17th November 2011 - A Thursday , I remember it well! The day before Bill's birthday and I hadn't managed to buy him anything because of this stupid sickness. I am sure he understood....... I reported to the reception desk at A&E at GRI-so many abbreviations! I didn't have to wait long as they were waiting for me-the doctor had phoned ahead-such competence! As I walked in to the department I recognised a few of the nurses , in fact one of them was a patient of mine in dermatology! No embarrassment , no awkwardness , just a quiet efficiency . After my name band was put on my wrist I was taken for an abdominal X-Ray before I saw the doctor . I was then taken to a cubicle , where I was catheterised and had an IV inserted. Had full blood screen done as well . The on-call surgeon came and told me that the X-Ray showed a mass in my bowel .He was very non-commital-could be one of several things. I must admit , at this point I was hoping it was gallstones , but the symptoms did not really fit . I was taken up to the surgical receiving ward where the nurse inserted a naso-gastric tube-My nose was bleeding copiously because it was a wide-bore tube , needed to drain all the shit (literally) away, that she used - must have caught one of my nasal polypi . I told Bill to go home at this point as I was in the best place and he was exhausted. He went reluctantly. The consultant came in to do a round at about 9pm . He was lovely and very reassuring.Said he would arrange a CT scan in the morning and that I might need an operation . For some reason I was not nervous at all , which is strange for me ! Maybe it was just the professional way that everyone went about their work or maybe it was just resignation on my part . I managed to sleep quite well that night , the NG tube taking away the need to vomit.
Friday 18th November 2011 - Bill's birthday - I sent him a text -I was surprised that mobile phones were allowed , but wasn't complaining . The consultant came round again and said he would see me later after the scan .
I went for the scan about 10 am . For those who have never had a CT scan before , please do not be worried if you ever have to get one . It is a pain free experience . A dye is injected in to a vein and you just lie back and relax ! The preparation is longer than the procedure- it is over before you know it . I closed my eyes throughout as there was nothing to see. You feel a bit warm when the dye goes in , can get a dry mouth , and a feeling as if you have passed urine , at least , that is what I felt !
I was taken back to the ward and the surgeon came to see me . He told me there was something there that looked like a tumour and he was going to operate that afternoon - didn't want to leave it any longer . Next thing I was getting was an ECG , then I got a visit from the anaesthetist , who was a wee darling! Turned out he was great friends with the professor I work with in dermatology . I felt really safe because of the professional and confident manner he had . It is a worrying time before surgery because you wonder if anything will go wrong or if you will wake up again , but I didn't have that feeling at all. I was just looking forward to getting this horrible thing cut out.
I'm told I was in surgery for four hours , but I don't remember much about it . I vaguely remember being wakened from the anaesthetic and being told it went well . I didn't feel any pain at all and was pleasantly drowsy . I was in high dependency  , on oxygen , heart monitor , hourly urine volumes , patient controlled analgesia , and had an arterial line and a central line in too . The physiotherapist came as well to assess how my breathing was , and was pleased that I was not a smoker as this made things easier for me .
Saturday 19th November 2011- the consultant came and told me that he had cut out a large tumour and had to remove one third of my bowel too , but he was sure that he had got rid of it all . I had every faith in him .

The night before the operation

Claire's boyfriend Paul got me these

My wound extended from mid breast bone to below umbilicus , hardly keyhole surgery but I was delighted to survive the surgery, after all , it is only a scar , a sign of healing.

I remained in high dependency for four days and was then moved to a surgical ward . I was in a six bedded area , which didn't bother me in the slightest - it is good to see other patients and see how they are coping with things ....as long as they sleep at night!

I was surprised how weak I was after the surgery-I was in bed for a few days and was then allowed to get up. I had to use a Zimmer frame at first , and was unable to walk upstairs- physiotherapists do have their uses!
My family and work colleagues were very attentive , but a special mention must go to my man Bill - he came to see me at every visiting time and brought me sandwiches and ice cubes for my water jug . Paul would bring me loads of Pepsi Max whenever he visited , and Claire and her boyfriend Paul brought me juice and sweets and magazines. I got loads of Get Well cards
 My wound did not have a drain in it so it leaked almost constantly , which resulted in many changes of dressings and bedclothes. My bloods were giving cause for concern - white cells ,  ESR and CRP  , were rising , which could indicate infection in the wound, but swab results came back negative. I was started on IV antibiotics as a precautionary measure- Vancomycin, Gentamicin, and then I needed a blood transfusion -thank goodness for blood donors ! I was then given Clindamycin - the doctors were worried about the possibility of me developing Clostridium Difficile, but they felt the risk was worth it- I was fine anyway !
Two weeks after the operation the surgeon told me that the tumour was a cancer and that he was going to refer me to an oncologist who I would see as an outpatient . I didn't ask any questions because he told me that it had been completely removed , so I was happy with that....
Three weeks after surgery ,  I was discharged into the care of the district nurses , as my wound was still leaking.The following day I noticed that I was covered in a florid rash all over my trunk. Now , being a dermatology nurse , I assessed it . It was viral , I thought , so would probably disappear in a few days. The following day I woke to find my face swollen - I had mumps! Probably due to lowered immunity. That was the reason for the raised inflammatory markers- oh well, we live and learn.......
The district nurses were great - very helpful and friendly . I even got a visit from my GP ! Got my appointment for the oncologist at the Royal Infirmary the week after Christmas ......