Tuesday 13th
Woke, slept had blood mopped up and made use of several bottles through the night.
Couldn't really get out of bed due to wooziness, drip full of drugs to my left and two bottles attached to tubes running from my neck on the right.
The tubes it seems are my 'wound drains' and are the measure of when I'll get home. Too much drain means I'll just be stayin'. One of them is oozing though and so I made a bloody mess of my smock and bed. Socks were OK.
After new dressing, porridge, new dressing, Dr's round, then new dressing I was allowed/sent to the bathroom whilst they cleaned my bed.
Quickly de-smocked I finally got a look at the giant inverted L Guy had cut for me and the lovely stitch work that any seamstress would be proud of.
And, well, that's it so far, except for a new dressing that's about 3 inches square held on by a 5 x 4 sticky pad Photo if I can manage it!
More tales of recovery later...
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Smocks, Socks and Bed Hops
Monday 12th
After water only breakfast, got to SJH in good time for my morning chop. But an amazing array of bed changes going on meant I was able to enjoy daytime telly between 8am and roughly 11.25am. My nice clean bed came with the usual operation smock. And, a new pair of highly fashionable socks.
The socks it seems are to help prevent DVT as I would be lying still for up to 5hrs during the Op. Plain white knee length with a gap between the toes for ventilation, if you must know!
Bit of a queue outside the theatre meant I had a few minutes chat while they "cleaned up the previous one". Discussed today's music choice and was told that there would be a wee air bed too that periodically lifted them up to keep them moving. All very clever. Before I knew it, the sound of Guys' Motown Surgery Selection was fading fast and next I knew I was waking in the recovery room around 7pm.
After a wee wait due to a tad queasiness I was wheeled back to my ward, but to a different room. Seems the first rooms gender designation had changed while I was a way and all the blokes I was with earlier were scattered round this new one having had their Ear, Nose or Throat sliced, diced or spliced. Too dopey to see what mine looks like, but I could feel admiring glances...
After water only breakfast, got to SJH in good time for my morning chop. But an amazing array of bed changes going on meant I was able to enjoy daytime telly between 8am and roughly 11.25am. My nice clean bed came with the usual operation smock. And, a new pair of highly fashionable socks.
The socks it seems are to help prevent DVT as I would be lying still for up to 5hrs during the Op. Plain white knee length with a gap between the toes for ventilation, if you must know!
Bit of a queue outside the theatre meant I had a few minutes chat while they "cleaned up the previous one". Discussed today's music choice and was told that there would be a wee air bed too that periodically lifted them up to keep them moving. All very clever. Before I knew it, the sound of Guys' Motown Surgery Selection was fading fast and next I knew I was waking in the recovery room around 7pm.
After a wee wait due to a tad queasiness I was wheeled back to my ward, but to a different room. Seems the first rooms gender designation had changed while I was a way and all the blokes I was with earlier were scattered round this new one having had their Ear, Nose or Throat sliced, diced or spliced. Too dopey to see what mine looks like, but I could feel admiring glances...
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Cool Guy
Well, I said I'd be back soon and here we are again.
Though the post-radiotherapy month of nothingness seemed long, I guess it just blip for someone of my grand old age and when it came to an end, boy did things start moving again.
Over the past two weeks, I saw the dentist, who could give me a filling if I didn't mind. Mickey Mouse one it was with no anaesthetic and then she asks if I could see the hygienist. Of course. Tomorrow? Jings! Well, bit of a bump back to earth here with lessons on tooth brushing, advice on cleaning between teeth (with new tee-pee brushes, which are weird) and strong advice on the need to comply if I want to keep my teeth in a post-saliva existence.
Two days later and I'm back again for a chest/neck CT scan (with contrast!). Nae bother really, the contrast being a dye they can follow through your system, which I guess helps spot unusual blockages on the way. Understanding here was that I'd get results from the scan the following Tuesday at the 'joint consultation'.
The joint consultation was kind of where it all kicked of in earnest back on October with a large cast of experts from: ENT, dentist, oncology etc. Surprisingly though, Anne and I were simply met by this one guy; the surgeon.
