Good Afternoon Friends and welcome to my latest offering.
On the medical front, the swelling around my face continues to recede and I can now shave the bits I traditionally keep whisker free. The jaw is still a bit square but I can now feel my jaw line under the swelling and I can see that eventually I will look like me. The mouth has totally healed up although I'm still using the antiseptic mouthwash as not all of the stitches have disintegrated yet. The leg continues to cause concern amongst the medics- its healing very very slowly. the latest attempt involves monitoring of blood pressure in various parts of my body to see if I can stand a compression bandage,whatever that is. Friday may be monitoring day but we will wait and see.
On the social front, I've had a cracking Christmas - Pam told me it would be special - whilst it was almost traditional (except that I wasn't able to take my 2 mile Christmas Day walk), we had a really good time. Dan and Hannah and Si and Beck came for Christmas Day, even though it was partners turn this year,and we had some good games, plenty of food and copious amounts of liquid. Dan tried to get his own back for me landing him with ' Boutrous Boutrous Ghali ' when we played 'Who am I ' 2 years ago. I expected some kickback but even when it came, I got' Banc Ki' Moon faster that he could establish 'Captain Haddock' from Tin-Tin, so nice try Dan but your Dads brain is still in good working order.
Just before Christmas I went to Gainsborough Organ Society Christmas concert in my traditional role as 'clothes horse' .This time the coven who organise this thing decided that I may not be up to a female part, so dressed me as an Edwardian Carol Singer ( pictures on facebook ). Made a pleasant change from the usual slappers which they dress me up as!!!!.Lynn was dressed as the Fairy on the Christmas Tree ( same photo ). Good costume but when she tripped, she found out that the wings were not up to the job, she is now known as ' Orville' the duck that cant fly !
Managed to walk to the 'Lion' on Christmas Eve and whilst I'm still regulating my alcohol intake, had a good couple of hours. The frustrating thing is that I cant stand for more than 2 or 3 minutes before my leg plays up . Its Ok walking but doesn't like standing, so propping up the bar isn't an option at present.
New Years Eve is planned for Morton village Hall, so hoping for a good night.
Best Wishes to you all for the New Year - I'm really amazed at the number of people reading this thing from so many different countries, so my very best wishes to you all and I sincerely hope that the New Year brings you peace, good health and happiness.
Chris
Wednesday 28 December 2011
Saturday 17 December 2011
It must be getting near Christmas
Blog delayed slightly due to celebrations. The weekly visit to Birmingham was not one I was looking forward to, I knew that the latest skin graft was not going well as the District Nurse was a little diplomatic with her comments when she re-dressed it on Sunday,so we decided not to pack my pyjamas and Lynns suitcase in the hope that it wasn't going to be another ' I want you in, now '.
The tissue viability nurse had been called in advance of the removal of the dressings . I was really chuffed to find that Zoe had drawn the short straw , we have lots of fun with Zoe, and together with her colleague, who remembered me' but not with my clothes on' ( her words ), started a Morecambe and Wise routine to remove the bandages. I fully expected the gasp as the last dressing came off and with it, the latest skin graft. That was a real low point, but we'd had a laugh and after a close investigation by the specialist nurse and my surgeon, it was found that my body was healing the wound naturally under the dead skin graft - obviously resulting from the increase in alcohol intake following coming off the pills.There is a certain brewery which should be sponsoring me !!
The upshot of this investigation is that, providing the open wound is kept clean ,it will heal naturally . It will take some time, but it will heal and I intend to help it on its way in my own fashion.
The walking is getting better as I now have two separate dressings on my left leg so I can bend my knee much further and I have been behind the wheel of the Corsa ( lighter brake pedal ). Still a little pain if I dont keep my leg raised but that will pass eventually.
Had a trip to Thursford Christmas show on Thursday night with Si and Beck, Ann, Pete,and Jo, Lynn had to drive but it was a cracking show and we stayed over at Kings Lynn, finishing the night with a bottle of bubbly as Ann was celebrating too . Starting to feel a bit more seasonal, in fact it must be getting near Christmas because I've had my presents a bit early.
