Hi all! Sorry I've been away so long but I'm afraid things didn't work out so well for me in hospital. There was a lot more wrong than was expected and this is the first time I've actually felt up to sitting down with the laptop.
As you know, I went in on the 11th September expecting to just have my gallbladder removed and home again 2 days later. It didn't go quite so smoothly though. I ended up having a lot more done than expected. The Consultant told me that he expected that a lot of my problems (pain, swelling etc) could also be down to adhesions/scar tissue and that he would sort that out during the operation, but apparently, when he opened a great deal more damage was found than was expected. In his own words: "I just wanted to walk away". So, after 5 and 1/2 hours on the operating table, I ended up with my gallbladder gone, hiatus hernia repaired, part of my bowel removed, and a small plastic bottle containing about 30 small gallstones.
John and Mum were really worried as I'd phoned John just before 3.30pm to say I was on my way to theatre any moment and he kept ringing the hospital all evening to be told I was still in recovery (which I wasn't; I was still in theatre) or that there was no news. He didn't receive a call to say that I was in the HDU (High Dependency Unit) until 11.15pm.
I was in hospital for 8 days and am only just begining to feel as though I'm rejoining the human race. I haven't been out anywhere other than a visit to the hospital as I can't drive (and John doesn't) and I'm too afraid to go out walking too far as if I need a toilet (and that's very likely) I need to get there straight away (so no change there!).
I went to the hospital one week after I came home to have the remainder of the 35 stitches removed and Mr Slater (my Consultant) said it would take some time to recover and that I'd been a 'walking time bomb'. My internal organs were all stuck together and I had an incisional hernia coming off from a previous gynae surgery (on the right hand side of my body coming up from a bikini-line scar). My bowel was pushing through the hernia and a portion of it was ischaemic, in other words, had died. This had to be removed.
Sorry to cme back with a bit of a 'downer' of a post, but at least I'm back. And one other good thing - I lost 10lbs in weight in as many days. I've put on about 3 or 4 lbs from just sitting around most the time but at least I reached those elusive 11stone somethings!!!!!
I'm going to look in to see if every one else is still around and 'thank you' Lesley and Mrs for popping in to see me whilst I was away.
Friday, 26 October 2007
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Back from Hols......
We had a lovely time in Dublin. It's great when you can catch up with friends and you don't feel as though you've really been apart and can just slot back into the relationship you used to have. Our friends moved over to Ireland 4 years ago (she's Irish, he isn't) and even though Carmel came and stayed with us for a few days last year we hadn't seen Dave since they moved. And Elizabeth got on so well with the girls that we hardly saw them, they were out wandering most of the time (not a thing I would allow her to do here in London!). We did the open-top bus tour of the City - just like real tourists, but didn't 'do' the Guinness factory as we didn't think the girls would like it too much (so next time!). On the Wednesday evening I phoned home to speak to Mum and she said the weather had been cold, windy and extremely wet all day - I really hated to tell her that we had been sitting on a beach in the sun and that, unfortunately, I'd got rather burnt (stupid, I know). It seems as though we took the sun with us to the Emerald Isle.
We really didn't want to come home, and Jane, who's the same age as Liz, wanted us to miss our plane. Sweet!
But back home we came. We walked through the door at 8.30 in the evening, Mum started talking, and she didn't stop until we went to bed!!!!!!! I tell you, for a woman in her late 70's she has much more energy than me!
On Bank Holiday Monday we went to Colchester to visit Bridget and Colin, other friends who moved away about 3 years ago. I know they're only 50 miles away but it's not easy to keep up with people when we don't have many free weekends. Also when I was doing LighterLife and Cambridge earlier this year, I must admit, I became a bit of a recluse. I didn't want to go visting, or have anyone over, as I thought it would be too difficult what with not eating. And then of course, there were the eyes! And the illnesses!! But another successful visit and one we won't leave for another year. Bridget did't mention my weightloss and I had to say something to her in the end (flipping heck!). Her reply was that, yes, I had said that I'd lost weight, but to her, I looked the same as she had always known me (you see, she hadn't seen me at my largest).
