Monthly Update From Garry McGivern

My monthly update for November 2025. It’s been a quiet month, but it started well with a camping trip. But ended up with staying home. I should have had an operation, but I cancelled it. And my DCM (Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy) seems to be getting worse.

The month started well with the end of my ride, which took me around some of my regular campsites, which have now all closed until next year. I can’t quite believe the camping season is over. I’m sure I’ve not been away that much this year, which, when I look back, I haven’t. Too many hospital appointments! It might have also been my last ride of the year. My hip is giving me quite a lot of pain now. And even cycling the few miles to the supermarket and back hurts.

Let’s Hope It Is

Well, I think it’s my hip. I’m getting a lot of sciatic pain down that leg, which I’m hoping is caused by my hip moving around. But until I get my operation, I won’t know, as it could be my back getting worse. Hopefully, it is my hip and not my back. I used to get bad sciatica in my left leg, and cycling used to ease it. In fact, when I left to cycle to Australia, I was suffering with bad sciatic pain. But by the time I’d reached Istanbul, it had fully gone. Whereas the pain in my right leg seems to get worse with cycling. Hence why I think/hope it’s my hip.

I should have been recovering from having my gallbladder removed, but I cancelled the operation. When I went for the pre-op at the beginning of the month, I asked if I would fail the pre-op for my hip, which I would. And seeing as I’ve got the pre-op for my hip next week, there was no way I was going to have my gallbladder out. Had I had the operation, it would have been at least eight weeks before I could have had another pre-op and pass. Barring any cuts, I may pick up on the way! Hence why I’m staying home and being very careful not to cut myself before next week.

Blimey, I’m hoping my hip will have been operated on within eight weeks, and I’ll be well on the road to recovery. Had my gallbladder been giving me problems, I would definitely have had the operation. But (touch wood) I’ve not had any problems with it for a few years. Whereas my hip is really starting to hurt now, even with all the strong medication I’m taking. There’s a short video update on my YouTube channel.

I Don’t Like This Getting Old Malarkey

Disappointingly, my Myelopathy seems to be getting worse as well. I’ve now lost feeling in the little finger on my left hand. Luckily or not, depending on your point of view, it happened a day or two before I went for one of my regular check-ups. So the hospital knows about it. Hopefully, it won’t get any worse, or at least not too quickly. I’m constantly checking to make sure the numbness isn’t spreading. The hospital gave me the usual advice on what to look out for, and if any of those signs occur, I need to get to the hospital. No need to panic, I’m already fully versed in what to look out for.

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