Well That's It

She's gone. Mrs T has jumped ship and left us all floundering in her wake. How will HMRC cope now that its most famous daughter has retired? No-one knows but what we do know is that it was a fab leaving party. Loads of people there, good speeches, a buffet (of which I did not partake obviously), more presents than you could shake a stick at (had you been so inclined) and free red wine! In fact, all the ingredients for a perfect HMRC do. Had to leave early due to back pain but stayed long enough to enjoy myself. Had text from Mrs T after she had been poured into a taxi and it sounds as though she had a good time too.

Off to see Me & My Girl tomoroow at the Opera House. I'll let you know what it was like at a later date. night everyone. J x

P.S. Whatever happened to Little Babes?

Medical Schedical

Well, I seem to have had contact with many many branches of the NHS today...

This morning I phoned the GP to get the results of my blood tests. Spoke to the nurse who confirmed that my blood salts were normal but that I was slightly anaemic. She thought this might be caused by my low blood pressure. What? I thought it was the other way round. I challenged her and she fudged the issue and said that if things didn't get worse and I didn't fall over any more then I shouldn't worry. If I was worried I needed to see the GP. She also recommended that I up my fluid intake to about 3 litres per day (I'm currently on 2 litres). We'll see how things go.

Then went to see Caroline (bless, her last day on Friday). She's done a referral to the physios for my back and given it to me to hand to them. What's the betting they won't accept it unless its come through the internal post? Anyway, Caroline promised to keep reading the blog when she's in Australia and also promised to contribute. So that's 50p to the first person who spots a posting from her...

The went to see Frances who described my swallow as greatly improved. I'll still have to do a barium swallow but I won't need to starve myself beforehand. I'll get a letter in the post telling me when that will be. She also gave me some new tongue exercises to do using an implement. By the end of this I'll have the most skilled tongue in Christendom and won't I be the popular one...

Also called in at HNSU (anyone remember what that stands for?) and saw Christie (the nurse who looked after me the best) which was nice. She asked after the Aged Ps (I think she was taken with my father God bless her).

Anyway, everyone said I was looking really well which was gratifying. I also walked all the way to the MRI and then back again.

Cath called round tonight and it was really great to see her because I haven't seen her for a while. Am now looking forward to Friday when I will see a lot of you who read this blog. And on that note I'll say goodnight. J x

They Never Get It All Right

Went to the physio this afternoon. She was happy to see me regarding my shoulder but wouldn't discuss my back because it wasn't included on the original referral. It seems a bit "jobsworth" to me. I can't see that they could do any damage by giving me advice on my back. Anyway, I now need to get Caroline or Sean to do another referral. Its Caroline's last day on Friday (before she moves to Australia) so unless I see her tomorrow afternoon (when I'm seeing Frances) it'll have to be Sean on the 06/10. Anyway, got some shoulder exercises to be doing in the meantime.

Phoned for my blood test results yesterday and was told somebody would get back to me but of course they didn't. Phoned again today and the person I needed to speak to wasn't in. So will need to phone again tomorrow...

Went to town this morning to buy some new jeans for Mrs T's "do" on Friday (all my others now hang off me - I've officially lost 6 and a half stone now) and had to buy a pair with a 34" waist. I can't remember the last time I had a 34" waist.

Half pay officially started on 21/09 apparently. Worrthing Pay Section wrote to me today to tell me! J x

Oh What a Circus, Oh What a Show

Manchester Airport: nightmare. An hour just to get through security. And you had to take your shoes off. Why?

Arrive in London (plane delayed 20 minutes or so taking off), get to hotel only to discover, when attempting to take painkillers, that the syringe I've brought with me is the wrong type. Go to Boots over the road who say that they don't stock them. I should try the pharmacy at the local hospital. Get a taxi to Guys & St Thomas' (second oldest hospital in London), go to the pharmacy and turns out they don't stock them either. They suggest contacting the nutrition and dietetics department on the 1st floor. Trek to said department only to find everything locked up and closed. On the off-chance knock on the door which is answered by the sweetest dietician one could ever hope to meet. She explains that she doesn't have the exact same syringes as I use but she does have an alternative which works just as well. She then up and gives me three syringes free and gratis without me having a prescription or anything. We like her. The weekend gets better from now on.

Don't do anything Thursday night (the search for the syringes was enough). Friday morning meet up with my aunt and uncle and go to the Tiffany jewellery exhibition at Somerset House which is fantastic. Once the Aged Ps and aunt and uncle have lunch we then go to the Jameel Room at the V & A which is also fantastic. Friday night went to Evita. Much better staging than previously and the woman playing Eva Peron is superb.

