A week and a bit on.

One week on we're progressing. After the RBH fiasco we decided to contact my Surgeon at St Marks, I called her Secretary and suggested that if we sent some pictures of the stoma (yes I'll spare you those!) could they diagnose over the Internet? - she agreed and later we got a call from the Stoma Nurse who took the view to watch and wait. So far the swelling is about the same but the bleeding and more important, the black area, is receding. So we live to fight another day - I wonder what the next challenge will be?

Where did that day go?

First day that the Sun comes out and where are we? RBH!

It started with the stoma doubling in size over the last few days, on Friday night, about 10:30 we noticed the bag was a quarter full of blood! - you sure you want to read on? - and an area of it had gone dark grey towards black. There was no pain or discomfort and it was working as it should, but could it be left till Monday for the GP or Stoma Nurses to check, or was it urgent? We elected to see how it was in the morning (I still, with all the ambulances we've had, have never had 'blues and twos' - could this be the one!)

It was much the same in the morning but it still left the dilemma - wait or go? Being Saturday the surgery was closed so we had the brainwave to try the NHS 'Walk in' place in St Mary's Butts - just looking for simple advice. we left about 10:30. It's a nice place, well set up, light, clean, and comfortable with attentive staff. We were told from the outset it would be a 2 hour wait - probably better then A+E and a lot nicer. I filled in the obligatory questionnaire and was given a number, a lucky draw ticket! On the hour we were called into 'Triage' and a nurse quickly established he knew nothing about our dilemma and passed us on to the a GP, who was a little wiser but not much, still she did ring the RBH, and spoke to the on-call surgeon - which we could never have done - he said 'send him in' - that's all I needed! - I'm going to get a flat in the 'Berks' it will be nearer and easier! She had to check my blood pressure to see if I was able to travel to the Berks unaided - I passed the test.

We got to CDU (Clinical Decisions Unit) and I was admitted, yet another wrist band - I should have collected them from the start, I could get in the Guinness Book of Records - the most admissions in 3 years! They tried to get blood, but gave up, no change there! I was seen by a Dr who gave me the once over and said he'd talk to a colleague who turned out to be one of the team who tried to do the reversal. He was in two minds, operate to trim the 'gangrenous' bits or push it back in and hope it sorts itself out in a day or two, 'the dark bits will probably slough off'. We went for the latter, I've had enough operations and he answered my main query - urgent or not - it seems not.

We were out of there in 5 minutes - the shortest admission in history. We got home about 5pm. We hope it will settle down in the next week or so, if not I'm inclined to try and bring my October out-patient appointment at St Marks forward.

What a Difference 3 Weeks Make!

We saw the "shoulder man" on Tuesday and he said I can leave the shoulder holsters off - Hurrah! they were a pain, I couldn't scratch my ****, I had to sleep sitting up - not good.

Interestingly he didn't recommend physio' at the moment, due to the type of dislocation. He's anxious that they could go in 'all guns blazing' and that's not good for posterial bilateral dislocation (that's both, out the back), he said just do what's comfortable and they will strengthen in time with normal use. Physio later maybe!

I am getting used to not driving, can bus to the office - free to wrinklies after 9:30. We went to Henley on Monday - 'Marigold Hotel' (if you've not seen it, do - it's great!) and got the train back, no probs!

Looking forward to Wednesday (11th) the Olympic Torch goes past our door! good way to start the day!