It does look like there is not much more I can report in the next month or so because it will be another six weeks before I return to Birmingham, unless things take a turn for the worse but I do have some really interesting news which I cant share with you just yet. However, I have been asked to continue with the blog so it will become a little less medical and a little more social.
I would like to thank you all for your comments which have really helped me , especially when things were not going quite as well as I would have liked, I couldn't reply to you as the comments come in anonymously, unless you sign your name at the end, but I really do appreciate your thoughts
If I dont blog before next week, may I wish a very Merry Christmas to you all. I will certainly enjoy mine - its surprising how you review things after a shock.
Best Wishes
Chris
The tissue viability nurse had been called in advance of the removal of the dressings . I was really chuffed to find that Zoe had drawn the short straw , we have lots of fun with Zoe, and together with her colleague, who remembered me' but not with my clothes on' ( her words ), started a Morecambe and Wise routine to remove the bandages. I fully expected the gasp as the last dressing came off and with it, the latest skin graft. That was a real low point, but we'd had a laugh and after a close investigation by the specialist nurse and my surgeon, it was found that my body was healing the wound naturally under the dead skin graft - obviously resulting from the increase in alcohol intake following coming off the pills.There is a certain brewery which should be sponsoring me !!
The upshot of this investigation is that, providing the open wound is kept clean ,it will heal naturally . It will take some time, but it will heal and I intend to help it on its way in my own fashion.
The walking is getting better as I now have two separate dressings on my left leg so I can bend my knee much further and I have been behind the wheel of the Corsa ( lighter brake pedal ). Still a little pain if I dont keep my leg raised but that will pass eventually.
Had a trip to Thursford Christmas show on Thursday night with Si and Beck, Ann, Pete,and Jo, Lynn had to drive but it was a cracking show and we stayed over at Kings Lynn, finishing the night with a bottle of bubbly as Ann was celebrating too . Starting to feel a bit more seasonal, in fact it must be getting near Christmas because I've had my presents a bit early.
It does look like there is not much more I can report in the next month or so because it will be another six weeks before I return to Birmingham, unless things take a turn for the worse but I do have some really interesting news which I cant share with you just yet. However, I have been asked to continue with the blog so it will become a little less medical and a little more social.
I would like to thank you all for your comments which have really helped me , especially when things were not going quite as well as I would have liked, I couldn't reply to you as the comments come in anonymously, unless you sign your name at the end, but I really do appreciate your thoughts
If I dont blog before next week, may I wish a very Merry Christmas to you all. I will certainly enjoy mine - its surprising how you review things after a shock.
Best Wishes
Chris
Friday 9 December 2011
The emotional roller-coaster continues
Good morning all, we have the good news and the not so good news. We have had most emotions this week and a little pain, but not enough to take pain-killers.
The emotional high came on Tuesday evening when my pathologist rang from Birmingham to tell me that the source of the cancer had finally been located.It appears to have originated in a saliva gland. As these glands, all my lympth glands and everything else around my neck and jaw had been removed, then there was no need for radiotherapy and chemo was not now a recommended course of action. Given that most of this country's eminent pathologists have now examined the tumour and this is the almost unanimously agreed course of action, then I am content. So a day of highs, no radio, no chemo and a good diagnosis - I aint going yet !!
Thursday was not quite so good, my second/ replacement skin graft doesn't appear to be taking as well as it should. There appears to be something missing between the tendon and the new skin - we had a new doctor as the three-monthly turn round took place on Monday. I'm not sure if he thought that my suggestion of a layer of pork fat from the butchers was a serious one or not- on reflection, he might have been a muslim, I didn't ask, either way he will need a serious sense of humour implant if he and me are going to get on.It was finally agreed , by a majority decision, to clean it down, wrap it up again and leave it until next Wednesday, when the senior surgeon returns from his lecture tour ( he was really unhappy when he went because there is no snow in Switzerland at the moment - I suggested that next year, I go with him, as well as my X-rays and photos, there is always snow when I go skiing ).
