This is the second time for me in writing this blog so here goes.

I duly had my "procedure" yesterday. As is their won't you have to report to Hospitals well before they put you under the microscope. Thus I got up at 530AM to have my pills as nothing was permitted to drink after 6.00AM. Our day ended at 2.00AM today. Quite a saga so here goes.

We got to the Hospital at 730 the appointed time. You could tell the day surgery unit does not normally function on a Saturday because the heating wasn't on. Anyway blood pressure etc. checked, I was ready for what was to follow. In the event I went into the operating theatre at 11.00. The procedure was very quick, a short jab with a needle and that was that. The good news is that nothing untoward was found except from a back up of phlegm which may explain the cough and occasional voice croak. The consultant said he would see me again in clinic in a few weeks time.

After tea and toast Ev took me home for about 2.00PM. I first noticed something was wrong an hour later when I tried to wee and found that nothing much was happening. At first I was inclined to think it was because up till then I had had little to drink. As Afternoon turned to evening it got worse.

On the Island we have a phone number for a non emergency but you need medical help fast. It's 111. I had interviewed the Manager of this line on my radio show and he assured listeners that the call handlers were medically trained.

At about 630 I rang said number and told the call handler what the problem was and that I had had anaesthetic that morning. She went away for a few seconds and then came back to say I should see a GP within 24 hours. Now on the Island the out of hours GP and Accident and Emergency are in the same building. I was offered an appointment for 730PM so off poor Ev and I went to the Hospital. We got there for 720 to find a room full of people all waiting to see one very overworked Doctor. In the event we found the system operated on a first come first served basis. Getting more and more uncomfortable we waited and waited. Eventually we got to see the Doctor at about 940. The 111 operator had filled in the details of what I had said accurately but the GP told us we had been referred to him incorrectly as a catheter would be needed and that was the job of A and E. He added that urine retention was one of the possible side effects of General Anaesthetic. Given that the call handlers are supposed to be medically trained you would have thought she would know to refer me straight to A and E.

By this time , it being Saturday, A and E was busy. The GP did tell us he would see what he could do given that I had been in since 720 and was very uncomfortable. We went back to the waiting room at about 950. Half an hour later we went through to the area and were shown into a cubicle. I could lie on the bed but Ev had to make do with an uncomfortable chair. However it was gone midnight when a Doctor came to see me. To be fair he was both pleasant and very competent. He took some blood tests to check if the kidneys had been infected and then applied the dreadful catheter with great care. We then had to wait for an hour till the results of the blood test came back. Thankfully all was clear.

Finally the leg bag was attached(the catheter had taken 60 mils of urine)and were were given a number of night bags to take with us. We left the Hospital finally at 1.45. The 4 hour waiting time was adhered to as A and E's clock only started when we went in there at 1020.

The District Nurse is coming in tomorrow to check the bag and hopefully remove it. If however I can't wee on my own she will have to come back and put it back on.

What a farrago. I'll let you know what happens.

The NHS works in odd ways sometimes.

The Hospital rang to say that they had had a cancellation. As a result I am to have a pre med this Saturday(21st.) and the actual endoscopy on Saturday 28th January.

For those of you who thought the NHS didn't do this sort of thing on a Saturday you are not alone. Hopefully this is just routine but I'll report back on 29th January.

I saw the ENT person yesterday.

He did a brief examination by sticking a machine up my left nostril(charming).

He wants to do an Endoscopy. This one though will be by general anaesthetic. It will involve sticking a steel tube down my throat(oh joy. He did say that he was probably being cautious but better that than missing something.

Apparently my throat is both tight and sensitive which explains both the dry cough and the difficulty in swallowing.

I have a 4 to 6 week wait for this and I shall keep you posted.

A belated happy newe year to all our readers.

Healthwise things have been more good than otherwise. I am keeping my weight up and am eating well. Thanks to Ev I am able to go out in winter with a warm coat, hat, coat and trousers. Speaking of which I did use to joke about older people wearing Long Johns. I can however understand the point. It does of course help that we are having at the time of writing a mild winter.

