Good Luck Jo. My thoughts are with you

Skye

Lovely forum buddies,

Thank you all for your good luck wishes. They boosted my morale no end

The X-ray went well. Thankfully the clinic was running on time and we were back home by 10.30! The consultant radiologist gave me a good indication that the surgery site was well sealed - no leaks!

I then had a call from the specialist liver nurse and she asked if I could attend an appointment this afternoon to get the CT scan results from last week.

So we hot footed it back across the city.

I was anticipating bad news (coping mode!) but this didn't help soften the blow of what I was told. The lung hotspots are cancer so I've now got to weigh up whether to have liver surgery or not as my life expectancy is 2 to 3 years and the surgery won't lengthen this time.

I can't write all the whys and wherefores at the moment as I'm struggling to take this in. My partner and I have some big decisions to make over the next few weeks. I know some of you may suggest a second opinion - and once I've got my head round it all, I'll probably do this!

Forgive me if I drop off the radar for a few days. I'll be thinking of you all though.

Much love to everyone, Jo xxxx

Ooh, snap!

Will head off to bed now, Nurse Annabel! Hehe!

Jo xx

Hi Jo

Just wanted to let you know am thinking of  you.  Have been offline recently due to laptop needing to be repaired (think I wore it out lol).  Sending hugs Jules xx

Hi Jo,

Just to let you know you are in my thoughts too.  Hope xx

Hi Everyone!

I'm back in cyber space! Some of the time I've not been sure what 'space' I've been in! That's Tramadol for you!

Well, the operation went well, all 3 tumours removed and 40% of my liver resected!

I spent 2 nights on HDU and was then transferred to the post-surgical ward. My partner was initially overwhelmed to see the amount of equipment, wires, drains and monitors.  Couldn't really see from my vantage point, so he took a photo - Wow! I looked like I'd been operated on by Dyno-Rod!

I was actually discharged aft visiting last night, but have been having some pain issues, so this is the first time of 'logging in!'

This op has made me feel more poorly than the bowel resection, but the specialist nurse warned me that I'd feel more 'rubbish' at the beginning, but then recovery would seem to gather pace more quickly!

The dog was so thrilled to see me - and the 'Don't jump up!' Training that my partner had done in the time I was in hospital, really worked.

He seems to know I'm not the ball throwing, mate I was before I 'disappeared' but he's very happy to sit at my feet (or lie next me at nap time! Yes, naughty I know, but it's so comforting to have them there!) This is the dog I'm talking about, by the way!

(Partner very wonderfully, supportive as ever too, but better at cooking etc rather than lying by my feet!)

Max, can't wait to read 'Alfie News!'

Well, I'll leave it there, as no doubt, I'll stop typing and feel wrung out again!

I'll catch up with your news over the next few days and drop you some messages, but bear with me!

A 'classic' comedy moment alert!!! - I was offered Braised Liver for supper last night! Really??? The irony made me chuckle - maybe that's why they offered it, isn't Iron-y good for the liver??

Bye for now, love to all and hope you're all ok!

Chat soon, Jo xx

Jo

You are positively amazing.  Your humour is infectious and had me laughing out loud (though would probably make you sore) and love the iron-y in offering you liver to eat (sorry I love it but am unsurprisingly alone in this).  Still this is hospital food we are talking about and no doubt your other half is much better at spoiling you from the kitchen and sorry why is he not lying at your feet feeding you grapes. Love the fact that he has trained your lovely puppy to do it for him though!!  Take care and gain strength - we are around when you are up to it.  Big hugs (virtually probably easier)  Jules xx

Jo ....... Am so pleased to hear from you and it sounds like you are doing brilliantly as ever. Well done you!  The drugs definitely play havoc dont they - I was imagining all sorts of weird things with the morphine/tramadol!  I hope the pain is manageable and you will feel stronger every day - just take it easy.

I am cream-crackered with Alfie - he is gorgeous but I had forgotten how time-consuming it is to have a baby. Wee alerts in the night, following me everywhere - cant even go to the loo without my shadow.  Wouldnt have it any other way of course and he is a good little thing. We are going to a puppy party next week (he has a better social life than me!!).  Certainly takes your mind off cancer, thank goodness!

Keep well my friend and remember that every day you will feel stronger and better.  Much love xxxx

Jo,

Great to have you back amongst us

Dave

Good morning Jo - great to have you back!

I am glad the operation went well even if you are feeling pretty rubbish right now although even that doesn't seem to have affected your sense of humour.  I'm afraid that Jules is right about her being on her own in the "liking liver" department.  That is one food that I have found to be utterly revolting although I am one of these people who like very little that is good for them.  Why can't they make chocolate flavoured broccoli or something?  I would be a very healthy eater then!

