Post Op

Friday 14 April 2017

I am feeling well enough now to continue with this blog.

Thursday 6 April 2017

During the pre-op, which included blood tests, ECG, full medical history and an examination by one of Mr Kockleberg's team. The doctor listened to my lungs and heart and thought I might have a heart murmur caused by a leaking valve. Ideally he would have like me to have a ultrasound scan on my heart before the operation on the following Monday but didn't think it would be possible. I could visualise the operation being postponed. The doctor decided to take advice from the on-call consultant who thought the operation should go ahead because I was fit enough to walk my dogs twice a day and go running occasionally.

Monday 10 April 2017

Up at 4:30am! Sandra and our next door neighbour Margaret left for Leicester General Hospital at 5:30am.  The roads were pretty clear and we had no trouble getting to the hospital in time for the stated time of 7:15am.  I was the first to arrive and had to wait in a room as others arrived.  At 7:15 we were all taken through to the ward and booked in. At this stage I was still dressed and sitting in a small area in the ward watching TV.  Various people came to see me. The anaesthetist came to check that I wasn't allergic to anything and explained what would happen pre and post op. Mr Koclleberg's Registrar discussed the operation and made sure I understood what was going on. Finally Mr Kockleberg himself came to see me and said that a ultrasound heart scan had been arranged and off I went to have that done. Lots of waiting followed and at 1pm I asked one of the nurses what was happening and she said they were just waiting for a call from the theatre and they would take me down. I changed into a gown and elastic socks and as soon as I was changed I was taken down to theatre. Just outside of the theatre I had to lay on a trolley while the anaesthetists did their magic with injections and oxygen. 

The next thing I'm aware of is coming awake on a bed in the recovery room at about  6;30pm  A doctor by my side  asking how I feel. I said I felt ok and would like to talk to my wife so he called Sandra and I was able to say that it was all over and I was ok. 

From there I was taken to ward 26 and closely monitored by the staff there. Under the circumstances I slept pretty well and did not need any pain relief during the night. My blood pressure, heart rate and temperature were regularly checked during the night.

Tuesday 11 April 2017

Looking back this was the worst day. 

I had breakfast - cornflakes - coffee - orange juice. A 1mg shot of morphine. Then I got out of bed to sit in the chair and wondered why I felt sick!  I wasn't sick but I did feel rough. I was visited by lots of people during the day and aqll of them wanting to know how I felt and was I in any pain. It was difficult to explain - It was painful to bend and to take deep breaths but no more than I would have expected. On the whole I didn't feel too bad under the circumstances. One thing I must mention is that you lose all dignity.  Everyone want to have a look at the wounds and dressings so you just pull up your gown and let them look!  Not the most pleasant sight especially when there is a catheter hanging out of your willy!

Sandra came to visit in the afternoon and it was great to see her - I think it has been more emotional for her than it has for me. I called it a day at 8:30 and went to bed and had a pretty good nights sleep. 

Wednesday 12 April 2017

After the visit by the Ward Sister and her team on the shift change over, the Registrar and her junior doctors came to see me and told me I would be going home today. Catheter out, shave and a shower and I feel a lot better.  All I have to do now is pee in three bottles and then have an ultrasound scan to make sure my bladder is emptying properly.  Two hours later and not a drop!  I forced myself to go - tuning on taps etc. and managed  a dibble.  Another hour and another dribble. Sandra and Mac arrived to pick me up and I still had to do the third bottle. I did and they scanned me but another sample was required. I eventually did enough to satisfy everyone and the scan was ok. I just had to wait for my discharge. While I'm waiting I could pee for England! 

Eventually with letters for my GP and Practice Nurse we are on our way home through The Leicester Rush Hour.

Great to be home but I am ready for bed a 9pm.

Thursday 13 April 2017

Every day I am feeling much better. Today I showered but stayed in my pyjamas and dressing gown and didn't move around much. A visit from our friends - Ann and Dave was very welcome. Reading a book and watching TV and off to bed at 9:30.

Friday 14 April 2017

Had a great nights sleep and only got up once during the night. Felt much more comfortable in bed and most of the pain has now subsided. Emma & Nick are on their way to stay with us until Monday so looking forward to seeing them. 

Everything seems to be going well and I know it will be some time before I am fully fit again but the worst is over and I no longer have cancer!

All Systems Go!

5 April 2017

Yesterday I received a letter from Leicester General Hospital giving me details of my admission.

