The warm dry spell continues. It's nice after a lousy winter and cold spring to be out and about in shirt sleeves. However as we have had no serious rain this year I have little doubt we shall have hose Pipe bans before long.
I seem to have developed an irritating dry cough during the day. I presume this is caused by the acid. I have got some anti sickness tablets to take on top of what I have already got which I hope will do the trick. So far (touch wood) it has not affected my radio work.
Tomorrow I shall weigh myself to see if now I am back home I have been able to put on some weight. Yesterday I tried eating part of a nice stir fry Ev had prepared and then leaving that to digest for half an hour and then I was able to finish it. We shall see.
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Days 408 to 421
Sorry folks but I am a day late back on the air. Yesterday was a busy one with both a school fete and Armed Forces Day celebrations. It was very sunny and warm and the day ended with a great firework display on the sea front.The reason for the gap in postings is that Ev and I have been on the Queen Mary 2 on a Voyage (the Commander insisted we call it that)to the Land of the Midnight Sun.
This was my first holiday since my health troubles began. I am delighted to report that it was a very enjoyable experience. We had been on the ship(sorry Liner) before in 2007 when we went to New York and back. There is a very human temptation to make comparisons. Truth to tell there were some instances of standards if not slipping then lower than we remembered but overall the Cunard people look after you very well. Above all they work on the premise that to look after 2000 odd passengers you need staff on the ground. This applies when you check in, book excursions, get on and off the ship by tender and in lots of small ways.
What follows could in isolation be taken as a moan but it needs to be read in the context of a very nice and relaxing break. I look and feel healthy. I was able to enjoy shore excursions and in several cases walking about in various Norwegian Towns and Cities. For me the biggest achievement was climbing 419 steps up to a view point above the beautiful town of Alesund.
I could go on about the scenery and the weather(well you don't go North of the Arctic Circle expecting a heat wave) but this blog is in essence about my state of health. At the risk of repeating myself the acid reflux thing proved to be very variable. In all probability I should have kept a diary of these things but the days I wasn't troubled with it were roughly half. The worst was when I woke from an afternoon nap with not only acid in the mouth but a burning sensation at the back of the throat. At home when these attacks happen I go downstairs to avoid keeping Ev awake. When however you are in a Stateroom this is not so easy.
As to the cause I am as much in the dark as ever. I was for the most part careful with what I ate. We did though trace Tomato Juice as a cause which was a bit sad as I quite enjoyed a drink of same before bed time. On a p[positive side I was able to enjoy a glass of wine with my Dinner. As on some nights having drunk same I had problems but on others I didn't I don't think this caused any trouble.
The food was fine. There were certain dishes it was easy to avoid. For example I am still off eating red meat. On the plus side I enjoyed several imaginative Vegetarian Dishes. As far as weight is concerned I lost 3 pounds whilst we were away taking me down ro 13 stone 2 pounds. This is getting me slightly out of my comfort zone. This is probably due to the fact that whilst on board I wasn't doing as much of what I do at home namely have snacks during the day.
Overall though the voyage, cruise or what ever you want to call it was a great experience. We met two other very nice couples as well as spending time with our friends Suzanne and Bob who were also on board.
Finally I must place on record my love and thanks to Ev for organising, packing the right clothes and being patient.
This was my first holiday since my health troubles began. I am delighted to report that it was a very enjoyable experience. We had been on the ship(sorry Liner) before in 2007 when we went to New York and back. There is a very human temptation to make comparisons. Truth to tell there were some instances of standards if not slipping then lower than we remembered but overall the Cunard people look after you very well. Above all they work on the premise that to look after 2000 odd passengers you need staff on the ground. This applies when you check in, book excursions, get on and off the ship by tender and in lots of small ways.
What follows could in isolation be taken as a moan but it needs to be read in the context of a very nice and relaxing break. I look and feel healthy. I was able to enjoy shore excursions and in several cases walking about in various Norwegian Towns and Cities. For me the biggest achievement was climbing 419 steps up to a view point above the beautiful town of Alesund.
I could go on about the scenery and the weather(well you don't go North of the Arctic Circle expecting a heat wave) but this blog is in essence about my state of health. At the risk of repeating myself the acid reflux thing proved to be very variable. In all probability I should have kept a diary of these things but the days I wasn't troubled with it were roughly half. The worst was when I woke from an afternoon nap with not only acid in the mouth but a burning sensation at the back of the throat. At home when these attacks happen I go downstairs to avoid keeping Ev awake. When however you are in a Stateroom this is not so easy.
As to the cause I am as much in the dark as ever. I was for the most part careful with what I ate. We did though trace Tomato Juice as a cause which was a bit sad as I quite enjoyed a drink of same before bed time. On a p[positive side I was able to enjoy a glass of wine with my Dinner. As on some nights having drunk same I had problems but on others I didn't I don't think this caused any trouble.
