Blog 194 Tuesday 25th August 2015

In 2009 Whilst living in Australia I had my original bowel operation. Bowel Cancer had taken hold in the lower bowel. The bowel was operated on via a caesarean type incision in the lower abdomen and 29 cm of colon were removed. And that is the end of that ........................or so I thought.

On Wednesday 12th August 2015 after feeling considerably unwell,  I suddenly felt waves of  severe abdominal pains followed by vomiting. The pain was so bad my wife Wendy called the Paramedics and after Morphine injections by the ambulance crew I  was taken to A&E, I was once again hooked up to drips of saline and pain relief, via cannulas. After several tests including CT scan, I found myself on the surgical ward. I have been diagnosed with Upper Bowel Blockage possibly caused by Abdominal Adhesions (Scar Tissue)

Abdominal Adhesions




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"Abdominal adhesions can kink, twist, or pull the intestines out of place, causing an intestinal obstruction. An intestinal obstruction partially or completely restricts the movement of food or stool through the intestines. A complete intestinal obstruction is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention and often surgery"

It was explained to me that although the blockage was not anywhere near the site of the original operation the adhesions can in fact move and knit together in other parts of the bowel.

On top of that, during a CT Scan they also discovered a Hernia where part of my bowel had pushed through the adjoining wall of my abdomen.  OOOHHH JUST GREAT !!!!! after a seven hour operation, and three days in the Intensive Care Unit, I was sent back to the wards. I am now at home in considerable pain, receiving daily attention of the community nurses, dressing a very large "L" shape incision that tracks down and across my abdomen. For the next month, I am also receiving two injections of Heparin into my stomach, administered by my wife to stop blood clots.

On 28th August 2015 I should have the many clips removed that are currently holding my abdomen together.   

Blog 193 Wednesday 15th July 2015

Yes its been a while,.................................... after my scan last March, I had a severe reaction to the "contrast" dye radiologists use :-

  Iodine–containing contrast medium (often just referred to as “contrast”, “contrast medium”, "dye", or "X-ray dye", even though it is clear and colourless) is a chemical substance used in medical X-ray imaging to show what is happening inside hollow parts of the body (like blood vessels, the stomach, bowel, or even the fluid around the spinal cord). When injected into a blood vessel, which can be either an artery or a vein, it not only shows the inside of the blood vessel on the image or picture but it can give information about how the organs supplied by that blood vessel are working. Good examples of this are the kidneys, brain and lungs............

The "Contrast" is injected automatically after the first scan to give the contrasting view to the radiologists. I have quite often had side-effects such as  the feeling of nausea when the contrast is injected (but never been sick) and also the warm feeling around the groin area as if wetting oneself / passing urine. These I have learnt to cope with over the years but this time I suddenly got a severe headache and became very sensitive to light (photophobic) , I felt very sick, my temperature climbed and I quickly developed flu like symptoms. This all happened within a couple of hours. My GP sent me immediately to A & E for observation

The link above gives all relevant information about possible side effects of the "contrast".. If you have followed me on this blog you will know I tend to get quite severe reactions/side effects when it comes to injected chemicals (chemotherapy, morphine etc) so if you are heading for a scan with "contrast" for whatever reason, don't worry you probably won't be effected like me its less than 1:25000 probability.  

I have always tried to raise awareness of Bowel Cancer and the great work that Bowel Cancer UK does
ORDER FREE AWARENESS MATERIAL HERE  Posters and great information for your work place or community please use it and spread the word, You may save someone's life  

Hey guys happy holidays I'm off to Cyprus!!     

Blog 192 Monday 9th March 2015

On reading my previous post, I appear to be feeling quite abandoned after all the medical interventions of the previous few years, then virtually nothing. I did not need to feel abandoned as it was not long before the appointments started again. Just when I felt anxious about things, a further appointment has arrived. A CT scan for abdomen and chest and blood tests this week with  a follow up appointment by my Oncologist next week.

I still read with dismay when someone presents themselves at a doctors or are admitted to a hospital and it's already too late a diagnosis of terminal cancer is recorded. Did these people not feel any difference in their body? did they just ignore? were they too worried or frightened?

Come on, you know your body if you feel something is not quite right, get it checked out, it will probably be nothing but at least you know. Don't put off getting things checked like bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo. You may be feeling tired all the time for no apparent reason or feel bloated all the time. Your bowel habits may change for three weeks or more, get it checked, its probably nothing but get it checked! Yes it may be embarrassing but like me if you do discover there is something more sinister I can assure you you will never feel embarrassed at showing the world your backside again or anything else come to that.

Visit bowel cancer UK or equivalent in your country to volunteer to spread the word a diagnosis early gives a far better chance of survival or will seriously extend the duration of life.