So here I sit upon the loo,
Waiting for a very large p...........!
Countless visits in the last two days,
And still no relief for my malaise.
But wait - I feel one about to start,
A rumble below - but it's just another f..........!
A short little thing - not a puff - more a piff,
But boy oh boy what a noxious whiff!
Next time, perhaps, I'll wait a bit,
And in the meantime write a poem about my awaited.........
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Saturday, 30 May 2009
I'M HOME!!!!!
Well here I am at HOME!
When I came out of the hospital this morning and drove home in the bright sunshine from Cambridge the "cacophony of colours" hit my senses - quite a contrast from the interior walls of a hospital after 10 days.
Jane made me a nice lunch - oh to be able to feel the sensation and taste of real food in my mouth - a joy!
My tummy is rather distended - I haven't quite "performed" as much as I would have liked - if you know what I mean. My wound is holding up well - Nurse Jane has been shown how to change the dressing - scheduled for Monday with a visit to the nurse on Tuesday to check it out.
My dos and don'ts - I mustn't lift any heavy weights for several weeks (no touching my wallet then) so this afternoon Jane successfully mowed the front and back lawns under my guidance without cutting the cable. I must take exercise to build up stamina - walking as much as possible - but in stages.
But it's good to be home - glorious weather - sat in the garden. More tomorrow - when I hope to report more on my performances!!
When I came out of the hospital this morning and drove home in the bright sunshine from Cambridge the "cacophony of colours" hit my senses - quite a contrast from the interior walls of a hospital after 10 days.
Jane made me a nice lunch - oh to be able to feel the sensation and taste of real food in my mouth - a joy!
My tummy is rather distended - I haven't quite "performed" as much as I would have liked - if you know what I mean. My wound is holding up well - Nurse Jane has been shown how to change the dressing - scheduled for Monday with a visit to the nurse on Tuesday to check it out.
My dos and don'ts - I mustn't lift any heavy weights for several weeks (no touching my wallet then) so this afternoon Jane successfully mowed the front and back lawns under my guidance without cutting the cable. I must take exercise to build up stamina - walking as much as possible - but in stages.
But it's good to be home - glorious weather - sat in the garden. More tomorrow - when I hope to report more on my performances!!
Friday, 29 May 2009
Op Day + Eight
Hi
This is Lawrie writing - yes two problems have been solved - firstly my bowels have started working properly for the first time and the wireless network in the hospital is back on!
Health Warning - Do not read the following paragraph if you are eating!
Yesterday I had a CT scan that showed no blockage in my bowels - just a delayed restart. I also had a PIC inserted into my arm which is a small tube that follows a main artery up my arm and into my chest. So overnight they fed me liquid food through the tube - the most expensive meal I have had!! This may have kickstarted my bowel which performed regularly through the night at 11, 1, 3 and 6 am. I slept in between - which is good - I hadn't the previous night.
So today I am feeling much better - I had rice crispies and tea for breakfast and I have lunch and dinner ordered. So on the bowel front all is going well!
However, I have another complication - my incision has an infection and it has swollen up and is painful. This morning I had a puss bag fitted to it to drain it off (sometimes it goes miaow!). I am on antibiotics and the doctor is not at all worried about this. This makes it a bit painful to move about - but I much prefer this than all the bowel wind/cramps that I have had.
It is lunchtime now so I plan to post another blog later.
This is Lawrie writing - yes two problems have been solved - firstly my bowels have started working properly for the first time and the wireless network in the hospital is back on!
Health Warning - Do not read the following paragraph if you are eating!
Yesterday I had a CT scan that showed no blockage in my bowels - just a delayed restart. I also had a PIC inserted into my arm which is a small tube that follows a main artery up my arm and into my chest. So overnight they fed me liquid food through the tube - the most expensive meal I have had!! This may have kickstarted my bowel which performed regularly through the night at 11, 1, 3 and 6 am. I slept in between - which is good - I hadn't the previous night.
So today I am feeling much better - I had rice crispies and tea for breakfast and I have lunch and dinner ordered. So on the bowel front all is going well!
However, I have another complication - my incision has an infection and it has swollen up and is painful. This morning I had a puss bag fitted to it to drain it off (sometimes it goes miaow!). I am on antibiotics and the doctor is not at all worried about this. This makes it a bit painful to move about - but I much prefer this than all the bowel wind/cramps that I have had.
It is lunchtime now so I plan to post another blog later.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Op Day + Seven
Hi again, Anna here.
Apologies for the lack of any blog post yesterday.
Dad's news is that having had a really promising day yesterday, when he was walking around a bit, and he had the tube taken out as the doctors thought that his intestine might have finished going on strike and started up again, he had a bad night last night. Gripping stomach pains kept him awake, and when he reported this to the doctors this morning, they weren't sure why this was happening, and why he'd had another setback in his progress.
