Wow ... It has been a while!

I can't believe that it has been sooooo long since I last posted on here!! Sorry folks! I bet you are all dying to know what I have been up to and how it is all going (not)! 

Well ... 

It is now 4 weeks since I had my liver resection operation and I am so pleased and surprised with how things have been going. The first couple of days I was out of hospital were tough and my poor sis had to put up with my winging. Warning, blunt fact ... I wasn't sure whether I was constipated or whether I just had bad diarrhoea, so I was on all sorts of things trying to get more comfortable - prune juice is not very nice!! I was also having hot sweats and shivering. Luckily, my core temperature remained stable and so doctor sister decided to take up a watch and wait practice. Thankfully I was feeling much better on day three of being at home and was able to eat proper meals and I didn't have to have any more Fortisip (a high nutritional milkshake type drink that is good for you, but as a result tastes absolutely awful and just leaves a sticky coating around my mouth and down my throat!!) There are still three bottles of banana flavour Fortisip in the fridge if anyone wants any!!!! 

My aim before the operation was to try and keep walking at least a little each day and to get down to Tooting Bec to watch the Olympic torch relay go past on Monday 23rd July. This is about half a mile from where I live. I was really pleased to find that I was able to walk a lot more easily than after my bowel operation, which I think is certainly helped by the fact that it is not my lower abdominal muscles that were cut through - this time the incision runs from my breast bone around the bottom of my right ribcage to my waist, so the two scars won't actually meet up! Because of where the staples started, I wasn't able to wear a bra whilst the staples in. I was also walking scrunched over to stop pulling on my wound. It meant that I was getting a bad back. I was going for a walk every day though, with Sarah taking me around the block. I got more and more confident that I was going to be able to walk to Tooting Bec and back. We had the folding stool at the ready for me to sit on whilst waiting for the relay to go past. Before the trek up the road though I had to have my staples out at the GPs. The nurse seemed to think that the wound was healing well (sister doctor had said that already, but reassuring none-the-less). Having staples out feels probably much as you'd imagine! Thankfully there were only a couple of more stubborn ones! After leaving the GPs, we walked down to Tooting Bec and picked out spot in the shade next to the chip shop to wait the hour until the relay was due. I was thankful for the stool, and for the iced lolly that Sarah bought me - thanks sis! It was pretty busy and getting more so! A friendly policeman from the Borders and Lothians force told us that they were only going to stop traffic on the other side of the road, so we were best off crossing to get a better view. Thankfully we followed his advice and moved to the shade of the bus stop. We had a good view when the torch relay came through and even saw the flame being 'kissed' to the next torch bearer a few metres away! Here's Sarah's photo of it (I somehow missed the key moment with my camera!):

I was so pleased to have seen the torch, but more so, that I had been able to meet my challenge of walking there and back!! 

Next challenge was to be able to walk the mile (approx) each way to be able to visit my pregnant friend Nikki by the end of the week. I was therefore taken out for a walk each day by Sarah to make sure I was going to be able to do this! My slow shuffle was getting better all the time and thankfully the hot weather lead to pleasant evenings to be able to do this! It was really nice to be able to catch up with Nikki before her baby turned up! 

Now, as an armchair sports fan, the London Olympics being whilst I am off work has been a godsend! And as it turned out it was probably a good thing that I hadn't won tickets for anything! I had managed to get Sarah almost as addicted as me to cycling watching the Tour de France in that first week of me being out of hospital so we decided to go to Putney on the Saturday morning to see the men's road race speed by on the way down to Surrey. First though we tuned in for the opening ceremony - wow!! I thought it was brilliant and was so enthralled by it. I think my favourite bit was the NHS / Great Ormand Street Hospital bit with all the kids bouncing on their beds - looked loads of fun! From the top floor of the building I live in you can get great views across London, so Sarah and I decided to go up there to watch the fireworks at the end of the ceremony. We couldn't make it out totally, but still we managed to see some of the lights. Stupidly, we only took our iPhones with us and not our cameras, but here's some  fuzzy fireworks pics: 

