Hi

I think you are quite amazing. I am going to have a busy few days from tomorrow. I have also been lucky to have an efficient hospital so far. Christmas eve noticed my lump by tuesday had got bigger so went to doctors. 4th January at ENT had nasalendoscopy to find enlarged abnormla tonisl one side hard mass, non painful. Ultrasoiund booked for thursday 14th with aspiration then got cancellation for MRI tomorrow 12th then today get telephone call asking me to have a preoperative appointment for biopsy and panoscopy? not entirely sure on this one but think it is some sort of chest endoscopy., Not worried about MRI have had a few of thiose before, bit worried about aspiration and will be worried when i get date for biopsy. I am supposing that if anything shows on aspiration I may get a call to go in and discuss or wait for biopsy?? consultant said I could get call at any stage. Was not told about the other tonsil possibly getting cancer perhaps each hospital is also different. Let us know how you are getting on,. 

Hi Elona

Welcome to the whirlwind!  I am glad that I am not the only one :happy:

Thinking of you at your MRI, I too have had a few...  The noise just strangly brings back memories of the 90s raves :laugh:

Sounds like we are going through pretty much the same at pretty much the same stage.  And luckily both with very efficiant Hospitals.

I originally went to the doctors back in May 2020 with an enlarged tonsil that had a couple of white patches.  Because it was the early days of Covid and it was a throat issue I had to see a locum in the surgery car park.  She said there was nothing wrong, but may have a bit of thrush.  She subscribed Thrush treatments and away I went...  Obviously the treatments didn't work :laugh:

I didn't know I was having the good tonsil (only the good one, with biopsy of cancerous one and tounge biopsy) removed until the day of the op.  Didn't even know I was down for a tonsillectomy until I was at my pre assessment.  The Nurse could find no info on the system...  As it turns out there were two perfectly good reasons.  I saw the dental surgeon (One of my MDT members) at my ultrasound and he told me that they were a victim of their own efficiency and that the op could change right up to the moment before I have the anesthetic.  Hence lack of info.  I don't mind, I'm just so impressed with everything.

What is an aspiration?

Let me try and put your mind at rest about the biopsy.  I had a fine needle biopsy which was done under local anesthetic.  This was a biopsy of the lymph nodes taken through the side of my neck. I could feel them pushing around, but no pain.  After the anesthetis wore off it was a bit uncomfortable for a day at the most.

Under general anesthetic I had a deep tonsil and tounge biopsy.  This was at the same time as having the right (good) tonsil removed.  All the staff were brilliant, the surgeons came and saw me pre and post op explaining everything.   Ooh and the bed was soooo comfortable.  I was left with no pain or discomfort from the tongue and deep tonsil biopsy as far as I know.  This may be due to the overall pain and discomfort from the tonsillectomy disguising anything from the biopsies.

All of my appointments were made via phonecalls or I was sent for a test whilst at the hospital having something else done.  

How am I getting on?  The throat is still sore from the op, but the pain is very managable.  It's a great excuse to eat icecream  :wink:  I wont lie there are moments of Ahhhrrrggggg!  But they do not last long.  Earache now in both ears Boooo!   I have been living with an invisible condition, for a few years, that causes a lot of unnecessary pain daily.  So me and pain are good ole friends, he is annoying but without him I wouldn't be here (I have no idea why I made my pain male) The trick with pain is to find other, better, happier things to occupy your mind.  Hence I've written so much here, whilst writing this my pain is dampened.

Keep in touch, as we are in such a similar position.  It'll be interesting to see how our treatment paths differ or assimilate.  It'll also be a good and informative read for others who pass by.

Take care, be strong

Thank you everyone for you kind words advice and wisdom.

I have my covid swab tomorrow ready for panendoscopy and biopsy on Tuesday

I'm trying to sort the housework out got an extra shopping delivery and my son is now off school. We have been told we need to fully isolate for 2 weeks after my biopsy no one in or out the house.

Best wishes all

christine 

happy mothers day Christine. 

you can get special delivery spots if you get stuck if you telephone the supermarket and i have with Tesco and explain that you are a cancer patient etc they will put you on the priority slots in 24 hours so you can order that way. 

good luck with the covid test it wasnt too bad I had a nice nurse do mine and she didnt prod around. 

dont know if you have ever had an anesthetic before but it is fine as long as you are not a panic like me lol. the anaesthetic is given in two stages in a canulae in the arm the first drug feels like a cold medicine going up your arm then as they are injecting the second one you fall alseep straight away. 

when you wake you feel then suckin up your dribble lol as they remove tube. there is a nice nurse sittting next to you as you wake up. There were no side effects from panescopy. 

my hospital didnt tell me to isolate afterwards so thats different but said that was the length of time it would take to get the results back. They had wanted me to isolate before the anaesthetic. 

enjoy your special day today 

keep us informed and keep smiling. x

hi Al 

let us know how you are doing we are thinking of you. 

sun is smiling on the day today brings happineess to all. advise to suck up the suns rays as much as possible and remember we are all there for you. 

be possitive and be strong keep joking and smiling at your lovely wife. 

eat more icecream !!! or those roasted vegetables! 

