Systematically stepping on my head

At Gerald's request:
An update.

Quite a day, yesterday.

The details are - well, kind of gross. Maybe best encapsulated by the episode where the nurse (Welsh Michael, already had a mention here, with whom we have a shared sense of humour) and I measuring copious amounts of ummmmm green slushy vomit (I can't quite believe this now, playing it back here!) last evening before it went down the drain. Maybe not quite Guiness book of records material, I guess 1200 ml is chicken feed really ...

But seriously, folks, the reason for the accumulating fluids - and stuff - in the stomach, which has to be got rid of somehow, is that there is growth blocking things up.

Trying to avoid too many medical details: a CT scan confirmed the suspicion that this must be the case. A naso-gastric tube (inserted last night) will hopefully drain the stomach and relieve some of Gerald's symptoms; none of the medication has helped.

The doctor had a couple of serious chats last night. One with me, then one with both of us.
'nuff said.

There is a bad-case scenario (days, not months), and a good case scenario (the stomach drains, the pressure is relieved, the bowel unblocks itself (yes, it can happen), and we all carry on as before for a little while.

And some middle-case scenarios, including the one where there is surgical intervention to relieve symptoms, at least, and our time is complicated by further recovery from major surgery.

K?

Anyway, the delightful Wallace (a young, truly caring doctor without the West Country accent such a name might lead one to suspect) volunteered to take Alex and Sophie through the information - including scans etc - to help them understand what is happening with their Dad better. Hopefully this afternoon, complicated by a maths test (Alex) and an expected busy day on the ward for some reason.

Light relief:
What's wrong with lawyer jokes?
Lawyers don't think they're funny, and no-one else thinks they're jokes.

Anyways, The Big Sing in the Town Hall last night (I didn't get there - excuses as above - till half time) was a great show - secondary schools competing fiercely by SINGING - and Sophie's school did well for themselves.
And Sophie had her second poem published in the College Herald on Tuesday.
And Alex did really well in a calculus test.
And Stu and Maree brought dinner.
And - isn't it chilly these mornings!

Off to hospital. G had morpheine in his drip again last night, or perhaps in the subcutaneous third line he is a attached to (drip, subcut and naso-gastric emptying thingummy) - so hopefully slept some.

Love to all of you carers, wishing you all less interesting times -

L

PS Intending visitors - just check by text 021 606 115 - but G MAY be feeling a little cheerier and weller if the NG tube works well.