That's quite a mouthful! I hope that everything has been explained to you and that you understand exactly what is going to be done. Do you have a date for surgery now and how are you feeling about it, now that you've had some time for it to sink in?
I shall be thinking of you and I sincerely hope that it all goes well? As you know, we are always here for you.
Thank you.The intention is to remove the sarcoma, the left kidney, the spleen, the left bowel and possibly part of the pancreas. It seems strange no longer being in pre-diagnosis. I still feel well, no pain, eating the same as usual, and went for a one mile walk this afternoon. I am unsure that it has completely sunk in, still feels like writing a story about someone else. When reality does occasionally sink in, then I cry. The operation is due to be 21st November. I don't want all that taken away from me, but deep inside I know it has to be done, well that's the logical thinking sometimes.There's an outpatients pre-op appointment on the 15th.
Hi Mary how are you feeling now ,still ok I hope , do you have to have any pre -op checks before you go in for your op ,have they said how long you'll be in x
I’m sure your operation will prolong your life for a long long time if they didn’t think so they would not put you through this , but if you want to no this you can ask the question they will tell you , I can not imagine the worry and stress before the operstion but you will be ok you gunna be fine , a few months time you will look back and be glad you had it xx
A very good question and I imagine, one that is difficult to answer..
The best person to answer this would be your professor. He should also be able to provide the figures for survival, if you do have the operation. I don't expect that you'll be seeing much of him before you have your operation. However, your specialist nurse could get these figures for you, or arrange for you to see the professor again before your surgery. There are people who don't want to know anything about surgery and just want to get on with it, leaving their fate in the hands of their surgeon. Then there are people like me, who want to know all the statistics prior to the event. At best even a surgeon, as eminent as your professor, can only give you a "guesstimate", because many go much sooner and others can live on for many years past their predicted time. It is likely to be a nurse that you see when you go for your pre-op appointment on 15th.
However, one thing I would caution you about, before you embark on this. If you were told that you only had a limited time without surgery, would you feel even more depressed, with knowing the facts - I'm not saying that this will happen, only that it could and if it did, do you think that you would be able to cope? Sorry to be so blunt - I am only thinking of your long-term welfare.
Thank you. I was getting overstressed and shouldn't have asked that. I must remember that, from the most recent scan, the operation is still, as the professor said, do-able. I have to hold on to that, I think, that it is still do-able.
Thank you. I was getting overstressed and shouldn't have asked that. I must remember that, from the most recent scan, the operation is still, as the professor said, do-able. I have to hold on to that, I think, that it is still do-able.
In some ways, it's a pity that you couldn't have had your surgery sooner. All of this waiting is bound to play with your mind.
It is only natural that you thought about that question - I would have, were I in your shoes. You wouldn't have been offered the surgery, if the professor and his team, didn't think that this was "doable". These people tend to be very straight with you. If the risks were too big, you would have been told that it was inoperable - you haven't been told this, so hold on to that fact. I hope that you will be given more reassurance on Wednesday. As Jenny says, place your trust in your care team, take each day as it comes and you will get there.
I see that you are worrying about how your other half will cope when you're in hospital - do you have any family or friends who could help out?
Thank you. I shall try my best. Emotions are strange things, for a little while just now I felt quite calm. We don't have family nearby but do have friends that have offered to visit. I shall miss him very much.
Its good of your friends offering to visit it will make it a lot easier for your husband to visit ,I've no doubt he'll be looking after you well when you get home too x
Emotions are strange. I am usually fine leading up to surgery, but get more nervous as the day of surgery approaches - it sounds as if you are doing the same. I am glad to hear that you have friends who can pop in to keep an eye on your husband. I'm sure that you will miss him a lot. Do you have a mobile phone - if so, perhaps you could Facetime or What's App one another? This would allow both of you to see how the other is getting on.
As you know by now Mary, I am always here for you - especially if you have any more "wobbles".
We shall talk every day - well, maybe not the first / second days, being in operation then critical care - we have pay as you go mobile 'phones. We learned today that a doctor will ring him after the operation to let him know how it went, so that's good. Also, after I had had an ECG, I was told I have a heart of a 16-year-old!
Naturally, you may not be able to talk for the first couple of days, but it's helpful that you both have a mobile phones - how did we cope, before they were invented? The doctors are usually very good at phoning after surgery to let family know how the operation went. It's really great to hear that your heart is so strong - that should certainly stand you in good stead. How did everything else go for you today- sorry, yesterday?
I'm thinking of you as the time draws closer. How are you coping now? Try to keep yourself occupied over the weekend -- it doesn't matter what with - anything to stop you thinking about what lies ahead.
Thank you. Time seems to be rushing towards us now. I feel as if I am on the outside watching things happening, not to me. The rest of Wednesday was okay except the journey home which took ages just getting out of London. Thank goodness we weren't driving.
I'm sorry to hear that your journey home on Wednesday was such a nightmare - it's at times like this, that you are thankful that you don't live in London and have to face that traffic daily. Are you heading up to London tomorrow, or are you leaving it until Tuesday? That's how I felt too - a sort of out of body experience- as if it were all happing to someone else. You're nearly there now Mary. You've had a very long wait, but you've nearly there at last and it will soon be all behind you.
