It’s Garry McGivern’s regular monthly update for November-2019, Not too much to say this month, as most of October has been spent cycling around France, Germany and the Netherlands in a bid to get fit for my upcoming surgery. I’ve only been home for a week and a half, but it’s been a busy time. I’ve been catching up with family and friends. Especially my new granddaughter Indya. Who, as you would expect, has grown quite a bit and is already smiling!
I was only home for a day before I had an appointment at the hospital for my pre-op assessment. No problem. As I’ve just said, one of the reasons for going away was to get fit and give me the best chance of a speedy recovery after surgery. And I certainly was feeling fit! In fact, I’d not felt this good in a long time!
At The Pre-Op
Well, the pre-op was a very short-lived affair! I got the usual questions: do you smoke? How much alcohol do you drink? I always get confused with that question and confuse units of alcohol with pints!?!
Next question: what medication are you on? As I reeled off what is a very short list these days, I arrived at steroids.
“Steroids?” She asked
“Yes, I’m on a reducing dose, which finishes in three weeks, one week after surgery” I replied
“I’ll have to run that one past your surgeon. I’m not too sure if they’ll operate while you’re on steroids!” (Steroids weaken the immune system, meaning you’re more prone to infection)
Great, I thought, but at least I’ll only be on 5mg by the time they operate, so it might be okay!
Next question: do you have any open wounds? Unfortunately, I did and showed her my cuts and grazes, which are all part of normal life for me. I’m always cutting or knocking myself! She didn’t seem too bothered by them until I came to the blister on the back of my heel. Which, if you remember, came up when I was in Angers on the 5th of October at the beginning of my tour! Well, because of the steroids and living in a pair of shoes that rubbed every time I walked, it’s no longer a blister. It’s a rather large open wound! Despite my best efforts to dress it every day and put antiseptic cream on it!
That was it; she had to cancel the operation! They won’t operate on anybody with an open wound, especially not someone who has had sepsis in the past!
Now What
I’ve now got to wait until my heel is better, and I haven’t got any open wounds, which could be a problem! I think I’ll have to wrap myself in cotton wool and stay in bed! I’ve got a week and a half left on the steroids, so hopefully, things will start to heal if you’ll pardon the pun!
I must admit that I thought it was all a bit ironic! I cycle 1500 miles to get fit and indeed do feel fit, only to be told I’m not fit!
Not too sure what I’m going to do for the next few weeks/months. I would like to go away again on my bike, but it’s just not the right time of year, both weather-wise, and there are very few campsites open!
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You don’t have to apologise, you’ve done more than most of us in a lifetime. It’s a bummer about the op. Those pre exams are the equivalent to political correctness.
Best wishes – Malc.
They are a pain, it’s all about ticking boxes and covering their backs! But I fully understand the reason for not operating on me, I don’t wish to contract sepsis again!
Good luck with attaining surgery ready fitness Garry👍
Thanks Allan, hopefully it won’t take too long!