Saturday morning is spent on an open top bus tour of London which was half good. Because the guide we had for the first half was excellent but the guide for the second half was rubbish. Aged Ps went off for lunch at Livebait and thence home to Swansea (they arrived safe and sound) whilst I went to meet Sarah. Having dumped my case at Sarah's we went to the Hockney (excellent) and Kadinsky at the Tate Modern (not a fan) where we met with Donna and had drinks (me, fizzy water) and a good gossip. In the evening Sarah and I went to The Ritzy (Brixton's local independent cinema) to see the new Almodovar film which is also superb. This morning Sarah took me to see the Brixton windmill (closed) and then drove me to the station to get to Gatwick extra early because of the security queues. There weren't any! And the plane was delayed by half an hour.

Anyway, I'm home now and absolutely knackered. So I'll sign off here and post again soon. J x

Not Fallen Over Again...

... yet!

Off to London tomorrow morning until Sunday so you'll have to wait until then for all the news. Hoping to do the V & A, the new Hockneys and Evita as a minimum. See you all soon. J x P.S. Good luck for the darts...

Still Dizzy

Saw the nurse and had my blood pressure measured. It does drop when I stand up so she took some blood samples which will be tested for salts and anaemia. I get the results on Friday (when I will be in London) so I'll update you all when I get back. In the meantime I just have to be careful about standing up too quickly. J x

Dizzy Queen

Have been having dizzy spells and, in fact, completely blacked out twice yesterday. The first time was when I got out of bed in the morning. I just suddenly found myself on the floor. However, I had no idea what had happened. Presumably this was because firstly I was half asleep and secondly because I'd fainted. The second time was when Denise was visiting. I don't think it was her fault (although that hasn't been completely ruled out yet!). This time I was in the hall and cracked my head on the bathroom door on the way down. Again, I didn't know what had happened but Denise was able to tell me that I'd said "ow" as I hit the bathroom door and that I'd ended up on the floor. Its all a bit scary. Anyway, have been very careful today about standing up suddenly and nothing has happened. Will phone Caroline tomorrow to ask who I should see about this.

Spent a very pleasant afternoon at a new garden centre with Gill on Sunday. You can never have too many garden centres.

Off to London on Thursday so I need to get the falling down thing sorted by then. Apparently if you fall down when in London people just rob you. Especially if you have aNorthern accent like what I do. Or a whippet. Am taking my parents to see Evita for their birthdays and then staying with Sarah H on the Saturday night. Sarah W is coming to see me on Wednesday evening after some SCI conference or other in Manchester.

That's all for now folks. J x

One Swallow...

Walked all the way to MRI today (and back) and luckily it was the right hospital! Spent about an hour with Frances and had the old tube up the nose and down the back of the throat procedure whilst I sipped ribena and attempted to eat yoghurt. Was also able to watch the video of it afterwards. Have you ever seen your epiglottis? God, its disgusting to look at. Especially when its coated in cherry flavoured yoghurt. On the plus side the ribena and the yoghurt didn't taste too bad.

Frances was happy enough with the progress I've made so far. She's given me some tongue exercises to do which should help my swallow. She's unable to say at this stage though how much of my swallow I'll be able to recover. She has a chart showing the different percentages of recovery and what it means you can or can't eat at each percentage recovered. For instance, if you recover 90% of the swallow then you can't eat peanuts and other similar food. At 80% you cant't eat meat etc. Looks like she's going to schedule a barium meal for me (swallowing whilst being X-rayed) which, by all accounts, is unpleasant. She should be able to tell me more after that. I'm seeing her again in a fortnight.

Not much else to report except to say that I've already finished watching Season 7 of the West Wing which, although not the best series ever, was certainly a fitting way to end. J x

Phew

Today's blessing - Young Sean says that the lump is nothing to worry about. At least he said that once I'd turned up at the correct hospital...! J x

Blessings

Let me count today's for you -

1. Nice day so was able to put the terrace "to bed" for the winter. Just need to buy a couple of waterproof covers for the furniture now.

2. Saw my GP so now have enough painkillers to last a month or two (this is my favourite blessing).

3. Also have a sick note for another 2 months.

4. Although have been thinking seriously today about returning to work. Even if I'm not eating and drinking I'm sure there must be some sort of system we can put in place that means I can get some privacy when I need to shoot up and also that I'm not risking any infections. Will discuss with DR or Business Support when I drop off the sick note.

5. Season 7 of the West Wing arrived today.

6. I've managed to set up my DVD properly (after reading the instruction book rather than just guessing how it was supposed to be set up).