The food was fine. There were certain dishes it was easy to avoid. For example I am still off eating red meat. On the plus side I enjoyed several imaginative Vegetarian Dishes. As far as weight is concerned I lost 3 pounds whilst we were away taking me down ro 13 stone 2 pounds. This is getting me slightly out of my comfort zone. This is probably due to the fact that whilst on board I wasn't doing as much of what I do at home namely have snacks during the day.
Overall though the voyage, cruise or what ever you want to call it was a great experience. We met two other very nice couples as well as spending time with our friends Suzanne and Bob who were also on board.
Finally I must place on record my love and thanks to Ev for organising, packing the right clothes and being patient.
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Days 405 to 407
I continue to play ducks and drakes with acid reflux. The score since my last posting is 1 poor night, 1 where I was able to go back to sleep and 1 okay night(the last one). All I can do is persevere. However it does play hell with sleeping patterns. Because I struggle sometimes to get a decent night's sleep, I often nod off eithe early evening or more seriously around 9.00PM. This means I tend to go to bed later than probably I should. Mind you last night I did stay awake to see England's non performance against the USA. I am no football expert but my first World Cup Memory was 1958 in Sweden. I was at the famous 1966 final at Wembley. The one thing all of this has in common is that technically we tend to get outplayed and players who once they put an England shirt on become unrecognisable from when they play for their clubs.
Last night we had a Chinese Take Away and for the first time sampled some dishes since the Operation(well I've had Prawn Crackers but that's not the same thing really). I thought I coped okay. Currently I weigh 13 stone 4 pounds.
Today is the final day of the Isle of Wight Festival. Apart from overnight on Friday they've had decent weather. This is the time of year where you see people with rucksacks carrying loads of Beer and you know where they are all going.
I'm taking a two week break from posting. Hopefully I'll be back on air on 26 June.
Last night we had a Chinese Take Away and for the first time sampled some dishes since the Operation(well I've had Prawn Crackers but that's not the same thing really). I thought I coped okay. Currently I weigh 13 stone 4 pounds.
Today is the final day of the Isle of Wight Festival. Apart from overnight on Friday they've had decent weather. This is the time of year where you see people with rucksacks carrying loads of Beer and you know where they are all going.
I'm taking a two week break from posting. Hopefully I'll be back on air on 26 June.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Days 400 to 404
It's been a busy few days. On Monday I went to see Dr. Patterson who is covering for Judith Cave whilst she is on Maternity Leave(she has had a boy by the way). I had a blood test and was given the usual once over. I am delighted to report all is well. My next check up will be in September. It will be good to be kept on the radar.
Tuesday saw Ev and I travel to London for the day to see the Jersey Boys. This is the story of the band the Four Seasons. It was an excellent show because it didn't just have the songs it told the story of the four warts and all. It's definitely a show worth going to see.
The Island's annual music festival is upon us. It's not now like the famous one in 10970 when some 400,000 people came to the Island for what turned out to be Jimmi Hendrix's last live performance. Today the event is held in Newport the main town. The numbers are kept to around 50,000. As you can imagine the ferries are very busy and the traffic jams mind boggling. The outward journey to Cowes(12miles) took an hour, going back courtesy of a diversion taking 45 minutes. Thus far the weather hasn't been too kind though the forecast for Saturday and Sunday is pretty good.
The only downside continues the saga of acid attacks at night. It will get better I am sure.
Tuesday saw Ev and I travel to London for the day to see the Jersey Boys. This is the story of the band the Four Seasons. It was an excellent show because it didn't just have the songs it told the story of the four warts and all. It's definitely a show worth going to see.
The Island's annual music festival is upon us. It's not now like the famous one in 10970 when some 400,000 people came to the Island for what turned out to be Jimmi Hendrix's last live performance. Today the event is held in Newport the main town. The numbers are kept to around 50,000. As you can imagine the ferries are very busy and the traffic jams mind boggling. The outward journey to Cowes(12miles) took an hour, going back courtesy of a diversion taking 45 minutes. Thus far the weather hasn't been too kind though the forecast for Saturday and Sunday is pretty good.
The only downside continues the saga of acid attacks at night. It will get better I am sure.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Day 399
I feel cheated. I followed all the sage advice. I had nothing to eat after 7.00PM and took all my pills and potions plus a Rennie tablet last thing. You guessed it after 3 hours I was woken by the acid, coughing and heart burn. Really there seems neither rhyme nor reason behind all this. Never mind I am persevering and we shall see what happens tonight.
