Health update
Yesterday I had my long-awaited outpatient appointment with Mr. Daniels, the colorectal surgeon in Exeter. This referral by Torby Hospital for my third parastomal hernia repair has been a catalogue of delays, with a CT scan four months after my initial appointment, then getting lost in the hospital system for another four months, then the advent of Covid and being put on a seemingly interminable waiting list until now.
An interesting timeline
19th January 2015 Colonoscopy, diagnosis of colon cancer
19th January 2016 My hubby’s colonoscopy, diagnosis of diverticular disease
20th January 2019 Initial appointment with Mr. Daniels
19th January 2020 Appointment with Mr. Daniels, two years almost to the day since the last one
Weird, or what?
Yesterday’s appointment
I wasn’t in there for long. Mr. Daniels examined my abdomen briefly and agreed that the hernia had indeed increased in size as predicted. I told him about my breast cancer and that I had been discharged and clear of cancer, and he said this shouldn’t have any impact on the current problem. I gave him an updated list of my medications.
In view of the length of time since he last saw me and I was put on his waiting list for surgery, he said he would like me to have another CT scan to see what was going on since the last one. I asked whether I would have to wait four months for it as I had the previous time, but he said no; he would try and expedite this. I may have it at the local Nightingale Hospital rather than at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E).
In order to save time, and to avoid my having too many unnecessary trips to Exeter, he suggested beginning my pre-op assessment while I was there, as long as I had time. I explained that my hubby had dropped me off, and I just had to phone him when I was ready to leave, so it wasn’t a problem. He arranged for bloods to be taken, and for me to have an ECG, and said the rest of the pre-assessment could be done over the phone. When these tests had been done, I was free to go.
I had taken with me a list of questions regarding the operation, and also a copy of a letter from the anaethsetist to my GP following the pre-assessment for my last hernia repair in 2018; this detailed a lot of concerns I had about problems with cannulae tissuing over and my request for the insertion of a PICC line; my inability to sit out of bed for the normal extended periods post-operatively, owing to my ME, which had not been acknowledged by the nursing staff on the ward at the time; my post-operative analgesia, and additional measures relating to my reduced mobility (for example, air mattress, foot pumps). I thought it would be more helpful for them to have these details in written form on their notes rather than my having to go through all the concerns again. There is no communication between the different hospital trusts except by referral letters so my notes at Torbay (which practically need a trolley to cart them around!) are reduced to a slim folder at RD&E. Anyway, this appointment with Mr. Daniels was really just a preliminary one to get the ball rolling again, and it wasn’t appropriate to go into a lot of details about the operation at this stage. I shall no doubt have the opportunity to discuss these matters at the pre-assessment, and I will request an email address to which I can send the copy letter at the time. I will also undoubtedly have a further appointment with Mr. Daniels after my scan when I can discuss the operation in detail with him. If this doesn’t happen, I shall request a phone appointment with him.
I had more or less given up on this operation ever taking place, so it all feels somewhat unreal now. It is nearly three years since my initial appointment with Mr. Daniels in April 2019 after Mr. Pullan referred me in December 2018. Fortunately, although the problem has got worse, it is not causing me unbearable problems; it is more of an inconvenience with stoma managment, but things will get worse the longer it is left. I feel very sorry for people who are enduring constant pain as they await their elective surgeries.
More news as it transpires. I am hoping not to have to wait too many weeks for the CT scan.
Kitties
Lily adores her daddy. She has little time for me and rarely purrs when I stroke her; she will sit on my legs on the recliner but I think she just considers me to be a warming platform put there for her convenience. I never get anything like this from her…
She hates my hubby to be reading and will get between him and his reading material when possible.
These two really love each other!
Glad to hear things are finally moving. I remember how managing to get fitted knickers became a right saga after your stoma op.
Great to read your news. You’re remarkably resilient and weather these things so I’m sure you’ll muster your stoic reserves and prevail… eventually. There would be many curse words from me and shouty rantings if I was in your position! Fingers crossed it won’t take too long and you’ll get it sorted out sooner rather than later.
Your husband looks such a kindly man 🙂 happy kitty pix.
I have 3 kitties. 2 are ninja software experts and regularly show me all sorts of keyboard shortcuts that I never knew I needed!
The neurographic art has captured my interest and am inspired to break out my inktense set and physically draw and paint. Yours
Is really beautiful. I create lots of digital graphics and animations in my job and feel as though I have a robotic arm some days so doing some with my human hands would be a healthy Change.
Chin up, chicken! Hopefully, you’ll get that op soon.
Thank you for such a lovely comment, Elly, and for your very kind words! My faith in Jesus keeps me going through everything and He will see me through this, I know! I laughed at your description of your kitties. You may remember some time ago I posted about our old kitty Beatrice who was Computer Queen of the family! She did absolutely amazing things on my laptop and I used to save screen grabs of her work. She was way ahead of me with file sharing, too! One day I came home and found she’d put a video on! Our present two aren’t computer literate.
A friend has asked me to do a neurographic drawing for her to put in her prayer journal so I must think about that. I’ve done a bit of digital art too, on my iPad. Fun to do! I do like the hands-on physical method best, though. I’m thinking of incorporating Zentangle and into neurographic art as well as doodles.