Thursday 9th May
Today has been another good news day. Mandy and I went to the hospital for an appointment with my specialist and he said 'no they had not made a mistake' so I am definitely clear. I have been moved from being 'treated' to being 'looked after' for the next ten years. Although he did then say that if nothing happens for five years then he tends to get bored and discharge patients. I should have had my schedule for this year but they had forgotten to put it in my folder, ever the efficient ones. It will be every 2 or 3 months ( he wasn't even sure which of those it would be! ) for the first year, where they will take a blood test and chest x-ray, and then a scan at the end of the year.
And to make things even better I have also had the last injection for the blood clot in my leg tonight so I am free of that as well.
So the barrier has opened and we have gone home. No more bloody trains for me if I have anything to do with it.
I should have run tonight but as it is so miserable outside sod it. We have opened a bottle of champers instead.
Cheers
Tim
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Last day in the station (hopefully)
Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th May.
Tuesday was just a normal day at work. I did go for a run afterwards though. Six miles in total although it was very split up. I had already had a couple of my 1 minute walks when I bumped into Simon Hall doing a little speedwork in preparation for Crowle 10K on Sunday, so I stopped and had a chat and then ran with him up into town where we had another brief chat. So all in all a disturbed run but another six miles in the bag.
Today has been just a normal day too with nothing really to write about.
Tomorrow however is another day marked on the calendar as we are off to see my cancer specialist. It was supposed to be to get my results from the scan but obviously I have already had those so hopefully it should just be to get a schedule of what happens for them to look after me and make sure there is nothing going wrong.
Lets put it this way, we got off the train a couple of weeks ago but have been stuck at the barriers on the platform. Hopefully tomorrow they will open and we can go home!
Part of me however can't shake the feeling that there is one last twist to come. I can't believe it would be 'sorry but we made a mistake' or 'we got your results mixed up with somebody else's' ( huge law suit there ) but until he actually says 'congrats' I won't be happy.
Also a busy couple of days for Ben as he is off on his D of E 2 day expedition in the Forest of Dean. Rather him in a tent tomorrow night than me, weather forecast is rain and wind. Lovely!
Cheers for now.
Tim
Tuesday was just a normal day at work. I did go for a run afterwards though. Six miles in total although it was very split up. I had already had a couple of my 1 minute walks when I bumped into Simon Hall doing a little speedwork in preparation for Crowle 10K on Sunday, so I stopped and had a chat and then ran with him up into town where we had another brief chat. So all in all a disturbed run but another six miles in the bag.
Today has been just a normal day too with nothing really to write about.
Tomorrow however is another day marked on the calendar as we are off to see my cancer specialist. It was supposed to be to get my results from the scan but obviously I have already had those so hopefully it should just be to get a schedule of what happens for them to look after me and make sure there is nothing going wrong.
Lets put it this way, we got off the train a couple of weeks ago but have been stuck at the barriers on the platform. Hopefully tomorrow they will open and we can go home!
Part of me however can't shake the feeling that there is one last twist to come. I can't believe it would be 'sorry but we made a mistake' or 'we got your results mixed up with somebody else's' ( huge law suit there ) but until he actually says 'congrats' I won't be happy.
Also a busy couple of days for Ben as he is off on his D of E 2 day expedition in the Forest of Dean. Rather him in a tent tomorrow night than me, weather forecast is rain and wind. Lovely!
Cheers for now.
Tim
Monday, 6 May 2013
Sunshine and memories
Monday 6th May
The sun is shining and it is actually warm, an event worthy of anyone's blog.
We had a lovely day in Shrewsbury. Fantastic breakfast at the B&B followed by a stroll along the riverbank. Then we met my brother and his wife for lunch in a tapas bar. All very enjoyable and definitely the better for the sunshine. We even ate our tea outside when we got home.
The only mistake I made today was to go back in this blog and read some of the earlier posts. I have not done this before and I didn't read many before I had to stop. It is all still a bit too fresh. I will go back and read it all at some point but not just yet. In fact I think I will print it out and keep it to look back on. I won't enjoy some of it but it will be interesting to see how all the events during my illness happened in my own words.
One of the posts I read was of the last day that I had chemo. In truth it did not read as bad as I remember it which is probably a good thing although not a great testament to my writing skills. I never want to return to those days or ever feel like that again, I would not wish that sort of treatment on anyone.
Back to reality tomorrow, and back to training as well. Only 13 days to Tewkesbury. Perhaps I had better not eat as much for the next few days as I have for the last few!
Cheers
Tim
The sun is shining and it is actually warm, an event worthy of anyone's blog.
We had a lovely day in Shrewsbury. Fantastic breakfast at the B&B followed by a stroll along the riverbank. Then we met my brother and his wife for lunch in a tapas bar. All very enjoyable and definitely the better for the sunshine. We even ate our tea outside when we got home.
