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Welcome to Doodlecat - where we enjoy the great outdoors and gather a range of news and views. Much of the content is courtesy of the generous contributions from the splendid people who participate in the annual TGO Challenge, so there is a wealth of outdoor experience here, especially if you like walking in Scotland - but we try to range worldwide.

The home page is where we post the latest news and views from the Doodlecat team. You can have your say too! Just click on the 'comments' link on any of the posts - or if you have a story or photogallery that you think we'd like, then let us know. Random Doodles and the Image Gallery welcome guest contributions, as well as the perennial favourite, the TGO Challenge pages

The blogroll on the right displays ten links to other sites that you might like to try out - there are a lot more, and the list will change each time you visit or 'refresh' the page.

Enjoy your stay.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Walking The Robotic

Since my operation on Friday I haven't got out much (not surprising after being hung upside down and disembowelled for six hours). Thanks to everyone for the good wishes, emails, cards and phone calls. They gave me a real boost. I'm pleased to report that recovery continues well.

I was out of hospital on Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours after being delivered back to the ward. Having been monitored through the night, the drips were removed on Saturday morning. By 9.00am I was sitting in a chair and at 10.00am a nurse came to assist me to walk the length of the main ward.

"I'm just walking the robotic" she said to a colleague

"That's a bit impersonal" said I.

"You guys are in for such a short time that we never remember names", she smiled. "So we always call our DaVinci patient 'the robotic', and everyone knows who we're talking about"

She then told me that once I managed ten lengths of the ward on my own, the doctors would discharge me. So after a bit of a rest and a light lunch, off I toddled, and by 3.30 pm I was out. My old mate Alan Sloman rolled up in his limousine to whisk me home, feeling bruised and battered but very relieved!
Phil at the old chicken hut
The first couple of days were a bit uncomfortable, and I get tired very quickly. Although 'minimally invasive' this is quite a major op after all, so that's not surprising. However, Miss Whiplash got me out for a slow stagger to the post box the day after my return, and the next day a bit further. Gradually the soreness is easing off, and yesterday she drove me to our local country park and we did almost a mile to the old chicken hut and back.

Miss W intends to have me 'hill fit' for Christmas, and ready for her TGO Challenge training regime (brace yourself, Sloman) by the end of January, so plenty of outings in the pipeline. Me? I can't wait.

It's good to be back!

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posted by Phil at Thursday, October 30, 2008 10 Comments

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Happy Birthday!

I PROMISE that this is the last 'medical' post - honest!!

Not only is today my birthday, with all the usual goodies that brings, but this afternoon my consultant rang to say that lymph nodes seem fine and my op is booked for Friday. Not only that, but I have Professor Neal carrying out the procedure and his success rate is astonishingly good, with much shorter recovery times than with conventional surgery and a very low rate of the more unfortunate side effects (still might have a shorter willie though!).

I found this very interesting article from the Times, and if you're not too squeamish, it has a video of the operation as well with a commentary! So now I know exactly what Prof. Neal will be doing. Fascinating stuff - I hadn't realised that I will be tipped upside down to allow gravity to keep my innards out of the way (indignity upon indignity) nor that there is a smell of cooked meat and pork crackling in the theatre from the super heated instruments.

Will I fancy pork scratchings ever again?

Oddly, the video has made me feel very confident about the whole thing, and the story about the chap driving a tractor within a week of the op is encouraging too - not that I have a tractor, and I suspect that he is an exception.

Thanks for all the emails. I'll let you know how I get on and then I'll be back on the outoors theme again.

Toodle pip for now

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posted by Phil at Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7 Comments

Sunday, October 19, 2008

A Personal Challenge

In recent months I’ve had a pretty uncomfortable time – recurring bouts of what I now suspect was prostatitis – a bacterial infection of the prostate. Pretty painful and it does restrict your life a tad. Anyway, the recurring condition led my GP to recommend further investigation (despite having had a negative blood test for prostate cancer in April).

So off to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. Lo and behold, after a series of tests, including kidney scans and all sorts, plus a ‘digital’ examination (sounds hi tec – means a finger up the bum) it was declared that I had a ‘nodule’ on the prostate gland that might well be cancerous.

Me: “I’ve just had a negative PSA test”.

Consultant: “Well, they pick up around 80%, but that means, of course, that 20% are not detected by the test”.

Me: “!!!!!!?”

Next is the biopsy – to see what is really going on. Ten or twelve samples plucked from the prostate by a needle gun – fired (you guessed it) right up the bum. To be fair, they do give an anaesthetic (by poking the needle up your bum, of course). The consultant then inserts an ultrasound probe which guides him to the target area. If you’re old enough to remember ‘The Golden Shot’ on ITV, you’ll get the idea.

“Bernie……the bolt”

Ouch!!!! (x 10) Actually, it wasn’t too bad. And peeing blood for the next week (even more alarming when you ejaculate) is par for the course, apparently.

Bottom line (geddit!) is that the following week I was told that, yes, I had cancer. It’s not the benign variety that most older fellas get, it’s a bit on the aggressive side.

“Here are your options – have a think and let us know which procedure you prefer”.

One of the options was ‘wait and see’ with monitoring of my PSA levels. As this had failed to show up the cancer in the first place, I discounted this immediately.

Next is radiotherapy. Problem is (especially as my prostate is not enlarged) it can damage the bladder and leave you slightly incontinent, and also the lower bowel and anus can be damaged. Oh, and the nerves that control erectile function can be damaged. Nice! And it takes 6 weeks of daily visits to the hospital for treatment. This seems to be the preferred option for older chaps – but what about me? Young, beautiful…..etc….
Basically, I wanted the unwelcome invader removed. In surgical matters I am much influenced by Sir Lancelot Spratt in the 'Doctor' films - "If in doubt - cut it out!".



So my final choice was radical prostatectomy by robotic keyhole surgery (it’s good to have your local hospital at the ‘cutting edge’ – ohhh, not sure I like that term!). Anyway, with luck, they will be able to spare the nerves and not leave me permanently incontinent and impotent.

I discussed my choice with my GP, who said “if I was in your position, that’s what I’d do”. After all the hospital discussions, where they are obliged to make sure that you know the downside of everything, it was good to hear a commonsense answer – even better as it coincided with my own opinion.

Had an MRI scan last week – and it seems local lymph nodes are affected, but it hasn’t gone elsewhere (like the bones) so I should be OK.

One unfortunate side effect is a shorter willie!!!! This is ‘cos they cut the urethra each side of the prostate, and the join it again – and I have been told that ‘ you may think that your penis has become shorter that usual’.

Me: “I always think that – and so does Miss W!”

Consultant: “Well, it won’t come as a surprise then”.

The other bugger is having a catheter and a wee bag strapped to my leg for two weeks after the op – and then learning to pee again….voluntarily.

Other than being sterile, possibly impotent, incontinent and having a truncated willie, I am told that I can look forward to a full and active life!

Well, whoopee.

But this brings me to the Challenge. I’m not sure exactly when all this medical stuff is taking place (during the next few weeks I am told – awaiting ‘phone call). Apparently it can take a while to fully recover. So, for me, the Challenge is a target. If I get on, and successfully complete the crossing, then it will prove to me, yes, I’m fully fit….

And I’ve got my life back.

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posted by Phil at Sunday, October 19, 2008 16 Comments