I saw the Consultant who operated on me in August 2009 today. No offence but I hope never to see him again unless it's for a social event. He was very pleased with me.
We had the opportunity to discuss my acid problems. Most of the talking was done by Donna the Nurse Specialist. I am to be given a much stronger tablet to take along with medicine to assist in food digestion. She also recommended that I take the tablets half an hour before having a meal. This new regime will last for a minimum of 3 months.
From now on I shall be under the care of the Oncologists whom I shall see every 3 months. My next appointment is in April. Should any problems occur then the Consultant will get to know sharpish.
Thus no more trekking across to Southampton. This is good news. There will be more from me next week when the new tablets have had a chance to do their work.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Days 622 to 628
It's not been the best week to be honest. Not only have I had more acid attacks in the last week than nights of peace and quiet but the night before had a real sting in the tail. As I have recorded before the drill when it happens is to get up, get a glass of water and sit in an arm chair for an hour. I then go back to bed and get a bit more sleep. Thus when I woke up at 230AM downstairs I went. I watched the end of the Super Bowl and at about 330 went back to bed. At 700 I was woken up with another attack. As I have reported here I am struggling to have confidence in the GPs at the surgery who seem to think this is something up with which I should put. Next Wednesday I am due to see the Consultant who operated on me so we shall see how that works.
Last Saturday we had two very pleasant and entertaining guests for a meal. It was one of the those good nights where the hours just flew by. My guest on Angel Radio last Thursday was an organiser of Classical Music Concerts here on the Island. He proved to be a highly entertaining guest with some informative chat about how you go about promoting a concert.
My next post will be on either Wednesday or Thursday next week after I have seen the Consultant.
Last Saturday we had two very pleasant and entertaining guests for a meal. It was one of the those good nights where the hours just flew by. My guest on Angel Radio last Thursday was an organiser of Classical Music Concerts here on the Island. He proved to be a highly entertaining guest with some informative chat about how you go about promoting a concert.
My next post will be on either Wednesday or Thursday next week after I have seen the Consultant.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Days 615 to 621
I have only had one acid attack since my last blog. I have been given a larger strength tablet to take. However it would seem that when I eat is as important as the type of food I use. The acid followed a trip to London to see Charles and Jess. I had Lunch in town which was fine. However as I have recorded in the past I do need to for want of a better expression need to keep grazing. On the way home I bought myself a sandwich and crisps from Marks and Spencer. This was a little bit later than normal. Otherwise my health is doing well. My weight has remained unchanged for the last 4 weeks and I am able to follow a normal life.
Martin has entered the whole family based here on the Island into a sponsored walk in May. It's not the main walk across the Island(that's 26 odd miles of hilly terrain). This is an 8 mile trip along an old railway line. This has the merit of being flat. So Ev and I may well be in the market for sponsorship. Some preparation and training is needed. Let's hope this long and rather dreary winter weather comes to an end soon.
My guest on Angel Radio last week was Dave Kitching who in December 2010 retired after 18 years as a Primary School Head Teacher. It was a classic story of someone born on the Island who left determined never to return deciding to come back.
Here's looking forward to a good week I hope.
Martin has entered the whole family based here on the Island into a sponsored walk in May. It's not the main walk across the Island(that's 26 odd miles of hilly terrain). This is an 8 mile trip along an old railway line. This has the merit of being flat. So Ev and I may well be in the market for sponsorship. Some preparation and training is needed. Let's hope this long and rather dreary winter weather comes to an end soon.
My guest on Angel Radio last week was Dave Kitching who in December 2010 retired after 18 years as a Primary School Head Teacher. It was a classic story of someone born on the Island who left determined never to return deciding to come back.
Here's looking forward to a good week I hope.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Days 607 to 614
I hate to sound like a long playing record but once again the acid is back. I have had two in the last week. One of the problems is trying to find a reason. I tend nowadays just to have a snack after about 8PM. Some time I have this and it's no problem but other times it's ugh. The drill when this happens is that I get up and sit down in an armchair before going back to bed. I am due to see the Consultant on February 16. Hopefully he may have some ideas.
Adrian, Andrea's brother in law, had a Birthday last week and on Sunday we went for Lunch at Culver Haven, which is a nice place on a cliff top with excellent sea views. Gosh I sound like a tour guide.
The Isle of Wight is staging the Island Games later on this year. Martin has been going to some meetings about this. There will be a lot of visitors later this year.
Adrian, Andrea's brother in law, had a Birthday last week and on Sunday we went for Lunch at Culver Haven, which is a nice place on a cliff top with excellent sea views. Gosh I sound like a tour guide.
The Isle of Wight is staging the Island Games later on this year. Martin has been going to some meetings about this. There will be a lot of visitors later this year.
Monday, 17 January 2011
Days 600 to 606
I am not long back from seeing the Oncologist Dr. Patterson. Coincidentally with this visit I had a bad night last night with acid. Until about 2 weeks ago, I was having this difficulty about once a week. More recently that has changed and last night was the third such incident in the last 7 days.
My blood tests were absolutely fine, my weight is not a problem and check of chest and tummy showed all is well. I went through with the good Doctor the history of my chest x rays and reduction in the strength of the anti acid tablets. I mentioned to Dr. Patterson the conversation I had with the GP about the relative cost of the drugs. Dr. P's view was that what mattered was what worked best for the patient. He told us that the cost of a months supply of the stronger version was £25 and the one I am currently on was £5. After some discussion Dr. P agreed to write to the GP suggesting I take a stronger dose. It would be nice to at the very least control these attacks better.
The day hadn't kicked off well with two of the three parking machines not working and the third spewing out money but no ticket. I am due to see Dr. Cave(back from maternity leave) in April.
