It is now ten weeks since I had my colostomy, and nine weeks since I left hospital. I had hoped that by now I would be fully recovered ... but I still have some way to go. My wound still requires regular dressing changes as has not yet closed and is still producing quite large amounts of exudate.
Yesterday, this led to me paying a visit to my GP, who was concerned enough about the state of my wound to make an immediate referral to University Hospital, Lewisham. As a result, I spent most of Tuesday afternoon and the early evening in the Accident & Emergency Department and the Ambulatory Care/Surgery Assessment Unit.
After I was triaged in the A&E Department, I had a blood test. I was then transferred to the Ambulatory Care/Surgical Assessment Unit, where I was eventually seen by one of the surgeons who operated on me in December. She probed the wound, took a swab for analysis, and conducted a very thorough examination before having the wound redressed. She then prescribed a short course of antibiotics which she felt would ensure that any minor infection that I might have would be dealt with.
The dressing is no longer as bulky as it was when I first returned home, but I still have to exercise care when doing anything even vaguely physical as it can cause leakage. One byproduct of this is the difficulty I have climbing the steep stairs up to the top floor of our house ... which is where my toy/wargame room is located. I can make the climb with care and if I go up slowly, one tread at a time. This is both tiring and tiresome, and as I require both hands to support myself as I go up and down, I cannot carry anything large or heavy to and from the top floor.
Whilst this was inconvenient when I first returned home, it is now beginning to restrict what I want to do, and I am growing increasingly impatient ... which is not helping my recovery! I could do more writing, but I actually want to be able to set up a wargame (or two) to try out some of my ideas.
I know that things will eventually get better, but I’ve never been a particularly patient patient ... and I’m fast becoming a very, very impatient one!
It is hard being a patient patient Bob, but sadly it it one of those things we have to do. Let's hope the antibiotics spped up the healing process so you can get back to near normal soon.
ReplyDeleteIs there any way you could have some stuff brought down to the lving room, so you could play there?
Steve J.,
DeleteThe longer it goes on, the more my patience is becoming tried. I know that the wound will be healed soon, but I’m find the wait very, very tiresome.
I have suggested to my wife that I could move some stuff down from the top floor to do some wargaming, but she as she is currently using the dining table to do her dressmaking, she felt that was not possible at present.
All the best,
Bob
It is so hard to be patient. I wonder if a practical solution might be to get one of those trays with a bean bag attached to sit on your lap and allow some gaming to take place. Perhaps a few 10mm figures would be worth investing in for such a small space or even 1/300? Hope you come to a solution.
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
DeleteThat is an excellent idea! Thanks very much for suggesting it. I’ll see if I can order one from Amazon as it will also help me to use my laptop without having to use the dining table.
All the best,
Bob
Hi BOB,
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and hope that things will get better for you soon. I remember the discomfort I had last year with my operation and it seemed months went by before I was settled...yes, worrying about things does not help - try to be busy and keep the mind occupied. Stay well and safe there in London- God knows when this pandemic will end. Regards. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteCheers! Thanks for your very supportive and helpful comments. I know that things will get better sooner rather than later ... but I just wish that it was sooner!
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Yup. The only really good thing about a slow recovery is the end and avoiding the other possible endings.
ReplyDeleteIf only you had a Portable Wargame.....
Ross Mac,
DeleteVery true! The alternative to a slow recovery is no recovery ... and I certainly want to avoid the latter!
If I’d realised that my recovery was going to take so long, I would have put together a PW ‘kit’ for downstairs ... but I didn’t. More fool me!
All the best,
Bob
My dear Bob:
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to just be learning of this. I have some experience from family members of what you're going through and it's a tough row to hoe. I shall remember you in my my prayers, for a full recovery and happy gaming doing what you love.
Mad Padre,
DeleteThanks for your comment and support. Recovering from major surgery at the present time can be quite stressful at times, especially as I was expecting minor, keyhole surgery and we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The support I get from my fellow wargamers helps me considerably.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteSorry to read of this setback, I can imagine the last thing you would feel like in the present climate is sitting in A&E awaiting triage! I can imagine your frustration at being limited in what you can do. One thought came to mind.... Travel Battle? All the best. Lee.
‘Lee,
DeleteI must admit that had I not had my first COVID-19 vaccination, I would have been very reluctant to sit in A&E for as long as I did. The hospital was enforcing social distancing ... but there were some people in A&E who seemed to be constantly fiddling with their masks. In one case, someone with mental health problems kept taking his mask off and trying to walk around the department, but the staff dealt with him very quietly and effectively.