From a recovery point of view, I'm now off the anti-biotics and back on the Guinness so I'm sleeping better, I can walk almost 200 yards, the muscles in my neck, shoulders and arms are slowly building up with the exercises and I feel almost back to normal. So onwards and upwards - blog again soon.
Best Wishes to you all.
Chris
The emotional high came on Tuesday evening when my pathologist rang from Birmingham to tell me that the source of the cancer had finally been located.It appears to have originated in a saliva gland. As these glands, all my lympth glands and everything else around my neck and jaw had been removed, then there was no need for radiotherapy and chemo was not now a recommended course of action. Given that most of this country's eminent pathologists have now examined the tumour and this is the almost unanimously agreed course of action, then I am content. So a day of highs, no radio, no chemo and a good diagnosis - I aint going yet !!
Thursday was not quite so good, my second/ replacement skin graft doesn't appear to be taking as well as it should. There appears to be something missing between the tendon and the new skin - we had a new doctor as the three-monthly turn round took place on Monday. I'm not sure if he thought that my suggestion of a layer of pork fat from the butchers was a serious one or not- on reflection, he might have been a muslim, I didn't ask, either way he will need a serious sense of humour implant if he and me are going to get on.It was finally agreed , by a majority decision, to clean it down, wrap it up again and leave it until next Wednesday, when the senior surgeon returns from his lecture tour ( he was really unhappy when he went because there is no snow in Switzerland at the moment - I suggested that next year, I go with him, as well as my X-rays and photos, there is always snow when I go skiing ).
From a recovery point of view, I'm now off the anti-biotics and back on the Guinness so I'm sleeping better, I can walk almost 200 yards, the muscles in my neck, shoulders and arms are slowly building up with the exercises and I feel almost back to normal. So onwards and upwards - blog again soon.
Best Wishes to you all.
Chris
Monday 5 December 2011
Latest Update
Good Afternoon All,
Managed to get out on Wednesday evening and got Lynn persuaded to take me to Johns funeral in Boston , early on Thursday. As expected, the chapel was full to overflowing, so I didn't hang about after the service, went back to the Petwood and found a quiet corner to put my leg up - just giving me a bit if jip at the moment. Bill , Johns son,had asked me, before I went into QE on the second occasion, if I would like to deliver a short Eulogy. I thought my speech capabilities had improved enough to do it, and I know that John would have wanted it, so I agreed . I had drafted a skeleton while I was in Hospital and, despite a poor start whilst I got my public speaking voice into gear, it went well and was very well received by those present. However, I had had a lot of attention from mutual friends and was well shot by the time I got home. Slept for a good portion of the night and didn't do a lot on the Friday. I didn't realise how tired I get, but I've taken out the dumbbells and I'm working on getting the strength and lung capacity back up to speed.
Had a pretty good weekend, let loose on Saturday night but severe restrictions on alcohol intake due to 'the boss ' reading the blurb on the anti - biotics. It doesn't say 'none ' but it doesn't say ' 3 pints of Guinness is good for you ' so I had to stick to one. which ,over 2 and a half hours takes some doing. Nevertheless, I had a good night catching up with friends and acquaintances, and, as I'd promised not to stay all night, left 5 minutes before the end. No reactions on Sunday, just a long deep sleep, which is something I've needed for some time.
Another good night and I'm beginning to feel like doing something, so I'll have a steady day and do a few catch up jobs, write a few Christmas cards and sort the week out.
Bye for now - next blog on Friday ( after the office Christmas lunch - cant manage Turkey yet but I've found things I can eat )
Chris
Managed to get out on Wednesday evening and got Lynn persuaded to take me to Johns funeral in Boston , early on Thursday. As expected, the chapel was full to overflowing, so I didn't hang about after the service, went back to the Petwood and found a quiet corner to put my leg up - just giving me a bit if jip at the moment. Bill , Johns son,had asked me, before I went into QE on the second occasion, if I would like to deliver a short Eulogy. I thought my speech capabilities had improved enough to do it, and I know that John would have wanted it, so I agreed . I had drafted a skeleton while I was in Hospital and, despite a poor start whilst I got my public speaking voice into gear, it went well and was very well received by those present. However, I had had a lot of attention from mutual friends and was well shot by the time I got home. Slept for a good portion of the night and didn't do a lot on the Friday. I didn't realise how tired I get, but I've taken out the dumbbells and I'm working on getting the strength and lung capacity back up to speed.
