I have to drink about 4 litres of this stuff every day.
Why?
The tumour in my left kidney is eating into my kidney blood supply and this releases blood into my bladder. If the blood stays too long in one place it will coagulate and create clots. These clots block my urine output from the bladder causing no end of eye watering pain as well as infection. The tumour is also spreading into muscle tissue behind the kidney. The other kidney appears to be OK.
Another response to a blocked bladder is a catheter, they are just as painful and also make your bladder lazy. I've been there twice and I don't want to go there again.
The downside of Part 1 is regular visits to the toilet roughly 30 minutes apart. My best record is 40 minutes but that brought some pain back into the argument whereas with infection present it is about 3 minutes.
This makes travelling to a wargames event a bit difficult, Vapnartak in York in February is a 'no-no', my wargames hut is a 'maybe-yes'.
That is a 'bummer'.
Plan A, Part 2 goes like this.
I turn up at the Western General Hospital one day in the New Year. January is fully booked but since my cancer seems to be aggressive they will try to fit me in.
I get a nice comfy bed and a jag in my arm and oh so sleepy.
When I wake up I will have a few abdominal cuts, and maybe one bigger one, and another bloody catheter. Oh Joy. Probably 3 or 4 days in bed before being allowed home, more litres of water and quite a few tablets.
Maybe a couple of weeks after that I could maybe get out to the wargames hut and peruse what hasn't been happening. It might be another month after that before I'm allowed to drive.
What happens after that?
Dunno. Ask me later.
Not over till the last roll of the die. Roll high!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't that depend on the rules?
DeleteI wrote a set of rules a few years ago where you had to roll 3's to hit. Confused onlookers no end.
Jim, you are in the wars with this one, did they put shunts in?
ReplyDeleteI hope your hospital stay is brief and that you can soon be in the comfort of your own home, with your hobby stuff around you for when you are in the mood.
Norm.
Nope, no shunt.
DeleteI don't think they use a shunt in the bladder area.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteHang on in there - frustrating but at least there are solutions take the time to read and plan.
Hanging on.
DeleteKeep going Jim , there seems to be a game plan ,go for it!
ReplyDeleteAlan
Plan A and nothing but Plan A.
DeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteIf drinking 4 litres of water per day and going to the loo every thirty minutes can help keep the pain at bay, then I hope that you have a plentiful supply of the stuff!
Seriously though, it sounds as if things are moving in the right direction with regard to your treatment, although I am sure we would all wish that it would be happening sooner rather than later. If there is anything any of us can do to help, let us know. There is a very large group of us out here in cyberspace willing you to get better.
All the best,
Bob
Yes, see my next post.
DeletePlan A is always the best plan.
ReplyDeleteCorrect!
DeleteSad that it just has to be water and nothing stronger or 'hoppier' .
ReplyDeleteI've been T-Total for a few years now. I only drink on special occasions.
DeleteAll sounds incredibly unpleasant for you, but you certainly have the right mind set... well done and I hope the op. marks a steady improvement from then on.
ReplyDeletevery best wishes
Mike
Unpleasant it has been and there is more unpleasantness to come.
DeleteBring it on.
Sounds like sensible action on the Hospital's part, I hope the regimen is ok for you and you feel better for it!
ReplyDeleteI've been on a bit of a mild diet for the last few months as I am bordering on clinical obesity.
DeleteI have been about 7 pounds lighter than normal.
Since I started the water regime I have lost about another 6 pounds although I feel stuffed all the time.
4keyhole scars and 1 6" scar for me, out in a week, but back in after infection for another week. No driving for 12 weeks, mate. But I've had my 5 years scan and all clear now.
ReplyDeleteHi Jack
DeleteMuch the same as I'm expecting except perhaps not the infection. Was told 6 weeks on no driving but it is up to the insurance company I'm told.