Unfortunately, my TRAVEL BATTLE sets are currently stored in a crate in my toy/wargame room ... and I would have to do quite a bit of (banned) heavy lifting to get to them.
All the best,
Bob
Sorry to hear you're still under the weather. I've passed along some paper minis I made for my PWG. I hope they help until you can get back up to your study.
ReplyDeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteCheers ... and thanks very much. I’m sure that the paper minis would be ideal for this sort of situation.
All the best,
Bob
So sorry to hear that your recovery is not as expected especially as you seemed to be doing so well. I hope this phase will pass (as I am sure it will) and you will be on the upward trend again. Thinking of you. Best wishes. Jim
ReplyDeleteJim Walkley,
DeleteI’m hoping that this will be a minor blip or bump in the road to my full recovery. Sitting in hospital surrounded by ill people does little to help one feel positive. Thankfully, the surgeon was very upbeat and lifted my spirits, especially as she expects my wound to heal by March. The new dressing that she supervised being given to me is much smaller than previous ones I’ve had, and it seems both more secure and comfortable to wear.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear the slow recovery continues after having spent 4 months in traction after a car used me for brakes, I now how you feel. As I was told at the time slow and steady is the best option. Good luck with the recovery mate.
Stephen Smith,
DeleteAnd I thought that I had it bad! You must have found being confined to your bed for such very long time unbearable!
I know that slow and stead is the best way to make a complete recovery ... but does it have to be quite so slow?
Thanks for your best wishes and advice.
All the best,
Bob
All the best Bob. Extended time in accident & emergency is not where one wants to be (any time in fact!). At least there is progress (however slow) and you are receiving treatment. Hopefully writing about it helped to get some of the frustration off your chest.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that you can find some metaphorical roses to smell. Keep yer chin up!
Regards, James
James Fisher (James),
DeleteThe A&E Department was relatively quiet and empty, but it’s not the best place to spend time waiting for something to happen. At least the Ambulatory Care/Surgical Assessment Unit had comfortable chairs to sit on while you waited!
I’ve been back to my GP surgery today, and I have made four appointments to have my dressing changed every other day over the next eight days. The GP and Practice Nurse are hoping that by then the wound would have healed enough to switch to less frequent dressing changes.
Things are getting better ... but I just wish that it was not taking so long. At least the latest dressing is much more compact and allows me greater movement ... and I might just make it upstairs later today.
All the best,
Bob
I'm glad you are slowly getting better. How frustrating to kit be able to reach the attic Games room - the same happened to Donald Featherstone as he got older, so you are in esteemed War Games author company . As I think I may have mentioned, there is a charming and quite funny chapter in Featherstone's Solo Wargaming about Wargaming In Bed with swoppet knights etc (envisaging the kind of hospital stays and Carry On type nursing we probably haven't seen since the 1960s). I have liked this chapter since I read it as a child and did some duelling it's where I discovered Gerald de Gre etc . https://poundstoreplasticwarriors.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/duelling-in-the-sandpit-lunge-cut-and-stop-thrust/
ReplyDeleteMark, Man of TIN,
DeleteThanks to the lighter-weight dressing I’m now wearing, I’m finding it easier to get up to my toy/wargame room, and I managed to spend a couple of hours there yesterday having a general sort out.
I remember reading about playing toy soldiers in a hospital bed, but for me, it wasn’t an option due to the COVID-19 restrictions placed on what I could take in with me.
Gerard de Gre got a mention in my recent talk to VCOW. He ran the wargame club at Bard College, when Joseph Morschauser was a student there.
All the best,
Bob
Good to hear your "mutterings" (as per a true Grognard) that means you are on the mend, I would be more worries if you were quiet ;) Keep writing mate, inspirational!
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exile FoG,
DeleteAs a genuine Grognand, I've been singing along to the ‘Onion Song’ whilst I’ve been up in my toy/wargame room and at my PC!
All the best,
Bob
Give it time, Bob. Things always take twice as long as you think they should, and they just can't be rushed. Glad to hear that you're on the mend.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Chris.
Chris Kemp (Chris),
DeleteI know what you have written is all too true, but i seem to feel so frustrated that it’s taking so long.
All the best,
Bob
Stay the course Bob. "This too shall pass". You have so many fans that rely on your wargaming wisdom. I'm sure they all appreciate your efforts at keeping in touch, knowing how hard it must be.
ReplyDeleteDalethewargamer,
DeleteI saw a Practice Nurse this morning to have my dressing changed, and it appears that the wound is healing nicely. I hope that I’ll be completely healed by the middle of March, if not sooner.
All the best,
Bob