His technique reminded me of some managers' approach, with an opening gambit asking me why I thought I was there!? Eh? Well, to get the results of my scan and confirm that surgery is going ahead.
Well, pretty much he said, but there's no real 'result' from the scan, though, yes, he would be going ahead with surgery on 12 April. You see, the scan is never really conclusive and in actual fact his experience shows that they will go ahead with surgery and then find that in up 45% of cases, what they have removed was completely benign. Great.
What about complications? Ah, well, Guy usually asks his students which items (apart from the glands that have to go) from neck muscle, nerve running to shoulder and jugular vein can safely go. It seems there are plenty of other veins, he'll take the muscle round about - "which will leave your neck a little uneven", but the nerve is important for neck, shoulder movement and he'll look to avoid damaging that completely. Goodness.
Oh and he'll try to make squiggly incisions, not because he can't make straight ones, but apparently they'll help healing as shoulder movement may put too much tension and pull open a straight wound. Beard?
Topping this was his advice on recovery. The oncology guys reckon I'll be in for two days? Erm, yes, two days minimum, maybe more like four, it just depends on how well the 'drains' work on your wounds. Yes. Drains.
And, after that? Oh, could be 6-8 week I think, because your still recovering from radiotherapy, which is a pain for us surgeons, and the operation takes 5-6 hours - a long time under anaesthetic.
If radiotherapy doesn't help surgeons, why do they do it first? Really doesn't matter to me says, Guy, I'll chop out just as much whether I operate before or after - just to be safe!
I guess that's great, and there's nothing else to do but pack my PJs and slippers and get to St John's for 8am tomorrow!
Gory details to follow in a few days...
Though the post-radiotherapy month of nothingness seemed long, I guess it just blip for someone of my grand old age and when it came to an end, boy did things start moving again.
Over the past two weeks, I saw the dentist, who could give me a filling if I didn't mind. Mickey Mouse one it was with no anaesthetic and then she asks if I could see the hygienist. Of course. Tomorrow? Jings! Well, bit of a bump back to earth here with lessons on tooth brushing, advice on cleaning between teeth (with new tee-pee brushes, which are weird) and strong advice on the need to comply if I want to keep my teeth in a post-saliva existence.
Two days later and I'm back again for a chest/neck CT scan (with contrast!). Nae bother really, the contrast being a dye they can follow through your system, which I guess helps spot unusual blockages on the way. Understanding here was that I'd get results from the scan the following Tuesday at the 'joint consultation'.
The joint consultation was kind of where it all kicked of in earnest back on October with a large cast of experts from: ENT, dentist, oncology etc. Surprisingly though, Anne and I were simply met by this one guy; the surgeon.
His technique reminded me of some managers' approach, with an opening gambit asking me why I thought I was there!? Eh? Well, to get the results of my scan and confirm that surgery is going ahead.
Well, pretty much he said, but there's no real 'result' from the scan, though, yes, he would be going ahead with surgery on 12 April. You see, the scan is never really conclusive and in actual fact his experience shows that they will go ahead with surgery and then find that in up 45% of cases, what they have removed was completely benign. Great.
What about complications? Ah, well, Guy usually asks his students which items (apart from the glands that have to go) from neck muscle, nerve running to shoulder and jugular vein can safely go. It seems there are plenty of other veins, he'll take the muscle round about - "which will leave your neck a little uneven", but the nerve is important for neck, shoulder movement and he'll look to avoid damaging that completely. Goodness.
Oh and he'll try to make squiggly incisions, not because he can't make straight ones, but apparently they'll help healing as shoulder movement may put too much tension and pull open a straight wound. Beard?
Topping this was his advice on recovery. The oncology guys reckon I'll be in for two days? Erm, yes, two days minimum, maybe more like four, it just depends on how well the 'drains' work on your wounds. Yes. Drains.
