A quick update on the health front, then this blog will be returned to its original purpose as an outlet for my musings on cultural and other things. Suitably vague brief there.
Just been to see the Neurosurgery boffins at Kings again. They want to do another CT scan and another MRI, but generally they are very pleased with things. Very nice Registrar chap told me that I am in the top 1% in terms of recovering from the condition I had, given its location and the nature of the surgery required. A lot of people end up permanently disabled, apparently. Sobering thought. Don't think I'll be complaining any time soon...
Monday 23 April 2012
Just a quick one
Monday 13 June 2011
So here we are
Hello all. Sorry for the delay in writing. The operation was a bit like being run over by a truck. Needed some rest for a while. Thanks to everyone who has sent good wishes.
I write this on the evening of my first day back at work, just under four months after the operation. The tumour was completely removed and was confirmed as benign. I am mostly healed up, still having physiotherapy on my sore neck and shoulder. Still recovering!
Going back to work will require some adjustment I think. On the one hand I still have all the knowledge and experience I had before. On the other, it's a bit scary. Weird.
Have been back at choir now for a couple of weeks. Even went on tour to Kiev (Ukraine, before you ask). That was a bit of a baptism of fire, but I made it. Proud to have done so, and not to have missed a tour yet. Everyone in the choir has been very kind and I appreciate it very much. They are a most excellent bunch. Talented too. Some truly extraordinary performances in Kiev. Elgar's "The Dream of Gerontius" at the Barbican next week looks set to be a corker.
Saw my physio today, Jean, South African lady. She's fab. She announced today that my neck is sufficiently good now to do some proper exercises. Up until now it's been too sore and stiff to do more than massage and manipulate it a lot and stretch it a bit. Some of the floor exercises today were quite tough and I suspect she noticed that I am clearly a stranger to exercise.
My spine st the base of the skull is stable, which is good. The pain, stiffness and such is all in the soft tissues (muscles), and so can be sorted out. Lots of work must ensue to build the neck muscles up. Of course, a couple of pieces of bone have been removed from the spine at the back of my neck (C1 & C2 Laminectomy), so it won't ever be quite as tough as it was. Contact sports are now out, so I'll have to kiss goodbye to my Rugby career. Likewise the Judo. Ho hum. I asked Jean about Bungee-Jumping. Sharp response - NO-ONE should EVER Bungee-jump. If you don't have a neck problem beforehand, you will afterwards. And then there are the cruciate ligaments in your knees...so you have been warned, people, don't do it!
I write this on the evening of my first day back at work, just under four months after the operation. The tumour was completely removed and was confirmed as benign. I am mostly healed up, still having physiotherapy on my sore neck and shoulder. Still recovering!
Going back to work will require some adjustment I think. On the one hand I still have all the knowledge and experience I had before. On the other, it's a bit scary. Weird.
Have been back at choir now for a couple of weeks. Even went on tour to Kiev (Ukraine, before you ask). That was a bit of a baptism of fire, but I made it. Proud to have done so, and not to have missed a tour yet. Everyone in the choir has been very kind and I appreciate it very much. They are a most excellent bunch. Talented too. Some truly extraordinary performances in Kiev. Elgar's "The Dream of Gerontius" at the Barbican next week looks set to be a corker.
Saw my physio today, Jean, South African lady. She's fab. She announced today that my neck is sufficiently good now to do some proper exercises. Up until now it's been too sore and stiff to do more than massage and manipulate it a lot and stretch it a bit. Some of the floor exercises today were quite tough and I suspect she noticed that I am clearly a stranger to exercise.
My spine st the base of the skull is stable, which is good. The pain, stiffness and such is all in the soft tissues (muscles), and so can be sorted out. Lots of work must ensue to build the neck muscles up. Of course, a couple of pieces of bone have been removed from the spine at the back of my neck (C1 & C2 Laminectomy), so it won't ever be quite as tough as it was. Contact sports are now out, so I'll have to kiss goodbye to my Rugby career. Likewise the Judo. Ho hum. I asked Jean about Bungee-Jumping. Sharp response - NO-ONE should EVER Bungee-jump. If you don't have a neck problem beforehand, you will afterwards. And then there are the cruciate ligaments in your knees...so you have been warned, people, don't do it!
