Thanks for sharing thoughts, Bert

November 16, 2003

Hello Bert!

As usual, you expressed your thoughts in a pretty impressive way and

were able to give us some real insight into your feelings. I do

understand, I think, what you mean about just being able to do some

normal things which you could not do before when you had CP. That

must create a certain euphoria. Perhaps you could just consider the

following thoughts :

I don't hink you could go through what you have experienced without

significant emotional and physical upheaval. As you know, I'm

contemplating a new TP operation now, largely because of an

exceptionally high cancer risk. My surgeon, while discussing all

the pros and cons very honestly with me, said that I would have " a

pretty rough six to twelve months " before I could resume normal

living. I had to decide, among other things, if this was a price I

wished to pay. Give yourself a little more recovery and adaptation

time. I imagine that the mental and physical energy which used to go

into making decisions and being very positive about what you wanted

to do, is now directed towards maintaining health and just

appreciating, probably more than ever before, the beauty of life and

nature. I don't have your gift of self-expression, Bert!

I know it takes time to adapt to the diabetes. I don't know anything

about the procedures as I'm not diabetic yet, but I do know two

people, one a non-CP Type 1 diabetic (English) and one a patient who

was diabetic before a TP and still is, of course (American...had her

TP at Minnesota), both of whom find the insulin pump has made their

diabetes much easier to control. I can't give any advice, of course,

but it's just a thought.

I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday and I know Heidi has direct

experience to offer in terms of the diabetes.

BTW, do you remember us talking about the different times patients

spend in hospital after a TP? I discovered that my particular

hospital has a a policy of not sending these patients home until

they are opiate-free. They have to be tube-free as well. That's why

the time is longer, in some cases, than at other hospitals......not

that we are just more wimpish on Merseyside!!

Good luck Bert and carry on enjoying your new life. I'm praying that

you go from strength to strength, and I think you will!

Best wishes,

Fliss

Recommended Posts