This time last year.

This time last year I was waking in the Coronary Care Unit at Princess Royal Hospital, today I’m waking up at home and having breakfast with Josie who turned three yesterday.  That’s better!

Here she is at her birthday tea yesterday.

 

Technorati Tags: Birthday, PRUH

Bus, Trains and Trams....

A few Wednesdays ago I looked after Josie whilst mummy went to work, for a week or so before I had been promising her that we would go and meet mummy from work on the bus so finally the day had arrived.

So mid-afternoon we leave the house and venture to the bus stop to catch the bus into Bromley and then change onto a bus to take us to Croydon.  Josie was looking forward to it as she hadn’t been on a bus before.  The bus turned up pretty quickly and we jump on, I flash the Oyster card and we head upstairs and find a seat.  Josie settle in pretty quickly and was soon enjoying the view she was getting of the houses and trees from the top deck of a double decker bus although I’m not sure she was enjoying the bumpiness too much.  When it came to getting of we pressed the button and headed down the stairs and jumped off opposite Bromley South train station.  We had a quick chat about wether we wanted to continue on the bus or if she wanted to catch a train and then a tram.  She knows trains as she has been on them before but she didn’t know what a tram was.  She chose to take the train as she really enjoys trains.  

So we head into Bromley South and down to platform one for our train to Beckenham Junction which is where we will catch the tram to Croydon.  Our train takes 10 minutes to come and Josie is pretty good and just sits in the platform watching the world go by.

Our train arrives and excitedly jumps on and sits near the window of course.  As the train departs it goes under the bridge at which point Josie jumps up and shouts ‘Tunnel!’  She has a thing about trains going through tunnels and really loves it.  In no time at all we’re at Beckenham Junction and we jump off the train and head over to the tram stop.  There’s a tram there and we jump on hoping it goes to East Croydon.  Josie is quite excited know as she’s never been on a tram before and I’m not sure she knows what to expect.  There’s a beeping and the doors close and the tram accelerated quickly and Josie let’s out a scream of delight.  I think she’s enjoying the ride as she’s always looking out of the window pointing at things.

To help pass the time or bribe her should need be earlier on we bought a bar of chocolate which she seems to be enjoying.

We soon arrive at Croydon and I notice that our train doesn’t quite go as far as we need so we jump of at East Croydon and can then either walk or catch another tram.  As the tram we want is only 2 minutes away we wait as it’s probably easier to ride the tram rather than walk an almost 3 year old through the busy streets.  We jump on the next tram and it’s quickly at our destination, George Street, we walk to Pizza Express as we are meeting mummy there for tea.

Technorati Tags: Pizza Express, Tramlink, London Transport, Bus, Tram, Oyster

Hampshire Weekender

Well really this should have been entitled 'Ferrari Weekender'.  I'm away this weekend with a friend and he's hired us a Ferrari 438 as our transport for the weekend.  We're off away to the 4 Seasons Hotel in Dogmersfield in Hampshire, we've had it planned for a few weeks so it should be fun.

We meet on the Friday around 1pm at a high end car hire company on York Road near to Kings Cross Station ( www.bespokes.co.uk ).  We hand over our driving licences and after some inspection for no endorsements we're given a whistle stop tour of the ins and outs of driving and Ferrari and in no time at all we are let lose onto the streets of London.  At this point it's best to note a few points.

• We're in London in a car on a Friday so the traffic is awful.
• It's raining so that's making the traffic worse.
• We're in an unfamiliar car.
• We're in a Ferrari F438 with almost 500 horse power with an F1 gearbox.

So we're loose in London in the super car and about 5 miles into the busy Friday afternoon traffic whilst driving on a busy dual carriageway a large stone hits the screen and puts a big chip in it.  Oh dear, we didn't need that but can't worry or do anything about it now so head onwards around the North Circular onto the M40, out to the M25 and around to M3.  The Sat Nav says it's about 30 minutes from our entry onto the M3.  We're quite aware that people are looking at us as we're in this big red monster car.  Before we know it we're leaving the M3 and driving on smaller 'A-roads' through small towns in a very noisy car.  In no time at all we reach our destination of the 4 seasons hotel.  Wow it looks great, we could't decide on valet parking or not but in the end parked ourselves.

