I was going to call this blog before and after. This based on the simple premise that I started to write it before my prostate operation on the 6th of October and would finish it some time after the op. The only problem with this idea was that the operation didn’t happen.
To cut a long story short the hospital cancelled it. I managed to precipitate this decision by developing a mysterious stomach ache. Apart from being annoyed I had to admit that I was worried that something had belatedly gone wrong with the colon operation. Worst case scenario, they would have to open me up again either to find out what was wrong or to put whatever it is, right. A terrible possibility.
I’ve had the pain to varying degrees of painfulness for over 4 weeks and despite a visit to my GP, a urine test (result not back yet), a poo test (neutral) and a blood test (also neutral), I don’t know what the problem is. If the pain persists then I’ll be heading for a scan and then who knows.
I must admit that I wished I had never called the hospital and admitted I had the pain, but then if I had said nothing, best result would have been a cancellation on the day, worst result I might have died on the operating table. In other words, there would have been nobody to write the ‘after’ part of this blog and that would be a shame.
So here I am the week after that imaginary date with no rearranged date for the operation and truth be told feeling quite sorry for myself. At this rate the HOLEP (laser) operation date will be coming up and that was supposed to be about a year from my Newcastle visit. And then I’ll have to go through the whole business of deciding which operation I want. Not an easy decision.
So in the meantime I get to wear the catheter and valve for even longer. Oh happy days. This all started in January and right now it looks like it’s going to take up a year of my life which at 75 feels like a bigger proportion of my life than it would have at say 35. You can tell I’m a bit down in the dumps can’t you. Despite my best efforts there’s a bit of negative thinking creeping in.
So now the ‘after’ part is concerned with the results of all the testing / possible scanning that’s happening right now and in the near future. You’ll have to excuse me now, I have to take the Defender (Land Rover) in to the garage for a manufacturer’s recall, something to do with a fault in the front axle. And then on Wednesday we go back to the surgery for our flu and Covid jabs. In the meantime I’ll be uttering a little prayer for the non-return of my gout problems. I’m not naturally inclined to prayer but, in the case, of gout pain, you need as much support as you can get from wherever you can find it. It’s that painful. Who says there isn’t a life outside of prostate surgery? Not me that’s for sure.
Apologies to my friends who thought these blogs were getting to be a more positive view of my life with health problems. I’m sure this one is just a blip.