Thank you for good wishes!

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your good wishes for Jim; he and I both really

appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Yes, of course I'm pleased that my CT scan showed no obvious change

from last time.

Yes, Sue and I had planned to meet on Wednesday but now it seems

that Prof is away and my appt will be delayed. It doesn't matter too

much for me because my gastroenterologist gave me the results of the

scan anyway. I am just going to discuss the monitoring with Prof,

ie. how frequently he advises scans and ERCPs to take juice samples.

My last ERCP didn't result in bad pancreatitis (unlike the first one

I had back in 1988...but my whole condition was worse then, at least

in terms of obvious symptoms) so I don't mind having them done

regularly to check for the cancer-indicating mutations in the cells.

I did have increased pain for several days but it wasn't too bad at

all. After 1988 I was expecting a very bad reaction, especially as

they had dug about a bit to extract the juice. He did put a stent in

for a couple of weeks to aid drainage and help to avoid an attack.

Sue is checking her own appointment now in case the whole clinic has

been cancelled. Sadly, we mightn't be able to meet this time after

all. So far we've only met when Sue has been in hospital! It would

be nice to meet in more pleasant circumstances. I've changed my bone

scan from Wed. to tomorrow morning as Jim has his pre-op tests in

the afternoon. May as well get all our hospital-type things done

tomorrow, leaving Wednesday free all day. We'll have Thursday as

well and then Jim's admission.

This whole thing of the prostatectomy seems so unreal. I simply

don't really believe it's happening to us. I think it's because Jim

has no symptoms so the disease itself, while very serious of course,

hasn't really impacted on us yet. and his girlfriend,

, are with us now. They are going over to Dublin for a

couple of days in the morning and coming back for Easter on

Thursday. Our elder son, is coming up with his wife on

Wednesday or Thursday as well so we'll all be together during the

operation time.

I so much appreciate your kind thoughts and prayers.

Chrissy, you asked about my feet. (Seems so trivial at the moment

with all that is going on in our lives.) I still use the orthotics

and provided I wear boring, comfortable shoes, I'm fine! We went for

quite a long walk through pinewoods (red squirrels!) and along the

beach this afternoon and I was OK.

I couldn't have survived thus far without this group. I will never

forget how scared and confused I was with the CP diagnosis (remember

that my mother died of pancreatitis back in 1965) and only your

support and friendship, together with all the superb information

provided by the board, got me through the first year with any kind

of sanity left.

Did I mention that I have started learning the piano? I got a full

digital keyboard for christmas and started proper lessons a month

ago. I'm hopeless but I LOVE it! So relaxing. Our old piano, rather

a fine one, which we got as a bargain, now lives with in

London. There is another old piano in one of our halls at school. It

is probably going to be thrown out. It needs a lot of work which

would cost quite a bit but I'll catch it when it's thrown! It will

end up as a lovely piano when restored. I'll then pass the keyboard

on to who has thrown out many hints!

I will pass on all my news about Jim and try to keep in touch as

well as poss. Thank you for saying I'm missed, Heidi! I miss all of

you. I'll be back to normal as soon as possible.

In the meantime, love to all and keep well.

Fliss (UK)

[Guest guest]

Fliss,

That is great that you are learning to play the piano. I love playing

the piano. I am not very good, but I have found it to be a very good

hobbie for me. Before my TP/ICT when I was in the hospital a lot the

hospital had a music therapy program. In the room where they did a

lot of music therapy there was a piano. I would go play on the piano

most of the time I was awake. It helped me deal with my situation.

Love,

Crystal Galloway