 

 

 

Four Seasons Hotel in Dogmerfield, Hampshire, UK

As you can see the hotel looks great and the welcome given by the staff was excellent and the rooms are very well appointed indeed.  We met in the Spa area a few hours later and there's a great outdoor warm jacuzzi which seemed good no matter what the weather.  In the evening we dine in the hotels own restaurant and I must say the Fish and Chips I pick was fantastic, lovely fresh fish with very well cooked chips.

The next day we head out and thankfully the sun is shining so we can get the top down on the car.  We head through the New Forest towards Lymington which in on the South coast.  We drive through the town and it would appear we are going to have some trouble parking this thing, it's not the kind of car you can just pop in any old space or an normal NCP car park.

Lymington Quay Side

Lymington is a lovely little town and in the end up we manage to park a few hundred metres from the Quay side in a car park which probably isn't massively popular as it's a little bit of a walk back to the main shops.  We have a coffee and browse the various shops that the high street has to offer then decide to head into the New Forest for lunch.

 

F438 in the New Forest.

We drive for a bit until we find a suitable lunch that has a car park we can get the red monster into.  We find one and get in no problem.  It's a nice pub in a quiet location which has a carp park for around 20 cars, it's quite a busy car park but the spaces are generous and there's a few empty ones.  We get the car in no problem and go into the pub.  It appears the car has attracted some attention as the staff ask lots of questions.

 

After lunch we head back to the hotel and decide upon our evenings activities.  We decide to catch 'Rush' at the cinema in Basingstoke and think there's no way we fancy driving in there so catch a cab.  Whilst waiting outside shortly before the taxi arrives i captured the below photo on the iPhone.

 

Sunset with F438 and friends.

The film was great and both ways we have the same taxi, a Toyota Prius, which unbelievably seemed to be averaging around 78mpg which I was amazed at having never been in a Prius before.

 

On Sunday we head home reasonably as it's raining again.  We stop of at some friends houses with the car to give them a look whilst we've got it.

 

On the Monday I drop the car back to Kings Cross which in itself is a nightmare as again driving in the London traffic isn't the easiest with such a car.

 

A great weekend!

 

Technorati Tags: 4 Seasons, Dogmersfield, F430, Ferrari, Lymington, New Forest, bespokes.co.uk

Nearly Three!!!!

Well onto something more upbeat and cheerful.  The little ones are now either 3 or nearly 3 years old.  I say 'little ones' as we're still very much in contact with the mums and dads of the NCT group we all attended over 3 years ago now.  It seems like ages ago but the little ones have all grown up very quickly and are all walking and talking little people now.  This week was the first of the parties we've attended as we've been busy for some of the others.

It was a great joint party between the twins A & D and one of the girls E.  Out little one had a great time playing the party games and wining little treats every now and then.  A tip if you're setting up for the pass the parcel is to use 'Celebrations' chocolates in every layer so everybody wins a prize, they are easy to wrap and fairly low cost.  Actually they were used for the losing child in every round of every game so were great, they are also big enough for the mummy or daddy to take a bite before handing them to the child!

After the games the children played outside which despite being an awful day they didn't seem to mind too much plus it tires them out a little more before the party food, cake then the inevitable leaving time.

The all enjoyed the food and the little picnic they had on the blanket on the floor.  It was great sitting and talking to the other dads and mums but just sometimes it's easy for my mind to wander away and think that things could have been a little different if I wasn't so lucky in the hospital.

Children love it when there's a birthday cake around and all want to blow out the candles.  As there were 2 or 3 birthdays we had 2 cakes which meant a double blowing of candles.  When it was time to sing happy birthday it sounded a bit out of tune when it came to the names as everybody said the three names in a different order but the children didn't seem to worried!

Our little one is 3 on the 29th October so it's our party soon.

Girls and Boys birthday cakes

The Outpatients Appointment

Well the liver outpatients department was very busy when we arrived.  A late morning appointment can mean a wait as obviously delays can build up where appointments over run.  I arrive about 20 minutes early and as usual go through the usual process of being weighed and having my blood pressure taken.  I then wait until it's my turn to see my consultant.  The appointment is delayed by around 45 minutes but no problems.  

It's then my turn and we go into the consultants room for an amazingly short meeting.  He asks how I am and has a feel around my scar, which is healing nicely, and then says all good I'll see you in 6 months.  The nurse says she will arrange for the appointment and we leave.  On the way out I pop back down to Dawson ward which is where I stayed and drop of a card of thanks and some chocolates.  It's the least I can do really given how great they were to me during my stay.