I have been neglecting the site again lately due to heavy work pressure and the ongoing war in my head so I was really pleased to open it up this morning to see you had posted an update. Actually I just realised that you being in hospital may have saved you from the pain and dissapointment of seeing the England world cup campaign.  I am not a football fan most of the time but unfortunately, every time I am drawn into watching international games it always ends in misery.  Oh well at least there is plenty of motor racing to keep me entertained this weekend.

Rest well Jo and make sure you keep Dyno-rod's number handy -

Sending love and best wishes.

Garf. x

Hi Jo,

So glad to see you back and even more pleased that you continue to retain your humour and remain upbeat.  As Jules says, you are positively amazing.  Hope your recovery continues well and look forward to reading more of your posts.  Hope x

Good morning Jo,

So glad to see your post and that you are back home. I hope you had a good night and have the pain under control.

I see your sense of humour hasn't been dissected out of you. !!!!

Fancy offering you braised liver, anyone would think you are short of it.

Dogs are wonderfully supportive pets and learn very quickly whats needed and whats not.

Well hope you get lots of rest and recover well.

hugs

Annabel. xx

Good morning Jo,

So glad to see your post and that you are back home. I hope you had a good night and have the pain under control.

I see your sense of humour hasn't been dissected out of you. !!!!

Fancy offering you braised liver, anyone would think you are short of it.

Dogs are wonderfully supportive pets and learn very quickly whats needed and whats not.

Well hope you get lots of rest and recover well.

hugs

Annabel. xx

Hi Jo,

As promised I thought I would do a role swap and stalk you for a while this weekend.

How are you?  (appologies - I bet you are sick of being asked that question.)

I truly hope you are doing o.k. and finding a way to continue the fight against this cowardly disease.  You did come to mind again a week ago when, during a few days break in Stratford we went to a Safari Park which is something I have always wanted to do.  Of course there were Meerkats and I have taken some, if I do say so myself, decent pictures of them and other wildlife.  I think there may have been something wrong with them though as none of them seemed to want to follow me and stalk me as I wandered around the enclosures

Anyway I seem to have dropped straight into "ramble" mode so will just make this message a quick "HELLO!" and send you a big - huge - massive hug! 

Please take good care Jo.

Garf. xx

Hi Garf,

Thank you, firstly for resurrecting this thread as I now realise I didn't respond to all the lovely messages from everyone - forgive me folks! Thank you for all your lovely posts! Am I going mad or did I start a new thread after the liver op? I have no record of it in my 'thread history' - worrying that I can't remember!

And secondly, thanks for stalking me on two threads this weekend!  

I am feeling great thank you for asking. Enjoying the summer holidays before heading back to school in September. It's amazing to think that it's nearly a year since my first op! By coincidence, my next appointment with a consultant is on the anniversary of the op - but this one is to find out what's happening in my lung and what the plan is for this!

I had a chuckle when you said I'd come to mind when you'd been to a safari park recently! Without getting to the end of your sentence, for some reason I assumed you were going to make some reference about monkeys! What does that tell you about how I see myself?   Thankfully, it was the Meerkats that brought me to mind!

Well, it would seem I'm going into rambling mode and grammar and spelling seem to be compromised too (this is a late night for me!)

So take care and I'll continue to think of you and look out for your posts,

Sending you Big hugs, Jo xx

Good morning Jo,

So glad you feeling o.k. right now but I can't believe the time since your last op.  Years seem to be like wagon wheels --  they are not as big as they used to be!

At the safari park there were no monkeys as they decided to remove them quite some time ago due to the damage they were doing to people's cars. I have no doubt that if I had seen any there are any number of people who would have come to my mind, most of them from work.

Hope you slept well after your late night.

Best wishes as always.

Garf. xx

Morning Jo

Glad to see your 'old' thread 'alive and well'  and pleased to read that you doing good.  Bet the 'puppy' is growing up and I too was amazed at your 'year' anniversary.  Definitely a case of as I get older the days seems shorter (except the hard ones) though I am still revelling in the fact that being 'old' means I get to travel for free around London - one day will definitely make the most of this!!  Take care and enjoy the rest of the school holidays (I have my eldest grandson for a sleepover one night next week so am in 'planning mode' though apparently I am making toad in the hole for dinner and will have 'gingerbread men' in the tin!!!!!!!!). Jules x

Garf - have pm'd you so hope you have time to sit down!!