I haven't been on here for a while as I haven't actually been using the computer much since we've been home. John has only been back at week for a few days and then there was getting Liz back to school followed on by the 'relief' of being at home alone again, so I've been catching up on other things!!! I've tried to catch up with what's been going on with everyone else, but there has been so much to read (Mrs!!!!) that in the end I had to give up. So, if anything momentous has happened to anyone, please let me know on here.
I'm off to hospital this morning for the gall bladder removal. I've had a few more painful episodes with it so I'll be glad when it's gone - although I'm dreading the operation later today.
I was reading a BUPA factsheet on the Internet about the symptoms of gallstones and it said that the onset can be caused by rapid weightloss......!!!!!?????!!!!!
Well, I'm off now. I hope everyone is doing well. I shall be home in a few days and I'll try to catch up. Don't forget though - if there's anything I've missed.....
We really didn't want to come home, and Jane, who's the same age as Liz, wanted us to miss our plane. Sweet!
But back home we came. We walked through the door at 8.30 in the evening, Mum started talking, and she didn't stop until we went to bed!!!!!!! I tell you, for a woman in her late 70's she has much more energy than me!
On Bank Holiday Monday we went to Colchester to visit Bridget and Colin, other friends who moved away about 3 years ago. I know they're only 50 miles away but it's not easy to keep up with people when we don't have many free weekends. Also when I was doing LighterLife and Cambridge earlier this year, I must admit, I became a bit of a recluse. I didn't want to go visting, or have anyone over, as I thought it would be too difficult what with not eating. And then of course, there were the eyes! And the illnesses!! But another successful visit and one we won't leave for another year. Bridget did't mention my weightloss and I had to say something to her in the end (flipping heck!). Her reply was that, yes, I had said that I'd lost weight, but to her, I looked the same as she had always known me (you see, she hadn't seen me at my largest).
I haven't been on here for a while as I haven't actually been using the computer much since we've been home. John has only been back at week for a few days and then there was getting Liz back to school followed on by the 'relief' of being at home alone again, so I've been catching up on other things!!! I've tried to catch up with what's been going on with everyone else, but there has been so much to read (Mrs!!!!) that in the end I had to give up. So, if anything momentous has happened to anyone, please let me know on here.
I'm off to hospital this morning for the gall bladder removal. I've had a few more painful episodes with it so I'll be glad when it's gone - although I'm dreading the operation later today.
I was reading a BUPA factsheet on the Internet about the symptoms of gallstones and it said that the onset can be caused by rapid weightloss......!!!!!?????!!!!!
Well, I'm off now. I hope everyone is doing well. I shall be home in a few days and I'll try to catch up. Don't forget though - if there's anything I've missed.....
Saturday, 18 August 2007
Liz & John
Me again! So much for saying I wouldn't be on again over the weekend....
John has been setting up the new camera on the computer this evening and found that you could download pictures straight from the Fuji software to blogger. Here's the result. This was taken on Liz's birthday last Sunday.
I just have to learn how to do it now.
Last day at work...for I don't know how long!
I'm only working Saturdays at the moment as I don't tend to work during the school holidays unless a branch is really desperate. It was my last day for sometime now, though. I've already booked the next 3 Saturdays off as I'm not back from Ireland 'til late next Saturday evening and the following week we're off to a family wedding, and the week after that I'll be getting over the 'do' at John's firm. So it was with some trepidation that I told my line manager that I would be off for a few more weeks. But I needn't have worried as she was lovely about it. She knows I've had health issues over the years and is so happy that I've got the chance of getting it all sorted. So, I may not be back at work until the end of September at the best. Monies going to be a little short for the next couple of months - I'll have to get John to do a few more 8.00ams to midnights!!!!! (only joking, if you read this John!).
