When you thought it couldn't get worse ......

The last two mornings have been difficult, and I have not improved much as the day's progressed! The tests yesterday now show that I have pneumonia too!

So if a bed is available, I'm back in again (Wed) - the 5th time I think!! - watch this space - Roger

Roger was not progressing and this was due to a fistula (a what?), which had formed in his body, just in front of the bowel, as far as we can make out.

Anyway! it had a pool of fluid in this area, which was poisoning Roger and thwarting all our efforts to make him healthy again. Roger and I have always known this, but the hospital doctors didn't seem to get excited about it. They kept saying that it will drain in it's own time. Only last Wednesday when we went to see the consultant in out patient follow up clinic,did they suddenly seem to cotton on to the severity of the problem.

The next day, being Christmas eve, our GP diagnosed that Roger had Pneumonia as well. She has been pushing for something to be done about the fluids/fistula situation, and suddenly we got a call from the consultant's secretary saying he wants Roger in the following day for surgery if he's well enough.

Well! we got him in (all weak and wobbly!) and he went straight to theatre. He was back a little over an hour later, looking so much better. He immediately requested a three course lunch and proceeded to devour it. Now! I have been for weeks and weeks trying to get as little as 1 ounce of protein a day down his throat, and failing miserably, (just wouldn't touch it) so to hear him requesting food was music to my ears!

Now I hope he stays in until the new year as there was talk of a blood transfusion to really get his "starter for ten" going. Maybe we can have a re-run of Christmas?

Suzanne

Christmas 2009

Well I didn't think I would be writing this on Christmas Day!!!

I expected to be well on the way to recovery by now, to have met up with most of you and to be able to see the wood for the trees - none are true!

I think we are still in 'round one'! trying to control the pain, getting the pharmaceuticals right so that the other bits begin to fall into place but - no! - not yet - but we are still optimistic and hope we will get there soon.

Anyway!! HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a PEACEFUL NEW YEAR! to all of you.

Your support has [does] made an enormous difference, I know it's sometimes difficult to know what to say but you always hit the nail on the head. I find irreverent comments on the Blog 'Comments' are the best!

Ben, Rob and Suze came round this morning (25th) Suze went on to her's for lunch.

Rob has taken over the kitchen so Suzanne can relax.

Saw the Consultant on Wed (23rd) still all up and down. Seeing him again on 6th January so unlikely to be any news till them.

Love to you all


Roger & Suzanne

Home again - again - again!

Home Again - again - again - can you see a pattern here?

The swab was clear so maybe it was a false alarm, but it got the pain specialist nurse involved and she came up with a new regime of about 5 things which give all day cover without any holes! so with little or no pain I can get on with getting better. Now where's that lawnmower......

Back on the ward.............again!

Sadly, I have to report that Roger is once more in hospital. Whether it is another infection or, as I suspect, the same infection that they haven't quite managed to kill off, and it's put in an appearance in a slightly different area. Anyway! our GP was concerned enough to have him readmitted.

He has a nice little side room all to himself (they told him he'd been upgraded for being a regular customer) his own wash hand basin, so he doesn't have to jostle for a shave in the mornings and he can shut the door and get a decent night's sleep.

He was, as you can immagine, pretty fed up at having to be readmitted, but the pain is such that he is not making much progress at home, though he has gained 6lbs in the eight days he was at home. I like to think that was down to my home cooking.

Visited today and found him looking more relaxed. They have changed to some new pain killers, which are anti inflammatories, also whilst I was there the pain control specialist nurse came and worked out a programme of new medication to help him. She was very "on the ball" so I hope to see a big improvement very soon.

At the moment they are waiting for the results of a swab to come back from microbiology, before they can properly treat the infection.

Needless to say preparations for Christmas aren't happening in our house at the moment. I have a feeling it will be a last minute affair, although Rob managed to get the tree down from the loft this w/e and decorate with lights & baubles, whilst I cooked roast pork followed by apple crumble. Exchange is no robbery!

I will visit Roger daily, of course, and update you with any new developments as and when.

Suzanne