Anyway, back to our road race viewing plans. We decided that to make sure we could get a good spot we needed to be in Putney an hour before the cyclists were due through, so it was an early alarm, well relatively considering we had been up watching the opening ceremony until the early hours!! ;-) Along came the trusty stool again and my Olympic scarf had arrived so I could wear that around my shoulders! I took my camera with me this time and set it on sport mode for continuous shooting! This meant that I got quite a few photos as the cyclists speed through in one big bunch!. Luckily from our spot on the Upper Richmond Road we had a great view as they came around the corner from Putney High Street. Here are some of the pics: 

OK, so they zoomed passed at around 1000mph but looking back at the photos, I think I have identified three of the Team GB squad (please let me know if I have got this wrong). 

1. Sir Bradley Wiggins

2. Ian Stannard

3. Chris Froome

It's just a shame I didn't get Cav and David Millar - they shouldn't have been peddling so fast!! Now the theory for the rest of the day was to go home and shout at the TV whilst Cav sprinted across the line for the gold medal. Alas the rest of the world didn't cooperate and the medal went to someone else! Oh well, it was the start of what has turned into nearly two weeks (so far) of getting increasingly square eyes!! I have loved shouting at the TV and watching so many different sports. I'm not sure what I think of boxing and taekwondo, where the aim is to hit / kick the opponent in the head to get points but I do respect the athletes for their commitment to their sport. And as for dressage .... horses dancing to music is just bizarre, but we won a gold so I can't complain too much! The cycling though has remained my favourite and I was jumping up and down at the TV when Wiggo won the road time trial and all the golds in the velodrome were fantastic!! Here's a photo of my sis celebrating Wiggo's victory (complete with Sainbury's carrier bag sideburns!): 

I think that the BBC have done a brilliant job of showing everything and generally the presenters / commentators have been fab, with Clare Balding and Mark Foster in the Aquatic Centre and Jake Humphrey and Mark Cavendish in the velodrome my faves, but Gary Lineker is getting on my nerves a bit!! I just can't believe there are only three more days to go and I wish I could have got to more events, but I am really looking forward to going to the Paralympics in September - I have wheelchair basketball, swimming and athletics tickets!! Go Team GB!! 

Now just to prove that I have not been just slouched on the sofa, I have been carrying on with my walking most days and over the weekend I walked 5.5km each day around the park. The showers did get me, but it was great to be out amongst the trees and wildlife again:

I also met up with an old friend for lunch last Monday. She is in London working as a games maker and so it was a great opportunity to get together after too long! I loved hearing about what she was up to at the Olympics and we had a lovely walk around Victoria and Green Park. I even saw the back of the Beach Volleyball Arena: 

Thanks for meeting with me Vicky, and I hope that you enjoy the rest of your summer!

Now, back to the cancer stuff ... I am still progressing well after surgery. I came off painkillers (ibuprofen and paracetamol) totally about a week ago, having been on maximum daily dosage for about 10 days after coming home and then easing off. I was also given a box of Tramadol when I left hospital, but this has left me fuzzy headed in the past and so I only took one each of the first couple of nights I was home. I have also had to inject myself each night with an anti-clotting drug to prevent me getting a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism! Now the thought of having to inject myself really didn't appeal, especially as a recovering needle phobic! I had to show the nurses I could do it before I left hospital, which I did, but I must admit that for the first 10 days at home I chickened out and Sarah did it for me. I did buck up my courage after that though and have been giving myself the injections the last week. I was very glad last night that this was my sight when tipping out the box though: 

The last one!!!

I am now done with adding a new bruise to my thighs each night and having to put up with the f**king painfully stinging of the drug (Fragmin) going in, which tended to last a minute or so afterwards - brought a tear to my eyes often!! I'm not sure if there are any ways to stop this but I found that going quick with the injection certainly got it over and done with quicker. I can now start smothering on the arnica cream to hopefully help the bruises! I have just got to remember to take my sharps bin back to the hospital on Monday for them to get rid of!! Thank you so much to Yogi Clare for all the work you did with me on my needle phobia - I certainly couldn't have got through the last 4 weeks without it!! 