Tomorrow I will be attending a pre-admission assessment that starts at 1:30pm and can last from 2 to 4 hours.  Assuming there are no problems my admission date is Monday 10th April at 7:15am! That means a 5:30 departure from home but we are so pleased that things are moving now and we can now begin to look forward with optimism. I don't know where I am on the list but hope to be early otherwise I will be starving having to fast prior to the operation.

I'll update after the pe-assessment if there is any more significant news.

Meeting the Top Man

21 March 2017

It's been a long time coming but today I'm due to meet the consultant, Mr. Kockelbergh. Sandra has gone to London with Petra and they are meeting up with Emma there. I drop off Petra & Sandra at Grantham Station before making my way to Leicester. Straight forward journey and arrive in plenty of time for a coffee and a Danish before my appointment. Just 5 minutes late getting in and I'm shaking hands with the Top Man.  The first thing he tells me is that the lymph node on my left adrenal gland is benign. We then go on to discuss the lump on my right kidney which, he says, is 90% likely to be cancer. Surprisingly, he then gave me a choice - I could have the whole kidney(and the lump) removed or just a partial kidney removal with the lump.  Apparently at my age (72) I am just on the borderline and if I was 75 he wouldn't have given me the choice - It would have been a full kidney removal. I chose to have the partial kidney removal which will be carried out using a relatively new keyhole surgery procedure using a robot! Mr Kockelburgh has carried out over 30 of these procedures over the past two years so I am pretty confident. He did explain that it will be about 15 years before I get the full benefit but I told him that I'm optimistic about reaching 87!

So now I'm on his list and should only have to wait between 3 and 4 weeks. He said that it will probably be nearer 3 than 4 but we will have to wait and see.  Between 3 and 4 weeks is Easter.

I think that considering I was told at the end of January that I probably have cancer of the kidney, the outcome is very positive.  We are all looking forward to the time after the operation and life can get back to normal.

 

Leicester General Hospital

Thursday 2 March 2017

Today is the day I hope to find out exactly what we are dealing with and what the treatment plan is.  Sandra and I set off to Leicester at 8:30am for an appointment at 11:05.  The journey should take less than 90 mins but the traffic could be busy.  The A46 was very slow but we didn’t see the reason for it. We arrived at the hospital at about 10ish so after we parked we went for a coffee before going to the clinic.  They took my details at the clinic – very busy with 9 consulting rooms!  I didn’t get in until 12:30ish.  We discussed the mass on my right kidney but he was very concerned about a lymph node near my left adrenal gland.  The scan doesn’t show any detail so it is important to find out exactly what it is.  As a result, I have to go back to Leicester next Wednesday to have another CT scan to identify what it is on my adrenal gland.  Hopefully it will not be significant but whatever it is I can’t do anything to change it.  They have also made a follow-up appointment for 21 March.

After the consultation we had a talk with a specialist nurse to explain all the possible outcomes and to answer any questions we had.  It was a very useful session and I have leaflets and books giving a detailed explanation of everything I need to know.

Just when we thought we were moving forward another problem has arisen that needs sorting out. We remain in limbo for a bit longer but continue to hope for a positive outcome.

It's not unknown any more

Friday 17th February 2017

The day has finally arrived to discover what all this is about.


The day started with walking the dogs just after 7am - Mornings are getting lighter much earlier now. Back home - Change into my running gear and off for another stage of working up to a 5K run again.  Half an hour later I'm back for breakfast. Sandra is out with our friend Ann and I'm just pottering about killing time.  After lunch Sandra pops out again and I have a shower. Just dried and dressed and I ge a phone call from my consultants secretary - My immediate thought was that my appointment was cancelled - Could I get to the hospital for an earlier appointment - 4pm instead of 5:20pm.  I phoned Sandra who came straight home - A quick walk with the dogs and an early dinner for them.  We had an hour to get to the hospital and we needed just about all of it - The traffic was horrendous but we made it with 5 minutes to spare. Eventually we were shown into a consulting room to be met by Mr Varadaray (Raj) who explained the results of my CT scan.


I had cancer on the base of my right kidney - about 4cm in diameter. This type of cancer grows at about 1cm per year so there is a good chance that it has been growing there for 4 years!  The good news is that there is a recognised procedure for dealing with this. My case has been referred to Leicester Hospital which is the Centre of Excellence for this operation. It will probably be keyhole surgery where the cancer and part of my kidney will be removed - Then that's it - Job done!  Maximum stay in hospital likely to be 3 days but could be just overnight.  No chemotherapy or radiotherapy required but regular check ups and scans for up to 5 years.


