All change again!
24 Aug 2012
Just as I've been saying how wonderful it is here in the Royal Marsden, I'm now being shipped off to another hospital. Was it something I said? Or does someone want me to write a consumers's guide to London area hospitals?
Tomorrow morning I am moving to the Royal Brompton. It's not far. In fact it's just across the street although I believe they're not allowed to push me along the street in a wheelchair so I will need hospital transport for the 50 metre trip. I could walk but I don't think that's allowed.
I must admit I was disappointed as I felt I was making progress here. Indeed this morning I went with the physio to the gym and managed 18 minutes on the bike. It was soo good to be in the saddle, even of a static bike.
The reason for moving is that the antibiotics are not bringing down the blood markers (in other words not resolving the infection and the fevers) so, reluctantly, my consultant wants me to have thoracic surgery and that has to be at the Royal Brompton. Apparently he's a wonderful surgeon with very good hands (when he said that I tried not to think of those England cricketers with 'good hands' who still managed to drop some easy catches). The aim is to try to drain the pockets of infected fluid and to see what other obstructions are preventing me from inflating my left lung.
As a coward, I don't relish surgery but it will be under general anaesthetic and, with luck, will happen over the Bank Holiday weekend, while Nottingham Hill has its carnival just down the road. Unfortunately this means I will then have to spend a week in the Royal Brompton recuperating from the surgery. So this is turning into a long haul.
The problem with long stays in hospital, however good they are, is that weird stuff starts to happen to your body. Right now my feet, ankles and legs are swelling up to about 150% of their normal size, partly because I am spending so long in bed but mainly because my lungs aren't generating enough oxygen which is starving the blood of protein.
Never mind, on the positive side I have learnt a few words of Bulgarian from one of the very nice nurses here. I'm sure they'll be useful one day.
Ponce again, thanks for all the great messages. I just hope they have WiFi access at the Royal Brompton as they do here so I can keep up the blog. If you don't hear from me don't assume the worst happened on the surgeon's table .... It'll be a more mundane IT issue.
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Allison Allen - 24 Aug 2012
Move
I'm sorry to hear you're having to move - and Lord those swollen hospital extremities - aren't they a feature! Royal Brompton is excellent - you'll be in safe hands. Good luck this weekend
helen - 24 Aug 2012
blog
sorry to hear it is taking longer than anticipated. Keep with the writing and prayers and thoughts are with you
Hayleigh Smith - 24 Aug 2012
We are all thinking of you & the family. Good luck at The Royal Brompton. Xxx
stevie pd - 24 Aug 2012
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thinking of you over the bank holiday weekend Mike. The Brompton used to be pretty good too, so fingers' crossed that that they treat you equally as good as the Marsden if not better.
stevie
stevie pd - 24 Aug 2012
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Jules - 24 Aug 2012
The Brompton is 5* quality
The Heart and Lung Institute at the RBH are world leaders in all types of thoracic stuff. Don't be afeard. They know what they're doing! Take care Mike.
Andy Bryan - 24 Aug 2012
Brompton
Mike, never fear, my mum had an op there to re-attach the lining of her lung when she had tumours. The care was amazing and she growled from under her oxygen mask-"would you STOP trying to feed me grapes " after she came round. You're in excellent hands. Good luck. Andyx
Lesley Killin - 24 Aug 2012
Moving over the road
They are only moving you because it is the better place for you at the moment. Once they sort this problem out and you have had a good rest, you should be back at home in time for the Paralympics! The boys and I have tickets for the Athletics on the 8th and the 7 a side football finals on the 9th so we are looking forward to that. James is also following your progress - he really appreciates the advice you gave him regarding the IB a few years ago and still hopes to do journalism/correspondence work - and he is now fluent in Spanish too! All the best to you and the family.
Lesley x
Liz Lightfoot - 24 Aug 2012
BRAVE WARRIOR
So sorry you have to move but the operation sounds as if it could help a lot, not that I am an expert of course. I was sitting here staring at a blank word document wishing I could find a better intro and getting annoyed at the state of the kitchen (my two sons are 19 and about to leave for university so having a bit of a chill out) when the notice of an update on your blog came through. What the hell! What have I got to worry about. I will enjoy normality and will some of it your way. I used to think it strange to say people were "fighting" or "beating" cancer - reading your blog I can understand what they mean. You just get through one hurdle and a bloody great road block stands in your way. But you're a survivor Mike. All the very best of luck and good hands tomorrow. Liz
Julie Kissick - 24 Aug 2012
Changes
Thinking of you Mike & your family. Hope the operation will bring the required relief & you'll be home soon.
Julie x
Kevin - 24 Aug 2012
It's going to rain all bank holiday weekend anyway so you won't be missing much..........
sylvie - 24 Aug 2012
hang on
Have faith Mike
if they decided on surgery it's because they think it will help. Try to keep us posted but remember we constantly think of you.
Sylvie
Andrew C - 24 Aug 2012
Brompton
All the best, Mike. You're in good hands at the Brompton, believe me.