Everytime I walk through the doors of the office (ie. every Saturday morning) the girls comment anew about the amount of weight I've lost. Admittedly, they're not all in every week, so they don't see me all the time, but sometimes I don't know quite what to say so I just say 'thank you' and get on. This morning though it was also my hair. You see, on a whim I had it all cut off yesterday. It's a shortish bob(just above chin level) - I feel a bit ...bare...at the moment, but it'll be ok once I wash and style it myself.
I have a new camera that I bought a few weeks ago and was going through my memory cards so that I could clear them ready for the holiday and I came across a picture of John and myself in Cornwall last year. It will be a year next Sunday since the photo was taken and we both look .... quite a bit different. Next Sunday, so long as we remember we're going to put the same clothes on and get Lizzie to take a photo of the same pose of us. I'll then, if I'm brave enough, post it so we can all see the difference a year makes!
I'll say bye for now, as I'll be busy tomorrow getting ready for Monday (I must make sure the house is 'fit' for Mum to come and cat-sit!). I'll try and look in if I get a chance to use Carmel's computer, otherwise I'll speak to everyone when I get back. Have a good week, all.
Everytime I walk through the doors of the office (ie. every Saturday morning) the girls comment anew about the amount of weight I've lost. Admittedly, they're not all in every week, so they don't see me all the time, but sometimes I don't know quite what to say so I just say 'thank you' and get on. This morning though it was also my hair. You see, on a whim I had it all cut off yesterday. It's a shortish bob(just above chin level) - I feel a bit ...bare...at the moment, but it'll be ok once I wash and style it myself.
I have a new camera that I bought a few weeks ago and was going through my memory cards so that I could clear them ready for the holiday and I came across a picture of John and myself in Cornwall last year. It will be a year next Sunday since the photo was taken and we both look .... quite a bit different. Next Sunday, so long as we remember we're going to put the same clothes on and get Lizzie to take a photo of the same pose of us. I'll then, if I'm brave enough, post it so we can all see the difference a year makes!
I'll say bye for now, as I'll be busy tomorrow getting ready for Monday (I must make sure the house is 'fit' for Mum to come and cat-sit!). I'll try and look in if I get a chance to use Carmel's computer, otherwise I'll speak to everyone when I get back. Have a good week, all.
Friday, 17 August 2007
It's coming out.......
......my gall bladder that is. The concensus of opinion is that this is the best option. The surgeon said that if it was just the adhesions he'd leave well alone but as the he suspects the gallstones are the main cause of my problems, and even if they were removed they could still reform in the gall bladder, he feels it would be prudent to remove the gall bladder and deal with the adhesions at the same time. He said the op could be done laparoscopally but it would be much safer to do open surgery. So, there you go! He's on holiday for the next 2 weeks and wanted to fit it in directly he got back on 6th September but I wrangled out of that one as it's only the day after Liz goes back to school and we also have a 'posh do' at John's company on the 7th which we didn't want to miss. So it looks as though I'll go in some time the following week.
I don't know, John's been on at me for ages and ages to get to the doctor's about health problems as he's got the private insurance and my comment to that has always been, 'Do you want me to get ill?' Well, he's getting his money's worth now!!!!
Ok, onto to the diet..... Mr Slater (my new consultant) asked if I needed any help with a fat-free diet. After I stopped laughing, I said, 'No, I think I'm OK on that score'. I'd already explained about how I'd put on all the weight, and how I'd lost it - LighterLife etc., and he was impressed that I'd lost so much weight (as of Wednesday morning.....2stone 10lb....38lb......so I'm getting nearer that 11stone something). He did ask that I not eat any chocolate before the operation - as if I would! And I'm to just have milk in drinks, so out goes my occasional glass of skimmed milk at bedtime - boohoo!
I told him that I was ashamed of having got to the weight I became and asked if I'd caused the gallstones by being overweight. His answer was a definite 'No!'. He said they could be hereditary and asked if any close family members suffered from them - my maternal grandmother (who wasn't overweight). Mum told me later that Dad also had them, but I didn't know about that as, a lot of what was wrong with him we (children), weren't told about - I only knew that what I thought was warts in the bladder was in fact cancer and that he wasn't going to pull through, just 2 weekls before he died.
