ensuitepilgrim's Blog

19/06/2014

8 am arrival at main x-Ray , Good Hope Hospital.

Procedure:- Insertion of a Vena Cava Filter, via the neck, main vein.

Local anaesthetic. Painless procedure undertaken by Dr Jaffe, who was informative and reassuring throughout the entire process.

I lay on the bed, in theatre, with my head to the side,swathed in disposable tissue; the dr was assisted by three other staff.
I was shown the position of the filter on the x-Ray screen; looked like a little parachute.
It’s purpose is to prevent any clots reaching the brain, during surgery.
This is a consequence of the Embolism discovered after the last CTC Scan.
It will be removed at some point after surgery.

Back in recovery room, by 10am , where I was offered tea and sandwiches which were very welcome after the Fast!

As ever, the care and consideration of all staff was brilliant.

And next in this sometimes unpredictable journey?

Monday,23 rd June, a Fitness Test at Heartlands Hospital, to see if I can cope with amount of anaesthetic needed to keep me senseless for a seven hour operation.
Then on Friday 27 th, a meeting with the Urologist at Heartlands, where I shall be expected to sign my life away on a Consent Form.

Well, that’s what we know about….

‘Doctor, doctor, you’ve taken out my tonsils, my adenoids, my gall bladder, my varicose veins and my appendix, but I still don’t feel well.’ ‘That’s quite enough out of you!’

11 th June, penultimate day of excellent holiday in Sabinillas; tomorrow a flight from Gibraltar back home.
Usually, I would be consoled by the prospect of both the World Cup and First Test Match to look forward to but there are other more serious distractions in the next fortnight.
Three hospital appointments – that I know of, leading to major surgery in early July.

Before this holiday, I had greatly recovered from the side effects of Chemotherapy, but only to be told, after a CTC Scan, that I had a Pulmonary Embolism, edge of right lung.
That resulted in my having to inject myself, in the abdomen, with Enoxaparin Sodium every day.The PE probably resulted from the Chemotherapy, making me anaemic.
It is a relatively painless procedure.
After a long session with the Urologist at Good Hope during which he informed me that the above scan showed no other traces of Cancer and at the end of which I made him aware of the surgical route I had decided to take – removal of the bladder.
He was disconcerted when I told him I was flying to Spain the next day, because of the clot.
However, the decision to continue with the holiday has turned out to be a good one, staying in the apartment of our good friends, Anne & Dave Ayling.

So , here are some photos of the holiday:-

The old part of Estepona.

A procession in Marbella.

We are hopeful of a trip in the Campervan before the operation, appointments permitting.
Meanwhile, the logistics of tending the garden, the allotment, between Test Cricket & The World Cup.