The only mistake I made today was to go back in this blog and read some of the earlier posts. I have not done this before and I didn't read many before I had to stop. It is all still a bit too fresh. I will go back and read it all at some point but not just yet. In fact I think I will print it out and keep it to look back on. I won't enjoy some of it but it will be interesting to see how all the events during my illness happened in my own words.
One of the posts I read was of the last day that I had chemo. In truth it did not read as bad as I remember it which is probably a good thing although not a great testament to my writing skills. I never want to return to those days or ever feel like that again, I would not wish that sort of treatment on anyone.
Back to reality tomorrow, and back to training as well. Only 13 days to Tewkesbury. Perhaps I had better not eat as much for the next few days as I have for the last few!
Cheers
Tim
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Relaxed
Sunday 5th May
This is the most relaxed we have been in months. We are at our favourite B&B in a tiny village just outside Shrewsbury. We had a nice lunch on the way here, then a wander around the shops in town including a cup of tea with cake in a café, back to the B&B for a nap, and are now getting ready to go out to eat.
The B&B is a farmhouse with views out across the fields of sheep and is a lovely haven of peace and tranquillity. They even have electricity!
This is a million miles away from what was happening a couple of months ago. It will not happen for a while yet but hopefully it will all seem like a bad dream before too long.
That's all today.
Cheers from a very happy and relaxed Tim and Mandy.
This is the most relaxed we have been in months. We are at our favourite B&B in a tiny village just outside Shrewsbury. We had a nice lunch on the way here, then a wander around the shops in town including a cup of tea with cake in a café, back to the B&B for a nap, and are now getting ready to go out to eat.
The B&B is a farmhouse with views out across the fields of sheep and is a lovely haven of peace and tranquillity. They even have electricity!
This is a million miles away from what was happening a couple of months ago. It will not happen for a while yet but hopefully it will all seem like a bad dream before too long.
That's all today.
Cheers from a very happy and relaxed Tim and Mandy.
Saturday, 4 May 2013
More miles
Saturday 4th May ( Star Wars day - see bottom of page )
Got up early this morning ( 6.15 ) to have porridge for breakfast before driving to Badsey to go for a run. I started in Badsey because we had a 10K committee meeting at 9 o'clock there so I needed to have finished the run by then. I ran to Willersey and back, a total of eight and a half miles. Again I ran quicker than planned but I'm used to that after years of doing it. Started to tire at 7.5 but managed to keep going for that last mile with the help of Robert who was also running to the meeting.
The meeting lasted for a couple of hours so I was pretty stiff legged by the end. Never good to sit down for a long time just after a run, you need to keep moving. However I feel OK now so it's all good.
I managed a quick trip to Tesco before lunch followed by the agony of listening to the final day of the football season for Forest. Fell at the last hurdle. In previous years I would have brooded about this for ages and been in a foul temper but given the events leading to doing this blog I appreciate that it is no big deal. Just glad that I will be here for next season at all, I don't really care which division we are in.
No training allowed for the next two days as they are for pure relaxation, and I don't mind a bit.
Cheers
Tim
PS. Star Wars day - May the 4th ( say it out loud ! )
Got up early this morning ( 6.15 ) to have porridge for breakfast before driving to Badsey to go for a run. I started in Badsey because we had a 10K committee meeting at 9 o'clock there so I needed to have finished the run by then. I ran to Willersey and back, a total of eight and a half miles. Again I ran quicker than planned but I'm used to that after years of doing it. Started to tire at 7.5 but managed to keep going for that last mile with the help of Robert who was also running to the meeting.
The meeting lasted for a couple of hours so I was pretty stiff legged by the end. Never good to sit down for a long time just after a run, you need to keep moving. However I feel OK now so it's all good.
I managed a quick trip to Tesco before lunch followed by the agony of listening to the final day of the football season for Forest. Fell at the last hurdle. In previous years I would have brooded about this for ages and been in a foul temper but given the events leading to doing this blog I appreciate that it is no big deal. Just glad that I will be here for next season at all, I don't really care which division we are in.
No training allowed for the next two days as they are for pure relaxation, and I don't mind a bit.
Cheers
Tim
PS. Star Wars day - May the 4th ( say it out loud ! )
Friday, 3 May 2013
Sore
Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd May
Sorry about there not being a post yesterday but there was just no time and to be honest not a lot to write. Normal day at work followed by my injection. The injections are tough at the moment as I am really badly bruised on my right hand side. I don't know why all of a sudden but it is sore and hurts when they stick the needle in, still only a week left I hope.
