What a day - what a disaster. We got up early to prepare for our trip to Oxford. We actually made it there in great time and arrived about 15 mins early and checked in.
It was then that the problems started. I was due to have a kidney function test and the idea what they they would put two lines into my veins, one on each arm. Then they would use one to inject dye at various times and the other one they would draw blood from it a regular intervals. The whole test was designed to take 4 or 5 hours.
Anyhow getting the needles into the veins was not easy at all. After 2 failed attempts they called the registrar to have a go. Three more failed attempts and they had to give up. So after 5 attempts, my veins finally collapsed and gave up and they were not able to complete the test.
We are now left with having to go back again while they get an anesthetist to be on call to help get the lines in. I will either have to go back in the next week or so or they will see if it can be the first test that I have when I start my 10 day assessment.
What a day - what a disaster and i am now left nursing very bruised and painful arms and hands!!
More to follow soon.
xx
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
20th february @11.30am
So I'm back again - can't imagine that I was greatly missed. Anyhow it feels like this week is the first step towards the transplant surgery. On Tuesday we go to Oxford for a 4 hours test on my kidneys. If truth be told I am not exactly certain what is going to happen but I have been told that I need to have this test before I go in for the full assessment.
I have also started to receive dates for my assessment. I will be going in on 21st March and have my first few tests booked. I will be staying at the transplant flat for around 10 days and each day will be a different test. Its all a little scary but the end results should be worth it. My wife is taking me down there on Tuesday so hopefully we will get an idea of whats going on when we meet the team. All I know so far is that there will insert a line and have to drip through certain liquids over a period of time.
Away from my health I have decided to do some studying. I am undertaking a sports therapy diploma which comprises of sports massage, study of the anatomy, nutrition etc. It should take around 18 months but I am confident that it will open up new doors for me to explore. Its completely different from everything I have ever done but I am very interested in this area of sport and hopefully it will keep my brain ticking over and give me a focus to take my mind off surgery. any how I will keep you posted when I start.
That's all for now, as I always say if you can forward my blog to as many people as possible I would really appreciate it.
Take care xx
I have also started to receive dates for my assessment. I will be going in on 21st March and have my first few tests booked. I will be staying at the transplant flat for around 10 days and each day will be a different test. Its all a little scary but the end results should be worth it. My wife is taking me down there on Tuesday so hopefully we will get an idea of whats going on when we meet the team. All I know so far is that there will insert a line and have to drip through certain liquids over a period of time.
Away from my health I have decided to do some studying. I am undertaking a sports therapy diploma which comprises of sports massage, study of the anatomy, nutrition etc. It should take around 18 months but I am confident that it will open up new doors for me to explore. Its completely different from everything I have ever done but I am very interested in this area of sport and hopefully it will keep my brain ticking over and give me a focus to take my mind off surgery. any how I will keep you posted when I start.
That's all for now, as I always say if you can forward my blog to as many people as possible I would really appreciate it.
Take care xx
Monday, 14 February 2011
14th February @9.52am
The last two weeks have been mad busy, a real struggle health wise but I wouldn't have missed out on being there. We were fortunate enough to go to two simchas but getting through the weekends was a real challenge. Fortunately I was able to put my feeds on at different times and prepare my medication in advance so that I could inject as soon as I got home.
I don't think that I realised quite how much a weekend of partying can take out of you. I guess part of it is simply being old - or getting older!! The bones creak a bit more and as my dear friend said yesterday after a bout of Israeli dancing "it didn't feel this hard dancing two years ago, I guess age has caught up with us". Anyhow aside from aching bones I was truly knackered. Fortunately I have a quiet week in which to recover.
As most of you probably know we have chosen to have the transplant surgery at the Radcliff Hospital in Oxford. In March I will be going there for a full pre op assessment. They go through every part of the body and make sure that you are fit enough to copy with the surgery. In addition I will meet a psychiatrist who will check the mental state and ensure that i can cope.
Radcliff are giving me the use of the transplant flat for the 10 days. This is the flat that I will live in for a few weeks once I am discharged from the ward. It is a great way to get used to living there and it beats being an in patient again. I guess that once I have gad this surgery then it will all hit home but it will be great to get this all off and running. Sometimes the waiting is worse.
We have though decided to only go on the list after our son's bar mitzvah. So this means that it will be mid August before I actually go on the transplant list.
That's all the news for now. I have decided to try and take am open university distance learning course while I am ill. I feel that as my life will be changing so enormously that it will be a good thing to do now. It might enable me to re train into an area that I have not done before. I will keep you posted with which course I choose.
xx
I don't think that I realised quite how much a weekend of partying can take out of you. I guess part of it is simply being old - or getting older!! The bones creak a bit more and as my dear friend said yesterday after a bout of Israeli dancing "it didn't feel this hard dancing two years ago, I guess age has caught up with us". Anyhow aside from aching bones I was truly knackered. Fortunately I have a quiet week in which to recover.