So today Dad is going to have another CT scan to try and find out what the problem is. It is disappointing as, once again, we were hopeful that yesterday's progress had been a sign that he was on the way to recovery again.
I'll keep you informed of any news as it happens.
Best
Anna
Apologies for the lack of any blog post yesterday.
Dad's news is that having had a really promising day yesterday, when he was walking around a bit, and he had the tube taken out as the doctors thought that his intestine might have finished going on strike and started up again, he had a bad night last night. Gripping stomach pains kept him awake, and when he reported this to the doctors this morning, they weren't sure why this was happening, and why he'd had another setback in his progress.
So today Dad is going to have another CT scan to try and find out what the problem is. It is disappointing as, once again, we were hopeful that yesterday's progress had been a sign that he was on the way to recovery again.
I'll keep you informed of any news as it happens.
Best
Anna
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Op day + Five
Anna and Jon here again
Although Lawrie's digestive tract still isn't fully operational, the tube up his nose meant he had a better nights sleep and is feeling better toaday. Hopefully everything will begin to sort itself out in the next day or so and the de-tubing process can commence!
Although Lawrie's digestive tract still isn't fully operational, the tube up his nose meant he had a better nights sleep and is feeling better toaday. Hopefully everything will begin to sort itself out in the next day or so and the de-tubing process can commence!
Monday, 25 May 2009
Op day + four
Hi this is Jon and Anna doing todays post.
After a rough night, Lawrie is taking it easy today, catching up on some sleep. His intestines are still in the process of re-booting themselves, so the nurses have put a tube up his nose into his stomach so they can remove any fluids that build up in the mean time. This should give him a better nights sleep tonight and let him concentrate on getting better tomorrow.
Today was a bit of a set-back in the way of progress, but nothing too unexpected apparently. We're hoping a good nights sleep will do him good.
After a rough night, Lawrie is taking it easy today, catching up on some sleep. His intestines are still in the process of re-booting themselves, so the nurses have put a tube up his nose into his stomach so they can remove any fluids that build up in the mean time. This should give him a better nights sleep tonight and let him concentrate on getting better tomorrow.
Today was a bit of a set-back in the way of progress, but nothing too unexpected apparently. We're hoping a good nights sleep will do him good.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Op Day + Three
Hi there
This is Anna, giving you the latest news about Dad.
Today he escaped from his room and explored the outside world for the first time since his operation! We wheeled him into the lovely gardens here at the hospital for a while, which was good. My aunt (Dad's sister) and family came to visit him today, along with myself and Jon (and Mum of course) so it was a busy day, visitor-wise.
Dad is making some, slow progress each day. Today he has managed to start eating a small amount of solid food and walk around a tiny bit, unaided, which is good.
As expected his feelings of comparative well being come and go. His consultant came in this morning and was pleased with his progress. It looks like he might be allowed home in a day or two if he continues to progress in this way.
Anna
This is Anna, giving you the latest news about Dad.
Today he escaped from his room and explored the outside world for the first time since his operation! We wheeled him into the lovely gardens here at the hospital for a while, which was good. My aunt (Dad's sister) and family came to visit him today, along with myself and Jon (and Mum of course) so it was a busy day, visitor-wise.
Dad is making some, slow progress each day. Today he has managed to start eating a small amount of solid food and walk around a tiny bit, unaided, which is good.
As expected his feelings of comparative well being come and go. His consultant came in this morning and was pleased with his progress. It looks like he might be allowed home in a day or two if he continues to progress in this way.
Anna
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Op Day + Two
I am doing well and I have had all my tubes and drips removed - ouch! I have started to eat solids and the doctor says I am one day ahead of schedule for recovery so he is very pleased.
However, I am still very weak and have difficulty sitting without back support and standing.I am also having a lot of problems with painful wind.The physiotherapist is going to come round later today and try and help me to move slowly around my bed -this should help to displace some of the wind and hopefully make me feel more comfortable.
Jane is with me and is looking after me - she is even managing to stay quiet for a while when I want to rest !
However, I am still very weak and have difficulty sitting without back support and standing.I am also having a lot of problems with painful wind.The physiotherapist is going to come round later today and try and help me to move slowly around my bed -this should help to displace some of the wind and hopefully make me feel more comfortable.
Jane is with me and is looking after me - she is even managing to stay quiet for a while when I want to rest !
Friday, 22 May 2009
Looking Good
This is Anna: Just to say that as you can see from the video below, which Dad recorded about 11pm Thurs (about 8 hours after the surgery began), he's doing well. The 'happy juice' (morphine) button they gave him is certainly helping matters :)
Today (Fri) they are hoping to accomplish getting him sitting in a chair for a bit, during his physiotherapy session.