We also discussed the gynae drug treatments I was on over the years and he said that it can be very, very hard to control your weight whilst taking these, just the same as for people on steroids. All this made me feel a lot less .....atogonistic (?) towards myself as even though I can't blame the drugs completely - I do neeed to take some of the blame, it's as I've suspected all along - total control was out of my hands. On the whole though, I don't feel it lets me off the hook over the amount of weight I've put on over the last 3 or 4 years. But in my defense, since the beginning of this century I've had a hysterectomy (well-known for weight gain afterwards - I know people who've gained 2 or 3 stone), lost my Dad, suffered depression, with the resultant Prosac prescription, and fought a losing battle (until now) with weight.
On the way home from the hospital John said he was going to give me something to read about getting into the right mindset for surgery. It was a piece he'd come across whilst doing research for a book he's writing. One of the comments was, 'Operations are fine, as long as you have the right attitude to them....just treat them as a great adventure.' The gist of this is that, rather than becoming stressed out about an upcoming operation, or procedure, look on it as a new begining. The writer said she couldn't wait to get on the operating table, that the problems she was experiencing were getting worse each day, and that the operation couldn't come quick enough. I think I'll try to keep this in mind. Maybe, by this time next year, I'll be a completely new woman. New weight, no pains, no bloated abdomen....new shape. Can't wait!!!
I don't know, John's been on at me for ages and ages to get to the doctor's about health problems as he's got the private insurance and my comment to that has always been, 'Do you want me to get ill?' Well, he's getting his money's worth now!!!!
Ok, onto to the diet..... Mr Slater (my new consultant) asked if I needed any help with a fat-free diet. After I stopped laughing, I said, 'No, I think I'm OK on that score'. I'd already explained about how I'd put on all the weight, and how I'd lost it - LighterLife etc., and he was impressed that I'd lost so much weight (as of Wednesday morning.....2stone 10lb....38lb......so I'm getting nearer that 11stone something). He did ask that I not eat any chocolate before the operation - as if I would! And I'm to just have milk in drinks, so out goes my occasional glass of skimmed milk at bedtime - boohoo!
I told him that I was ashamed of having got to the weight I became and asked if I'd caused the gallstones by being overweight. His answer was a definite 'No!'. He said they could be hereditary and asked if any close family members suffered from them - my maternal grandmother (who wasn't overweight). Mum told me later that Dad also had them, but I didn't know about that as, a lot of what was wrong with him we (children), weren't told about - I only knew that what I thought was warts in the bladder was in fact cancer and that he wasn't going to pull through, just 2 weekls before he died.
We also discussed the gynae drug treatments I was on over the years and he said that it can be very, very hard to control your weight whilst taking these, just the same as for people on steroids. All this made me feel a lot less .....atogonistic (?) towards myself as even though I can't blame the drugs completely - I do neeed to take some of the blame, it's as I've suspected all along - total control was out of my hands. On the whole though, I don't feel it lets me off the hook over the amount of weight I've put on over the last 3 or 4 years. But in my defense, since the beginning of this century I've had a hysterectomy (well-known for weight gain afterwards - I know people who've gained 2 or 3 stone), lost my Dad, suffered depression, with the resultant Prosac prescription, and fought a losing battle (until now) with weight.
On the way home from the hospital John said he was going to give me something to read about getting into the right mindset for surgery. It was a piece he'd come across whilst doing research for a book he's writing. One of the comments was, 'Operations are fine, as long as you have the right attitude to them....just treat them as a great adventure.' The gist of this is that, rather than becoming stressed out about an upcoming operation, or procedure, look on it as a new begining. The writer said she couldn't wait to get on the operating table, that the problems she was experiencing were getting worse each day, and that the operation couldn't come quick enough. I think I'll try to keep this in mind. Maybe, by this time next year, I'll be a completely new woman. New weight, no pains, no bloated abdomen....new shape. Can't wait!!!