To say we were relieved doesn't do it justice - we were really really chuffed - It felt like we were walking on air on our way back to the car.


So now we know what we are dealing with.  Leicester will discuss my case next Thursday and I should hear from them soon afterwards.


So all in all a good result with a positive outlook for the future - It could have been so much worse.


We are down in Sussex for a few days for Emma's Birthday - More news as it comes.

Appointment!

Saturday 11th February 2017

Since my CT scan last Sunday, we have been waiting for an appointment to see the Consultant. Well, we are a little nearer to knowing what we are dealing with - I had an appointment in the post today for next Friday 17th February at 5:20pm.

We are still no nearer knowing what 'it' is but at least we know when we'll find out.

Despite everything, we are trying to live a normal life.  I have no pain - no symptoms - I feel good.  I am constantly aware of all the possibilities but at this stage it is what it is and I can't change that.

Emma came to stay with us for a couple of days which was great - we've had a meal celebrating Petra & Mac's wedding anniversary - I've played bowls (and won!) - I've started running again.

Last August I started a running programme "Couch Potato to 5K in 8 Weeks" and I was running (and walking) every couple of days until I reached the ultimate aim of Running 5K in 35 mins. The last time I went running was in October and then it became too cold and I felt I had achieved what I started.  Now I have started again and it feels great - not necessarily when I'm running but when I've finished and can see what I have achieved.

Now we have got another weeks wait but I will let you know as soon as I know anything.

Bridge Climb and Cafe Sydney

Wednesday 8th February 2017

Today is the day I was supposed to be climbing to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge. I had booked it well in advance because it is a very popular event but when I found out that we couldn't go the cancellation process was easy and straight forward and the £175 is back on my card.

Our daughters and their families - that is : Petra, Emma, Mac, Nick, Caitlin and Luke booked a meal for us on the Outside Terrace at the Cafe Sydney tonight for our Golden Wedding. We thank you all - It would have been magnificent and we are so disappointed not to be able to be there. 

No news yet but I expect to have an appointment at Lincoln County Hospital sometime this week.

Scan Day

Sunday 5th February 2017

Just a normal sort of day really - Walking the dogs - Doing a few jobs around the house - Lunch.  No eating 2 hours before the appointment which is at 3:15pm.  We didn't want to be late so we set out too early and the roads were pretty clear. On arrival we made our way to the X-Ray Department and booked in. We were directed to a wonderfully named room - Sub Wait 4! Just a few people in there and eventually a nurse calls my name out and gives me two plastic cups of water to drink and then takes me into the CT Scanner room.  Name? DoB? First Line of Address? Am I allergic to anything? Would I be ok if I had to have an injection? Any metal in your trousers? (I was wearing a pair of jogging bottoms).  I must have got all the questions right because they asked me to lie down on the platform that moves through the 'doughnut' of the scanner. Holding my arms above and behind my head I was shunted in and out of the scanner a few times before they put a cannula in my arm and then pumped some fluid through me. The suddenly it's all over - cannula out and a plaster on my arm - Thanks very much - Off you go.

Now we just have to wait for the results and see what we are dealing with.

CT Scan Tomorrow

Saturday 4th February 2017

The last few days have been a bit of a blur. I played Bowls again on Tuesday morning and we tied. We've been to garden centres - been shopping - had lunches out - bought a tree - just keeping occupied. On Thursday I received an appointment for my CT scan - Sunday at 3:15pm at Lincoln County Hospital. Once that has been completed I will still have to wait about a week to find out the results.  All this waiting and not knowing is probably the worst bit so far.

We have dismantled our holiday to Australia and cancelled things that we had booked. The insurance claim is all finished except for the section that my GP has to complete. When I took it in yesterday there was a different receptionist and everything was fine.

Our eldest daughter Petra is coming to have dinner with us today.  The rest of her family are either away or doing their own thing so it will be good to see her.

Consultant's Day

Monday 30th January 2017

I've been looking forward to today so that I can discover one way or the other what is going on.  Things didn't get off to a very good start because I was almost an hour late going in for my consultation.  I didn't see the consultant but his registrar.  Sandra came in with me just in case I forgot any of the conversation later.  I was questioned, examined, prodded and poked and lots of notes were taken. To be honest I thought I might have a scan today but that isn't going to happen. The only thing that I dis discover is that the mass on my kidney is 4cm. I was informed that I would get a CT scan appointment within 7 days.

