Merry Christmas

I hope you all had a great day yesterday. The boys were up at 7am to open their stocking presents before we all headed down at 8am for the main the event.

We set off for Linda and Dave's at around 11am and had a great lunch.

I was feeling pretty good and ate reasonably well - just unbelievably tired which meant I snoozed away much of the afternoon (with Father-in-law) and evening (just me!).

Slept until 11:30am this morning so may be a little more with it at Jeff and Pauline's this afternoon.

The cough has all but gone and I am not vomitting at the moment. My chest feels a little sore - probably a combination of the coughing and the stent settlting in. Back pain has migrated to be a nagging pain under right shoulder blade which even the Codeine does not take much off.

We are due to travel for Julia's cousin Diane's wedding on Monday - at present it is probably doubtful that I will make it.

Feeling better - MC/HNY

Firstly thanks to all of you who have contacted to let me know they are thinking about me - you are much better than I fear I would be if the positions were reversed!

I have continued to feel improvements over the weekend and the vomitting is (thankfully) only very occasional. I am still coughing or clearing my throat very frequently - which makes you feel physically very tied and my chest feel sore.

The Stent seems to be settling in well and my eating is looking good. Crusty bread, a nice brie and a bottle of red are a while off - but roast chicken, mash, carrots, cauli and gravy was very nice yesterday evening.

Julia bought me one of those "L" shaped pillows and I have actually managed to use it to sleep in a upright position - something I need to do for a while as the stent settles. My back is not as bad as it was a few weeks ago - but as I am not lying down at all at the moment it is a little tired. Not sure whether to attend the Physio appointment on Thursday in light of recent events....probably won't on balance.

Will try to post a bit more frequently again - now I can get off the sofa unaided!! But if you don't read the Blog again before then then I wish you all and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (Happy Holidays are for politians!)

Still here.....but horror week!

We had a really good night with the Croughton Boys on the Friday, and then had Linda and Dave round on the Saturday....in hindsight perhaps a little much for my current condition.

When I woke up on Sunday it felt like most of my bodily systems had shutdown, well except for the ones the manage vomitting, pain and discomfort!

Didn't manage to really eat or drink anything from Sunday morning until Friday. It was a constant cycle of drink a few sips, cough and vomitt everything up.

Spoke to the Oncologist on Tuesday and went to hospital to see him on the Wednesday. We decided I needed an immediate Stent insertion so I had a CT scan on Wednesday and stayed in the hospital overnight on IV fluids to re-hydrate.

We travelled to the large NHS hospital in Derbty early Thursday morning where the stent was inserted via on Endoscrope (one of the keenest tourture prodecures know to man).

The stent blocked up a flap that had developed with the tumour that was where the food was going and was immediately successfull in improving my ability to swallow. However it did not stop the sickness and it was only yesterday after taking anti-sickness meds that things have really started to improve.

I have to say this has been one of the worst weeks of my enitre life and I would hate to go through it again. Julia has been an absolute star and taken care of me at my worst and grumpiest!

Funny old day

Been to Ramsey for my Uncle Nobby's funeral today. Many thanks to my sister Julie for driving...although it did make me feel a little like "Miss Daisy"!

I've known Uncle Nobby all my life but it was only this morning that I found out his real name was Donald!

The Service was good and the Vicar gave a great description of Nobby's life and principles. He worked hard (as a farmer) all his life but was always happy with a wicked sense of humour.

Despite the reason for going I couldn't help enjoying catching up with many members of my Mum's side of the family. Being some of the youngest cousins we rarely meet up any more for anything other than funerals these days. I think many of the rele's were a bit surprised to see me looking reasonably well.

R.I.P. Uncle Nobby!

More positive

Had a good nights sleep and woken up feeling more positive! Going to try to get out and about a bit more this week - it's very easy to get stuck in a rut and spiral downwards.

World Cup Blues

Not been having a great week. Been feeling under the weather all week and been sick several times - it's pretty hard to remain upbeat and positive when you feel pretty lousy.

Just watched the World Cup draw for next summer.....brings it home that I will be exceeding medical expectations to be around to watch England play in it. Had hoped to take Tom and Al over to watch some games in South Africa. Ah well thems the breaks!