Well, the antibiotics didn't work as quickly as I had hoped. Late on Sunday night we debated whether I was an A&E case or whether it could wait until Monday morning. My side was really very swollen and the redness seemed to be marching from my side across my chest at a rate of knots.
Fortunately, my consultant picked up my texted photograph on Sunday evening and asked me to see him first thing Monday morning. I was relieved not to have to go to the local A&E - by the time that I had explained the history at Derriford, it would be Monday afternoon anyway.
As I write this - it's Wednesday evening, and I am just getting out of RDE having endured another hospital stay being drained and put on I/V antibiotics again. I have to admit to feeling very down after finding myself here again, not only because in my head I had moved on from that stage, but because I had to say goodbye to my wife and kids again, if only for a short period. Having previously been more concerned about my eldest, my youngest has decided to join the fray and declared this week that he missed me. See where a regular bedtime routine and some decent Roald Dahl can get you?
I appreciate that standing back, I should have expected that things like this could happen, but I hadn't mentally prepared myself for that particular moment. Looking on the positive side, at least I didn't have to have more surgery - which was a distinct possibility. Right, let's start again - shall we?
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Friday, 15 October 2010
Some good and bad news - 1st formal review
Bad news first - this week, I began stretching out as instructed by my plastic surgeon. I hung from my hands for 2x10 seconds which seemed to be OK, if a little tight on the right side. The day after, I had some mild discomfort under my right arm. I assumed that this was a little delayed onset muscle stiffness - my arm hasn't been stretched properly for quite a while - over 4 months. I also spotted a small red patch of skin on the side of my chest - which I put down to possible minor sub-cutaneous bleeding/bruising caused by the stretching. However, it didn't ease off and after a few days I asked my GP to have a look - just in case. He took one look and told me that I had yet another infection. Arse.
Things seemed to happen very quickly after that. He prescribed anti-bs, but within an hour - my arm/shoulder felt really really painful and I started to feel that I was being alternately shoved into a freezer and then an oven. I went to bed and swung between shaking with cold and sweating as if in a sauna. At least I could see my consultant the next day. I was supposed to be attending a charity ball that night, and travelling up to Gravesend for work at the end of the weekend. Hm.
Now the good news - my wife took the kids into school and I got up slowly - feeling somewhat like I had been hit by a truck. We then drove up to the Nuffield Hospital. The last time I did that journey - it had been under rather more stressful circumstances (see below). This time, I wasn't really sure what to expect - what was he going to do? Would he photograph any moles that I had? I was pretty sure that he would feel my lymph glands for any unusual lumps. No matter what the circumstances, I suspect that these formal reviews will always make me feel a bit nervous.
We arrived and I went into my recap of the last few months. My consultant had a quick look at my side and confirmed it was an infection and put me back on to the medicinal Domestos pills. He reviewed my back scar and had a look at my moles. Interestingly his review of the moles was surprisingly cursory - I don't have that many, but he took about 30 seconds. I suppose that's a good thing. He then had a root around in my left armpit and my upper groin for the lymph glands before declaring himself happy. Nothing to feel. Its probably relief - but the appointment has left me feeling more optimistic notwithstanding the infection in my right side. 1 appointment down, 15 to go.
Things seemed to happen very quickly after that. He prescribed anti-bs, but within an hour - my arm/shoulder felt really really painful and I started to feel that I was being alternately shoved into a freezer and then an oven. I went to bed and swung between shaking with cold and sweating as if in a sauna. At least I could see my consultant the next day. I was supposed to be attending a charity ball that night, and travelling up to Gravesend for work at the end of the weekend. Hm.
Now the good news - my wife took the kids into school and I got up slowly - feeling somewhat like I had been hit by a truck. We then drove up to the Nuffield Hospital. The last time I did that journey - it had been under rather more stressful circumstances (see below). This time, I wasn't really sure what to expect - what was he going to do? Would he photograph any moles that I had? I was pretty sure that he would feel my lymph glands for any unusual lumps. No matter what the circumstances, I suspect that these formal reviews will always make me feel a bit nervous.
