Ticking away ... Day 921 ~ the further tales of a man and his own personal cancer.

Yesterday, Day 920, me and my Stage 4 cancer as well as my son travelled to Chesterfield Royal for another 28 day check-up ... though perhaps I should call it a follow-up appointment. Anyway, you get the idea.

I got weighed and my blood pressure was taken. The Atenolol I have been given for the last 28 days has done the trick ~ my blood pressure is down ! I've been having a weekly check on my blood pressure though I haven't told you. Even I know there's a limit. [I'm thinking of you. I don't want to labour a point].

I've not even told you about my mallet finger ... what's that ? You'd like to know ? OK ... well, I went to the Pulvertaft Hand Clinic within the Royal Derby Hospital  where, after eight weeks, the doctor asked me to take off the plaster around the splint ... "Don't you want to do it ?" I asked ... "No, I might hurt you if I did it ..." he replied. So, gingerly, I unwrapped my middle finger and, lo and behold, it stayed straight ! I think the next thing he said was "Don't bend it !" I didn't bend it but you know what it's like sometimes when you know you mustn't do something ... you do it ... but not this time ... so far. The next stop was the therapist who told me that for another four weeks at least I have to keep my splint on though now it will largely be held on with velcro with a bit of plaster. I have to perform two exercises ten times at one go to build up the strength in the tendon. These exercises have to be carried out eight times a day. One involves squeezing a tin of mushy peas very gently. [Note : it doesn't have to be mushy peas. Any can or aerosol will do but I mustn't grip and lift. I go back in ten days for a check up as regards the finger].

Meanwhile back in Chesterfield yesterday, I saw the doctor who seemed happy enough with how things were going. I did mention that I had some discomfort in my groin especially when I walk. It wasn't pain ... just discomfort. I can feel something in there. It could well be that the pelvic bone has been affected by the cancer or the drugs or the chemotherapy ... or all three for all I know. Anyway, radiotherapy may be an option further on down the line. In the meantime I can resort to painkillers though [as mentioned] I have no pain at present.

He did say though that he would like me to double up on the Sando-K, a potassium supplement. However, just in case it increases my potassium levels too much [which can be as dangerous as having low potassium levels] I've got to have some more blood tests ...

As long as they keep me pegged together though I'm happy enough.

A photograph was taken in the car park ...

Keep smiling folks.

Ticking away ... Day 884 ~ Charles Wildhouse ?

I'd not been to hospital for three weeks or so ... so another visit was on the cards today. I was off to Derby for a follow-up appointment ... not about the life limiting illness this time but the one that causes me so much inconvenience ~ my mallet finger.

Having a bath/shower ~ what a pain. OK I can wear a plastic bag on my left hand taped to my wrist with selotape but unless I leave my hand higher than my elbow then some water will get onto the plaster on my hand. I can cover quite a lot of ground with the soap in my right hand but when it comes to washing your right arm ... or your right armpit ... well, you try it sometime. I have to get help ... fortunately help is available and there is something so deliciously decadent about someone washing you.

Of course washing the pots is right out.

So, there we were in the Pulvertaft Hand Centre within the Royal Derby Hospital [to give it its correct title] just before 10.30am when my appointment was due. Various therapists and physios came in and called out a name as that name left the waiting area for attention.

Then a young woman came in with a clipboard. She was over my left shoulder and I heard her say quite softly "Charles Wildhouse ..." ~ I only really heard the 'Charles' ... but she repeated the name a little louder this time "Charles Wild ..." [she looked at her clipboard hesitantly] "... house'.

I piped up 'Wildgoose' ? She looked at the clipboard ... "Oh, yes ..." so then we were off to the treatment room.  

I never got round to asking her why she didn't come out with it and say "Wildgoose ...".

As usual I have gone on too long [as is the norm]. Longish story short[ish] ... I got a new split. My washerwoman Beloved had to put the plaster on too, in front of the professional to see how she was doing ... she nearly got full marks which pleased you know who ...

I got to choose a new colour for the splint ... even more shocking than the red one ...

How's the finger doing ? OK apparently ... well as far as they can tell. It can't be bent for another four weeks but it looks ok.  

This isn't the first time that my surname has been so badly treated. I have been called 'Wildgorse', 'Wildgrove', 'Goose' and many more. Worst of all is those damned computer messages that are left on my phone. I am always referred to as 'Charles Wiljus' by them.   

Ticking away ... Day 867 ~ the low side of normal ...

Six visits to hospitals and a medical centre in eight days ... and now I've got a bit of a break, not literally thankfully.

I'm not going to go into details as regards the visits you will be pleased to hear but I can show you a photograph of my mallet finger in its splint made especially for me by one of the therapists at the Pulvertaft Hand Centre within the Royal Derby Hospital ...

Except when I wash my finger every four or five days the splint has got to stay on for eight weeks and then for four weeks during the night after that. If I bend the end joint of my finger once in that time then we're back to square one. Oh boy.

The most important visit though was probably the last one on Wednesday [Day 864] when the doctor at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital told me everything seemed to be going ok in the circumstances and, wonder of wonders, my potassium level is up to the low side of normal [namely 3.5]. What have I been doing that resulted in this revelation ? My theory is that it's the red wine ... I need more red wine.

After the good news Jamie and I adjourned to the Cafe@theRoyal and had a bacon bap each ... well Jamie had two.

We walked to the car and a photograph was taken. The old boy's hair seems to be getting whiter ...

I am in good spirits and enjoying life.