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Great news Jo!

You truly deserved some good news after what must have been such a stressful and difficult time waiting for news.

Please excuse my lack of understanding but if the go ahead is given for liver resection and stoma reversal does that mean a treatment that will hopefully rid you of the three blighters?

Garf. xx

Hi Garf,

Thank you for your kind message and smiley icon!

In answer to your question, yes, the liver resection op would rid me of the 3 pesky blighters and in theory, leave me cancer free!

The stoma reversal is just a procedure to re-plumb my pipe work!

I'm meeting the colorectal surgeon in a few weeks to discuss the pros and cons of the op.

Physically, I've coped well with my stoma, but I've suffered some mental issues since having it done - I keep telling myself it's my little life-saving friend, but I still struggle with certain aspects of it! Hopefully, the Bot Doc can sort me out!

I've a PET-CT scan on Tuesday (potential to glow like the ReadyBrek kid!) and once the results from that are in, I should get a date through for my tandem surgery! BOGOF type offer! Always keen to get value for money, me!

Take care, thinking of you, Jo xx

Gill,

Our posts have just crossed! Thank you for your kind message for Tuesday. I've had the 'paperwork' through and I have to starve for 6 hours before the scan - I can have water though! And you're right about keeping away from children - under the age of 18 for 6 hours afterwards! Not sure about puppies though! Maybe need to check that out!

Take care, Jo xx

Hi Jo

Great minds obviously think alike.

My phased return to work will be a case of go in on 02 June and see how I go.  I have suggested that I will do 3 or 4 hours a day maybe for 3 days or possibily for 5 depending on how I feel.  Boss has said whatever suits me even if it is only a couple of hours for one day  week to start with.  I am sure I can manage a bit more than that.  Am popping in to see them on Thursday and will discuss then exactly what will happen.

As you have to keep away form under 18s for 6 hours after the scan I am assuming that it will be an extra day off.  Good for you.

Personally I would never have the patience required to teach and am sure I would be driven mad before lunchtime on the first day.  Not what they are looking for in a teacher!

I would be nice to arrange a group meet up at some time but as you say since we are spread across the country it might be something of a logisitical problem.  Sorry would have posted this a good few minutes ago but cat cannot decide which sid eof the door she wants to be on.  Nothing really new there.

Best of luck for Tuesday.

Gill

Hi Jo,

I will be thinking of you on Tuesday when you have your PET scan. I'm not sure what one of these involves but I do remember the Ready Brek advert with the glowing kid and I'm 33. Now I've admitted remembering the advert I feel old!

I completely understand you having some difficulties accepting the stoma. I had some difficulties accepting my peg. I still have the damn thing, looks like I've been forgotten with my referral to have it removed! I've come to realise that it was the foreign objects in my body that were not welcomed even though I knew they were helping (peg, PICC line, chemo) the radiotherapy was ok as I couldn't "see" it! A stoma must be a huge change to your body and lifestyle habits so I can only imagine the psychological impact that could have, but it certainly paints a good picture of your personal characteristics. You have had to accept it and live with it even though you did not feel comfortable with it and that's not to be thought of lightly.

Sounds as if you have a big operation ahead of you but at least you will be free of the three "blighters"!! I'm sure that your positivity and sense of humour will assist your recovery as it did last time and I'm sure Paddy will be a good distraction for you as my little girl was for me.

Speak soon,

Nicola xx

Morning Jo

Bless Paddy - so much fun and laughter being gained by his antics I am sure - just loving the excited 'watering' of passing lady - he's only a baby and was obviously very excited!  A lovely diversion for you when you have lots coming up.  My son's Westie (when a puppy last year) was a great one at 'nervous tiddles' when she met new people!!  She is currently 'on holiday' with her first time being boarded (son and partner on holiday for a week's diving in Spain) so will be interesting to find out on their return how that went (being looked after by the people who normally give her 'cut and blow dry' who she really gets on with so not anticipating problems).