We arrived and I went into my recap of the last few months. My consultant had a quick look at my side and confirmed it was an infection and put me back on to the medicinal Domestos pills. He reviewed my back scar and had a look at my moles. Interestingly his review of the moles was surprisingly cursory - I don't have that many, but he took about 30 seconds. I suppose that's a good thing. He then had a root around in my left armpit and my upper groin for the lymph glands before declaring himself happy. Nothing to feel. Its probably relief - but the appointment has left me feeling more optimistic notwithstanding the infection in my right side. 1 appointment down, 15 to go.
Friday, 8 October 2010
A new start - 8 October 2010
My last blog seems to have upset a lot of people, for which I apologise. My intention was never to upset - my sole purpose in doing it was to get the words out and down - and yes, I do feel a lot better for it. It also provides a handy way of communicating how I feel about things. A lot of people had no idea what had happened, or at least no concept of the detail - now they do. Reaction to the blog has been mainly to express admiration for my wife and that is how it should be. To call someone a "life-saver" is an over-used cliché - but as far as she is concerned, never more appropriate or factually accurate. I should say that I have started to see a spark of fun mischief in her eyes again, something that I originally fell in love with and have not seen for quite a while - so she must be recovering too.
I have been at work for a week! First day was really weird - I managed to forget all of my passwords for various things and what with a new case to work on and new shoes etc I felt like a new boy at school... I am now getting back into the swing of things a little and it feels more "normal" to be in the office. Work colleagues have been great and have not been reluctant to talk about things - which is nice. I also get to take the boys into school which is a part of my day that I really missed. Its odd that you end up missing the moments of your day that you least expect when you can't do them.
The latest news is that my more immediate follow-up appointments are no longer necessary - no more syringing! I still have to attend the 3 monthly review appointments, but at least I can forget about the journey to Exeter on a weekly basis. My plastic surgeon seemed happy with things generally - he insists on referring to the scar on my back as a "bit ugly", but then I suspect that he is more used to tidy cosmetic surgery scarring and perfection in his handiwork. He says that I can now start to stretch my arm and shoulder out a bit more vigorously and is keen that I get onto the gymnastic rings in my garage gym for some hanging stretches. That should be fun... I am at the end of the second week of gentle turbo sessions in the garage and enjoying every moment of it. As Lance says - whilst I can still move, I'm not sick.
Eating well and avoiding alcohol/caffeine also continues. I haven't had a single espresso this week - which may shock people that know me. Perhaps I can save that for a weekend "treat". A lot of weight has fallen off already - intentionally so - I was running out of suits that fit during May/June. If/when you see me, please don't think the weight loss is anything sinister - far from it.
Onwards.
I have been at work for a week! First day was really weird - I managed to forget all of my passwords for various things and what with a new case to work on and new shoes etc I felt like a new boy at school... I am now getting back into the swing of things a little and it feels more "normal" to be in the office. Work colleagues have been great and have not been reluctant to talk about things - which is nice. I also get to take the boys into school which is a part of my day that I really missed. Its odd that you end up missing the moments of your day that you least expect when you can't do them.
The latest news is that my more immediate follow-up appointments are no longer necessary - no more syringing! I still have to attend the 3 monthly review appointments, but at least I can forget about the journey to Exeter on a weekly basis. My plastic surgeon seemed happy with things generally - he insists on referring to the scar on my back as a "bit ugly", but then I suspect that he is more used to tidy cosmetic surgery scarring and perfection in his handiwork. He says that I can now start to stretch my arm and shoulder out a bit more vigorously and is keen that I get onto the gymnastic rings in my garage gym for some hanging stretches. That should be fun... I am at the end of the second week of gentle turbo sessions in the garage and enjoying every moment of it. As Lance says - whilst I can still move, I'm not sick.
Eating well and avoiding alcohol/caffeine also continues. I haven't had a single espresso this week - which may shock people that know me. Perhaps I can save that for a weekend "treat". A lot of weight has fallen off already - intentionally so - I was running out of suits that fit during May/June. If/when you see me, please don't think the weight loss is anything sinister - far from it.
Onwards.
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