Many thanks to everybody who came to my 50th Birthday event yesterday. I had a great time and I hope everybody else did to. Thanks for all the unexpected presents, and for knowing me too well.
Special thanks to Carol who spent best part of last week sorting the house out and cooking and then most most of yesterday making sure everybody was fed and watered. Love you.
There was a time last year when I was unsure if I would see my 50th. Now I'm looking towards a good few more.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Is it Crohn's or is it Crohn's?
Sorry about the gap, had a funny kind of week of ups and downs. Lots of work on which keeps my mind off bad things, but the truth is I been suffering a bit of a chill accompanied by annoying headaches but I think I'm pulling out.
But that hasn't been the main worry this week. Remember just before Christmas Amber was taken into hospital due to a bout of supposed colitis that for a while they thought was Crohn's disease, a chronic episodic (and incurable) form of inflammatory bowel disease.
Well a few weeks ago she started to suffer the same symptoms again, so she has been in hospital for more tests. The doctors decided today it really is Crohn's. We don't really know what that means yet, but she has an appointment next week to talk about therapies.
Sometimes I despair at the medical profession.
But that hasn't been the main worry this week. Remember just before Christmas Amber was taken into hospital due to a bout of supposed colitis that for a while they thought was Crohn's disease, a chronic episodic (and incurable) form of inflammatory bowel disease.
Well a few weeks ago she started to suffer the same symptoms again, so she has been in hospital for more tests. The doctors decided today it really is Crohn's. We don't really know what that means yet, but she has an appointment next week to talk about therapies.
Sometimes I despair at the medical profession.
Birthday's for the boys
Many congratulations to Joss, my youngest, who is 17 today on the 17th.
Damn do they grow up fast!
Normally it is the only way to remember my birthday which is two days later (every year).
But this year people like to remind me its my 50th. Anyway I'll make them suffer this year by forcing to them come to my party.
Damn do they grow up fast!
Normally it is the only way to remember my birthday which is two days later (every year).
But this year people like to remind me its my 50th. Anyway I'll make them suffer this year by forcing to them come to my party.
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Reliving My Life
I've been fully back to "normal" for a day now, much happiness.
Over the past couple of days I have had to re-live the last 8 Years of my life in order to write a letter to catch up with my old friend.
It is extraordinary how much I recalled in the space of only a few hours and how many many extreme emotions I relived over this time; happiness, pride, disappointment, surprise, wonder and sadness just to name but a few.
By the time I finished writing the letter, my mind was full with these renewed thoughts as if they had all just happened yesterday. So if I did this to cover the rest of my life, would this bring all my the memories to the fore? I think I might like that, even accounting for how the older memories will be a little harder to grab hold off.
If I am going to do this I think I need to do it soon because I'm finding that over the last few weeks it takes so much longer to write, not because I can't think of things to say, but I keep making mistakes as I write and the spell checker is working overtime due to repeated word sections and transliteration of letters. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I always had a mild dyslexia and if the tumour's going to hit the areas of speech and writing this might could start to happen. But it could be I just need better reading glasses.
Over the past couple of days I have had to re-live the last 8 Years of my life in order to write a letter to catch up with my old friend.
It is extraordinary how much I recalled in the space of only a few hours and how many many extreme emotions I relived over this time; happiness, pride, disappointment, surprise, wonder and sadness just to name but a few.
By the time I finished writing the letter, my mind was full with these renewed thoughts as if they had all just happened yesterday. So if I did this to cover the rest of my life, would this bring all my the memories to the fore? I think I might like that, even accounting for how the older memories will be a little harder to grab hold off.
If I am going to do this I think I need to do it soon because I'm finding that over the last few weeks it takes so much longer to write, not because I can't think of things to say, but I keep making mistakes as I write and the spell checker is working overtime due to repeated word sections and transliteration of letters. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I always had a mild dyslexia and if the tumour's going to hit the areas of speech and writing this might could start to happen. But it could be I just need better reading glasses.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Feeling Miserable
After no Chemo side effects for three days, the old nausea came down hard. I've been trying to work to keep mind off it but I keep loosing concentration (Sorry to anybody reading documents from me the past few days).
Although I classify how I feel in the classic Chemo symptoms of nausea and tiredness, it really just extreme feeling of unwellness where doing nothing makes it worse, but doing something is just so difficult. Does that make sense? And the worst is my food tastes so bad on the odd occasion when when I want to eat it.
