Monday 10th was a busy day. I had a trip to the GPs to sort out diabetes treatment and get a load of blood test samples. I also got a sick note up to and including 7th September.
I arranged an appointment with the diabetes specialist nurse for the Thursday (my birthday) and also to visit the specialist haematology nurse (Friday) and get a PET scan. They will not do the scan unless my diabetes is in control.
In the afternoon I went to the hospital to get the stitches removed. That was not straightforward as I had to wait 2hrs to get a second opinion on whether they could be removed.
Tuesday 11th - no appointments - yippee.
Wednesday 12th August - the delights of a bone marrow biopsy, one I was not looking forward to. It proved to be uncomfortable and I can still feel the effects 6 days later.
Thursday 13th I got a present of insulin to help me control diabetes. It was quite a big step to inject the first time, but it did work. I have been prescribed a basal dose of one insulin (Lantus) with a top up of Novarapid when I eat or need to bring down the level.
Friday 14th was a visit to the nurse - very nice, gave nothing away but mentioned chemotherapy.
Saturday 15th was a birthday celebration with family - I ate too much.
Sunday 16th I woke with bg levels over 20. Drastic action required involving insulin and over 15000 steps walking. It did the trick and I finished the day at 7.3.
Monday 17th was PET scan day. I was very nervous about my sugar levels. 10.7 in the morning but a lot of worry and stress about getting them to stay there. I paced about the hospital grounds for 30 mins to calm myself down. I was 10.0 and it was fine to do the test. I was injected with radioactive glucose solution then bombarded with radiation for 20 mins or so. I was glad to get it over.
Today Tuesday is a no hospital day. Tomorrow is when I get the results so I have been reading up about possible outcomes, the best being do nothing to various types of chemotherapy. Time will tell.
My wound has not healed yet ( a sign of lymphoma) and it smells a bit.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Friday, August 7, 2015
5 days on from the operation - unblocking the log jam
Things beginning to move today - including my bowels.
Monday night was not good - I coughed up a lot of phlegm and had a bad night. I did go for a walk on Tuesday but noticed the swelling on my wound got worse.
Wednesday I stayed put in the house.
Thursday saw a trip to the doctors to get some medications to help with pain relief and bowel movement. I also dropped a sick note into work.
Friday was memorable because I got my bowels to move.
Friday also saw a trip to the hospital to get stitches removed but it was too early in their opinion.
I also saw a consultant and specialist nurse.
I have a low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In more detail it is follicular and of type 3A or 3B but needs a second opinion. I need more tests including PET scan (for which I need stabilised blood sugars) and bone marrow tests. I may or may not need chemotherapy.
The journey has begun...
Monday night was not good - I coughed up a lot of phlegm and had a bad night. I did go for a walk on Tuesday but noticed the swelling on my wound got worse.
Wednesday I stayed put in the house.
Thursday saw a trip to the doctors to get some medications to help with pain relief and bowel movement. I also dropped a sick note into work.
Friday was memorable because I got my bowels to move.
Friday also saw a trip to the hospital to get stitches removed but it was too early in their opinion.
I also saw a consultant and specialist nurse.
I have a low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In more detail it is follicular and of type 3A or 3B but needs a second opinion. I need more tests including PET scan (for which I need stabilised blood sugars) and bone marrow tests. I may or may not need chemotherapy.
The journey has begun...
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
The morning after the day before
I slept surprisingly well on the night following the operation. I still had some pain relief to keep me going. Yoghurt for breakfast and some ham for lunch.
Apart from the excitement of a lady coming to get rid of the inhabitants of a wasps' nest in our porch (after which I needed to lie down) I did try and rest.
My wife and I went for a gentle walk around 4.00pm.
No bowel movement today and pee was only a dribble if I was honest.
Apart from the excitement of a lady coming to get rid of the inhabitants of a wasps' nest in our porch (after which I needed to lie down) I did try and rest.
My wife and I went for a gentle walk around 4.00pm.
No bowel movement today and pee was only a dribble if I was honest.
Operation done - what happened on Sunday
I went to the hospital for 7am and joined a queue with 4 other "electives" the term that is used when people volunteer for an operation.
I was due to be number 2 on the list (subsequently changed to first then back to 2 as I will explain later).
I was first seen by a nurse who did the usual pre operation checks (blood pressure weight etc.) but also for a blood sugar measurement as I was/am a diabetic. The reading was over 20 if it means anything to you but in any event much too high.
Next I was seen by the anaesthetist who immediately became concerned about my bloods and ordered insulin - not something I have ever taken. He also had a cold.
Finally I saw my consultant who was to perform the operation. Both he and the anaesthetist checked that I knew what was going to happen.
At about 9.00 am I got changed into a gown and was administered some insulin. After about 20 mins another blood sugar test indicated a reading of 19. I was then put to number 2.
I was walked to theatre about 10.00am and had another blood sugar test - reading this time 18. I wondered if they would operate. I was given 200mg paracetemol.
Before I knew it I had a cannula inserted and I was drifting away in three deep breaths after explaining that my daughter was a medical student at Imperial College.
Who knows what happened next except I awoke in the recovery room and was aware of my neck. I think to operation took about 20 minutes. I chatted to one of the nurses about the Queen and Balmoral. When everyone was happy I was wheeled to the ward to my own room and had monitoring stuff attached. I should add at this point that my blood pressure of 111/69 was remarkable but I was keeping calm. What was more worrying was that my blood sugars on the operating table rose to 23 - they were worried.
I got a telling off about blood sugars from the nurse on the ward but I explained I was waiting for a referral but did feel neglected.
Lunch came about 12.15 but I really struggled because of the air in my stomach and could not belch which was distressing.