The next few weeks....

The next few weeks consist of not doing too much at all really.  I don't really get out much further than mum and dads house and the occasional trip to a coffee shop or café.  As i can't drive all this means be ferried about too which can sometimes be painful especially going over speed humps in the car.  Sleeping is pretty difficult and I spend a good 3 or 4 weeks sleeping sitting upright as laying down is simply too painful.  Often it isn't easy to sleep at all and I spend the night awake watching the TV with the subtitles on or simply awake.  

After a few weeks I get my outpatients appointment from Kings which is a late morning appointment which meand it will be busy.  It gets pretty busy at the liver outpatients department but you can't really complain as they do such a good job and your appointment is only late because somebody else is probably getting some news that needs a good explanation .  Some poeple do get stressed out in the waiting room though and need to have a little more patience.  I've also seen my GP who has signed me up until at least 12th October which as the time seems like ages away.

Hometime….

So here we are after coming into hospital on Sunday 11th of August 2013, having surgery to remove a tumour on Monday 12th August 2013 it's now Monday 19th August 2013 and that means home time.

I'm awake early as usual and have my usual slice of toast although today with butter!  Fairly early around 8am I'm visited by the surgeon I originally saw in the liver outpatients department and he was one of the team involved in my surgery a week ago.  He has a look at the scar which he says in healing well, we have a chat and then he says I can go home.  I of course thank him and he tells the nurse in passing that I can go.  Now anybody who's ever tried to leave a hospital knows it isn't quite as simple as that as there are final checks to be done, discharge papers to be written up and medicines to be handed over.  The morning went fairly slowly as these things do when you need them too.  Lunchtime comes and goes and I'm told hopefully I can go around 1pm.  I'm told the discharge documents are done and they are just waiting for my medicines to come up from the pharmacy then I can go, excellent news.  I also need to have a few shots as because my spleen has been removed i need to be immunised against meningitis.  The last thing to be done was these 2 shots and then I'm out the door.  Well almost I probably won't be able to make it to the car and Lisa won't be able to assist me that far.  The nurse arranges for a ported to come and deliver me to the car via wheelchair.  This takes a few minutes but armed with my bags and medicines I'm wheeled out of the ward and down to the car.  As we leave the ward I say thanks to the nurses, HCA's and volunteers and they wish me well.

I'm free!!  Getting to the car seems to be a long ride but it's very good to hit the fresh air after being in the ward for 8 days!

We get to the car and i carefully stand from the chair and move into the passenger seat.  Driving is about 6 weeks away for me yet as I need to heal a but more before I'm allowed behind the wheel.  This is about the same as a mum having a c-section and I understand it's because if you had to perform an emergency stop there's a risk the wound could split open.

It's probably about a 45 minute drive home which feels pretty painful as the wound is still very sore and i feel every bump.  It's good to be home and relax with a cup of tea.  It's fairly quiet at home but that's because it's just Lisa and I, Josie is at her nan's still and will be back pretty soon.  After spending an hour or so settling in Lisa calls her mum and says she can drop Josie home.  When she arrives we are both very happy to see each other.   Of course I can't do much…actually I can't do anything really as the slightest movement it pretty painful so for now Josie just has to sit next to me.  Still that's better than being in a hospital ward.  Josie didn't come to the hospital as it's not really a great place for a 2 year old, we did chat on Skype though.

The next few days.....

Over the next few days things slowly improve.  Gradually they remove tubes from me which does make you feel better.  On the Wednesday the physio pops by and asks if I'm ready to get up?  The answer is most definitely no right now.  She's good as says she'll pop by again tomorrow and see if much has changed.  The ward is fairly quiet but I've got a nice guy in the bed next to me.  He's frustrated as he's not well but not 100% sure what's wrong and there doesn't seem to be much movement from the doctors on what needs to happen before he can go home.   Over the next few days we chat a lot and the chatting seems to make the time fly.  I stay in bed all of Wednesday as it feels too much to move right now.  Eating and drinking is very difficuly as I have a pretty swollen stomach.  Apparently it can be 4 to 5 days before your stomach starts working after this kind of surgery.

 

It's Thursday....