1 more thing: apparently some people have been having problems leaving comments on the site. I have changed the instructions on the right to be more specific, so hopefully that will help. And also, I think it is more complicated that we first thought, to become a 'follower' of the site, so probably the easiest way forward is for everyone to simply keep checking back to the site at intervals, so see if any new posts have been added. Sorry for the confusion
Anna
Today (Fri) they are hoping to accomplish getting him sitting in a chair for a bit, during his physiotherapy session.
1 more thing: apparently some people have been having problems leaving comments on the site. I have changed the instructions on the right to be more specific, so hopefully that will help. And also, I think it is more complicated that we first thought, to become a 'follower' of the site, so probably the easiest way forward is for everyone to simply keep checking back to the site at intervals, so see if any new posts have been added. Sorry for the confusion
Anna
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Post-Surgery Message from Anna and Jane
We are waiting for Lawrie to return from the Recovery Unit after his surgery. His operation went well. The surgeon says that the cancer had spread through the bowel wall and into an area of fat; he says he thinks he has managed to remove all the affected area ok. We will now have to wait about 2 weeks to get the pathology lab results back and find out more conclusive information. We will then know if he will need chemotherapy as a 'belt and braces' approach to ensuring it doesn't reoccur.
Thanks again for all your support
Anna and Jane
Thanks again for all your support
Anna and Jane
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Hospital Arrival
I have arrived at the hospital and I have just been X-rayed. I have been shown my room - which is super with an en-suite. I am waiting to have a blood test and an ECG.
I have just tested out my webcam and it appears to work OK.
To view a video that I have just made please click below:
I have just tested out my webcam and it appears to work OK.
To view a video that I have just made please click below:
Monday, 18 May 2009
New Date for my Operation
I learnt this morning that my operation has been brought forward.
I will be going into the Cambridge Nuffield hospital on Wednesday 20 May at 2 pm and my operation (called a "right hemi-colonectomy" for the plumbers amongst you) will take place during the afternoon of Thursday 21 May.
I will be taking my computer laptop in with me and so if any of you are members of Windows Messenger then you could invite me to be a "friend" by emailing lawrencewilliams@live.co.uk
If any of you also have a webcam -I have one on my laptop - then there is the possibility of a Video Call and you would then be able to see my brand new M&S pyjamas - blue with yellow spots!
I should be in about 5 days. I plan to post a new message after I arrive in hospital.
I will be going into the Cambridge Nuffield hospital on Wednesday 20 May at 2 pm and my operation (called a "right hemi-colonectomy" for the plumbers amongst you) will take place during the afternoon of Thursday 21 May.
I will be taking my computer laptop in with me and so if any of you are members of Windows Messenger then you could invite me to be a "friend" by emailing lawrencewilliams@live.co.uk
If any of you also have a webcam -I have one on my laptop - then there is the possibility of a Video Call and you would then be able to see my brand new M&S pyjamas - blue with yellow spots!
I should be in about 5 days. I plan to post a new message after I arrive in hospital.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
The Story so Far
When we were out in Florida I caught pneumonia and when I had a blood test as part of the diagnosis it emerged that I was anaemic. The American doctor recommended that I follow this matter up with my GP on my return to the UK. My GP referred me to a specialist who decided to undertake a colonoscopy on me (a camera on a tube up my back passage - oooo - ouch!!) This showed that I have a tumour on the vertical part of my colon on my right hand side. I then had a CT scan and last week had a meeting with my consultant, Mr Miller who said that I needed an operation to cut out the tumour which is planned for Thursday 28 May.
Cancer of the colon is very common in men and the operation is a very straightforward bit of plumbing. Cut me open, cut out the length and stitch together the loose ends and sew me up again. I will be in hospital for about 5 days in order to allow time for my bowel to start working again. I will then be allowed home but it may take up to 2 months for me to fully recover my stamina.
When they cut out the tumour they will examine it and determine how far the cancer had spread. If it has spread then I will have to have chemotherapy as a precaution. I will not know whether I will need chemo until about 2 weeks after the operation.
So hopefully I will be back playing golf and earning some money some time in July/August.
Cancer of the colon is very common in men and the operation is a very straightforward bit of plumbing. Cut me open, cut out the length and stitch together the loose ends and sew me up again. I will be in hospital for about 5 days in order to allow time for my bowel to start working again. I will then be allowed home but it may take up to 2 months for me to fully recover my stamina.
When they cut out the tumour they will examine it and determine how far the cancer had spread. If it has spread then I will have to have chemotherapy as a precaution. I will not know whether I will need chemo until about 2 weeks after the operation.
So hopefully I will be back playing golf and earning some money some time in July/August.
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