I am now back at my parents for a few days of mum fussing!! It also means that Dad and I can shout at the tv together!! :-) On Monday I had my routine 6 month check with my original (bowel) surgeon. He hadn't realised that I had had my liver surgery and so was pleased with how well I looked. He had a look at the wound and said it all looked good. All in all he was happy and I next see him in 6 months! Next Monday I head back to Guildford to have a check-up with my liver surgeon (or one of his minions) and hopefully that'll then be me discharged from his service and solely back in the hands of the oncology team at St George's for my 12 weeks of post-op chemo. I see my oncologist on Friday next week to hopefully start making plans for this. I am not sure yet when it will all kick off again, but hopefully around the end of this month or the start of September so I can have it all done and dusted nicely before Christmas. 

Right, I guess I had better sign off there and let you all get on with your lives!! Thanks for reading! I'm off for my shot of aloe vera juice and my wheatgrass juice! 

Enjoy the rest of the Olympics - go Team GB!!! 

xxxxxx

P.S. Just wanted to show you the yummy tart that Sarah made me as a surprise for the start of the Olympics:

The outside world!

Just been outside in the sunshine for a little walk up the road! So pleased to be doing that only a week after my operation! :-)

Last night in hospital!!

I was moved yesterday afternoon from the ICU to the HDU (one stage down). Since then I've slept a lot but I am now totally disconnected from all the monitoring and tubes and have been walking around and tried some stairs!! I'm really excited that it's all happening so quickly! All being well, this time tomorrow I'll be at home!

I'm not meant to use my phone here and have a weak 3G signal so I'll sign off for now!

Night night xxxx

Greetings from ICU

Well I managed to wake up again! ;-) I'm on the ICU being cared for by some lovely nurses! The op apparently went well and I'm recovering like a good patient!

I'm still rigged up to the oxygen mask and have my epidural and IV paracetamol running as pain relief. I'm on a bag of saline to replace fluids and have a catheter in. I also have various monitoring things in / on me and a drain at my wound site, although apparently not much is coming out there, which is good.

I've not had and food yet and am just sipping at water, even though I'd live to gulp down a glass!! When I tried this earlier it made me bring it straight back up so won't try it again in a hurry!! Was given some anti-sickness drug which immediately spaced me out! Ha ha ha!

If all goes well tonight I should be moved to a normal ward tomorrow and that'll be a good sign. Fingers crossed.

They're turning the lights out now so I think I'll try and have another snooze!!

Xxxx

My own room!! Well bay anyway!

Well folks, I'm here and am the only 'guest' in this bay of the surgical admissions ward. Mum, Dad and sis have just left and I'm sat waiting for the doc to come for a chat and blood test.

It's been a strange day but here's some pics. I bought some new elmo pj's for the occasion. I then proved that I can pack light. We came across some heavy showers on the drive down to Guildford. As I am not allowed any food after midnight, I stocked up on pasta at Jamie's Italian!! I'm now settling in for the night, having had my carb preload drinks - basically sugar water!!

Thanks for all your messages and support! I'm not sure when I'll next be able to update as I'm going for my op first thing in the morning and then it's ICU for up to two days afterwards. Not sure if there'll be signal there or if I'll be allowed to use my phone. Will update when I can though.

Xxxx

Not the best idea!?

Is watching the 'Brothers & Sisters' episode where Kevin has liver surgery the night before I go into hospital for liver surgery a good idea?!?!