Having done most of our Supermarket Shopping at Tesco, I decided to give Morrison's a try. What a mistake. The produce was okay but the aisles are too narrow with the result that you are always bumping into somebody literally. It's not that the fellow customers were being rude or anything. Everyone was being ultra careful. I couldn't wait to get out though. It didn't help that I had to queue 15 minutes at the check out. Say what you like about Tesco they always seem to have enough people around at the tills.
I watched the Women's Singles Tennis Final at the French Open this afternoon. It was a good match to watch played by contestants who hadn't won a grand slam title before. No disrespects to Justine Henin and the Williams Sisters but it was a refreshing change.
Ev has gone out on a hen night wearing the most wonderful wig. Martin has taken some pictures which just may turn up on facebook.
Having done most of our Supermarket Shopping at Tesco, I decided to give Morrison's a try. What a mistake. The produce was okay but the aisles are too narrow with the result that you are always bumping into somebody literally. It's not that the fellow customers were being rude or anything. Everyone was being ultra careful. I couldn't wait to get out though. It didn't help that I had to queue 15 minutes at the check out. Say what you like about Tesco they always seem to have enough people around at the tills.
I watched the Women's Singles Tennis Final at the French Open this afternoon. It was a good match to watch played by contestants who hadn't won a grand slam title before. No disrespects to Justine Henin and the Williams Sisters but it was a refreshing change.
Ev has gone out on a hen night wearing the most wonderful wig. Martin has taken some pictures which just may turn up on facebook.
Friday, 4 June 2010
Day 398
Today Ev and I went to a meeting of the Upper GI Patent's support group here on the Island. I have mentioned Joya the previous Nurse Specialist. Well she put a load of extra hours to keep the group going. Her successor Gill is very nice but simply does not have the time to devote to organising the group. Fortunately there is in place an ad hoc committee who agreed basically to run the show. Gill promised to attend the quarterly meetings and help in providing guest speakers.
The Group provides a useful forum for people to discuss how they feel with others who have been through the mill. I spoke to a bloke who had the same operation as me but a year earlier. He too has had acid problems but coped by not eating after 8.00PM. Certainly last night was better than the one before and I hadn't eaten anything much past 830.
The next meeting of the group will be in September.
The Group provides a useful forum for people to discuss how they feel with others who have been through the mill. I spoke to a bloke who had the same operation as me but a year earlier. He too has had acid problems but coped by not eating after 8.00PM. Certainly last night was better than the one before and I hadn't eaten anything much past 830.
The next meeting of the group will be in September.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Day 397
Me and my big mouth. Having posted that I have had no acid attacks for a week you know what happened last night. It was quite bad, which is very depressing.
I went to the Surgery who knew nothing about the Hospital giving me new treatment. Sadly the liaison officer in Southampton is on leave until 5 July. I still have my old medicines on repeat prescription so we shall see how that works.
Because I woke up early I made the mistake of sitting in a chair this evening and dozed off for 2 hours. This probably means I shall stay awake until heaven knows what time.
All was not lost today however. The weather was bright and sunny, though my guests never turned up I did though I says it myself a decent show and with Emily and Adam and of course Ev we went on a pedalo on Swan Lake in Ryde. However I am looking forward to a better day tomorrow.
I went to the Surgery who knew nothing about the Hospital giving me new treatment. Sadly the liaison officer in Southampton is on leave until 5 July. I still have my old medicines on repeat prescription so we shall see how that works.
Because I woke up early I made the mistake of sitting in a chair this evening and dozed off for 2 hours. This probably means I shall stay awake until heaven knows what time.
All was not lost today however. The weather was bright and sunny, though my guests never turned up I did though I says it myself a decent show and with Emily and Adam and of course Ev we went on a pedalo on Swan Lake in Ryde. However I am looking forward to a better day tomorrow.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Days 392 to 396
Have you ever felt cheated? We did following a trip to the caravan in North Yorkshire. The previous weekend we had temperatures at around 24 degrees and bright sun. Similar temperatures are expecetd this weekend but as for the time we were there we had mostly cool and frequently wet weather. Harry is just two and it's not fair someone of that age being cooped up in a small space. It was great seeing him as well as Jack and Lucy. Needless to say the day we came away the sun came out. Thankfully with it being half term traffic was fairly light but it's still a long way(300 miles).
The good news on the health front is that by taking two of my anti acid tablets at night instead of one I have not for over a week woken up either coughing or with acid in the mouth. Things are definitely on the mend. My next appointment will be with the Oncologist on Monday.
The good news on the health front is that by taking two of my anti acid tablets at night instead of one I have not for over a week woken up either coughing or with acid in the mouth. Things are definitely on the mend. My next appointment will be with the Oncologist on Monday.
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