The past week seems to have passed in a flash. My guest on Angel Radio was from Age UK who are running an exercise and good health programme. This provoked response from listeners. The project is paid for out of lottery funding and is free to customers.
Right here's hoping for a better week. I shall report progress or lack of it next week.
I am not long back from seeing the Oncologist Dr. Patterson. Coincidentally with this visit I had a bad night last night with acid. Until about 2 weeks ago, I was having this difficulty about once a week. More recently that has changed and last night was the third such incident in the last 7 days.
My blood tests were absolutely fine, my weight is not a problem and check of chest and tummy showed all is well. I went through with the good Doctor the history of my chest x rays and reduction in the strength of the anti acid tablets. I mentioned to Dr. Patterson the conversation I had with the GP about the relative cost of the drugs. Dr. P's view was that what mattered was what worked best for the patient. He told us that the cost of a months supply of the stronger version was £25 and the one I am currently on was £5. After some discussion Dr. P agreed to write to the GP suggesting I take a stronger dose. It would be nice to at the very least control these attacks better.
The day hadn't kicked off well with two of the three parking machines not working and the third spewing out money but no ticket. I am due to see Dr. Cave(back from maternity leave) in April.
The past week seems to have passed in a flash. My guest on Angel Radio was from Age UK who are running an exercise and good health programme. This provoked response from listeners. The project is paid for out of lottery funding and is free to customers.
Right here's hoping for a better week. I shall report progress or lack of it next week.
Monday, 10 January 2011
Days 595 to 599
I decided to leave a blog entry until Ev and I had seen the King's Speech. For once I think a film is worthy of all the hype. It has a super cast, is well written and Directed.
It's been a busy old night though with a Hospital Radio Committee meeting as well. Speaking of Radio, both my guests for last Thursday's show had to call off for a variety of reasons. However I was lucky in that Carol Bridgestock one of the organisers of a writing competition was able to come in very much at the last minute to tell us about the various entries received. My guest this Thursday in complete contrast will be Alex Welford of Age UK who is going to talk about that organisation's fit as a fiddle programme.
I don't know if fit as a fiddle would describe me just now. The various radio projects certainly keep me busy. The shop from where I have been getting my newspaper has stopped selling papers so I have a slightly longer walk to do. This may or may not be a good thing.
Acid attacks seem to come down to one a week. I had another one last night and not for the first time I can't offer any explanation as to why. On the bright side there does not appear to be any fluid on the lungs or elsewhere. A source of momentary alarm today was the bathroom weighing machine. For reasons best known to itself the weight was shown in pounds rather than stones and pounds. You can imagine my surprise when the scales showed 184 when previously I was 13 stone one pound. After some thought I worked out I had put on a pound.
That's it for this report more probably next Monday.
It's been a busy old night though with a Hospital Radio Committee meeting as well. Speaking of Radio, both my guests for last Thursday's show had to call off for a variety of reasons. However I was lucky in that Carol Bridgestock one of the organisers of a writing competition was able to come in very much at the last minute to tell us about the various entries received. My guest this Thursday in complete contrast will be Alex Welford of Age UK who is going to talk about that organisation's fit as a fiddle programme.
I don't know if fit as a fiddle would describe me just now. The various radio projects certainly keep me busy. The shop from where I have been getting my newspaper has stopped selling papers so I have a slightly longer walk to do. This may or may not be a good thing.
Acid attacks seem to come down to one a week. I had another one last night and not for the first time I can't offer any explanation as to why. On the bright side there does not appear to be any fluid on the lungs or elsewhere. A source of momentary alarm today was the bathroom weighing machine. For reasons best known to itself the weight was shown in pounds rather than stones and pounds. You can imagine my surprise when the scales showed 184 when previously I was 13 stone one pound. After some thought I worked out I had put on a pound.
That's it for this report more probably next Monday.
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Days 586 to 594
A happy new year to all our readers. Apologies for this update being a day late.
We had a spendid New Year break in North Wales with Christopher, Gillian, Jack, Lucy and Harry. Additionally we saw Gillian's parents Ian and Lorna. New Years Eve has been something of a tradition where we play a selected board game until round about 1145, then we get ready to toast in the New Year. This time was no exception. I can heartily recommend a game called Sequence which involves playing cards, is non gambling but does require some thought and of course luck.
Mercifully the weather has relented so the journey both to Holt and back was uneventful. I do though have to say that New Year's Eve in Chester was cold mainly because of the damp. On Sunday I went with Christopher, Jack and a friend Nick to the DW Stadium in Wigan to watch the match against Newcastle United. We won which is nice and full marks to the DJ who at half time gave us some great Motown Sounds.
There was only one acid problem. I blame both the Stolen Cake and the time I ate it. Things are definitely improving. Touch wood there has been no rattling cough to bother me.
I shall try to write the next bulletin at the weekend.
We had a spendid New Year break in North Wales with Christopher, Gillian, Jack, Lucy and Harry. Additionally we saw Gillian's parents Ian and Lorna. New Years Eve has been something of a tradition where we play a selected board game until round about 1145, then we get ready to toast in the New Year. This time was no exception. I can heartily recommend a game called Sequence which involves playing cards, is non gambling but does require some thought and of course luck.
Mercifully the weather has relented so the journey both to Holt and back was uneventful. I do though have to say that New Year's Eve in Chester was cold mainly because of the damp. On Sunday I went with Christopher, Jack and a friend Nick to the DW Stadium in Wigan to watch the match against Newcastle United. We won which is nice and full marks to the DJ who at half time gave us some great Motown Sounds.
There was only one acid problem. I blame both the Stolen Cake and the time I ate it. Things are definitely improving. Touch wood there has been no rattling cough to bother me.
I shall try to write the next bulletin at the weekend.
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