So agree with Liz L about fighting. keep getting up and getting on those Bikes and going to the gym, whatever is put in front of you.
What would Fletch have said? "Trouble with this place, you know, there's too many ill people"
All the very best. See you on the other side of the bank holiday.
David Price - 24 Aug 2012
It Will Pass
Mike,
Just catching up on recent posts. What crap luck you've had. my youngest son had a collapsed lung, followed by that operation to stick it to the ribs, followed by MRSA, followed by....well modesty forbids. But he's bright as a bobbin now, and I'm sure you'll get through this too.
You're not missing anything outside anyway. Just more Govian denials on interference in GCSE results. Yeah, right!
Focus on getting well. All the rest is noise.
I know, from personal experience, that the desire to exercise becomes overwhelming when you're not well. But let your body recover fully, Mike.
It will pass, though!
Roslet - 24 Aug 2012
The Brompton
Mike... the good news is that it is the Chest not the Oratory... They are a great bunch at the Brompton Chest, you will be well looked after. Now if you want to talk about swollen ankles *hefts ankles onto table* let's compare... see a middle aged woman will always beat a chap, hands / ankles down :)
Fiona Montague - 24 Aug 2012
Bank Holidays!
Hi Mike,
Just managed to get back into my Twitter and looked you up. So sorry you are having to undergo surgery, however it`s raining outside, it`s bank holiday, and your beautiful Devon will be far too busy for words. Maurice and I send our love and speedy recovery - hope you are out soon, fit and well ready to go and enjoy a quieter Devon. :) xx
Rebecca Hanson - 25 Aug 2012
Coward....?
I'm not sure that not relishing this surgery makes you a coward Mike! I'm trying to picture the character of the person who would relish it with a reasonable degree of puzzlement.
I can't sleep because 'Ofspare the Interlude - Reconnecting the Dots' is beginning to come into focus and the picture it presents is about as attractive as the state of your poorly lung. I can only glance at it sideways. But like your lung it's time it was exposed to the light, examined and properly treated. So I'd better begin to write.
John Dunford - 25 Aug 2012
Good luck
Mike, Good luck at the Brompton. I was thinking of you particularly on Thursday - and of all those GCSE Thursdays when we used to try to find an interesting line on 'GCSE results up 0.5 percent'. Your blogs are amazing and help us to live through it all with you. Love and best wishes from us all, John, Sue and daughter Rachel
Geoff Barton - 25 Aug 2012
Brompton
Mike
We'll all be thinking of you today, with the move to the Brompton, and over the next few days. It's small comfort, perhaps, but you are at least being spared the utter surreal madness of what's going on with GCSE results this year: you're well out of it.
Take care and looking forward to reading your next progress report.
Geoff
Tim Miles - 25 Aug 2012
Hi Mike.
Haven't responded to your blog for a while, but I've been reading them all and marvelling at your courage and positivity. (Is that a word? Sounds horrible - like issue misused to mean problem. Even on the BBC these days! Mike; they need you back!) I imagine you've had the op. now. Fingers and everything else crossed hoping it went well and you'll soon be back on your bike, and writing more amazing blogs. It just so happens that a member of my family is currently recovering from breast cancer. Reading your blogs gives great encouragement. All the best.
penny - 25 Aug 2012
early morning on Bridlington beach
Hello Mike
We have just returned from an early morning walk along Bridlington's south beach. A sea fret is lifting slowly and we may possibly have a sunny day. Walked psst David Hockney's house on our return. His curtains and windows are open and his battered truck is in his driveway, so he must be 'in residence' and possibly painting or doing one of his ipad drawings as I write. We often see him out walking early in the morning. In his books he says he keeps 'light hours' and I know what he means. This part of the Yorkshire coast has magnificient sunrises. I sent you as much of this light and sea air as I could this morning, to give you some strength and healing. Out of all the alternative therapies, visualisation works for me so I sent my cancer cells out over the bay and beyond the horizon and sent yours too this morning, gently but very firmly. You are in good hands in the Brompton. My sister has been a patient there for over 30 years and with their support, as a person with Cystic Fibrosis, is living well at 46, has a son, has worked at the BBC and commuted by underground for many years .. all of which other doctors said would not be possible. Stay strong Mike and love to you and Chrissie from us both.. Penny and Carl x x
Dom - 25 Aug 2012
Hello Mike
Good luck with the op Mike. It sounds like it would clear the parts that other therapies could not reach. It must be very reassuring that you are in the place with the best experts.Am thinking of you (positivity whether it is a word or not) through the week end.
I have meant to say for a while that you and Christine are such a good team! Living life to the full. The power of love. I admire it.
Your blog has inspired me to go to the olympic park. Going to paralympic football on monday. Much love and good wishes. Dom xx
Ian - 25 Aug 2012
An example to us all
Mike, you really amaze me. How do you retain th mind and eye of an objective journalist in the face of such adversity. Your observations are like those of an impartial reporter describing the progress of a particuallry acute event going on outside them, not someone commenting on their own personal and life-threatening challenges. It is bothe facinating and humbling to read your reports - and we want lots more of them.