Sunday 20 February 2011
Life Goes On - Day 3, Sunday, 20th Feb 2011
Light dawns. Some sleep had been had. A vaguely acceptable day ensues, mainly thanks to the head nurse, Neil, who is a top bloke. I am sure to scrub up and put on a good show of eating and drinking, walking about etc. to convince him that I should be the next one to get out into an ordinary ward (where they have showers, and proper toilets instead of commodes, no catheters in, no monitoring etc)
4:30pm I am out! Naff hospital pyjamas but better than a gown and catheter. Now the process of recovery can really begin.
I am reunited with all my possessions, including this 'phone....
...and at some point soon I suppose I will let you all in to visit. There will be good days and bad days. Even if I had a very very bad time on Saturday, and even if I do nothing else today, I've already done very well today as it is. That's enough. Just need to take it one day at a time. My momma always said so anyways. And today is after all only Day 3...
4:30pm I am out! Naff hospital pyjamas but better than a gown and catheter. Now the process of recovery can really begin.
I am reunited with all my possessions, including this 'phone....
...and at some point soon I suppose I will let you all in to visit. There will be good days and bad days. Even if I had a very very bad time on Saturday, and even if I do nothing else today, I've already done very well today as it is. That's enough. Just need to take it one day at a time. My momma always said so anyways. And today is after all only Day 3...
Life Goes On - Day 2, Saturday, 19th Feb 2011
Indescribable. Spend entire day in a sweat trying to find a way to rest my head and neck. My parents and brother Paul visit. I shock and scare them.
Expect the night to be the same as before. To my surprise the looneys behave and I manage to get a little sleep here and there. Everything is very surreal
Expect the night to be the same as before. To my surprise the looneys behave and I manage to get a little sleep here and there. Everything is very surreal
Life Goes On - Day 1, Friday, 18th Feb 2011
It lives! (that's me). It has been exterminated! (the tumour).
Wake up in recovery at about midnight. Wasn't even aware of going to sleep. Nice chap explains that the op was a big success. I'm not with it.
Sometime later, moved to ICU. In a bed on my back. Neck totally stiff. Head enclosed in something. Rough night, all manner of mayhem going on. Still busy in the daytime too. One of those chaps playing at nurses looks after me. Good bloke, Ed, bit of a no-nonsense matronly attitude that I don't care for though. Doesn't he realise what I've been through?
My brother visits, along with Louise and Caroline. Great of them all but I am far, far from my best. I try to get a message out that I am not ready but it fails to stop Declan. I fear he found it all most upsetting. I know I did.
I feel better while John is there and I get into a chair while we plot the no visitors message. I eat and drink on cue like a Trojan to demonstrate how well I am. Darker later. Much.
Good news! That night I am moved to the High-Dependency Unit. It's not good news at all. Extremely black night. Looneys in the unit, and then there are the patients. No sleep, can't put head down because of neck. They want to take observations all the time round the clock.
Wake up in recovery at about midnight. Wasn't even aware of going to sleep. Nice chap explains that the op was a big success. I'm not with it.
Sometime later, moved to ICU. In a bed on my back. Neck totally stiff. Head enclosed in something. Rough night, all manner of mayhem going on. Still busy in the daytime too. One of those chaps playing at nurses looks after me. Good bloke, Ed, bit of a no-nonsense matronly attitude that I don't care for though. Doesn't he realise what I've been through?
My brother visits, along with Louise and Caroline. Great of them all but I am far, far from my best. I try to get a message out that I am not ready but it fails to stop Declan. I fear he found it all most upsetting. I know I did.
I feel better while John is there and I get into a chair while we plot the no visitors message. I eat and drink on cue like a Trojan to demonstrate how well I am. Darker later. Much.
Good news! That night I am moved to the High-Dependency Unit. It's not good news at all. Extremely black night. Looneys in the unit, and then there are the patients. No sleep, can't put head down because of neck. They want to take observations all the time round the clock.
Thursday 17 February 2011
Tumour Diary, Day 10 - Thu 17th Feb 2011 (UPDATED)
6:10am Might as well give up trying to get sleep. 5 interruptions during the night. 4 times from 3 different people just to get one blood sample (threw my earlier ones away), once for an ECG ("can't find your earlier notes") and then a random power surge that left all the lights blazing on at 5am.
6:20am Just been told I am second on the surgery list, at about 11-12am, and I can have "a wee sleep". Thanks
9:20am How does that poem go? "If you can keep your head while all around you have no clue" or something like that. I'll spare you the details. Just need to be patient.
