What's wrong with me?!
Discussion
I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing one of my neurosurgeons, Vas Apostolopoulos, on March 18th.
The other surgeon Mr Paul Grundy, was the head honcho but wasn't very.... How to word it, personal. Grundy was fantastic but very matter-of-fact so it was hard to form any "bond" with him. Vas, on the other hand, was absolutely lovely. One day when I was feeling particularly worse for wear in intensive care (physically and mentally) he came round with Mr Grundy to see me as part of ward rounds (those 2 only saw patients they'd operated on, so we're not part of the "normal" ward rounds) and Vas said to me that I shouldn't worry and he'd come visit me later in the day.
Come lunch time he came back, spent about half an hour with me, telling me the operation was a success, the CT scan showed no evidence of permanent brain damage, that the tumour HAD to come out /and explained what would have happened if it was left alone) as well as various other things. It's hard to describe but I'm sure you all know what I mean if I say that when Mr Grundy said I'd get better in time, and when Vas said it, there was just more "heart" in it with Vas. That's not to take ANYTHING away from Mr Grundy, the man is an absolute legend and saves my life, and it's totally understandable why you would be so matter-of-fact (not getting emotionally attached to someone in their worst hours for one...) but I just bonded more with Vas....
For the reason I wanted to get him a gift of some sort. Wine is very..... Cliché so I bought him one of these
http://www.thepenzone.co.uk/acatalog/WATERMAN_FOUN...
Along with a converter and some ink. Not cheap for a gift but.... He did save me and spent a lot of time with me.
I feel my eyes are getting better by the day now. Who knows, by the time my eye appointment comes through March 23rd I might not need it
The other surgeon Mr Paul Grundy, was the head honcho but wasn't very.... How to word it, personal. Grundy was fantastic but very matter-of-fact so it was hard to form any "bond" with him. Vas, on the other hand, was absolutely lovely. One day when I was feeling particularly worse for wear in intensive care (physically and mentally) he came round with Mr Grundy to see me as part of ward rounds (those 2 only saw patients they'd operated on, so we're not part of the "normal" ward rounds) and Vas said to me that I shouldn't worry and he'd come visit me later in the day.
Come lunch time he came back, spent about half an hour with me, telling me the operation was a success, the CT scan showed no evidence of permanent brain damage, that the tumour HAD to come out /and explained what would have happened if it was left alone) as well as various other things. It's hard to describe but I'm sure you all know what I mean if I say that when Mr Grundy said I'd get better in time, and when Vas said it, there was just more "heart" in it with Vas. That's not to take ANYTHING away from Mr Grundy, the man is an absolute legend and saves my life, and it's totally understandable why you would be so matter-of-fact (not getting emotionally attached to someone in their worst hours for one...) but I just bonded more with Vas....
For the reason I wanted to get him a gift of some sort. Wine is very..... Cliché so I bought him one of these
http://www.thepenzone.co.uk/acatalog/WATERMAN_FOUN...
Along with a converter and some ink. Not cheap for a gift but.... He did save me and spent a lot of time with me.
I feel my eyes are getting better by the day now. Who knows, by the time my eye appointment comes through March 23rd I might not need it
Something quite amazing, I feel, has happened.
I "liked" Mr Grundy's Facebook page and congratulated him (for he's recently won yet another award!) ans aid that I was a patient of his and said I was generally doing really well and was thankful to him for saving my life etc...... And he only bloody replied!
" Hi Ross, hope to see you soon, glad things are improving, I know you've had a tough time. We think and talk about you a lot. See you soon, best wishes"
I then replied to that going through my symptoms and saying how each one is improving and he replied again! This one definitely tells me he remembers me..
That's really great, you've made my day (week and year actually)! It will keep improving. Vas will be just as happy! No more writing on boards thank goodness!
I can't recall whether I said on here or not that whilst I couldn't speak for some time I used to communicate by writing on a whiteboard.... He remembered that.
That made my day, that did.
I "liked" Mr Grundy's Facebook page and congratulated him (for he's recently won yet another award!) ans aid that I was a patient of his and said I was generally doing really well and was thankful to him for saving my life etc...... And he only bloody replied!