I still don't feel any different than what I did last week but I now know for certain that we won't be going to Australia any time in the near future. I contacted our travel insurance company and they emailed the claims form to me while I was still talking to him on the phone. One section is for the my GP to complete so I thought I would get down to the medical centre and leave that section so she could complete it when she had time.  I met the receptionist from Hell!  Unhelpful - Dismissive -Condescending - Just what you need at this stage. I the end I just took the form and left.

I had a bowls match arranged for 6:30 so I went there and we lost 12 - 6.  None of us really got started, it was just one of those games.

Sunday Lunch

Sunday 29th January 2017

We were going to have Sunday Lunch with our friends Ann & Dave but before that we had arranged a Facetime chat with Emma - our youngest daughter.  This is a regular thing every Sunday - usually it's just Sandra and Emma chatting but Nick and I put in our two pennyworth from time to time.

We are going to try the Musicians Arms at Dorrington for the first time because it has been recommended by friends. We weren't disappointed - the meal was first class - 3 had beef and 1 had turkey, all followed by pudding and coffee.

Back to Ann & Dave's house and another tea/coffee before going home and walking and feeding Zac and Jess.

Petra and Mac had invited us for a meal - originally a Bon Voyage meal - so we had a lovely meal with them and our grandchildren.

Let's go to the Beach

Saturday 28th January 2017

Sandra went to a coffee morning in the village and I was phoning people to let them know the situation. Of course lots of people at the coffee morning were asking Sandra about the planned trip to Australia and so she had to spend a lot of the time explaining why we weren't going.

I actually feel alright and am quite confident that everything will be ok.  The only difference is that last week I had an unknown mass on my kidney and didn't know about it and now I do know.

Before Sandra went out this morning we had decided to drive to Anderby Creek, near Mablethorpe, to take the dogs to the beach.  When she arrived home she said that our friends, Dave and Ann, were coming to the beach with us together with their dog Bella.

It took about an hour to reach the beach and we had all dressed warmly but it was quite pleasant walking along the beach.  Our dogs, Zac and Jess, along with Bella had a high old time and they all managed to get soaking wet.  A quick towel down for the dogs and a hot drink for us all and we were on our way back home.

To tell or not to tell

Friday 27th January 2017

I had arranged a meeting this morning for a small sub committee from the bowls club to meet at our house to discuss progress on a current project we are working on. One of them knew the situation but the others didn't but they all knew I was planning to go to Australia within a week so I had no option but to explain the situation to them. They were all very supportive and we completed our meeting just before Sandra arrived home from visiting her good friend in Lincoln.

What a week this has been!

Thursday 26 January 2017

8 more sleeps and we will be on our way to Australia. We have booked our Campervan - Booked a powered site at a campsite for our first two nights - Bridge climb booked and paid - Lounge at Heathrow booked and paid - A$2,000 in cash ready for the trip. We are just about ready to go and our families in Australia have arranged time off work and also made plans to make our trip unforgettable. Clothes are out on the spare bed ready for packing at the weekend. All in all, we are pleased with our preparation and think we've got everything covered. Australia Here We Come!

Sandra is going to Potters today with a group of friend from our Bowls Club to see the Ladies Singles World Bowls Championship.

I'm planning a lazy day pottering about after I have been to North Hykeham for a routine ultrasound scan of my bladder - no big deal.

Scan completed and the lady operating the scanner informs me that she has discovered an 'unknown mass' around my right kidney! She suggests that I make an immediate appointment with my GP and she will send her the results of the scan. Within an hour I have had a phone conversation with my GP and 30 minutes later I have an appointment to see a consultant at the renal/urology clinic at Lincoln General Hospital. Things have moved pretty quickly and I'm trying to make sense of it all but all the time knowing that we are looking at a possible cancer on my kidney. I'm wondering how I'm going to tell Sandra when she rings me and says, "How did the scan go?"  What do I say?  I couldn't lie so I told her what had been happening all morning and that our trip to Australia was looking doubtful.  Fortunately she was with some very good friends who were very supportive and looked after her.

After Sandra arrived home we decided not to cancel our trip until we were more certain and decided to wait until after the consultation on Monday when we would know more.

We phoned our youngest daughter & husband, who live in Sussex, to let them know the situation and visited our eldest daughter, husband and grandchildren to explain to them too.  Messages via Facebook Messenger were also sent to Australia to let Sandra's sister & cousin and their families what was happening at this late stage.