Consent form signed again. Enough times now to remove all three of my brains
Thanks all for your kind messages :-)
...
They take me down at about 11:45. I hand them my possessions, including this 'phone. Keep me waiting for a while outside theatre. When they put me under I'm not even aware
6:20am Just been told I am second on the surgery list, at about 11-12am, and I can have "a wee sleep". Thanks
9:20am How does that poem go? "If you can keep your head while all around you have no clue" or something like that. I'll spare you the details. Just need to be patient.
Consent form signed again. Enough times now to remove all three of my brains
Thanks all for your kind messages :-)
...
They take me down at about 11:45. I hand them my possessions, including this 'phone. Keep me waiting for a while outside theatre. When they put me under I'm not even aware
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Tumour Diary, Day 9 - Wed 16th Feb 2011
8:55am Morning. Breakfast at home is nice. For those of you more pharmacologically-minded, here is what I've been enjoying with my cereal:
• Dexamethazone 4 Mg - steroid to reduce brain swelling
• Metoclopramide 10mg - for hiccups
• Omeprazole 20mg - for heartburn caused by the steroids
12:40pm Enjoying preparing lunch. Pasta is on the boil. Tortiglioni with an Arrabiatta sauce. Yum
1:45pm More pills. Nice call from Rosie. Off to get hair cut. I figure that if they're going to shave the back of my neck tomorrow then I might as well have the rest of it nice and short for when it all grows back.
3:20pm Great haircut at Henry & Son as always. Deniz is always good for a chat
5pm Many thanks to neighbour Carol for ferrying me about. Also for looking after my plants while I'm "inside". They're in for a treat - not used to such TLC ;-)
6pm Very nice but slightly manic tea at Katharine & Daniel's. Guess that's normal when you have 4 kids...
8pm Great to be able to go and visit someone else in hospital. Popped in to see Rachel, Nick and their new little boy. Sweet
8:45pm Arrive back on the ward at King's to find someone in my room and the nursing staff with no clue about my arrival.
"We thought you'd gone home"
"I'm here to have surgery"
"Oh really? What was your name again?"
Waiting in the day room while they scratch around. Don't worry guys, surgery's not until the morning...
10pm They find me a bed in a room with 3 others. Not a lot of sleep tonight then
10:45pm Gentleman in bed next to mine has Yoda announcing loudly every time he gets a text message. Bet the other inmates love him. If he doesn't find silent mode on his 'phone soon I might have to help him by stamping on it.
Final confirmation of surgery list doesn't come through until 4am so I won't know for definite until I wake. Should be fine, ready as I'll ever be now. No more delays please
• Dexamethazone 4 Mg - steroid to reduce brain swelling
• Metoclopramide 10mg - for hiccups
• Omeprazole 20mg - for heartburn caused by the steroids
12:40pm Enjoying preparing lunch. Pasta is on the boil. Tortiglioni with an Arrabiatta sauce. Yum
1:45pm More pills. Nice call from Rosie. Off to get hair cut. I figure that if they're going to shave the back of my neck tomorrow then I might as well have the rest of it nice and short for when it all grows back.
3:20pm Great haircut at Henry & Son as always. Deniz is always good for a chat
5pm Many thanks to neighbour Carol for ferrying me about. Also for looking after my plants while I'm "inside". They're in for a treat - not used to such TLC ;-)
6pm Very nice but slightly manic tea at Katharine & Daniel's. Guess that's normal when you have 4 kids...
8pm Great to be able to go and visit someone else in hospital. Popped in to see Rachel, Nick and their new little boy. Sweet
8:45pm Arrive back on the ward at King's to find someone in my room and the nursing staff with no clue about my arrival.
"We thought you'd gone home"
"I'm here to have surgery"
"Oh really? What was your name again?"
Waiting in the day room while they scratch around. Don't worry guys, surgery's not until the morning...
10pm They find me a bed in a room with 3 others. Not a lot of sleep tonight then
10:45pm Gentleman in bed next to mine has Yoda announcing loudly every time he gets a text message. Bet the other inmates love him. If he doesn't find silent mode on his 'phone soon I might have to help him by stamping on it.
Final confirmation of surgery list doesn't come through until 4am so I won't know for definite until I wake. Should be fine, ready as I'll ever be now. No more delays please
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