walk although at the moment it looks like it might be a wet one!

Managed to catch up with all my correspondence today, a letter to my niece in Pirbright and replied to all outstanding emails from folk, the weather has kept me in for most of the day but I escaped up to Wilkos this afternoon and for the first time I was aware of some folk gawping at me, more than the second glance that I’ve come to expect - I just mentally flicked them the V’s and carried on.

I think Darren is coming up tomorrow night to do a few bits on the bike, that normally means a late one in the garage so I might miss the blog if it’s dark before we finish

Apologies to animal lovers I offended with the Squirrel Catapult from yesterday - funny though wasn’t it?

12.05.09

No call from the hospital again today so I guess it’ll be next week before I get in, I’ll give them a ring tomorrow just to check they haven’t forgotten about me. Now that would never happen would it?

My brother has only gone and bought the Harley! He had the test ride today and just bought it, also having some after market mufflers fitted to give it that Harley roar - jammy git!

I nipped out to Rueben Shaw garden centre in Moorgreen this morning they’ve got the best plants I’ve seen so far  this year although not the tomato house I was looking for to grow some bits in for the kids, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers that sort of thing. They didn’t have one of these squirrel gadgets either I just stumbled across it on the net and it made me laugh.

Here is the latest must have garden gadget for getting rid of unwanted squirrels or at least passing them on to the neighbours a few doors down! It takes a mo to load and you need to watch it a few times to spot the release mechanism!

Lydia’s new bed arrived this afternoon from John Lewis, paid for with the money we got from selling her Stompa bed on ebay, got to look after the pennies you know, the mattress arrives next Monday so she’s sleeping on the wooden slats until then - no no no I mean on an airbed of course. Jane and I put it together without any arguments or accidents - probably a first in the history of DIY.

11.05.09

No call from the hospital today, it’s going to be the same waiting game tomorrow I just know it. Anyway managed to get Jane’s carers allowance application filled in and away in the post and then while Jane was out visiting Helen I got the Super Dream out (avoiding the telling off) and gave it a quick clean and it’s looking really quite good, seems ages since I went for a spin  but I think it would be a bit irresponsible to go pulling wheelies on it this week.

I could actually feel my fingertips while I was putting the polish on and rather than just a numb feeling it’s more pins and needles now as it was much earlier so I assume that side effect at least is now in reverse. As for the others, mouth is quite pleasant though taste buds still in a bit of a mess, hearing on my right side is still very limited although with a good nose blow it does pop if you know what I mean and of course I have to mention bowel movements easier and a little more regular. Weight steady at 69 Kg which is 10st 12lb. Five days now since the 5FU pump came off and even though the 84ml dose in it took a whole 7 days to pump into my body the difference is quite significant, much more alert, less tired and sleeping better.

Lydia has been doing SATs today, and has them all this week, knocked the two science ones on the head today, easy peasy she reckons, we’ll see but good luck to her and anyone else doing them

10.05.09

I expected the weather to be rubbish today so hadn’t planned to do much and that’s how it turned out, pottered around in the garden this morning just pulling up a few weeds and tidying up a bit, Lydia was at church then I fetched Mum & Dad for lunch. I still love the smell of Sunday dinner cooking although it makes my stomach do somersaults now and I still carve the joint. I was out yesterday evening with Lydia collecting a few more sponsors for the walk next Sunday, it looks like we could reach £500 between us which would be just great - still time for all you guys at work to dig deep though!

There’s a picture of my Animal hat, came in for a bit of stick about the beanie so I’ll have to increase the collection to cater for all tastes.

I did go bike shopping yesterday with my brother but didn’t want to broadcast anything yesterday, we looked at Triumphs then a few Japanese bikes, both shops in Long Eaton then we nipped over to Beeston to Robin Hood Harley Davidson, all the shops were cagey about giving a new rider a test ride but it looks like the Harley will win hands down and I tend to agree with him it was a beauty! The XL883 Custom. I’ve lent him my jacket, gloves and helmet for the test ride but I think he’s off to the BMF bike show at the East of England showground this weekend to get all his bits and bobs.

I won’t be going far from home tomorrow, waiting for the phone to ring, I need to get in and get a date for surgery now.

09.05.09

Received a letter from the DWP advising me that I have been awarded the highest rate of the care component of the Disability Living Allowance, currently £70.35 per week and the lower rate of the mobility component, £18.65 per week even though I’d crossed out all of the mobility boxes and ticked the box at the end of the form to say I already receive the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. So now Jane can go ahead and claim for her Carers allowance, £53.10 per week, just the small matter of a 27 page form to negotiate!

I also had a call from Cathy van Baalen late yesterday afternoon, this is what happens when you go on your own to the consultant clinics you forget some of what he’s said. He did say he would review my CT images with the radiologist and surgeons at the next MDT meeting. Remember those from pre diagnosis? Multi Disciplinary Team meetings, always held on a Friday afternoon at the City Hospital, a meeting of minds. Well until Cathy rang it had gone out of my head, anyway the scans shows not only the reduction in the tumour but also shows no disease propagation meaning it hasn’t spread anywhere else, not to any organs or any more lymph nodes. She also said to perhaps expect a call early next week or receive a letter if the appointment is for the following week to get me in, have a look at me, do the laproscopy, under general anaesthetic, then give a date for surgery, there’s no great hurry as they want the chemotherapy drugs to be out of my system and bloods back to normal before they do anything. Meantime I’m just chillin’!