" Hi Ross, hope to see you soon, glad things are improving, I know you've had a tough time. We think and talk about you a lot. See you soon, best wishes"
I then replied to that going through my symptoms and saying how each one is improving and he replied again! This one definitely tells me he remembers me..
That's really great, you've made my day (week and year actually)! It will keep improving. Vas will be just as happy! No more writing on boards thank goodness!
I can't recall whether I said on here or not that whilst I couldn't speak for some time I used to communicate by writing on a whiteboard.... He remembered that.
That made my day, that did.
I'm just reading a book called Do no harm by Henry Marsh. He's a neurosurgeon from St Georges, quote interesting to see how he remembers so many of his patients and how they can affect him. Not the best written book in the world but quite interesting, met him at a conference and could listen to him talk all day.
K77 CTR said:
I'm just reading a book called Do no harm by Henry Marsh. He's a neurosurgeon from St Georges, quote interesting to see how he remembers so many of his patients and how they can affect him. Not the best written book in the world but quite interesting, met him at a conference and could listen to him talk all day.
Interesting to hear that. I'm quite looking forward to seeing them next month. I didn't say but on Saturday I met with a running mate at a local parkrun and afterwards I helped with cleaning the course etc then I ran about 1/2 mile after..... Felt a bit alien at first but was soon ok but obviously a lot harder than I remember. This morning I ran some more, nothing too strenuous, ran some, walked some.... Total was 2.3 miles and I ran approx 1.25-1.5 miles of those. Didn't push too hard but the running was under 8min/mile and didn't feel TOOOO hard which is promising. To think I've run a half marathon at 6:00/mile is a bit depressing though 😢
I didn't want to push hard in case anything were to happen but I feel absolutely fine and, mentally, feel so much better. Another step forward. Just need to be careful to not do too much!
I didn't want to push hard in case anything were to happen but I feel absolutely fine and, mentally, feel so much better. Another step forward. Just need to be careful to not do too much!
E65Ross said:
I didn't say but on Saturday I met with a running mate at a local parkrun and afterwards I helped with cleaning the course etc then I ran about 1/2 mile after..... Felt a bit alien at first but was soon ok but obviously a lot harder than I remember. This morning I ran some more, nothing too strenuous, ran some, walked some.... Total was 2.3 miles and I ran approx 1.25-1.5 miles of those. Didn't push too hard but the running was under 8min/mile and didn't feel TOOOO hard which is promising. To think I've run a half marathon at 6:00/mile is a bit depressing though ??
I didn't want to push hard in case anything were to happen but I feel absolutely fine and, mentally, feel so much better. Another step forward. Just need to be careful to not do too much!
Nevermind all that nonesense, have you scored a date with the nurse yet?I didn't want to push hard in case anything were to happen but I feel absolutely fine and, mentally, feel so much better. Another step forward. Just need to be careful to not do too much!
E65Ross said:
I've been told by friends that my eyes are appearing more normal (my right eye wasn't in the centre when the left was, but now it's looking much more normal apparently).
I've never had any trouble moving the eyes, and the muscles to move them are all fine.... It was that one of the nerves supplying one of the muscles was constantly telling it to contract a little, meaning my right eye was always at a slight angle. This is why when I purposefully moved my eyes to the extreme left or right, my peripheral vision is fine.
It doesn't matter which eye I cover, of I cover 1 eye my vision is fine (but limited peripherally, of course).
I also suffered some occasional nystagmus (that's not very nice) bit I can't recall having that recently.
Getting there slowly but surely!
I've never had any trouble moving the eyes, and the muscles to move them are all fine.... It was that one of the nerves supplying one of the muscles was constantly telling it to contract a little, meaning my right eye was always at a slight angle. This is why when I purposefully moved my eyes to the extreme left or right, my peripheral vision is fine.
It doesn't matter which eye I cover, of I cover 1 eye my vision is fine (but limited peripherally, of course).
I also suffered some occasional nystagmus (that's not very nice) bit I can't recall having that recently.