Oh well, I'm hoping tomorrow will be be better. And then only one more cycle (probably) before a "treatment" rest.
Earlier in the week I made contact with an old friend who I hadn't talked to in around seven years, during most of this time he has been suffering painful problems related to his liver on and off, but mostly on. He is now waiting for transplant with even more pain expected during recovery. The most amazing thing is during this time he has taken on working with kids at a a local zoo and wildlife park and became a samaritan finally becoming the chairman of the local samaritans. It puts my feeble problems into perspective.
Although I classify how I feel in the classic Chemo symptoms of nausea and tiredness, it really just extreme feeling of unwellness where doing nothing makes it worse, but doing something is just so difficult. Does that make sense? And the worst is my food tastes so bad on the odd occasion when when I want to eat it.
Oh well, I'm hoping tomorrow will be be better. And then only one more cycle (probably) before a "treatment" rest.
Earlier in the week I made contact with an old friend who I hadn't talked to in around seven years, during most of this time he has been suffering painful problems related to his liver on and off, but mostly on. He is now waiting for transplant with even more pain expected during recovery. The most amazing thing is during this time he has taken on working with kids at a a local zoo and wildlife park and became a samaritan finally becoming the chairman of the local samaritans. It puts my feeble problems into perspective.
Sunday, 30 March 2008
MRI Pictures
Got the MRI CD, so here are the pictures from the scans of 25 February compared with 27th August. The left picture is from the end of August and the right one is from 25th February indicating (I think) a quite substantial volume loss.
The pictures below show how much other junk has formed (mainly due to the treatment). This can be any of fluid, scar tissue or necrosis. This picture also shows very clearly how much space there is around the Brain now due to reduce pressure in the cavity.
The last picture shows quite clearly my newly acquired dent complete with ingrowing bone. I certainly think this is my best side dont't you, handsome beast.
So all in all, as I said before, good news. Makes all the Radiation and Chemo worth suffering. I started cycle 5 on Saturday, just the usual nausea and tiredness so far. Only one more to go and then we'll need to find out what to do next. I hope the doctors decide to give me a few months rest from treatment.
The pictures below show how much other junk has formed (mainly due to the treatment). This can be any of fluid, scar tissue or necrosis. This picture also shows very clearly how much space there is around the Brain now due to reduce pressure in the cavity.
The last picture shows quite clearly my newly acquired dent complete with ingrowing bone. I certainly think this is my best side dont't you, handsome beast.
So all in all, as I said before, good news. Makes all the Radiation and Chemo worth suffering. I started cycle 5 on Saturday, just the usual nausea and tiredness so far. Only one more to go and then we'll need to find out what to do next. I hope the doctors decide to give me a few months rest from treatment.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Thailand - Bangkok, Chiang Mai, & Rai
Bangkok reminds me of the city in Blade Runner with its 24 hours hour crowds, continuous music, talking billboards, dark alleyways, Pavement (Sidewalk) markets and endless traffic. This is obviously a city growing at a phenomenal rate, and we were lucky to have a native Friend to show us around. Crossing the road in Bangkok is a whole new experience, and it is often safer to take a Tuk-Tuk, but if you are looking for a Wat (temples), you are bound to find one without crossing a major road.
To those of you who think of Bangkok as the Sex city, you will be surprised to find that activity concentrated around just a couple of streets (Patpong I & II) and even then it has to share with a Night Market. So here are some pictures:
Bangkok Chinatown, Haggling over veg; Carol & Tam looking across the Chao Phraya to the royal palace
Climbing to Indra's weapon at Wat Arun, Across the Chao Phraya from Wat Arun. Bangkok downtown roofs
After 4 days in Bangkok we flew to Chiang Mia, the second city in the North of Thailand. Although still a busy city there was some breathing space, but that is not why we are here......
Firemen on alert after our plane starting pouring fuel all over the runway, Wat Doi Suthep, Cobra at snake show
Pung Tao Gong Temple Pagoda & Door detail
>
Hill Tribes - Meo children playing, Paduang ringed women
Along the Mae Kok River
E-Haw Tribe
>
Carol and our guide, A View to Burma, The Golden Triangle
Wat Phra Keo (Original home of the Emerald Buddha)
The food was better than expected
It's 7 days after leaving Bangkok, and after some Cabbage we fly back from Chang Rai having explored the most northern parts of Thailand. This has been a great fun and enligtening week.
Our final 5 days around Bangkok in pictures are covered in a later post.
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