So that’s two more pieces of good news and to prove they always come in threes the mouth ulcers that have given me such jip over the last week or so not to mention dog breath seem to have cleared up after bleeding profusely yesterday. I’ll keep on with the Corsodyl and some Aloe Vera tooth gel my Mum bought me to make sure they go and that might be the end of them for a while, the skin in my mouth is certainly better and generally less sore. I just need my taste buds to recover now to be able to enjoy a glass or two of fine wine.

Here’s Miriam ‘tidying’ her toy box!

08.05.09

Here is the long awaited article from the online version of the Derby Telegraph.

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/Cancer-patient-s-online-diary

And here is a scan of the actual article in the paper but as I am contractually obliged to tell you, please run down to the local newsagent and buy a copy for yourself, not just today but everyday!

Derby Telegraph 08.05.09

Finally managed to get through to Swine Line and rushed out to collect my prescription. Here it is. I feel much better already thank goodness the media alerted us to the dangers.

Apparently a Beach Hut has been seen for sale in Portland Bill for £120k when I drop to half pay I’d like a word with whoever buys it.

07.05.09

Went into work today, it was a bit of a hurdle going in after 10 weeks or so away but everyone seemed pleased to see me and any nerves soon disappeared. I was plied with tea and a can of Jamaican Irish Moss for later from Wayne but I need to Google it first to make sure it aint got da ganja in it, innit! Guys please help with the sponsorship where you can any amount will do it doesn’t need to be loads - except from the managers of course I’m sure they know a way to offset it on their tax returns. For anyone else who enjoys Rob’s ring tone or just can’t figure out what it is here it is, can you see Rob at Wigan Casino? If anyone has the original 45 in their collection I think it’s worth quite a bit. I know I didn’t get to see all my colleagues but I’ll put that right next Thursday when I collect the sponsor forms. Anyway no more talk of work lets get back to the colour of my wee! I’m fascinated that less than 24 hours after having the pump removed it’s back to normal straw colour, if yours isn’t straw colour then you ought to drink more water - have I said that before? I was going to summarise the nine weeks of chemotherapy but I think I’ll let people read the blog and make their own minds up rather than me say it was easy or hard, nice or nasty. Lots of people tell me how well I look, I know that often means you’ve put some weight on but as that can’t be the case I’ll take it they are being sincere. I probably have coped with it very well but I’ll just say this, it was no walk in the park!

I’ll race out and get (or ask Jane to fetch me) the Derby Telegraph tomorrow for the interview we did. I look really wrinkly on some of the pictures they sent me as proofs I hope they don’t use those, perhaps I need botox.

I’ve put on another picture of Lydia just because she’s a good kid and is probably getting the thin end at the moment but we love her loads. Miriam is in a‘ pull funny faces at the camera’ mood so she can wait ‘til another day. The mood pic on the homepage is just a reminder of the weekend, another adventure for Flo!

06.05.09

Collected my prescription of Fortisips this morning, hopefully enough to last me now until I can start eating again oh how I look forward to that! Then went to do the paperwork for the new car if you recall the salesman had done me a favour and ordered one in early, anyway that’s all done and I’ll take delivery on 31 July. After lunch Jane and I both opted for aromatherapy at Treetops, Jane had a full body massage while I had a concentrated back massage with frankincense and lavender oils, very relaxing. Then over to the city hospital to have the 5F pump removed and the PICC line taken out, got home at 6pm. My brother dropped by - passed his bike test today! Congratulations, although I doubt my parents would think so but I can see him on a Triumph American, we’re off to look at one on Saturday. He also gave me this topical gem, “I tried to ring Swine Line today but couldn’t get through, all I got was cracklin’.

While the Blog (from Web Log by the way) will be a bit thin on stuff about treatment for the next couple of weeks I’ll keep it going with details of any improvement in side effects as the chemotherapy wears off as well as updates on what’s going on and just my daily diary I suppose. The Derby Telegraph article will be published this Friday if anyone wants a hard copy otherwise It’ll be on their website and I’ll scan a copy of it here as long as the pictures aren’t too awful. Looking forward to my visit to work tomorrow I miss it funnily enough, they are a good bunch - there that should get me a brew!

Oh yes the beach hut was in the estate agents window for £68500.00

05.05.09

Back from Wells-Next-The-Sea yesterday and as usual Jane had all the washing done before bedtime and everything  put away and back to normal. Kids back at school today and I was back at clinic to see the Consultant at 11.30 this morning. I got in at 1pm but it was worth the wait - “good news John” he said no more chemotherapy the tumour has shrunk significantly and I can hand you over to Mr Welch the surgeon. Mr Welch will want me in a week or two to do an exploratory laproscopy just to make sure everything is as he expects then before the end of the month I’ll have the surgery. The Oncologist wants to see me back in two months to discuss the second round of chemotherapy, my appointment is for 7 Jul 09. I was proper relieved I can tell you, no more chemotherapy for a while and when I do have it again I’ll be on the home straight.

Wells was good, all the kids got on well and thanks to Lynne & Darren and Jane’s sister Alison for making it all go so well. We did manage an afternoon on the beach, a couple of walks (sorry kids) a bit of shopping, fish and chips and a few drinks. I’ve put a few photos below. Missed Helen & Andy but we’ll make it up next time, Helen is doing fine after her operation just a bit wobbly still.

All The Kids - Noddy Train - Beach - Huts - Beach View - On the strip - Caravans - Lifes a Beach!

One of the Beach Huts was for sale - any guesses how much?