The Furry Monkey

02 September 05
on the phone to the vet.....

Two weeks is now up and Domi has had her painkillers every day. She has been improving and has now found alternative routes to get on top of her favourite chair bless her.

Although she limps and will always do from now on, it does look easier to walk on than it was. We're not sure about having the operation done as it is only "up to 90%" chance of getting better. As John said she might only be 10% better or even worse none, specially when you've paid out £600-£700 for the operation in the first place. Not that we have that amount of money yet.

So I phoned the Vet and asked for her opinion. She said if she is coping with it well and not in pain then leave her as she is for now. If it gets worse or she is in pain then come back. That's good and honest of them. They are a brilliant vet and I'm recommended them to friends as good which helps when you have pets. Boy are they a worry at times!!!

I also had a phone call from the Hospital today asking if I'd requested an appointment, which I hadn't. I was thinking about it but hadn't got around to asking yet! So Pauline said "oh they must've been checking things and asked you then" which was right. The first date they have is 7th October - it seems a long way away but it's not really.

Christmas displays are going up in the local garden centre so it can't be far away can it if Christmas is nearly here......!!!

03 september 05
mayors river day

CREST attended this event and I'm helping out again. Chairs and drinks have been arranged this time which will make it easier on my legs. I know I'll suffer afterwards but then I always do whenever I go out no matter what. It's part of my life now and I'm getting used to it!

Anyway I'd already given two bags of items for the Tombola and could see several of them on the table. It's nice to see your items on there, specially when people win them and are pleased with their prize.

We had a little helper too this time, a little girl from the Refreshment Stand who wanted to win a bottle for her Mum. She kept asking her Mum for money and trying to win it. She managed to wina big bag full of goodies, not sure how she knew the winning tickets but she did!!! In the end her Mum sent her over to us to get rid of her for a while but said if she's a pain send her back! :-)

She wasn't a pain and helped us find the prizes and took the tickets from people who had won. We had only one bag of things left to take home which was good for Joan. The only problem with raising money is where to store all the goods!!

So if anyone has any items that they would like to donate for our next events (Raffles/Tombolas/Adopt a Furry Friend) then let me know and we'll sort it all out. The more donations the better!

20 september 05
lymphoma clinic, uch, london

Since my last appointment I've been struggling with my arm pains. No matter whether I do anything or not it's still there. I was going to see Dr W in the local GP surgery but was persuaded to go back to UCH as they did say to go back if it didn't go away.

I had a longgggggg wait to see the Dr. I sat there for almost three hours before being seen. So much for transport patients being seen first. Anyway it was my turn at last, gone 4.30pm I think it was and saw Dr C. She examined my arm and then checked my neck, chest, arms, stomach etc and asked me what I thought it was. Well she's the Dr thought I but then decided not to say it!

I replied that maybe it was tennis elbow as I know someone with that. However she told me it definitely wasn't tennis elbow and that she was going to send me for a bone scan.

I took the form to the Nuclear Medicine department hoping for an appointment to be made then, but it wasn't to be. She said the computer was shut (how stupid is that!). So I'd have to get one in the post instead. Another wait. At least it should be in the next 2/3 weeks which is good.

Waiting is such a pain (no pun intended) when all you want to know is what is causing the pain in the first place.

29 September 05
haematology tumour group meeting, frimley park

I'm the patient representative in this meeting, as I'm the only one in the TACT group with a haematological cancer. I know a few people from there now and it's amazing what you learn about the "other side" at these meetings. Very interesting.

Mind you, it's also scary when you consider how little funding they get for treating these diseases. Some hospitals in the Trust get more than others and it really is a postcode lottery in some cases.

I've not been here before though and the only way to the Administration Block is by walking. It took me 15 minutes to walk back from the meeting! It's not that far for a "normal" person but when you walk with a stick it slows you down a lot. I'll have to remember that for next time (with my memory - you've got to be joking!).