All the very best, Ian
sue emmett - 25 Aug 2012
Drat
Drat it Mike I'm supposed to be doing some work - but I just thought I'd take a teeny look at your blog.. now I just have to write! Both hospitals have fantastic reputations so you are in the best of hands and it's perhaps as well to get in before they put all their efforts into setting up some fund raising project abroad...but that may be straying into the political.. Was horrified to hear your earlier account of your fever and the sheets. It's a wonder you didn't get pneumonia. It's such a simple thing to rectify that it almost makes you weep. Was also musing whether the energy from your static bike might be put to some good use like squelching my garden compost or something - though perhaps not too hygenic in a hospital. So sorry to hear about this temporary interuption to your lessons in Bulgarian. All the very best with the op. Sue.
Yoshihiro Fujii - 25 Aug 2012
One possibility of cause of lung cancer
Recently, I have heard on possible causes of lung cancer which you have now suffered. One of my acquaintances who never smoking and has no genetic reason, but has lung cancer. The reason of his cancer is asbestos. Over 20~30 years ago, he worked for electric company where used asbestos for insulator for their products. He had inhaled particles of asbestos during working terms. Asbestos is called "silent bomb", because affected cancer discover 20~30years later after inhaled them. It is not only for industrial accident, but environmental matters. If buildings used asbestos inside are dismantled or repaired, there are possibilities to scatter them to environment. Actually Kobe earthquake happened 17years ago in Japan, there were many buildings fell down in the city area, and then several people inhaled them and discovered suffering lung cancers. In case of you, I doubt the latter possibility, environmental cause by dismantling buildings around your house or work places and so on. Can you imagine such possibilities around you and your house over 20~30years ago or more?
This is just information for you.
Yoshihiro
Dick Davison - 25 Aug 2012
Thinking of you throughout this bank holiday weekend, Mike, and looking forward to reading the next instalment of your muscular and courageous prose. You're an inspiration.
Mandy Baker - 25 Aug 2012
You!
Hello namesake! I didn't know you were going through all this. I'm so sorry but so glad you are being positive and haven't lost your sense of humour. I hope the surgery goes well and you will be blogging good news very soon. Mandy x
alan cunningham - 25 Aug 2012
Family
Hi Mike.
The medics are certainly testing your sense of humour, which is clearly staying in tact. We are thinking of you, Chris and the girls every day.
Alan & Andrea. x
Mark Slade - 25 Aug 2012
The Royal Brompton
Dear Mike
So sorry to hear of your recent problems. I have just spoken to Chrissy who updated me too. I am sure they have the right plan to try draining the fluid and the RB is almost as good as Papworth (though they do fancy themselves rotten so try to puncture any large egos encountered) and much more conveniently located! There ought to be some sort of abseil link across the road - suggest it to the management. I hope you can keep your spirits, and your cycling, up while your body heals.
With all our love
Mark and Gerry xxx
Mark Wyatt - 26 Aug 2012
All strength
Thinking of you particularly over this weekend. Your cycling fitness will be a huge asset to the treatment. I've had three thoracic operations over the last year, for secondary cancer in the lungs, the surgery is amazing. Keep up the good work.
Alban Thurston - 26 Aug 2012
The Brompton - a handy, fold-up hospital you can take on trains
Very best of luck, dude. Take it from an ex-health correspondent of the Swindon Evening Advertiser ( - roughly equivalent to membership of a Royal College -), the op seems the right thing: 1956 male, one careful owner, up on the ramp, drain the sump, plenty of spare parts available, new plugs, ready soon to drive away. Get well, or (the horror, the horror !) I'll come and visit you. Yiannis & Eirini send their love, post Prom last week. I hope your Bulgarian lady showed more application & energy than our ex-striker 'Stroller' Berbatov.... #FootballAsSourceOfContinuing NationalStereotyping
PS Michael Gove says I can only have a GCSE 'D' for this...
John Lever - 26 Aug 2012
Mike, as a fellow coward, I hope I display your courage if the need ever arises!
Good luck at the Brompton!
John Lever
Sheila Dainton - 26 Aug 2012
'Courage' my friend (said in French)
Hello Mike
Just back from three days slogging up and down bits of the coastal path in Pembrokeshire and, if I'm honest, once in a while feeling a tad sorry for myself (wet,soggy and solo isn't a bundle of fun - though wonderful people en route, and views which catch your breath and help you to realise why it's all worthwhile).
Then I read your latest blog, alongside a 15 year-old neighbour - who is without a computer - her parents don't 'believe' in such things (the truth is that that they cannot afford to) - who just got a D in English. An instant smile from the two of us!
Heaven help us, Mike, you work wonders - and I have no doubt that wonders will be worked for you.
If only Gove had your humanity and humilty ... He'll learn. Yes he will.
With warmest wishes
Sheila