Once more into the fray

 Just got back from hospital after having both MRI and CT (Computerised Tomography) scans. While we there I took the opportunity to visit the Stoma nurse and talk to the surgeon's team, the hernia around my stoma seems slightly enlarged; after some discussion I think I will have to stop going to the gym for the mean time as, despite using machines and not free weights, the consensus (between Stella and Maggs(the stoma nurse)) was that this was the probable cause of the strain on my stomach. No problem, I'll try and get out on my mountain bike a bit more as this doesn't seem to strain my stomach at all. I also wanted to ensure that my surgeon had got the previous message from me about the Da Vinci robot, he had and it will be discussed at the team meeting prior to my meeting with him on the 10th, I feel some relief at this.

Getting back into hospital visits with Stella driving me about has brought my treatment back into sharp focus, for 6 weeks we have had the luxury of unadulterated free time together and its been great!
I must admit to being a little apprehensive about today because despite feeling radiantly healthy these
scans will, starkly, portray the true state of my health, I hope they reflect the way I feel.

On a lighter note, for the CT scan I had to drink a ghastly brew, fluorescent yellow in colour which caused a 'flushing' panic when I used the loo after the scan. The stuff just 'glowed' in the pan menacingly, refusing to disappear on the first and second flush only grudgingly retiring on the third. My God, what are they putting in my body!

Now it has all started up again I find I want to get on with it and am eager to get to the end.

Intervening period

This week I have been trying to improve my general fitness, following on from my mountain bike ride at the weekend I have been in the gym twice, once with Gabriel and once on my own. I've obviously pushed a bit hard as I slept for 12 hours last night but generally I continue to feel more and more healthy and, now, fitter.

I see this period as a recovery time in preparation for surgery in February and I am on course to be as strong as possible for that event. I have sent a question to my surgeon's secretary about a possible alternative to open surgery which involves a machine called a Da Vinci robot, this machine is supposed to make the surgery less invasive and, potentially, less damaging to the surrounding area. I have a GP appointment tomorrow and will follow up my email with her (the GP) then. I will be exploring this possible option with my surgeon at our meeting in February.

Stella and I have been using this period to get out and about as much as possible and recently we went to Borough Market (a regular haunt) and had an excellent breakfast in 'Maria's cafe'. After this we went to the Tate modern, Bank side Gallery and then walked along the river, catching the train home from Charing Cross. It was a sunny but cold winter day.

Birthday week

This last week I went to the gym for the first time since I was diagnosed back in September. Initially I used the the machines in the 'express area' these use tensioned cables rather than weight plates, after a workout using these machines I had a go on some of the heavier chest workout machines. I can't use free weights at the moment because the stoma is cut through my stomach wall picking the weights up and balancing them for exercise would put too much strain on my stomach possibly causing more muscle damage. I suspect my days of washboard abs and ripped pecs are behind me, despite this I intend to go to once a week to supplement my cycling.

I managed to get out on both my mountain bike and my motorbike (a first since September) this weekend. Paul, Our son in law or as I prefer to think bespoiler of our daughter, came with me for the cycle ride; having someone else with me gave me the confidence to go much further off road than I had previously dared. Despite the fact that I had to rest frequently we completed the biggest circuit I have done since early last year. This represents a massive psychological achievement.
I took my motorbike on a 30 mile circuit of country lanes, using these mostly empty lanes allowed me do some 'spirited' riding. I was a little rusty but got into the groove fairley quickly, the only problem I had was not being able to completely do the flies up on my leather jeans this caused a worryingly unpleasent cold draught.

Martha gave me a Birthday card on Friday last week. In the true spirit of recycling she put my age at 53 (a year out) and told me it doesn't matter and that I could use it next year. It is a lovely card though.

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee

No more pain in my groin at all! I actually feel healthier than I have for a very long time, this seems ironic considering I have been exposed to more radiation than all the X men put together (I haven't discovered any super powers yet!). I think this is an indicator of how ill I had been for some time without being aware of it. My fitness level has definitely suffered through my treatment I will spend the next few weeks before surgery building it back to a reasonable level. Although I feel positive about my condition I must admit that I do still have the spectre of migration at the back of my mind, the scans on the 30th will hopefully dispel this fear and I can concentrate on the surgery in February.

Ah Nice, birth place of Giuseppe Garibaldi, home of Henri Matisse and the Savoy, as Italian as it is French an achingly beautiful city. We had a wonderful time there, ate in some spectacular restaurants and cafes. The temprature was a balmy 17 degrees with a sunny clear blue sky. Despite the warmth the locals insist on wearing heavy furs and winter coats, I think this has more to do with fashion than climate.

This is the view from our hotel room.

This Christmas bauble was huge and had a seating area insde it.

Me giving the locals some pointers.

Hmmm yacht or pied-a-terre with my commutation?

We have been going to Nice for 10 years but this year was special initially, in my darkest moments, I didn't think I would be here to go and then I wasn't sure until the day we left whether I would be fit enough to go. I am so glad we went.