When I got home we had tea and I tried to get as many jobs done for Mand as possible so that she could get on with work. If she can get enough done then we are going to Shrewsbury for a night on Sunday. It will be fantastic just to relax and then meet up with my brother and his wife on Monday who we do not see enough. My brother and I are very alike even though he is 10 years older than me, not in looks particularly but in our personalities.
I also had to play skittles last night in our second cup final of the week. Whereas the first one we won so easily it was actually boring this one was close all the way through. So close that it was level at the end and we had to play 'extra time' as it were. Unfortunately we lost by one pin but we mustn't be greedy as we have won nearly everything else this year.
It was late when I got home and Mand was already in bed so I went straight to bed too which was a mistake as I hadn't had time to unwind. Lying awake was not good as my mind wandered around about the last few months and I found myself getting tearful and upset. I could have done with a hug really but Mand is so tired from working too hard that I didn't want to wake her.
Today has been a normal day too but at least neither of us has to work or go out tonight so we can relax. In fact Mand has just delivered me a G & T so I'm off to enjoy it now.
Cheers
Tim
Sorry about there not being a post yesterday but there was just no time and to be honest not a lot to write. Normal day at work followed by my injection. The injections are tough at the moment as I am really badly bruised on my right hand side. I don't know why all of a sudden but it is sore and hurts when they stick the needle in, still only a week left I hope.
When I got home we had tea and I tried to get as many jobs done for Mand as possible so that she could get on with work. If she can get enough done then we are going to Shrewsbury for a night on Sunday. It will be fantastic just to relax and then meet up with my brother and his wife on Monday who we do not see enough. My brother and I are very alike even though he is 10 years older than me, not in looks particularly but in our personalities.
I also had to play skittles last night in our second cup final of the week. Whereas the first one we won so easily it was actually boring this one was close all the way through. So close that it was level at the end and we had to play 'extra time' as it were. Unfortunately we lost by one pin but we mustn't be greedy as we have won nearly everything else this year.
It was late when I got home and Mand was already in bed so I went straight to bed too which was a mistake as I hadn't had time to unwind. Lying awake was not good as my mind wandered around about the last few months and I found myself getting tearful and upset. I could have done with a hug really but Mand is so tired from working too hard that I didn't want to wake her.
Today has been a normal day too but at least neither of us has to work or go out tonight so we can relax. In fact Mand has just delivered me a G & T so I'm off to enjoy it now.
Cheers
Tim
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Running
Wednesday 1st May
I cannot believe we are into May already, but at least the sun is shining even if it's not that hot yet.
I got up really early this morning and ran three and a half miles starting at about 6.30. It was a cold but beautifully clear morning. The run was OK but I did lack energy as I hadn't time for anything to eat, just up and straight out. I always did struggle to run well on empty but obviously it is even more difficult at the moment. My breathing was also worse than it has been on previous runs but I suppose that is not surprising as I seem to have difficulty when I am lying down, so maybe it takes time to clear in a morning. I will have to talk to the doctors again about it when I see them next week.
On the whole I am pleased with the way the training is going now. It was a shock to the system how hard it was to start even though I was expecting it to be. My mind just said keep going but there was nothing in my legs at all. At least now I can run for a while before I wilt.
I am trying to do some exercises at home to strengthen my core muscles, but time usually gets in the way. It is helping a bit though. My back ached when I first started but it is OK now.
Tewkesbury is going to be very interesting. I feel now that I might be able to run the whole way if I am very disciplined with my speed and prepare beforehand properly. Lets hope for good weather on the day, for me and for Mand and Ben watching.
Planning a short run on Friday evening and then a long one on Saturday morning. I'm going to push the distance again and see what happens.
Cheers
Tim
I cannot believe we are into May already, but at least the sun is shining even if it's not that hot yet.
I got up really early this morning and ran three and a half miles starting at about 6.30. It was a cold but beautifully clear morning. The run was OK but I did lack energy as I hadn't time for anything to eat, just up and straight out. I always did struggle to run well on empty but obviously it is even more difficult at the moment. My breathing was also worse than it has been on previous runs but I suppose that is not surprising as I seem to have difficulty when I am lying down, so maybe it takes time to clear in a morning. I will have to talk to the doctors again about it when I see them next week.
On the whole I am pleased with the way the training is going now. It was a shock to the system how hard it was to start even though I was expecting it to be. My mind just said keep going but there was nothing in my legs at all. At least now I can run for a while before I wilt.
I am trying to do some exercises at home to strengthen my core muscles, but time usually gets in the way. It is helping a bit though. My back ached when I first started but it is OK now.
Tewkesbury is going to be very interesting. I feel now that I might be able to run the whole way if I am very disciplined with my speed and prepare beforehand properly. Lets hope for good weather on the day, for me and for Mand and Ben watching.
Planning a short run on Friday evening and then a long one on Saturday morning. I'm going to push the distance again and see what happens.
Cheers
Tim
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