Jo

Like Garf I was so pleased to see your thread appear, it's good to hear from you again. I can only echo the sentiments of Jules. Garf and Gill, who have said exactly the things that I was thinking as I read your post.

You sound so composed Jo, and it's lovely to see your cheeky sense of humour still shining through! You seem to be dealing with things in such a considered way, and as you say, you will be better informed again when you see the specialist this week.

I'd like to wish you good luck for this week too Gill, if I may. I'm also back to work on Tuesday after six months off - part time as I am juggling my return with the radiotherapy appointments through June. I hope it goes well for you, go steady.

I hope this good weather keeps up! lovely to see a bit of sunshine here in the Midlands today.

Love Gina xx

Hi Gina

Many thanks for your good wishes.  Back at work this morning but not much actual work done as most of it was spent going through over 3,000 emails and deleting most of them and with people coming up and asking me if I am ok.

Like you I am just doing part time to begin with and will gradually build up.

Good luck for tomorrow.

Gill

Hi Jules, Garf, Gill and Gina,

As always, riding to the rescue with supportive words!

Jules, the virtual, supportive hugs are most welcome, thank you! I hope your day of laziness in the garden was all you wished for! Your book reading prowess puts me to shame! I don't think I've read a book since my post surgical recovery last September!

(Will be thinking about you tomorrow)

Garf, your 'filing system' made me chuckle! I'm quite organised on that front, but I'm a bit of a hopeless case when it comes to keys!

Gill, I took your advice and looked in the last place and you were right, there was my PE kit! glad your first day back was ok, though a bit of an email fest by all accounts!

Gina, good luck with your return to work. Hope you and Gill remember to pace yourselves and not try to run before you can walk!

Thanks again for your continued support - will let you know more after Wednesday's appointment - think I'll put that list of questions by the front door with my keys

Hugs to all and have a good week xxxx

Hi Jo

We are all here on this forum to support each other and its good to give (as well as take) when the need arises.  Have just 'written a small book' on updating my own thread (no wonder hubby thinks I talk too much).  Wishing you all the best for your next appointment and do update us when you have the energy.  In the meantime sending more hugs virtually and here to listen whenever you want to share. Jules x

Hi Jo

Like you I tend to be quite organised and usually know where most things are.  I always keep my keys in the same place so I do not lose them.

Having worked for someone many years ago who operated the same filing system as Garf I can attest that it is a pain in the butt.  Every few weeks we would have to move him out of his office and sort through everything file a lot of stuff, deal with other stuff and finally get rid of what was just rubbish (and yes there was a lot of it).  Wasted so much time.

Have been taking it fairly easy today and will do so tomorrow at work.  Do not think I will have much choice with all my colleagues checking up on me every few minutes.  Did not feel particularly tired yesterday afternoon nor so far today but am being sensible about this.

Virtual hugs coming your way.

Gill

Jo, Thanks for your Pm,

Will be thinking of you tomorrow and will chat afterwards.

Love and hugs

Annabel. xx

Hi Jo

Hope the appointment went ok today and that you got all your questions answered.

Best wishes.

Gill

Hi everyone,

Well, yesterday's appointment with the liver specialist went really well.

I was armed with questions, the first being what having the surgery would mean to my life expectancy.

He assured me that although he couldn't give any firm timescales, by having the op, my chances of surviving longer than 2 to 3 years would be increased.

So, how come both my partner and I had come out of the last consultation only having heard the worst case scenario??

Anyway, with everything clarified, I immediately felt more confident about going ahead with the liver resection.

He explained that I would be re-scanned in 4 months time and the lesion in my lung would also be scanned at this time and a decision made about having that resected too!

We talked about ablation and he agreed that this was also an option, but he felt that a resection was the better choice for me.

I asked when the operation could happen (I've already had the pre-op assessment!) and he rang his secretary to find out - and guess what, I'm down for Friday 13th June! Am I superstitious? Mmmm!

He told me that as he is a Muslim, Friday is his Holy Day. 13 is also his lucky number!

So, that gives me a week to leave my desk sorted and tie up a few loose ends and I'll be slipping into the glamorous gown and sexy surgical stockings once again! I need to arrive at the hospital at 7am and hope there is a HDU bed available, otherwise surgery will be postponed or cancelled!

I've told my kids that I'm due to have the op and will explain the 'finer points' of it all in due course!

The phrase "I'm looking forward to it" isn't quite accurate, but I do feel an element of relief that things are moving again!

Thanks everyone for your kind wishes - I feel that it's been 'all about me' and I've not been very attentive of late, to your problems! Sorry - 'Could try harder' springs to mind hehe! No gold stars for me!

Much love to all, Jo xx

Hi Jo

Pleased to read that your appointment went well and that you got answers to all of your questions.

The news certainly sounds fairly good although I can understand why you only remember to the worst case scenario.  I am not superstitious but would have to think about an operation on Friday 13 June but since your consultant is a Muslim and his holy day is Friday and his lucky number is 13 you cant really go wrong.

The gowns and surgical stockings are just so glamourous I am suprised there is no fashion show just for these.  Perhaps that fact that no-one wants to wear them and the audience would fall about laughing might have something to do with it.  It is definitely a case of one size does not fit all.

It is so wonderful that your sense of humour has not deserted you.

Gold stars are definitely due to you.  With what you are going through it would not be surprising if it were all about you but you have given so much that once in a while you are entitled.

Fingers crossed for Friday 13 and virtual hugs.

Gill

Hi Gill,

Hey, top marks should be coming to you for all the support you offer on here!!

Your comments about the gowns and stockings made me laugh!

Definitely the one size does not fit all! I'm a short, skinny thing and yet I'm offered the same garb that would be offered to my hulking great partner!

Maxi on me, mini on him!

I hope you're not too weary from work this week. The weekend weather forecast looks hopeful, so I hope you've got some plans to recharge the batteries and pamper yourself!

Forgive my numpty brain, but has your chemo finished now, or are you coping with work and the last few sessions of chemo too?

(I need to do some serious, forum friend, catch up reading this weekend!!!)

Thanks for the virtual hugs, sending you some back

Jo xx