2009
Summary: A mixed year in which I've had 3 operations: "elective", "emergency" and "routine" alldone laparoscopically (I have 13 small puncture wounds over my body). I broke my leg and damaged my knee but I'm now cycling 24 miles every morning before breakfast and fitter than ever.
The year started with uncertainty, as we didn’t know when I would be called for my fundoplication (anti reflux) operation.
We had had an open invitation from Martin and Barbara to visit them in Spain so arranged a few days there in January. It was cold but dry.
After more nagging phone calls to the hospital, I eventually had a date for my op. However, come the day, after some hours being prepped and waiting around at the hospital, I was sent home as there was a bed shortage. A few weeks later, I was called in again and this time had the operation, which went well. (An account may be read here.)
I now felt alive again. Off the meds and their by product of anaemia and breathlessness, I was soon back on my bike and building up my pre-breakfast circuits from 5 to 8 to 10 miles a day and eventually an 18 mile loop which I intended to do occasionally. (My cycle blog may be read here.) However …
One damp morning, I was descending a sloping path when the bike slid one way and I went the other. After sitting feeling foolish for a while, I tried to stand – ouch! I’d sprained my ankle. For four weeks I hobbled around on some borrowed Red Cross crutches until my doctor suggested I had an x-ray and I found I’d actually fractured the fibula and was put in plaster.
That next weekend, we were to have helped clean up Colin’s vacated flat. Knowing I’d be more of a liability, I persuaded Karen to go by herself. However, in the early hours of Sunday morning, in excruciating pain, I knew I needed an ambulance.
Two days of tests revealed acute cholecystitis and I had my gall bladder removed. (The specialist blamed my long history of acid reflux.) The operation (laparoscopically again) was more difficult than the previous one and I took longer to recover.
However, a couple of weeks later, the osteo doc said I could lose the plaster as my ankle was healing rapidly. (Two things I have learned: I have a high threshold for pain and I heal quickly.)
Gradually I returned to cycling again. By the end of August, my pre-breakfast 18 mile round trip had become more frequent than shorter circuits and my average speed increased from 10mph to 12mph.
Both operations had resulted in me losing weight. I’d lost nearly two stone (4” off the waist) and was down to where I wanted to be. (I’d blamed the inactivity of the pre fundo anaemia for my weight gain.)
At the beginning of August, we also took up swimming regularly on Wednesday and Friday mornings when there’s an over 50’s time slot at the pool which I now get free having passed my 60th birthday.
Karen’s son, Colin, moved into a new house near Swindon in July. We helped him move and stayed a couple of days to do some DIY. (With my presumed sprained ankle.)
I had to remove half of the porch to get his new sofas into the sitting room and rebuild it afterwards.
At the beginning of August, we house sat for him as he’d bought two puppies (an old-fashioned brown golden retriever and a Hungarian vizsla) that needed company for their first week whilst he, and his then (now ex) girlfriend, Jane, were at work. At the end of the week, Colin hosted a family barbecue with Karen’s ex, Graham, his wife, Laurie, Colin’s brother, Ian, his wife, Melanie, and the grandchildren, Lucy and Charlotte joining us. Karen said that for her, seeing both sons together was better than going on holiday.
In June (whilst hobbling on crutches a few days after my accident), we had the inaugural meeting of the Barrett’s Support Network Wessex region and a couple of weeks later the first committee meeting where I was elected secretary.
I had started an art class in September 2008 (NCFE level 2 Life Drawing) to build on what I had done in 2005-6. The results may be seen here.
When I'd had my plaster off, the osteo doc, manipulating the ankle as part of his examination noticed I winced in pain - but not from the ankle but the knee which I'd twisted in the same fall. He said it could be ligament damage (I'd thought it was the medial lateral ligament) or damaged cartilage and if it was still painful after a few weeks to ask for a referral back again. To cut a long story short, I had an athroscopy (key hole surgery) on my knee to tidy up some torn cartilage. (Though the knee still gives me pain at night.)
As soon as I was permitted, I was back on my bike again and have extended my route to 24 miles every morning. I may participate in a sponsored cycle next year. I had said I would participate in the Barrett's organised sponsored ride form Land's End to John O'Groats (or at least part of it) but having heard no more, decided instead to do the Paris - Hayling Island cycle (except it isn't Paris any longer but "Le Tour de Tours" 350 miles on French soil over 5 days). However, by the time I applied, I was too late and have been put on the waiting list.
I am looking at ways to raise funds for the Barrett's Support Network. I did print some draw tickets, and we had prizes donated, but the 50 members didn't sellas many as we'd hoped.(I took a market stall for a couple of days but sold only 9 tickets over those two days). We have a rather ambitious target to raise £33,500 for a "HALO radio frequency ablator" which can remove Barrett'scells before they become cancerous. At the present rate of fund raising, it'll take us 20 years!
This Christmas we're spending with Karen's sister, Moira plus a large gathering, in Chelmsford. On 28th, we'll be meeting up at Colin's (Swindon) with Ian and the granchildren amongst athers.
Apart from the few days with Martin & Barbara last January, and house sitting for Colin, we haven't been away this year. Hopefully we'll manage that next year.
It was good to re-establish contact with some very good old friends this year: John Eves, from my Grammar school, Peter Harpley, from College days and John Kennedy, from more recent teaching times. Unfortunately, with one thing and another, I haven't kept up the contacts newly made but perhaps can rectify that in 2010.