As most of you probably know we have chosen to have the transplant surgery at the Radcliff Hospital in Oxford. In March I will be going there for a full pre op assessment. They go through every part of the body and make sure that you are fit enough to copy with the surgery. In addition I will meet a psychiatrist who will check the mental state and ensure that i can cope.
Radcliff are giving me the use of the transplant flat for the 10 days. This is the flat that I will live in for a few weeks once I am discharged from the ward. It is a great way to get used to living there and it beats being an in patient again. I guess that once I have gad this surgery then it will all hit home but it will be great to get this all off and running. Sometimes the waiting is worse.
We have though decided to only go on the list after our son's bar mitzvah. So this means that it will be mid August before I actually go on the transplant list.
That's all the news for now. I have decided to try and take am open university distance learning course while I am ill. I feel that as my life will be changing so enormously that it will be a good thing to do now. It might enable me to re train into an area that I have not done before. I will keep you posted with which course I choose.
xx
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
8th February @9.31am
Gosh its freezing out there. I did my usual early morning walk with Justine and the dog and it was a real struggle to keep up. I guess that my stamina isn't what it used to be!!
Went to a lovely bar mitzvah on the weekend, it was the first function I have ever been to at The Grove. The England team had checked in there that afternoon and all the kids were hanging around outside looking for autographs - unfortunately to no avail.
So life continues on as I now count down the days until my assessment at Oxford. I really feel now that i just want to get on with things but I guess a bit of patience needs to be shown.
I am spending my days trying to get a bit of consultancy work whilst at the same time looking for new courses to go on in case life needs to change dramatically after surgery. Its already been made clear to me that I will need to change my working habits. Not so much travel and as little stress as possible. Obviously with any work comes stress its just how I channel it. As most of you know I have got in to cooking and baking. I have to admit that I prefer baking and I am looking at trying to go on courses to improve my skills. Never know maybe one day I might bake or do some desserts for you!!
Ok will update more when I have a bit more news. For now please can i ask a huge favour. Please forward the link to my blog to as many people as possible. I would really like to try and spread the word.
xx
Went to a lovely bar mitzvah on the weekend, it was the first function I have ever been to at The Grove. The England team had checked in there that afternoon and all the kids were hanging around outside looking for autographs - unfortunately to no avail.
So life continues on as I now count down the days until my assessment at Oxford. I really feel now that i just want to get on with things but I guess a bit of patience needs to be shown.
I am spending my days trying to get a bit of consultancy work whilst at the same time looking for new courses to go on in case life needs to change dramatically after surgery. Its already been made clear to me that I will need to change my working habits. Not so much travel and as little stress as possible. Obviously with any work comes stress its just how I channel it. As most of you know I have got in to cooking and baking. I have to admit that I prefer baking and I am looking at trying to go on courses to improve my skills. Never know maybe one day I might bake or do some desserts for you!!
Ok will update more when I have a bit more news. For now please can i ask a huge favour. Please forward the link to my blog to as many people as possible. I would really like to try and spread the word.
xx
Sunday, 6 February 2011
6th February @ 3.45pm
Sorry its been a while since we last spoke but its been a busy weekend. We are soon off to a fancy bar mitzvah at The Grove. That is the hotel and not our road!!!
Since deciding that we will be going to Oxford for the transplant surgery we thought that life would be calmer. Actually its been the opposite as it all now feels very real. It will be about 6 weeks until I go for my assessment and that now seems ages away and I just want to get on with things.
On Friday I spoke to a guy from Belfast who had the same surgery as I am going to have last November. He was really positive about the future but said how tough it was getting through the first few weeks. I think that I already knew that but hearing it first hand really made things sink in! He did say that the the care at Oxford was fantastic and the fact that one can use the transplant flat on site made transition to normal life much easier.
I am already starting to think about work once I am better. i know that its a bit of a way off but I will need to get back to earning some money. It is clear that I will not be able to do the travelling that I once did and will need to be based close to home so it might be time for me to start looking at alternative careers. I am not sure quite what that will be but at least it is something to occupy the mind with. At the moment I think that my mind is going to mush and that is not good at all. Although I think my wife feels that at times I don't have anything between the ears!!!
Right its time to start getting ready for the simcha. Will try and catch up again tomorrow.
xx
Since deciding that we will be going to Oxford for the transplant surgery we thought that life would be calmer. Actually its been the opposite as it all now feels very real. It will be about 6 weeks until I go for my assessment and that now seems ages away and I just want to get on with things.
On Friday I spoke to a guy from Belfast who had the same surgery as I am going to have last November. He was really positive about the future but said how tough it was getting through the first few weeks. I think that I already knew that but hearing it first hand really made things sink in! He did say that the the care at Oxford was fantastic and the fact that one can use the transplant flat on site made transition to normal life much easier.