And, after that? Oh, could be 6-8 week I think, because your still recovering from radiotherapy, which is a pain for us surgeons, and the operation takes 5-6 hours - a long time under anaesthetic.
If radiotherapy doesn't help surgeons, why do they do it first? Really doesn't matter to me says, Guy, I'll chop out just as much whether I operate before or after - just to be safe!
I guess that's great, and there's nothing else to do but pack my PJs and slippers and get to St John's for 8am tomorrow!
Gory details to follow in a few days...
Friday, 26 March 2010
Ashes to Ashes
"So Mr Gowan, how have things developed since your concept post 'mission status'?"
"Well, to be honest, DG, (can I call you DG?) that concept was a while in the brewing and I think I was at a substancial high when it popped in there to set a melancholical melody to a musical maestro's masterpiece."
"Interesting. Can you expand at all on how it 'popped in there'?"
"Well, it just popped, I can't really explain how ideas occur when ones mind is a muddle of morphinic manifestations. Though one aspect may be the juxtaposition between being abandoned in space, whilst seemingly linked, but just out of reach, of the world you know. Do you know what I mean."
"Not entirely, but I guess some of your references are to out of body experiences, as it were, induced by a certain state of mind and, well, lets be frank, powerful drugs."
"You seem to be setting Mr Gowan up as some sort of junky."
"Junky, flunky or organ grinder's monkey, the implication is there that some of your thinking at the time was enhanced in some way."
"Yeah, I suppose in that respect you could imply that Mr Gowan was a junky. Whatever the case I think he and I have moved on since then. You know, we're back in the capsule and mission control have come up with some ideas to pull this rabbit out the hat."
"You're losing me I'm afraid."
"Well, lets just say that there has been a connection repaired and while they need to check out my status first, they seem to have some operation being prepared behind the scenes that will draw this mission to a clinical conclusion."
"That sounds good, I think. I know you need to go now, but would you be happy to come back into the studio in the next week or two to give us an update."
"Yeah, sure. I guess by then I'll be hoping to be the man who safely returned to earth."
"Well, to be honest, DG, (can I call you DG?) that concept was a while in the brewing and I think I was at a substancial high when it popped in there to set a melancholical melody to a musical maestro's masterpiece."
"Interesting. Can you expand at all on how it 'popped in there'?"
"Well, it just popped, I can't really explain how ideas occur when ones mind is a muddle of morphinic manifestations. Though one aspect may be the juxtaposition between being abandoned in space, whilst seemingly linked, but just out of reach, of the world you know. Do you know what I mean."
"Not entirely, but I guess some of your references are to out of body experiences, as it were, induced by a certain state of mind and, well, lets be frank, powerful drugs."
"You seem to be setting Mr Gowan up as some sort of junky."
"Junky, flunky or organ grinder's monkey, the implication is there that some of your thinking at the time was enhanced in some way."
"Yeah, I suppose in that respect you could imply that Mr Gowan was a junky. Whatever the case I think he and I have moved on since then. You know, we're back in the capsule and mission control have come up with some ideas to pull this rabbit out the hat."
"You're losing me I'm afraid."
"Well, lets just say that there has been a connection repaired and while they need to check out my status first, they seem to have some operation being prepared behind the scenes that will draw this mission to a clinical conclusion."
"That sounds good, I think. I know you need to go now, but would you be happy to come back into the studio in the next week or two to give us an update."
"Yeah, sure. I guess by then I'll be hoping to be the man who safely returned to earth."
Mission Status
(May work best with this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjserchJ3BY playing in background...) Hmmph, can't get link to work live - try to get Space Oddity playing on you tube first.
Western General to Mr Gowan
Western General to Mr Gowan
Take your morphine and your paracetamol
(10) Western General (9) to Mr Gowan (8)
(7, 6) We'll do an operation (5) - just don't know when (4)
(3, 2) Get a sick-line (1) and we'll be in touch with you.....