My wife arrived back for visiting time at 1.00pm (she had been home for 3 hours) and the long wait began. It would take another 7 hours to get me discharged. Various people came and went including the surgeon and the anaesthetist (another telling off about sugars) but I did record an 8.1 this time. I decided to take pain relief at 5.00pm. I the ate a chilli con carne and some jelly and ice-cream with some gusto.
It seemed to take an age for discharge what with a busy Sunday and a changeover. Eventually I did (with another talking to about blood sugar levels) and came away with pain relief and a sick note.
I had to go back to the ward on Friday 7th August for stitches removal and a probable visit to the lymphoma unit where the fun will begin.
It felt good to be out of the hospital and I phoned my mother on the way back. Job done.
I was due to be number 2 on the list (subsequently changed to first then back to 2 as I will explain later).
I was first seen by a nurse who did the usual pre operation checks (blood pressure weight etc.) but also for a blood sugar measurement as I was/am a diabetic. The reading was over 20 if it means anything to you but in any event much too high.
Next I was seen by the anaesthetist who immediately became concerned about my bloods and ordered insulin - not something I have ever taken. He also had a cold.
Finally I saw my consultant who was to perform the operation. Both he and the anaesthetist checked that I knew what was going to happen.
At about 9.00 am I got changed into a gown and was administered some insulin. After about 20 mins another blood sugar test indicated a reading of 19. I was then put to number 2.
I was walked to theatre about 10.00am and had another blood sugar test - reading this time 18. I wondered if they would operate. I was given 200mg paracetemol.
Before I knew it I had a cannula inserted and I was drifting away in three deep breaths after explaining that my daughter was a medical student at Imperial College.
Who knows what happened next except I awoke in the recovery room and was aware of my neck. I think to operation took about 20 minutes. I chatted to one of the nurses about the Queen and Balmoral. When everyone was happy I was wheeled to the ward to my own room and had monitoring stuff attached. I should add at this point that my blood pressure of 111/69 was remarkable but I was keeping calm. What was more worrying was that my blood sugars on the operating table rose to 23 - they were worried.
I got a telling off about blood sugars from the nurse on the ward but I explained I was waiting for a referral but did feel neglected.
Lunch came about 12.15 but I really struggled because of the air in my stomach and could not belch which was distressing.
My wife arrived back for visiting time at 1.00pm (she had been home for 3 hours) and the long wait began. It would take another 7 hours to get me discharged. Various people came and went including the surgeon and the anaesthetist (another telling off about sugars) but I did record an 8.1 this time. I decided to take pain relief at 5.00pm. I the ate a chilli con carne and some jelly and ice-cream with some gusto.
It seemed to take an age for discharge what with a busy Sunday and a changeover. Eventually I did (with another talking to about blood sugar levels) and came away with pain relief and a sick note.
I had to go back to the ward on Friday 7th August for stitches removal and a probable visit to the lymphoma unit where the fun will begin.
It felt good to be out of the hospital and I phoned my mother on the way back. Job done.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
It's the day before my operation
In 24 hours time I may be in theatre or recovery after having my lymph node removed. Its a fairly slow day and I am not too stressed at the moment.
I intend to spend a lot of time outdoors today while I can.
It was supposed to be the first day of our vacation today involving a trip to Scotland, something I had been looking forward to all year. I have to put up with others showing me pictures of their trips via Facebook at the moment.
My wife has got me arnica and bach flower remedies to take in the build up to recovery.
I a sure everything will be fine.
I intend to spend a lot of time outdoors today while I can.
It was supposed to be the first day of our vacation today involving a trip to Scotland, something I had been looking forward to all year. I have to put up with others showing me pictures of their trips via Facebook at the moment.
My wife has got me arnica and bach flower remedies to take in the build up to recovery.
I a sure everything will be fine.
Friday, July 31, 2015
This is only the beginning
After talking with the nurse yesterday I realised this is only the beginning. I have looked up the other tests I may have to have. They range from PET, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.
My timeline is as follows:
Sun 2nd Aug Extract lymph node - day operation
Mon 3rd - Thursday 6th Aug - rest and recuperation while biopsy is done
Fri 7th August - consultants meeting (am) and results back to me (pm)
Sat 8th August - Friday 21st August further tests and results
Mon 24th August - earliest treatment start date.
August - ??? you knows
Makes things difficult to plan at the moment as it is my annual leave.
Biggest disappointment - I thought my estranged children might make the effort to come and see me before my operation - not a chance yet.
My timeline is as follows:
Sun 2nd Aug Extract lymph node - day operation
Mon 3rd - Thursday 6th Aug - rest and recuperation while biopsy is done
Fri 7th August - consultants meeting (am) and results back to me (pm)
Sat 8th August - Friday 21st August further tests and results
Mon 24th August - earliest treatment start date.
August - ??? you knows
Makes things difficult to plan at the moment as it is my annual leave.
Biggest disappointment - I thought my estranged children might make the effort to come and see me before my operation - not a chance yet.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Today I phoned a nurse
20 days since the diagnosis. On that day I had a card from a nurse so I decided to phone him today to try and find out more.
I have an operation on 2nd August and he thinks I will have the results by the 7th August with treatment if necessary a couple of weeks later.
He said I had a slightly enlarged spleen so I need to check that out.
Overall I am good and rested and sleeping well. I am down to one beer a day so feeling not too bad.
I have an operation on 2nd August and he thinks I will have the results by the 7th August with treatment if necessary a couple of weeks later.
He said I had a slightly enlarged spleen so I need to check that out.
Overall I am good and rested and sleeping well. I am down to one beer a day so feeling not too bad.
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