(i planted my veggie seeds) 

Hubby made me a joey mothers day card from the Al capone club that accumulates nightly in the carport in the of chance there is anything around!!! he then said i am now introduced to the rattus club and has named them all even made up all sorts of stories like granddad unfortunately had his hair shved by mistake so has a toupe now on top unfortuantely he lost it the other night from too much high jinks! his old banger a camper van was sprayed in all sorts of colours granma was not impressed. Then believe it or not the other night an aligator holiday bus stopped by by mistake and joined in the fun! i am due to upset them soon because the hedgehogs have gone on holiday for a few weeks while i try and recover and have the opportunity to clean the arport out properly lol. 

imagination is a good thing x

monday morning peeps the start of a new week time to be positive that this week will be good and all will go well. 

still waiting for my appointment lol but fingers crossed you never know could come this week. 

spring is here there are loads of lovely chatty birds out there to enjoy listening too. My jackdaws are back on the roof making a mess in my redundant chimney. they use this every year it must be totally full of sticks lol 

hope your ok 

keep smiling x

tuesday morning guys  nearly half way through. 

rain watering the garden hmm not good when ive got some plugs coming. hoping it might be the bulbs instead. 

house is nearly back to normal - mine means not perfect loads to do etc etc, in otherwords livable! then i can feel bit more relaxed job for day attempt to move a bookcase - not full size one lol, and only from one room into next. the phrase light at the end of the tunnel comes to mind. 

Al - please just let me know how you are. i expect your going through the darker periods of treatment - hang in there have hope. 

gotta go and have my early morning cuppa cant do without it!! 

hi 

hope your ok, its half way through gthe week dont forget I am here for you. 

am c urrently having the morning cuppa surrounded by 4 cats who are preventing me typing well laptop being pushed righ up my chest so hard to type! cats of course get prferential treatment. these are the Bengal boys (my mafiosa!) i have feet of Rumpleteaser sticking in my side, Rum tum tugger on lap hence laptop and rolo lee haggis pretending tobe angelic and washing. Rasputin curled up down the bottom. to complete the picture Shugs is on the floor flat out. 

i cooked my first meat joint yesterday for ages - slow cooked so fell of bone and no real chewing  lamb in rose harissa (so not too spicy) with coriander, mint, wine and honey. was a tesco recipe quite impressive. 

well hoping your smiling and have hope x

thursday peeps sun is promised to us at the weekend so when you are relaxing you can soak up the important rays. I am then going to try and plant some bulbs. 

morning cuppa time bit late today was up last night with bad indigestion - an unusual occurence for me so watched click at 3am. weird concept - buying the digital rights to digital art??? basicslly as you probably know the first edition has a special trace and this is what is being sold so although people can see, download etc they dont own the original not sure how that will go but is racking in loads of money!

hope the taste buds are coming back Al and you are eating ok and not loosing more weight. 

Sam and Christine hope your both ok too. 

still awaiting my referral :(

friday guys the sun is shinning its looks lovely outside. new shoots bring hope and regrowth. 

Al your treatment for the week is over so you can relax, hold your lovely wife, smile through every adversity and remember your only a couple of weeks of the end of this treatment. things can only get better.x

pedro had his feet sheared yesterday he is now getting a bit knotty but i can only do a little at a time so back legs yesterday, got it a little uneven one side goes up to his butt the other thigh ! looks like his top is lop sided! the only bit i do not touch is his head because it is a mop and i love the scruffy mop!

well cuppa time speak soon x

be strong yourselves 

saturday folks a lovely weekend ahead with no treatment. you can relax and concentrate on getting better. keep hope in your heasrts be positive and smiling. it is important to keep your spirits up. 

my morning curled up with three cats at my head and one large dog lol what could be better. yesterday managed to get into garden for half an hour and planted a few bulbs. i have that to look forward to. 

let us know how you are 

be strong smile and hope 

morning its sunday today although i woke up thinking it was monday. 

feel the need for a mellow day today, not that i do much these days anyway! but you never know after a cuppa. hope your feeling a bit better today. let us know. 

stay strong as you like to tell me - my turn! 

keep smiling or ill give you a photo of pedro sheared 

morning its sunday today although i woke up thinking it was monday. 

feel the need for a mellow day today, not that i do much these days anyway! but you never know after a cuppa. hope your feeling a bit better today. let us know. 

stay strong as you like to tell me - my turn! 

keep smiling or ill give you a photo of pedro sheared 

Morning Al hope your doing ok, its week 5 so nearly the end of the treatment the light is definately at the end of the tunnel. the sun is shinning here s lovely sight to see we need the spring makes everything feel better. 

no news on my referral think i have been shoved to the bottom of the list as unimportant now thats worrying but keep hoping. 

the mafia have become brave there obviously is no food about they are trying to gtet on my bird table now to eat theiur seed, hence i have not seen many birds, :( went out with my psoriasis crem and smothered the stem hoping it would help - based with liquid paraffin and didnt have anything else but looks like has not helped much. will have to try and think of something else. cheeky buggers saw one run across the garden yesterday. 

keep smiling and keep strong minded. you can cope with anything we believe in you 

Morning Al and all, 

hope your all ok, wole up feeling a bit rubbish this morning the infection must be having a bad day lol. 

started shaving Pedro a bit more yesterday since his goldden doodle fur is awful - the retriever and poodle furs matt and form a thick coat so it often needs shaving. its very hard to do and ususally i hve to do it in stages so 

stage 1 the feet dip - a shave feet looks good and sensible to keep feet clean 

stage 1 the sheep shave - a more radical leg shave leaving a distinct sheep look about him

stage 3 the lion cut the *** has been clipped and back side so a mane is left across the shoulders a nd head 

stge 4 begins today the mop head this leaves the top of the head un touched because the fur here is exactly like a mop and does never get touched if it did it would get matted like the rest of the body. here the shave finishes. 

oh i had a staring competition with a little mafia boy so cute but despite my creaming the bird table was sitting on it eating bird seed cant be good for him. 

have a good day 

keep strong and smiling