Xxxx

Long time, no write

Wow, I hadn't realized it has been so long since I last updated this blog, but I look back and it was the Race for Life that I was writing about! I am now on the final countdown of having cancer!!! Yes folks, the end of cancer for me comes next Thursday morning when I have my operation!! Of course, I still have 12 weeks of chemo to get through after I recover from the op, but technically I will be cancer free once this tumour is cut out on Thursday!! It's quite strange to think that this is it for me and cancer, but it does make me smile!! :-D


Anyway, what have I been up to in the last few weeks, I hear you ask. Well I guess that the main excitement was my holiday to Spain with 7 of my friends! We had a really great time relaxing in the heat and the sunshine. We had a nice villa on the edge of Moraira, about an hour north of Alicante on the coast. I must admit that I barely moved from the villa, be it lounging by the pool or cooling down on the sofa, each day, but we went out for dinner in town all but one night. One evening we did attempt a BBQ at the villa but it didn't quite go to plan as the coals took so long to heat up. We did manage to BBQ the burgers, but everything else was grilled!! Oh well, all good fun though! The week we were there corresponded with the annual Moors v Christians Festival. This seemed to involve a lot of cannon fire and fireworks on the weekend! A lot of the fireworks were set off whilst it was still daylight, which seemed a bit of a waste, but on the Sunday night they did save some until after dark, so here's some photos looking back towards the town centre: 

I think my little point-and-shoot did pretty well with these photos! One afternoon we went down to the main beach in the town and some of the others went for a swim in the sea - I wasn't brave enough to do anything more than paddle - the water was a bit too cold for my liking! I did end up with sunburnt feet though, so a not entirely wasted day!! I also managed to burn my back early on in the week, which meant a lot of aftersun was used and I ended up with some lovely tan lines!! These are still there for my surgeon to admire next week!! On our last day we booked ourselves onto a boat trip along the coast. Now we had just spent a week in a quiet castal town that seemed to be very out of season, with the bars closing up around us each night and the only club only having the chill-out patio open and not the actual club on the night that some of the others went!! This meant that we were very surprised when around the breakwater came a boat almost packed with minimally clad 18-30s with a thumping base line!! It was a bit of a shock but we soon settled in and enjoyed the trip up the coast. Some of the others went for a swim in the sea when we dropped anchor for the BBQ lunch in a sheltered cover, along with a number of other boats. It turned out to be a great way to spend the last day of our holiday before catching the packed Ryanair flight back to cold and very rainy Stansted that night!!! All in all it was a brilliant holiday - thanks Aisling, Gemma, Lindsay, Vicky, Andy, John and Paul!! 

Aisling & John by the beach

Moraira Beach

Out to dinner - Paul, Aisling, Vicky, Lindsay, Gemma, Andy & John

Lindsay & Gemma

Lindsay & Andy

Aisling & me

Lindsay & John doing a spot of astronomy - so many more stars than London!

the view from our villa

our villa

Vicky & Paul

all on the boat

Vicky, Aisling, Lindsay & John taking a swim in the sea

Andy & Gemma

the girls on the boat ...

... and the boys

the party boat!!

Since coming back from Spain, I have been 'enjoying' the British summer - will it never stop raining??!! I think I am turning into a prune with it all!!! I have been glad to have Wimbledon and the Tour de France to watch (good thing I am an arm-chair sports fan!!) to pass the time, but I have also been trying to make the most of having decent energy levels! I have been trying to get to the gym most days to do 30 mins on the cross trainer. This does leave me tired, but I think it is good for me and I am trying to get as fit as I can before the operation as hopefully it will help me recover. I have also invested in a rebounder (mini trampoline). This is something that has been mentioned in a number of the cancer books I have been reading over the last few months as a good way to get some exercise. I have only been managing 15 minutes a day but I have not banged my head on the light fitting yet and I have been getting more of a work-out fighting to fold the thing back up and back in it's bag than I have bouncing on it! If anyone else is thinking about getting a rebounder, I do recommend it but make sure you have a good sports bra (boys included)!! ;-) Other things I have been doing to try and make sure I am as healthy as I can be (well, none of it can hurt anyway) is to have a shot of aloe vera juice and a glass of wheatgrass every day. I have also been making green juice and having a glass of that every day (I have not yet got the recipe totally right for my taste, with the balance of different leafy green veg, but the idea is to try and increase my chlorophyll intake). I am also, weather permitting, going for an hour's walk every day. All in all I feel great!!