Another nice day outside but think I will be spending most of the time keeping daughter and grandchildren company today so not so much reading.  Meeting them for a walk round the Farmers'Market and then probably the park/swings/lunch and am off into the garden now to set up the Swingball for later!!  Have a good one. Take care.Jules x

Hi Jo,

The intrepid explorer returned from his travels to a very soggy Southampton but the short holiday was great including the emotional letter delivery.  I drank my morning coffe with you in mind on Tuesday so I hope the appointment ended with some kind of plan to rid you of the three blighters.

Take good care Jo.

Garf. xx

Hi Jo,

Have just caught up with your thread and wanted to say that I hope all went well at the hospital Tuesday.  Wishing you a calm weekend and hope Paddy is behaving himself.  Hope x

Hi Jo

Hope all went well on Tuesday.  Have only just got back on line after being in hospital for a few days.  Went on Tuesday for a blood test and top-up of triak drug.  They were not happy with the blood results and I had to go back on Wednesday for a further test.  This came back as positive for an infection (will they thought it was).  After the on call doctor said I could go home with antibiotics my own consultant returned to hospital following a meeting and insisted I had to stay.  After some time they found me a bed on a Medical Assessment ward until very late on Thursday when they transferred me to the Cancer Ward.  Finally home today although I have felt fine all the time.   I think it might have been partly down to me over doing things and a minor infection.  What concerned the consultant was that I was on the normal antibiotics when this happened.  After some IV antibiotics he is happy for me to come home although I have agreed to go back to hospital twice today and three times tomorrow to complete the course of IV antibiotics.  I then have just over a week before first of my partial treaments.

Do let us know how things went as soon as you can.

Very best wishes and fingers crossed for you.

Gill

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your kind messages. Hope you don't mind a brief post (will respond individually soon, promise!) but feeling a bit off kilter!

The hospital rang me on Thursday to tell me the PET scan showed hotspots in my lungs! They want me to have an urgent CT scan of my lungs.

I took the call at work and was so taken aback I didn't take it all in - I was also on my mobile which made the call very echoey!

It may be 'inflammation' as I had a sore throat and cough a week or so ago, but as you can imagine, my imagination is in overdrive!

I'm going to call the specialist nurse on Monday morning, just to clarify a few things!

This 'anxious wait' is back on! Having been lifted by the results of the MRI, I'm now feeling deflated and worried!

Hope to get CT appt next week!

Hope everyone else is ok and having a peaceful weekend.

Hugs and love to all, Jo xx

Hi Jo

So sorry to read from your update that the latest results have thrown you once more into the anxiety mix.  Do hope when you can contact your specialist nurse she will be able to explain things much better for  you and settle your thoughts a little.  Also hope you do not have to wait long for the follow up scan. Will keep my virtual fingers crossed for you.Jules xx

Jo, so sorry to know that you will be fighting the worry demons this weekend. Hopefully will be to do with the infection, I'm sure I have read similar accounts on here somewhere. Paul's consultant wasnt keen on doing a PET, partly because I think they can give false-positives. Fingers and everything crossed for you.

Gill, also sorry to hear you had a blip! Glad it seems sorted, if you need anything you know where I am.

And Jules, big hug to you, just because!

Lots of love to all

Lisa xX

Jo, so sorry to know that you will be fighting the worry demons this weekend. Hopefully will be to do with the infection, I'm sure I have read similar accounts on here somewhere. Paul's consultant wasnt keen on doing a PET, partly because I think they can give false-positives. Fingers and everything crossed for you.

Gill, also sorry to hear you had a blip! Glad it seems sorted, if you need anything you know where I am.

And Jules, big hug to you, just because!

Lots of love to all

Lisa xX

Hello Lisa

Thanks for supportive hugs.  Hope you , Paul and Joe doing ok. Have a peaceful weekend. Hugs right back  Jules x