Getting there slowly but surely!
thanks for the update. Reading the early pages of this thread, knowing what is to develop, is both dreadful and uplifting at the same time. The trials of life, eh? Huntsman said:
E65Ross said:
I didn't say but on Saturday I met with a running mate at a local parkrun and afterwards I helped with cleaning the course etc then I ran about 1/2 mile after..... Felt a bit alien at first but was soon ok but obviously a lot harder than I remember. This morning I ran some more, nothing too strenuous, ran some, walked some.... Total was 2.3 miles and I ran approx 1.25-1.5 miles of those. Didn't push too hard but the running was under 8min/mile and didn't feel TOOOO hard which is promising. To think I've run a half marathon at 6:00/mile is a bit depressing though ??
I didn't want to push hard in case anything were to happen but I feel absolutely fine and, mentally, feel so much better. Another step forward. Just need to be careful to not do too much!
Nevermind all that nonesense, have you scored a date with the nurse yet?I didn't want to push hard in case anything were to happen but I feel absolutely fine and, mentally, feel so much better. Another step forward. Just need to be careful to not do too much!
E65Ross said:
I didn't say but on Saturday I met with a running mate at a local parkrun and afterwards I helped with cleaning the course etc then I ran about 1/2 mile after..... Felt a bit alien at first but was soon ok but obviously a lot harder than I remember. This morning I ran some more, nothing too strenuous, ran some, walked some.... Total was 2.3 miles and I ran approx 1.25-1.5 miles of those. Didn't push too hard but the running was under 8min/mile and didn't feel TOOOO hard which is promising. To think I've run a half marathon at 6:00/mile is a bit depressing though ??
I didn't want to push hard in case anything were to happen but I feel absolutely fine and, mentally, feel so much better. Another step forward. Just need to be careful to not do too much!
This is incredible really. I can't imagine many other people going through what you have and being so quick to get out running. Keep it up but don't be tempted to go too hard, maybe just work towards a sub 20 ParkRun. I didn't want to push hard in case anything were to happen but I feel absolutely fine and, mentally, feel so much better. Another step forward. Just need to be careful to not do too much!
SHutchinson said:
This is incredible really. I can't imagine many other people going through what you have and being so quick to get out running. Keep it up but don't be tempted to go too hard, maybe just work towards a sub 20 ParkRun.
I love running. It'll take a lot more than this to stop me from running Sub 20....short term goals are good
As I may have said I'm not a proud person.... But if I can ever run under 17mins again for a parkrun then I will be proud, after what I've been through. Whether that's possible or not I'm not sure.
br d said:
I'm starting to think anything is possible with you Ross!
Brilliant updates, the good news just keeps on coming, wonderful stuff mate.
Heh, I'm pleased I'm getting better. Hopefully it won't be toooo much longer and I can get back to work, get back to normality and enjoy life again, without being sick every day and feeling bloated almost 24/7.Brilliant updates, the good news just keeps on coming, wonderful stuff mate.
Sure has been a bit of a ride since tumour diagnosis which was early November or end of October now.... Crazy what's happened!
Still not sleeping well though, better perhaps, but not well.
Today should hopefully be the final full day with this stomach peg.
My only concern at the moment is my tracheostomy stoma site. 2 weeks on and it's still weeping (when I change the dressings over there is mucous on it) and I was told that it should have sealed over by now. I phoned my ward and they said to pop in tomorrow and a nurse will look at it.
It's not itchy, irritated, no other signs of infection or anything and it's not getting worse which are all good signs but I just want to check really.
My only concern at the moment is my tracheostomy stoma site. 2 weeks on and it's still weeping (when I change the dressings over there is mucous on it) and I was told that it should have sealed over by now. I phoned my ward and they said to pop in tomorrow and a nurse will look at it.
It's not itchy, irritated, no other signs of infection or anything and it's not getting worse which are all good signs but I just want to check really.
Peg out!
Tracheostomy stoma site indeed not healing quite according to plan but they aren't concerned at the moment. Been given more dressings and have been told to monitor the discharge.... If it gets worse come back asap, of not.... Go in next Wednesday and get looked at just in case. They took a swab sample to check for any infection, which is a possibility.
Tracheostomy stoma site indeed not healing quite according to plan but they aren't concerned at the moment. Been given more dressings and have been told to monitor the discharge.... If it gets worse come back asap, of not.... Go in next Wednesday and get looked at just in case. They took a swab sample to check for any infection, which is a possibility.
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