I am already starting to think about work once I am better. i know that its a bit of a way off but I will need to get back to earning some money. It is clear that I will not be able to do the travelling that I once did and will need to be based close to home so it might be time for me to start looking at alternative careers. I am not sure quite what that will be but at least it is something to occupy the mind with. At the moment I think that my mind is going to mush and that is not good at all. Although I think my wife feels that at times I don't have anything between the ears!!!
Right its time to start getting ready for the simcha. Will try and catch up again tomorrow.
xx
Thursday, 3 February 2011
3rd Feb @ 8.54am
Sorry about no posting yesterday I just think I needed a day to myself to start deciding what is next. On speaking with my nearest and dearest we have decided to proceed with Oxford and have the assessment. This doesnt mean that we have totally given up on USA it just means that we will put those plans on hold for a while whilst we explore Oxford as the right hospital.
It has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make and to be honest you never know if you have made the correct decision. I think what steered me towards the UK was the fact that I will have my family and friends around me to support me and help us get through what will be a tough year. I hope that makes sense, am not sure its right but in my heart I think the thought of being away for 3 months with only periodic visits from my wife and kids would really be a very tough call.
So what's next. Well I will have the 10 day assessment and then have to wait and see if the committee that makes the final decision as to whether they can proceed with me, can agree with my consultant, that the procedure should go ahead. Its a bit of a long winded process but by May/June I should know if I am proceeding.
As you may know I have my middle son's barmitzvah in July this year. I have therefore already spoken to the transplant team to advise them that I would not therefore go on the transplant list until August. They are quite happy with this so there is no need to worry that i have to get this done now.
I am now off to speak with a former patient who had the surgery at Oxford. They have just given me his details so we are are now going to speak. Will update you more tomorrow.
x
It has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make and to be honest you never know if you have made the correct decision. I think what steered me towards the UK was the fact that I will have my family and friends around me to support me and help us get through what will be a tough year. I hope that makes sense, am not sure its right but in my heart I think the thought of being away for 3 months with only periodic visits from my wife and kids would really be a very tough call.
So what's next. Well I will have the 10 day assessment and then have to wait and see if the committee that makes the final decision as to whether they can proceed with me, can agree with my consultant, that the procedure should go ahead. Its a bit of a long winded process but by May/June I should know if I am proceeding.
As you may know I have my middle son's barmitzvah in July this year. I have therefore already spoken to the transplant team to advise them that I would not therefore go on the transplant list until August. They are quite happy with this so there is no need to worry that i have to get this done now.
I am now off to speak with a former patient who had the surgery at Oxford. They have just given me his details so we are are now going to speak. Will update you more tomorrow.
x
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
1st Feb @ 9.27am
So I have now had a night to sleep on things and I can't say that it gets any easier. I am very frustrated that I cannot get on with normal life and at the moment full recovery seems a long long way away!!
We are now discussing whether we should take the appointments in America before making any final decisions. It would seem to make sense to go but having found out the enormity of the surgery I am wondering if I could cope only seeing my wife and kids on the odd occasion that they could fly out whilst i would have to spend about three months out there.
Having said all of that if they are that much more experienced; and from what Oxford said the after care is better as they have the funds to deliver fantastic after care, then I would worry about what I might be missing. Oh its never easy making these sorts of decisions but I suspect we will go as it would seem sensible to get the views of a couple of other doctors before jumping in. This is the one question that is now going round and round in our heads the whole time.
In the meantime I need to find some work as it could be a long while before I am fully fit and able to lead a normal life. Maybe I need to think outside the box and do something different or maybe I should like at studying something new as at least it would keep the brain ticking over. Decisions decisions its all so hard.
Will let you know more later on. I do have one favour to ask. If you could give this blog address to as many different people as possible then that would be fab. Also if anyone has crohns or needs a bit of support then please feel free to put my name forward. I would be absolutely delighted to try and help others.
x
We are now discussing whether we should take the appointments in America before making any final decisions. It would seem to make sense to go but having found out the enormity of the surgery I am wondering if I could cope only seeing my wife and kids on the odd occasion that they could fly out whilst i would have to spend about three months out there.
Having said all of that if they are that much more experienced; and from what Oxford said the after care is better as they have the funds to deliver fantastic after care, then I would worry about what I might be missing. Oh its never easy making these sorts of decisions but I suspect we will go as it would seem sensible to get the views of a couple of other doctors before jumping in. This is the one question that is now going round and round in our heads the whole time.
In the meantime I need to find some work as it could be a long while before I am fully fit and able to lead a normal life. Maybe I need to think outside the box and do something different or maybe I should like at studying something new as at least it would keep the brain ticking over. Decisions decisions its all so hard.
Will let you know more later on. I do have one favour to ask. If you could give this blog address to as many different people as possible then that would be fab. Also if anyone has crohns or needs a bit of support then please feel free to put my name forward. I would be absolutely delighted to try and help others.
x
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