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Put on a 1/2lb
Ok, I did say the other day that I'd be upset if I put on but, actually, I'm not worried about this tiny gain. I knew I definitely wouldn't lose. At my guess of 59 Syns for the 'fatty meal' and then 3 celebratory meals out, it's a wonder it was only 1/2lb. So I'm happy.
I'm not sure how well I'll do the next couple of weeks. I won't be going for weigh-in next Tuesday as we're off to Dublin on Monday to stay with friends for a few days. I shall continue with my 'conscious' eating and shall try to stick to the programme as much as I can but as we're staying at someone's house I don't want to make it awkward for her on the cooking front. Carmel has seen me do Slimming World before so she'll understand if I pick and choose with the food. It'll probably be easier when we eat out because I’ll have more choices to make. I would still like to lose at least 2lbs during the next 2 weeks: that 11stone something is still being elusive…….
Lizzie and I popped into work today to open a new account with her birthday money. She's had an account in the past but that was in my name for her, but she's now going to get her own cashcard, so she feels quite grown up. There you go, another step into independence - I'm getting redundant!
I’m off to the hospital this afternoon for the results of my ultrasound last Thursday. I’m quite nervous about it. I don’t know why really. It’s just that the medication I’ve been given doesn’t appear to be working and I’m not sure what else they can do. The blood test last week showed that my liver reading was a high (?) and that’s the reason the Consultant wanted to do the gall bladder function test. The only other reason the reading would be high would be through indulging in too much alcohol (which I don’t), so I’m not sure what the result will be. Well, only another hour until I find out.
....I found out.
Dr Ashraf recommends surgery. To remove the gall bladder and adhesions (of which my abdomen and bowel area are riddled with - mainly because of earlier gynae problems). I have another appointment tomorrow evening to see the surgeon. Blimey! - Quick, or what? John's coming with me this time as I need another ear and another brain to make the decision on whether to go ahead or not. I thought I'd finished with surgery, but it just goes to show what can happen when you have 'the three f's' - female, fat and forty, or in my case 'over forty'. I know I was classed as obese at 14stone 11lb and 5'5" in February, but I could have been a lot heavier. It just goes to show what can happen to your health when control of your weight gets out of hand. I will admit that Dr Ashraf hasn't actually blamed my weight as a contributory factor,bt of course I'm a lot lighter now. But I blame it and I feel rather ashamed that things have gone so far.
I'll update again once I see the doctor tomorrow. A great thing to have on my mind on holiday next week.....
I'm not sure how well I'll do the next couple of weeks. I won't be going for weigh-in next Tuesday as we're off to Dublin on Monday to stay with friends for a few days. I shall continue with my 'conscious' eating and shall try to stick to the programme as much as I can but as we're staying at someone's house I don't want to make it awkward for her on the cooking front. Carmel has seen me do Slimming World before so she'll understand if I pick and choose with the food. It'll probably be easier when we eat out because I’ll have more choices to make. I would still like to lose at least 2lbs during the next 2 weeks: that 11stone something is still being elusive…….
Lizzie and I popped into work today to open a new account with her birthday money. She's had an account in the past but that was in my name for her, but she's now going to get her own cashcard, so she feels quite grown up. There you go, another step into independence - I'm getting redundant!
I’m off to the hospital this afternoon for the results of my ultrasound last Thursday. I’m quite nervous about it. I don’t know why really. It’s just that the medication I’ve been given doesn’t appear to be working and I’m not sure what else they can do. The blood test last week showed that my liver reading was a high (?) and that’s the reason the Consultant wanted to do the gall bladder function test. The only other reason the reading would be high would be through indulging in too much alcohol (which I don’t), so I’m not sure what the result will be. Well, only another hour until I find out.
....I found out.