This is Western General to Mr Gowan, you've nearly made the grade
All the nurses want to know whose slippers you wear
And the dietitian wants you to eat more if you dare
This is Mr Gowan to Western General, I'm feeling rather bored
And I'm floating in the most peculiar way
All the days just seem to come then drift away
Here am I floating round the kitchen far from the world
The tiles are white & blue and there's nothing real to do
Though I'm past the heavy treatment now, it feels like limbo land
At least the mucous has really started to go
So I'm not such a regular at the spittoon bowl
Western General to Mr Gowan, just take the drugs if the pain goes on
Just take the drugs please Mr Gowan
And eat more Mr Gowan
But look out for constipation
Are you listening....
Here are am I sitting in the kitchen - and I hope for progress soon
The tiles are white & blue but there's nothing real to do
(c) EMI
Western General to Mr Gowan
Western General to Mr Gowan
Take your morphine and your paracetamol
(10) Western General (9) to Mr Gowan (8)
(7, 6) We'll do an operation (5) - just don't know when (4)
(3, 2) Get a sick-line (1) and we'll be in touch with you.....
This is Western General to Mr Gowan, you've nearly made the grade
All the nurses want to know whose slippers you wear
And the dietitian wants you to eat more if you dare
This is Mr Gowan to Western General, I'm feeling rather bored
And I'm floating in the most peculiar way
All the days just seem to come then drift away
Here am I floating round the kitchen far from the world
The tiles are white & blue and there's nothing real to do
Though I'm past the heavy treatment now, it feels like limbo land
At least the mucous has really started to go
So I'm not such a regular at the spittoon bowl
Western General to Mr Gowan, just take the drugs if the pain goes on
Just take the drugs please Mr Gowan
And eat more Mr Gowan
But look out for constipation
Are you listening....
Here are am I sitting in the kitchen - and I hope for progress soon
The tiles are white & blue but there's nothing real to do
(c) EMI
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
One Man and his Mucous
When zapping was done
I thought, quick - run
Get out of here
And have some fun
But dozing next day
There was no sign of play
Just replacement blood
To keep the red-count OK
Then Monday came
With more of the same
Just no zapping
To give the day frame
So I started a Wii Fit yoga regime
Squeezed in between the drugs routine
And the sleeps and the feeds
At least it gives me a change of scene
Mentioned to the Doc my situation
She agreed post zapping can cause deflation
As many like to think its all over
But side-effects are just reaching peak concentration
So I sought a target for my neck-section Op
Dr Junor has promised she'll book it up
But keep taking morphine and the pain at bay
Until the flow of mucous comes to a stop
The morning glut I've mentioned before
Brought on by the initial toothbrushing chore
Though that seems to have reduced for now
And been replaced by a near hourly score
Sometimes thin and almost runny
Other times more gluey like a jar of honey
With family favourites the ones
That are choking, thick and muttony
So that's the latest from mucous glut man
As I sit here with my spittoon to hand
It seems there's a phase 3 and maybe 4
Which I'll be on to update you whenever I can
I thought, quick - run
Get out of here
And have some fun
But dozing next day
There was no sign of play
Just replacement blood
To keep the red-count OK
Then Monday came
With more of the same
Just no zapping
To give the day frame
So I started a Wii Fit yoga regime
Squeezed in between the drugs routine
And the sleeps and the feeds
At least it gives me a change of scene
Mentioned to the Doc my situation
She agreed post zapping can cause deflation
As many like to think its all over
But side-effects are just reaching peak concentration
So I sought a target for my neck-section Op
Dr Junor has promised she'll book it up
But keep taking morphine and the pain at bay
Until the flow of mucous comes to a stop
The morning glut I've mentioned before
Brought on by the initial toothbrushing chore
Though that seems to have reduced for now
And been replaced by a near hourly score
Sometimes thin and almost runny
Other times more gluey like a jar of honey
With family favourites the ones
That are choking, thick and muttony
So that's the latest from mucous glut man
As I sit here with my spittoon to hand
It seems there's a phase 3 and maybe 4
Which I'll be on to update you whenever I can
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Zappometer
Zappometer off-line for update. Phone 57777 to listen to message for next estimated update.
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