Catheter:
I needed to have a catheter inserted in order to drain my bladder effectively. This would reduce the pressure on my kidneys and hopefully ensure their correct operation - vital that all my bits function properly before any further treatment can be undertaken. For those who are unsure exactly what attaching a catheter entails (as I was) I will describe it for you now.
Firstly a syringe full of anaesthetic gel is squeezed down the urethra to numb the area right down into the bladder. The doctor then unleashes a scarily long length of plastic tube (about a foot) for which there is only one possible destination. A surprisingly painless process until the tip of the tube hits the sphincter which leads to the bladder itself - a really sharp pain for about 3 seconds and then it's all over. Feels weird though. When I'm still and relaxed I barely know it's there, when I move it wobbles and pulls all over the place and makes me feel like I need a wee, even with extra support. At the time of writing I've had it in for 5 days, and I've almost got used to it! You never realise how much you take stuff for granted until you can't do it normally - wearing a catheter affects EVERYTHING you do.
The Weekend:
Nothing much happens in a hospital over the weekend, so after a blood test to confirm that my kidneys were doing what they should be doing I was allowed home for a few hours on Saturday and all day Sunday, provided that I was back on the ward by about 9.30pm.
More Tests:
Monday morning meant a CT scan to check whether there was just one lump, or more hiding in my lymph system. I had to drink 1 litre of aniseed flavoured liquid (which shows up the small bowel on the scan) and then get injected with two huge syringes full of iodine based solution (which shows up the rest of the intestine), then lie on a motorised trolley and get whizzed through what looks like a giant polo mint. The CT scanner whirrs gently and makes some cool noises as you pass through, but the best bit has to be the computerised male voice telling you to 'Breathe in, and hold your breath', then 'Breathe normally' as they take the necessary photos. You'd be a fool to disobey ;)
I was hoping to have my biopsy on Monday as well but it was scheduled for Tuesday at 2pm, which arrived pretty quickly thanks to a good book and some great tunes on my mp3 player.
The object of a biopsy is to take a sample of the cancerous tissue in order to determine exactly what it is. This is performed by guiding a needle to the precise area with the aid of an ultrasound scan. First the correct area is anaesthetised (local) and the insertion spot marked then nicked with a razor blade. The needle they put in is about 6 inches long and about 1.5mm wide. There's no pain when they jam it into you but it feels a bit like being kicked in the guts a few times. Once that's in place (and I could see it sticking out of me - yes, I was watching it all) a thinner needle is inserted down the middle of it and that it the device which actually grabs the sample, and at least three are taken). All done, and the world's smallest plaster applied to the 'wound' (pretty much non existent. Three hours later I was on my way home, the rest of my treatment to be done as an out patient.
I needed to have a catheter inserted in order to drain my bladder effectively. This would reduce the pressure on my kidneys and hopefully ensure their correct operation - vital that all my bits function properly before any further treatment can be undertaken. For those who are unsure exactly what attaching a catheter entails (as I was) I will describe it for you now.
Firstly a syringe full of anaesthetic gel is squeezed down the urethra to numb the area right down into the bladder. The doctor then unleashes a scarily long length of plastic tube (about a foot) for which there is only one possible destination. A surprisingly painless process until the tip of the tube hits the sphincter which leads to the bladder itself - a really sharp pain for about 3 seconds and then it's all over. Feels weird though. When I'm still and relaxed I barely know it's there, when I move it wobbles and pulls all over the place and makes me feel like I need a wee, even with extra support. At the time of writing I've had it in for 5 days, and I've almost got used to it! You never realise how much you take stuff for granted until you can't do it normally - wearing a catheter affects EVERYTHING you do.
The Weekend:
Nothing much happens in a hospital over the weekend, so after a blood test to confirm that my kidneys were doing what they should be doing I was allowed home for a few hours on Saturday and all day Sunday, provided that I was back on the ward by about 9.30pm.
More Tests:
Monday morning meant a CT scan to check whether there was just one lump, or more hiding in my lymph system. I had to drink 1 litre of aniseed flavoured liquid (which shows up the small bowel on the scan) and then get injected with two huge syringes full of iodine based solution (which shows up the rest of the intestine), then lie on a motorised trolley and get whizzed through what looks like a giant polo mint. The CT scanner whirrs gently and makes some cool noises as you pass through, but the best bit has to be the computerised male voice telling you to 'Breathe in, and hold your breath', then 'Breathe normally' as they take the necessary photos. You'd be a fool to disobey ;)
I was hoping to have my biopsy on Monday as well but it was scheduled for Tuesday at 2pm, which arrived pretty quickly thanks to a good book and some great tunes on my mp3 player.
The object of a biopsy is to take a sample of the cancerous tissue in order to determine exactly what it is. This is performed by guiding a needle to the precise area with the aid of an ultrasound scan. First the correct area is anaesthetised (local) and the insertion spot marked then nicked with a razor blade. The needle they put in is about 6 inches long and about 1.5mm wide. There's no pain when they jam it into you but it feels a bit like being kicked in the guts a few times. Once that's in place (and I could see it sticking out of me - yes, I was watching it all) a thinner needle is inserted down the middle of it and that it the device which actually grabs the sample, and at least three are taken). All done, and the world's smallest plaster applied to the 'wound' (pretty much non existent. Three hours later I was on my way home, the rest of my treatment to be done as an out patient.
So...they're putting a foot long tube in your bits-don't show off about your length mate! ;)
ReplyDeleteWe love you very much,and we're thinking of you constantly. All of you...if you need anything...you know where we are.
Much love,
Becka and Joe
(even the cats have been asknig for Uncle Phil)
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