Dr Ashraf recommends surgery. To remove the gall bladder and adhesions (of which my abdomen and bowel area are riddled with - mainly because of earlier gynae problems). I have another appointment tomorrow evening to see the surgeon. Blimey! - Quick, or what? John's coming with me this time as I need another ear and another brain to make the decision on whether to go ahead or not. I thought I'd finished with surgery, but it just goes to show what can happen when you have 'the three f's' - female, fat and forty, or in my case 'over forty'. I know I was classed as obese at 14stone 11lb and 5'5" in February, but I could have been a lot heavier. It just goes to show what can happen to your health when control of your weight gets out of hand. I will admit that Dr Ashraf hasn't actually blamed my weight as a contributory factor,bt of course I'm a lot lighter now. But I blame it and I feel rather ashamed that things have gone so far.
I'll update again once I see the doctor tomorrow. A great thing to have on my mind on holiday next week.....
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Liz's birthday
We've had a lovely day today. Elizabeth was up before 7 this morning getting herself ready for HER day. I heard the shower running and thought it was Mum in there, but NO!, it was 'birthday girl'. So we were all up early.
She got 19 cards, £150.00, loads of pressies, and a stream of visitors. Quite a hectic day.
Then late afternoon we headed off to the restaurant for the meal. Once you're all eating again, I'd recommend Frankie and Benny's. The food was good (New York Italian - altho' I don't know how authentic!), the service fine, with polite cheerful staff. Actually, a couple of the waiters were 'an eye to behold'. I took a birthday cake with me and they placed balloons on the back of Elizabeth's chair then brought the cake out at the end of the meal and sang 'Happy Birthday' and 'Congratulations' - Elizabeth was very happy!
I was very good with my choices. No starter. Lamb shanks for main, with mashed potatoes and vegetables - rosemary and mint gravy on the side (hmmmmmm! -syn-ful, but scrummy). No dessert. Half a glass of white wine. A slither of birthday cake. You'd all be really proud of me!! So OK, the Syn count would definitely have been over 15, but I shouldn't think it would be too bad. The main thing is, I ate 'consciously'. I thought about what I was going to have; I knew the main course would have been 'syn-ful' - the fat in the gravy and the cream or butter in the potatoes, but I really wanted that dish, so I compensated for it. I think that's a lesson everyone should take on board. Know the damage that could be done to the diet, and limit it as much as possible, but also ENJOY!
I'm definitely trying to keep in the Slimming World zone. I don't expect to loose much, or anything, on Tuesday although I will admit I'll be upset if I put on. But I can't berate myself for not trying to keep on track with all that's been going on this week.
Hope everyone has a good week. I'm off to bed now. Night, night!
She got 19 cards, £150.00, loads of pressies, and a stream of visitors. Quite a hectic day.
Then late afternoon we headed off to the restaurant for the meal. Once you're all eating again, I'd recommend Frankie and Benny's. The food was good (New York Italian - altho' I don't know how authentic!), the service fine, with polite cheerful staff. Actually, a couple of the waiters were 'an eye to behold'. I took a birthday cake with me and they placed balloons on the back of Elizabeth's chair then brought the cake out at the end of the meal and sang 'Happy Birthday' and 'Congratulations' - Elizabeth was very happy!
I was very good with my choices. No starter. Lamb shanks for main, with mashed potatoes and vegetables - rosemary and mint gravy on the side (hmmmmmm! -syn-ful, but scrummy). No dessert. Half a glass of white wine. A slither of birthday cake. You'd all be really proud of me!! So OK, the Syn count would definitely have been over 15, but I shouldn't think it would be too bad. The main thing is, I ate 'consciously'. I thought about what I was going to have; I knew the main course would have been 'syn-ful' - the fat in the gravy and the cream or butter in the potatoes, but I really wanted that dish, so I compensated for it. I think that's a lesson everyone should take on board. Know the damage that could be done to the diet, and limit it as much as possible, but also ENJOY!
I'm definitely trying to keep in the Slimming World zone. I don't expect to loose much, or anything, on Tuesday although I will admit I'll be upset if I put on. But I can't berate myself for not trying to keep on track with all that's been going on this week.
Hope everyone has a good week. I'm off to bed now. Night, night!
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