I'm awake early as usual and decide on some breakfast, I go for Weetabix and think that if I can manage one it might help me on my way to feeling better.  I get through 1/2 and I'm full up!!  The health care assistant says that's fine as Weetabix are fairly bulky.  As it's now a few days since the surgery today is the day they are going to start winding down the drugs although I think the epidual needs stay until day 4 which is Friday so tomorrow.  

The Healthcare assistant comes around again and it's time for me to wash and for them to change the bed.  With great difficulty and with the help of the HCA we riase the head of the bed so I'm in a sitting position and then spin my legs so as they are dangling of the edge of the bed.  I now make the move to stand up and somehow walk or collapse the several inches to the chair next to the bed.  I make however I now know what it felt like when man walked on the moon as to me moving 4 or 5 inches to the chair felt like a much bugger achievement.  I'm now sitting in the chair which does actually make me feel a lot better.  I also think the epidural is working better with me sitting up as the pain seems to have subsided quite a bit.  To test the effectiveness of the epidural every couple of hours the nurse or HCA pops by with a freezer spray and sprays it around your stomach and makes notes of where you can feel the cold.  Ideally you won't feel any cold at all around the affected area however for me it was a bit hit and miss however the pain was beareable.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow now as that's when they tell me pretty much all of my tubes except the drain in my stomach can be removed.

 

It's Friday

Another nights rough sleep but never mind.  I'm attached early as usual by the nurse for the usual set of tests, these being BP, Epidural effectiveness (freezer spray) and others.  I try dry toast for breakfast which seems to be easier to deal with as I can eat it slowly.  An hour of so after breakfast is when the doctors usually come around, this morning on the rounds is my consultant, Mr. Andreas Prachalias, he's a nice guy who really takes the time to explain what's going on.  I'm surprised to see him as normally the doctor on the rounds is someone I don't know, anyway he heads straight for me and luckily I'm up in the chair.  He doesn't like to see patients in bed as he says that the way to go home is to get out of bed and start moving.  He come over and says good morning and the next he says good news despite my initial odds of the tumour being cancerous (about 85%) it seems that the histology report has come back and it wasn't in fact cancerous.  Wow I wasn't expecting that and it's surprised me a lot, the next thing is relief! Mr Prachalias hangs around and talks for a bit with me and I of course thank him.  He then calls the nurse and asks why I still have all these tubes in me and says to remove them all, cut back the drain, and hopefully plan to go home on Monday.  So just the weekend now and I'm on the home straight.  I of course call and text family and friends and tell them the good news and have a few emotional phone calls.  The consultants visit was earlyish (around 830am) and over the next few hours my epidural is removed which means that 6 hours later the catheter can be removed, I wasn't really looking forward to either of these but in the end they were painless.  So at the end of Friday I'm both cancer and tube free!  I've also been visited by the physio again and we've built up on yesterday's getting out of bed and today I've walked down the corridor to the nurses station.  It seems like a marathon distance when in reality it's only around 20 metres.

 

Saturday and Sunday

The weekend is of course a little quieter as far as doctors visits go and on Saturday I talked to a doctor I've not seen before.  She's says it's all looking good for home on Monday and says the nurses and HCA can today cut back my drain tube and remove it tomorrow.  When it's cut back it's no longer going into an airtight back but instead the tube is poked into a sticky bag that adheres to your skin.  This was fine however it makes quite a lot of noise when you move about!

Late Saturday morning I'm visited again by the physio, I'm surprised at this as I thought they wouldn't work weekends but I guess it's a 24x7x365 workplace so they are needed all the time.  She tells me that after yesterdays marathon walk to the nurses station today we are going to attempt stairs.  Once you've done stairs they sign you off and this is apparently another tick in the box to going home.  We walk to the stairs and despite being quite stiff after nearly a week in bed i go up and down the stairs which are quite a walk away and manage to return back to the bed without any incidence.  The physio is happy with the progress and says that are happy that I can manage at home and are happy to sign me off.

On Sunday morning after the usual breakfast, doctors visit and wash the nurse and HCA come across and start to remove the tube from my stomach.  The tube protruding from my stomach is fairly short (about 10cm) however when they pull it out it's probably around 50cm long which means there was a good deal of it inside me.  They patch up the the whole left by the tube and say it will heal over in 2 to 3 weeks time and for the time being there's a big sticky square gauze stuck to it.  This needs regularly changing as fluid is still leaking but slowly and surely the leak become smaller until it's pretty manageable.