Friday 1st June – Back on Level 9

I have had another day waiting in hospital and a procedure to put my inability to eat right. It is called a pyloric dilatation. Basically the scar tissue around the join of the intestine at the top just below the stomach has developed so much scaring it keeps closing up. This time it was not quite as bad as before as I could still tolerate water and fluids, but it was still bad. Last time I had this the radiographer stretched the opening with a balloon to 12mm and this time he used a bigger balloon and stretched it to 18mm. The next time, if there is a next time, he will put a stent in made of the same material as dissolvable stitches which will help to keep the opening open. At least we have a plan.

It was strange as I went in feeling tired, and very low blood pressure 70:54 and thought to myself that I would go to sleep. After the sedative I do not remember anything about the procedure and woke up in recovery. The radiographer came to see me later and told me that I talked throughout the whole procedure with a mouth guard in!! I have no recollection. Mark and I went in for 10am and waited, I had the procedure at 12.30 and then I waited in recovery until 5pm before being given a bed. Back on Level 9 which is familiar and back in the bed next door to where I was before. The best news was that Becki who was my favourite nurse was on duty last night and she was as pleased to see me and see my progress as I was to see her.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and literally for me we will find out over the next few weeks whether it has worked or not. So back on fluids for the next few days and then hopefully I can introduce soft foods like fish etc over the following weeks. We are off to France in July, and then I am hoping to go to Canada in September, but eating is pretty vital to both!

In hospital on a fluid diet following surgery – I am offered a choice of soup, (chicken, tomato or vegetable), yogurt (very sweetened varieties), jelly and ice cream and that is it. I have persuaded them to give me some Ready Brek with lots of milk and that seems ok at the moment.

Home later today, but it seems that I bypassed admission and so they have to admit me, and then they can discharge me. I hope to see the nutrition team before I go home.

One great thing is that my scar has healed up over the last week, so having been wearing a dressing for three months it is liberating not to have any bandage. I can now swim and have a bath.