In a way, feeling so great at the moment makes me a bit apprehensive about the surgery as it will really take me back to square one with not being able to move properly and highly dependent on others again. I think that I am going to get very frustrated. I am aiming to try and keep up my healthy habits though. I am going to get out for a walk every day once I am out of hospital, even if it is just along the corridor. I am hoping to be well enough to see the Olympic torch come through my bit of SW London on July 25th, but I will have to check the route map carefully I think so that I have the option of getting the bus!!! ;-)

A couple of weeks ago I had my pre-op assessment at the hospital and I learnt more about what'll happen with me. It turns out that the enhanced recovery programme that they run means that I could be out of hospital in 3 or 4 days after the operation, with up to 2 of those days in the ICU, so that I can be carefully monitored! This means that I could be back at home again by this time next week!!! We'll have to see how it goes though, after all I wouldn't want to be deprived of hospital food too soon!! ;-)

I have begun to think about my future plans once this latest cancer adventure is over. Where do I want to be in a years time?? I have even made an inspiration board to help me think about this, which now hangs on the wall. One thing that I would like is to get more into my photography and make use of my lovely digital SLR that I bought last summer. Whilst I can't take the camera with me into hospital, I am thinking of trying to make a photo diary of my experiences there. I am not sure quite how this is going to work, but I kind of want this to be something that others about to go through a similar thing can look at to get informed. You see, I would like to give something back. I would like to think that something useful can come out of this whole experience I have been / am going through.

OK, I am going to give up with this DVD from Love Film, 'The Fighter', that I am watching. It keeps skipping and pausing thanks to the scratches on the disk. This will definitely be sent back and reported as faulty! The other film I had this time though was 'The Descendents'. Now, whilst you can't generally go too wrong with a George Clooney film, I must say that it was the location rather than the story that got to me - Hawaii is most certainly on the 'places to visit' list! If only I could go now and skip the next 6 months!! ;-) The other film that I have seem recently was 'One for the Money'. Now I am a great fan of the series of books by Janet Evanesovich that this film is based on the first of, so I was a bit worried about how it would be adapted. I really enjoyed it though and hope that they make more of the books into films. I have also been watching 'Brothers & Sisters'. My TV on demand service has put up all the seasons so I have been catching up with the last 2 seasons that I missed on TV. Of course, there ended up being a cancer storyline - am I just sensitive to this at the moment, or do there seem to be a lot of cancer storylines everywhere at the moment??!!

In preparation for my hospital stay, I have been loading my Kindle with books to read and choosing books to listen to on Audible. I also bought a pile of magazines to flick through. I think that I might have gone a bit overboard though as I think I have got enough to keep me entertained for a couple of years!!! ha ha ha!! I'll let you know what I think of the books in another review session. 

Last Tuesday I went for a lovely massage. It involved some aromatherapy and I have fallen in love with the citrus & mint blend that the therapist made up for me! My dry skin is certainly appreciating the oil as I smother myself in it at the moment!! I can't wait to go and have another massage when I am able to after my operation - I guess I will have to wait a couple of weeks!! I'll also have to put yoga on hold for a bit - don't  want to pop a staple!! ;-) I am hoping to be able to do some relaxation sessions with Yogi Clare though and maybe some reiki and NLP. Discovering all these things are some of these things that I am grateful to the cancer for. This may sound odd, but who knows what sort of life I would have ended up with if cancer hadn't given me a wake-up call and shown me that there is more out there. My sister pointed out to me earlier that I have changed from a 'glass half empty' person into a 'glass half full' person, and this can only be a good thing! 

Anyway, I'd better leave it there as I think reading this post maybe qualifies you for an endurance medal!! I'll try not to leave it so long next time!! 

xxxxx