Had a pretty good weekend, let loose on Saturday night but severe restrictions on alcohol intake due to 'the boss ' reading the blurb on the anti - biotics. It doesn't say 'none ' but it doesn't say ' 3 pints of Guinness is good for you ' so I had to stick to one. which ,over 2 and a half hours takes some doing. Nevertheless, I had a good night catching up with friends and acquaintances, and, as I'd promised not to stay all night, left 5 minutes before the end. No reactions on Sunday, just a long deep sleep, which is something I've needed for some time.
Another good night and I'm beginning to feel like doing something, so I'll have a steady day and do a few catch up jobs, write a few Christmas cards and sort the week out.
Bye for now - next blog on Friday ( after the office Christmas lunch - cant manage Turkey yet but I've found things I can eat )
Chris
Friday 2 December 2011
Home Again
Back home after almost a week in QE Birmingham. It transpires that one of my tendons grew over part of the skin graft (or the graft tried to grow under the tendon) resulting in the graft not taking and dying off. The skin started to rot, my body wasn't up to fighting that infection so thats why I fell over. QE pumped me full of various chemicals ( could have been anti- biotics but I dont know one drug from another ), then after 12 doses over 3 days, took me down to theatre, put me out again and cleaned out all the dead crap, removed the part of offending tendon and took a new skin graft from my upper thigh ( that wasn't explained to me, it was a bit close for comfort when I saw the dressing !!). The new graft has been stitched and stapled into place. After another 4 doses intravenously, I was allowed out at 6.30, Wednesday night - after a little discussion, with a weeks dose of something similar to be swallowed.
The main op. continues to improve, I can eat most things now, but cant eat bread; the jaw is as flexible as it was before the op.; my speech is so good that I was confident enough to give a short eulogy yesterday, and whilst there is still some swelling, it is going down to the degree that ,from the front, I look like me , the right side almost looks like me, and the left side looks like me after a couple of rounds with a poorly sighted boxer with a weak punch.So apart from this little setback ( which , of course had its benefits, thats another set of nurses who will carefully analyse potential admissions for a month or two !! ) Friends - when I see you, ask about El Grabbi and Nurse Tsio - cant use this forum but we had some fun with both.
Still no news on getting a match on the tumour - I presume its still growing in the laboratory, but my surgeon tells me that if they cant sort it and decide to forego the chemo, then he will fit prosthetic teeth into my lower jaw in 3 months -so look out cow , when I start to chew your days are numbered !!
Back to Birmingham next Thursday for a wound check, then we will see how the land lies.
Bye for now
Chris
The main op. continues to improve, I can eat most things now, but cant eat bread; the jaw is as flexible as it was before the op.; my speech is so good that I was confident enough to give a short eulogy yesterday, and whilst there is still some swelling, it is going down to the degree that ,from the front, I look like me , the right side almost looks like me, and the left side looks like me after a couple of rounds with a poorly sighted boxer with a weak punch.So apart from this little setback ( which , of course had its benefits, thats another set of nurses who will carefully analyse potential admissions for a month or two !! ) Friends - when I see you, ask about El Grabbi and Nurse Tsio - cant use this forum but we had some fun with both.
Still no news on getting a match on the tumour - I presume its still growing in the laboratory, but my surgeon tells me that if they cant sort it and decide to forego the chemo, then he will fit prosthetic teeth into my lower jaw in 3 months -so look out cow , when I start to chew your days are numbered !!
Back to Birmingham next Thursday for a wound check, then we will see how the land lies.
Bye for now
Chris
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