Stranding in the Way of Control

Dr Biz phoned - he's just back from leave. He said essentially the scan's fine but shows some stranding which is likely to be scarring or adhesions from the op/cancer/chemo. So I have to have another scan in 4 months to check nothing sinister is going on. I'm guessing I stay a Bagger for a little while longer.

Here's the link for streaming or downloading Monday's show:http://www.futureradio.co.uk/podcast/2011/june/pride-live-podcast-27-6-11

Another Day Another Ansaphone

Think I've fallen between the two consultants so I'm hoping the stalwart Stoma Nurses can get in between - they're used to getting to difficult places.

Here's a draft entry to my 'bag on paragon' gallery - imagine it's Kylie not me (tough I know). I hope to get loads of photos of Stoma folk posing with their bags. There are an estimated 1.2 million people in the UK with a bag and another 13500 having the op every year and yet before I had the op I knew no one who had or had had a bag. Lots of new stoma patients are youngsters with Crones or Ulcerative Colitis and knowing about peers and or superstars who've done bags would surely help make the process easier to deal with?

No News

I've left a message on an ansaphone somewhere up at the hospital so I hope to get a call sometime soon re the scan. I'm guessing if there was a problem I would have heard by now but in my darker moments... As ever there's Pride Live to take my mind off everything except the script for the show, and tonight the crew and guests were unbelievable with slick, witty features and cool personas belying the hideous portacabin cauldron of Future Radio. Podcast up tomorrow.

Matt's birthday party last night and I got pleasantly pickled for the first time in 8 months (not that I've been unpleasantly pickled in that time either although I have imbibed a fair bit of poison). So tonight I'm carrying on where I left off with Bagger's Pimms; lemonade (carefully flattened)and cucumber (peeled and deseeded). Hope to have enough Dutch Courage left tomorrow to phone Dr Biswas and ask for the scan result.

Bored

Still tingly, still stuff tastes of metal, still tired; bored now!

My phone Still Ain't Ringin'

To Paraphrase Randy Travis; Since my phone still ain't ringing, I assume it still ain't Dr Biswas. No news of the scan results yet. There is a result from Monday's other exercise in technology though - the podcast is up (although the download file doesn't work at the moment so please press play).

Uncharted Territory

I've had an 8 day break from Xeloda before - the Royal Wedding delayed the weeekly drugs issue by a day - so this ninth day off was uncharted territory. Still metallic mouth, still tingling fingers and toes. An increase in energy was sapped by a bag leak and associated panic, changing and cleaning up. Tomorrow is another day!

Hot Shot

The scan involved drinking a jug of what looked like Pernod but tasted of Dettol over an hour then having a shot in the arm that fizzed round my body in a nanosecond and felt like intravenous Deep Heat and also made me feel as if I'd wet myself. Results over the phone from Dr Biswas shortly I hope. From Radiography to the Radio and Pride Live went well. Podcast should be up on Wednesday.

Pride Live but tiring!

Hear me rapidly run out of juice on last Monday's Pride Live.

Radio and Radiography

I'm happy to be presenting Pride Live at 6pm on Monday so I can get stressed about that rather than about the scan at 3!

Eunertia

The euphoria of finishing the Xeloda course compounded by the residue of 6months pills is making this week the most exhausting I've had. Short of breath, heart pounding and my limbs feel like I'm walking through cake mixture (you wouldnt want to eat it afterwards). Next week the recovery begins.

Last Pill!

At 8.00pm this evening I took my final Xeloda tablet!

3 Little Pills, Well, Quite Big Really

Breakfast Xeloda taken which leaves three more for this evening...and that'll be the lot! As we left the Magnet Man party last night (Ragga Rock, the Pride Posse and miniature horses - what else could you want on a chilly June evening?)the DJ played New Order... 'I used to think that the day would never come...'

Scan

I have a date for a CT scan to check the op and chemo have done their work. I have to arrive an hour early on 13th June so presumably have to drink the heinous milky dye before the scan.

Bag Demon

The bag demon came in the early morning and unfastened one of the bag's Velcro tabs. The bed was saved but the floor got fairly messy. Shell was in the bag-zone as soon as she woke up and began to clean 'nice consistency' she said.