7. I'm on Level 6 of Baldur's Gate (a play station game I've owned for ages but never got round to playing before now).

8. I think my swallowing is a little better today (although the words eggs and hatched are strangely in my head). However I did try some milk yesterday and it didn't work at all.

9. I walked all the way to the doctor's and back and then up 5 flights of stairs.

Bugger still not done my paperwork or hoovered. they'll have to be tomorrow's blessings as I'm all blessed out now. J x

P.S. Does television get any better than Lost?

A Reply To Kathryn

I'm not that worried (seriously). I think its just a part of my chest which now happens to be in my neck. It doesn't itch or hurt and I came across it completely by accident so I can't even say that it hasn't always been there. When I saw Sean last time I asked him what I should be looking out for and he just said "pain" rather than any lumps or bumps. I mentioned then that my back was worse than it had been but he said that my type of cancer doesn't spread to the bones. Of course what I didn't ask him was where it did spread. I shall correct that on Thursday (provided I remember to take my list of questions with me this time!). J x

P.S. Thank you for the belated birthday card and thank you to Donna too for the same. And no Donna, I don't mind you muscling in on my visit to Sarah. Oh dear. I suppose this should have been titled "A Reply To Kathryn & Donna". Hey ho, too late now.

Don't Worry

Have discovered what may or may not be a lump on my neck. Its about the size of a pea and because of its location it may just be something to do with the operations I had. Anyway, I thought it best to get it checked out so I'm seeing young Sean on Thursday morning. I'll let you all know the outcome just as soon as I get back from seeing him. J x

Shame On Me

Beautiful, gorgeous day and I haven't been outside the front door. This has a lot to do with the fact that I have a new playstation game that I'm enjoying immensely at the moment (lots of fighting zombies in a scary old haunted house). Expect to finish it this evening so if the weather is good tomorrow then I may venture forth.

And thank you for all your alcohol related hints and tips. It would seem that alcohol is almost as popular as religion out there is blog land! What does this tell us about the state of the nation? Discuss. J x

Oh Dear

Tried a gin and tonic yesterday. Couldn't drink it. When will this madness end? J x

Birthday Cards

Birthday Flowers from Fig & Mark

What a Lovely Day

As anyone who knows me will tell you - I hate surprises. However, Denise gave me a nice surprise yesterday when I turned up at her flat expecting it to be just me and her off to the theatre. When I turned up there were Jane, Sue, Cath & Gill with cards and presents and champagne (although I only had fizzy water). And the above (minus Cath but plus Bill) came to the theatre with us. The play was called Private Fears in Public Places and was by Alan Ayckbourn. It was good and quite funny. Unusually it was an hour and threee quarters long with no interval. I think this was a mistake since that's quite a long time to sit still and it was very hot in the theatre. Anyway, I enjoyed myself immensely. Thank you Denise.

Got home just in time for Lost. Oh my God, that programme never ceases to surprise me. I did not see last night's events coming. Can't wait for next week to see how it all turns out. Pre-ordered West Wing season 7 from Amazon yesterday too. Dead excited to see that too. Not out until September 11th though.

No plans for today. Will take my constitutional up to the newsagents at some point and that's about it. Also got some washing to do. I miss work... J x

Happy Birthday To Me

Thank you all for the cards, flowers and presents. As ever I'm overwhelmed by just how popular I am. And for those of you who have yet to send a card its not too late to rush out and buy one now!

Denise is taking me to the theatre tonight to see something (I forget what) by what's-his-name (I forget who) and its going to be fab. I'll let you have my review later tonight or tomorrow.

Incidentally, I discovered from the cancer research UK website that mouth cancer is more common than either cervical or testicular cancer (about 4400 new cases every year). If you detect it early, survival rates are over 90% with little effect on appearance, eating or speech. The warning signs are -

* an ulcer or sore in your mouth
* a red or white patch in your mouth
* an unexplained pain in your mouth or ear
* an unexplained lump in your neck
* a sore or painful throat
* a croaky voice or difficulty swallowing

I had some of these symptoms for a long time before I contacted my doctor so don't make my mistake. If you have any of the above contact your doctor straight away. J x

Another You Tube Funny

Try watching the video entitled "completely uncalled for". Its very funny but don't try it at home as you may get into trouble!

Not much news. Still sipping but progress isn't as rapid as I'd like. Need to see Frances to discuss which means trying to get hold of Caroline who, I think, is back from another holiday today. Birthday tomorrow. 45. Should be depressed at this prospect but instead feel lucky to have reached it. J x