Classic British Flight Sim

Keep going, Pathfinder.

dfarrow wrote:
Are You really , really sure that you are Not pregnant ? ..........................could it be twins ?

Dave f.

It'd have to be him, memsahib wouldn't do it.

Nigel H-J wrote:... have you also applied for Motability which you will be entitled to?

Hi Nigel. I don't qualify for Motability as I'm already receiving the highest Attendance Allowance. I suppose the idea of receiving home care rather excludes the need for a car! Thanks for the suggestion, though.

So ... we went to meet the Oncology consultant last week. What a character - she's Serbian and dresses like an old peasant woman but with Dame Edna specs. Her English is poor but she's such a hoot. She promises her patients everything and she has a train of staff trailing along behind her trying to clear up the mess. 'You must phone me at any time. I will see you within 24 hours!". "I'm afraid it's more likely to be a week or 10 days, Mr. Speedbird" whispers the nurse "Tell the receptionist to make an appointment in one month!". Receptionist: "She's not here in one month. I'll have to speak to her, get another date and write to you - sorry."

What she was offering was chemotherapy to possibly alleviate the symptoms and reduce or slow down the tumours. But she confirmed that the benefits are vague and the possible side effects, involving even more chemicals sounded horrendous. I know some of you will have experienced chemo and hopefully gained benefit from it. In my case the benefits aren't obvious and I was already very negative about agreeing. Karen, though, was keen to be open-minded about it - until she read the list of side-effects and is now on my side. So we've said thanks, but 'no thanks'. Got a month to consider, the back up appointment in a month and then an open appointment for a year in case we change our minds.

Pain is increasing quite fast and is becoming the principal symptom with which to deal. I'm already on the maximum dose of gabapentin which is the drug that all the professionals are suggesting. It looks as though I'm going to be handed over to the pain control specialists at the Hospice for alternatives. There is talk of battery packs with electrodes to deaden the nerves, although acupuncture looks like the first attempt. A last resort would be surgery to cut the offending nerve but there are lots of fun things to try first! I can get out and about OK but everything I plan has to be considered carefully around the effectiveness of the painkillers.

So I'm still waiting to get the pain under control and then I can do more. The good news is that the latest x-ray shows a slower rate of decline than I thought. I'd been basing it on the rate of increase of the pain but in fact the shadows on the lung are not dramatically increased over the last 3 months. So put your hankies away and open another beer. Looks like I'll be around to wind you all up for a while longer

Ian

So put your hankies away and open another beer. Looks like I'll be around to wind you all up for a while longer

That is terrific news old boy, don't mind me calling you old do you as any-one older than me is considered old but I do retain respect for my elders and never considered them as an old f*rt.............yet!!!

From your update my biggest fear was that you had an aggressive cancer, the one that cannot be controlled so very relieved to hear that the x-ray shows it is not growing fast.

Are there any other treatments that may be of help? Just hope so.

Look forward to hearing further updates from you, in the meantime keep fighting it.

Regards
Nigel.

Ian
I am sorry to hear of your battle I did not pick up on this thread until today which is very remiss of me. I have experience of this disease in the family and know what your talking about and I can only praise your superb humour and strength during this battle. Your last post is encouraging that things are slowing down and I really hope this stays the same and they can sort out your pain relief.
It is heartening and refreshing that you are updating and keeping everyone posted on this.
I know every guy here is in your corner.

Tony

I too hadn't noticed this until today. I haven't really been active in flightsimming for a while and so I haven't been visiting and posting so often.

Ian, I've never met you in person, but I've read many of your posts and VC10-era stories on here and I think you're one of the stalwarts of this little on-line abode. I'm a bit rubbish at saying the right thing in these circumstances, but hang on in there, you've plenty of friends on here.

All the best

Toby

Cheers, Tony and Toby. I appreciate your thoughtful and understanding words. Don't worry about saying the right thing, Toby, there aren't any right words in these situations. It's just lovely to know that you've shared a thought with me. Many people can't think what to say and find it embarrassing so avoid me. But I know how they feel and it's harder for them than for me. So I put them at ease when I see them by just being myself and making light of it.

Everybody here has been very kind and supportive. The same goes for the NHS - I haven't met one person from the beginning, making the first doctor's appointment, who hasn't shown genuine care and concern for me. It's amazing how they do it when dealing with so many desperately ill people every day. We are very lucky in this country - our NHS is a treasure! An example is my GP who has made an appointment to call me to see how I'm getting on even though he knows I'm now under the care of the Hospice and the specialist nurses at the hospital.

And I mustn't forget the Macmillan nurses and the Hospices. Apparently our local hospice needs £7,000 a day on top of it's NHS funding to keep going and it gets it all from charity donations. I think they'll be getting part of my compensation money that was earmarked for private treatment - looks like the free treatment is better!

Thanks, Ian

Ian?

Ian wrote

Looks like I'll be around to wind you all up for a while longer

Oh bugger! Hi Ian. Glad you liked the pics.Thinking of you.EricT

Ian I recently started a new career driving out of hours doctors around, I have found that the service they provide is very good and I have looked at the NHS a lot differently now, your right it is superb and the staff I have had the pleasure to work with and meet are dedicated and very professional in the way they deal with patients and their families.