More matter with less art

I found out at a hospital appointment on Wednesday afternoon that the CT scan I had on Sunday October the first revealed I have pancreatic cancer and that it has spread to some other organs. I also have a blood clot in one lung.

Medics will be meeting in St George's hospital today to decide my recommended treatment so I will probably find out what it is next week.

I have delayed posting about it here as I wanted to make sure I had sat down with the son and heir for a good face to face discussion before letting people know in general, and he and I had already agreed that we would meet socially last night.

Prodnose: Well it's to the point, I'll say that for it.

Too little too late

I weigh nine stone ten today. This is getting ridiculous.

I was too tired and listless to go and see ABBA Voyage last night. Granted, of all the things I have tickets for, this is the one that will be exactly the same if I do manage to catch it again, but - once more - getting ridiculous.

I missed the Wales Georgia World cup rugby. Got it in my head it was on at 2pm today not Saturday. This is getting ridiculous.

Maybe it is time to own up to myself that I am really not well?

patient portal

 Dear Nicholas,

This is a message from St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

You will receive a letter by post shortly regarding your new appointment or change to an existing appointment.

You can now manage your letters and appointments online via the hospital's patient portal.

Please register online at https://patients.stgeorges.nhs.uk/token/NP3vPoUFT4

To opt-out of these messages send PORTAL STGH STOP to 62277

This could be useful enough, but there is no appointment information in it before my procedure on Wednesday.

I had hoped it might give me a clue about the Thursday 28 September 2023 9:00 am telephone appointment (Clinic: 2WW Gastroenterology (Triage Service) University Hospital - RJ7) that didn't happen when they didn't call but no such luck (passim).

I mustn't let that slide despite everything else that is going on.

Don't frighten the horses

I have CAT scans of my chest, abdomen and pelvis scheduled  for twenty past nine this morning at Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton; two hour fast before.

There is more to write here but I am redacting that content until later this evening as there is a potential social occasion I do not want it to overshadow.

My mobile rang while I was walking down the High Street yesterday afternoon and my colonoscopy is also now booked; quarter to two in the Endoscopy department in St George's on Tuesday.

There were two follow up texts:

1. Appointment booked on 04/10/2023 @13:45

Please collect your laxatives from:

Endoscopy Unit,

1st Floor, St James' Wing,

St George's Hospital,

SW17 0QT

2. Please follow following instructions:

Fasting for 24 hours(with no food), can have water.

Low fibre diet for 3 days before appointment.

Please take laxatives in two parts. First part afternoon of previous day and second part morning on the day of procedure.

My niece Mia is flying in from Nepal and staying with me tonight before an audition tomorrow. The timings, both of today's arrival and tomorrow's appointment are still uncertain, but ideally she, I, Ben and Simona (who I don't think she has ever met) will go out to Corleone tonight.

I am typing this morning but won't publish until this evening as none of them officially know, though won't have failed to notice I am three stone lighter than this time last year, that I am under medical care. It's not a secret and they don't read the spindrift pages, but people they know might and I don't want to chance a less than jolly atmosphere.

Here is NHS 'Colonoscopy diet advice and bowel preparation.' Looking at the Corleone menu, I reckon I can eat garlic bread followed by risotto di mare and drink white wine tonight and stay within the low fibre diet guidelines without drawing attention to myself.

As for the day itself I have opted for the sedatives and cancelled the night's theatre. If sedated I will need someone to pick me up and take me home afterwards. Ollie and Andy Tea will do this. He will come in and collect me while she waits in the car. Probably wisest I think to take all of Wednesday and Thursday off work.

This show will run and run.

An appointment is now booked for you as shown below.

Date: Thursday 28 September 2023 at 9:00 am

Clinic: 2WW Gastroenterology (Triage Service) University Hospital - RJ7

Note: This is a telephone/video appointment, you do not need to go to the clinic.

During the telephone assessment the Clinical Nurse Specialist will decide which diagnostic test is most suitable based on referral information. These include:

• colonoscopy
• flexible sigmoidoscopy or
• CT colonography

This test date/time will be agreed with the patient over the phone during the telephone assessment and they will be given instructions re: light diet & bowel prep. This test will be carried out within 14 working days.

Now you know as much as I do. Watch this space.