Moving on

Both the base-line x-ray and CT scan have now been done. Of course they wanted to do the scan at the very time that I was hoping to get to Rotary, but there is a law about these things. I think they will be checked on Saturday, but asuming there are no problems, I am now on the six-month monitoring programme. Roll on the 29th, so I can get the original problem sorted and, hopefully, throw my sticks away.

Progress..

Well, we have taken the next step. Today was the follow-up meeting with the consultant veins man. The future is 6-monthly check-ups by x-ray and CT scan to make sure that the stent is still in position and working properly. 1 in 5 chance of another 'intervention'. But the odds are improving weekly as they get more experience at doing it! OK by me. He thinks I could go tomorrow for the op on my back, but the back man has decreed that he wants 2 weeks between the 2 ops. Still OK by me. The first CT scan will be within the next few days to fix a basis for comparing future scans..

So after the consultation and the first x-ray to get a basis for future comparisons of x-rays, we went to the Spa for lunch. Couple of decent glasses of red wine and the world is a different place.

Home again!!

Well, the op seemed to go OK - and the consultant seemed pleased. Today he disclosed, before chucking me out, that I had "a very unusual aneurysm". Not something I would have wished to know about - it looks like another version of "interesting" which is usually bad news. Anyway, here I am back at Bidborough, in the cold and snow, slightly sore in places, which will wear off. All callers and visitors are welcome - give us a bit of notice so we can be prepared. The next op will be four days in the London Bridge Hospital, where they sort my back out, on the 29 January.

Not sure if I shall get to Lodge or Rotary meetings for a couple of months. It all depends on how mobile I am after the back op. No promises being made there, I imagine. And the seeds for the allotment have now arrived. Not sure about that either, although 2/3 of it are now down to soft fruit, in anticipation of old age and infirmity.

Clive

Operation went well, still in high dependency unit, back in his room this afternoon :)

We have a date

Clive will be going into Kings College Hospital on tuesday to have the aortic aneurysm corrected.He should be in for only a couple of nights but we will keep the blog updated.

Could be worse

Saw the vasologist today, who sent me for a CT scan - which apparently showed that the aneurysm is such that it needs dealing with before the back. This means that the op booked for the London Bridge Hospital for Thursday 7 December has been put on ice. I have yet to hear from him with details of the new op, but it sounds as though there is to be a stent or lining inserted in the aorta. This is not invasive surgery, which is good, but it is fairly new technology. But it is better that going in with me on a life support machine and replacing a length of aorta. I have yet to hear when and where this is to happen, but it sounds like the 12 or the 19 January at Kings College. More follows.

Otherwise Christmas has come to an end. We have undressed the tree - at least Sonia has - and finished up all the left-overs. Indeed we had guests for supper last night, which was good, and finished up the last decent bottle of wine. Must get some more in!

A Date!

A bit more certainty now - the op will be at the London Bridge Hospital at 3.30 on Thursday 7 January. I shall have to be there earlier than that, but I do not know whether I shall be asked to go in on Wednesday or Thursday am.

In the meantime Bryan Vernon has delivered a bar stool! Just what I wanted!! Makes me feel at home...