I did though have one acid attack whilst on holiday at Christmas for reasons I still don't follow. What it did do was produce an irritating dry cough which took me two weeks to shift. I did go to a Local Doctor in Cheshire who did explain to me that I should avoid taking Gavescon and the anti acid tablets within two hours of each other. Gavescon in fact nullifies the effect of the tablets if taken either together or within close proximity.

Tomorrow I go to the ENT Clinic and I'll post the results of that on here.

Events have shaken me somewhat. I am okay but two prominent people Bryan Gould and Christopher Hitchens have recently both dies from Esophageal Cancer. On top of that yesterday(December16) Karen, one of the members of the Upper GI Patients' support group, passed away. It makes you realise that recovery from this sort of illness is not guaranteed. On the other hand another member of the group Mike who had the operation in 2008 missed the last meeting because he was attending a business conference in Bruges.

The other day I had another acid attack. The infrequency of these attacks makes it more of a chore when it does happen. I can only put this down to eating a mince pie late. Otherwise though all is going well. The winter has finally arrived so it's wrap up warm to stop any chest infections. I am due to see the ONT Specialist at the end of January.

I try hard not to bring politics into this blog but I have to say rumoured Government proposals for work place assessments for those on chemotherapy are plain daft. Having been through this, the effects of chemo vary from person to person. What still sticks with me was that no two days were ever the same. Yes had I been of work age there were days when I could have gone in but more often it would be a non starter. Now I am as anxious as anyone that welfare money isn't wasted on those who are deliberately absenting themselves from the workplace but I wouldn't put those undergoing chemo in that category.

I shall try and post again before Christmas but in the meantime I hope your preparations are going well.

Well I saw someone from ENT at the Hospital last Wednesday. Nothing seems to have changed since the last time I saw them way back in July. I am to see the Head Honcho on 12 January.

I had wondered if the appointment would have gone ahead. For readers outside the UK, 30 November was a day when large sections of the public sector workers were on strike. Though some Hospitals around the country had to cancel out patients appointments St. Mary's here on the Island wasn't one of them. The only difference was that those staff who were in couldn't access the re booking computer system so they made a manual note to send an appointment the next day which as above duly happened. Speaking of the strike, the organisers of the winter of discontent in the 70s would be turning in their graves. There were pickets outside the Hospital but rather than make drinks by heating water from a brazier they came into the League of Friends Coffee Shop in the Hospital for a Coffee.

Otherwise I had a great trip back to the North East to see some ex colleagues who worked on the Regional Training Team. That period was my happiest time in the Inland Revenue. From those who still work there all is clearly far from well.

One of the Ferry Companies is threatened with strike action in the run up to Christmas. It's over the sacking of an Employee. What he is supposed to have done nobody knows except the protagonists.

Anyway my health continues to be good. I am keeping my weight up, take regular exercise and am eating well. On Tuesday Ev and I are going to the Patients Support Group's Christmas Lunch which should be fun and on Thursday on Angel Radio I am looking forward to interviewing Paul Armfield a local singer songwriter who also is the Island Branch Manager of Waterstone's Book shop.

Life goes on. Most days everything is okay so when as happened the other day acid reflux returns it is a bit of a shock.

Now readers of this epistle will by now I hope realise I don't do sorry for myself. Thus I must confess I contributed in no small measure to my own downfall. Occasionally I like to treat myself to a chinese meal. Last Thursday I thought I would try a chicken chow mein. That dish after all consists of easy to swallow soft noodles and very nice it was too but.............

I went to bed at 11.00 feeling fine but at about 1.30 I woke with a throat that felt it was being scraped with sand paper, heartburn that was painful and short of breath. I could taste the Chow Mein. Water is of limited value in these circumstances other than to rinse the mouth out. Swallowing merely returns said acid down the tubes. There is only one solution in this situation which is to sit up for about an hour or until the hiatus subsides.

The moral of this story is not to eat this type of Chinese Food in the evening if at all.

Other than that life has been fine. We had a few days at the caravan at Topcliffe. We went to see Janis Ian in concert which was great fun. Ev and I also met up with some wonderful friends on Teesside. It made me realise how lucky we are to know so many good people.

Following North Yorkshire we went to North Wales to celebrate Harry's fourth birthday. He thoroughly enjoyed himself. It was then back to the Island.

As a final medical note I have an appointment with the ENT people on 30 November to check over my vocal chords. I shall keep you posted.