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User

Posted 11 May 2025 at 20:59

Hi all, hope everyone is alright.

Sorry for my absence but things have been really busy lately.

I remember seeing the Bradford fire unfold on TV, I was sat around talking with some mates and the TV was more or less on in the background when it started. Incredible to think that you were there to witness it first hand.

Got some good news and bad news. Spring is in full swing and our bluetits laid eggs and we now have eight chicks that are a week old. I have grapes growing on both of my vines. Yesterday my Mrs and eldest completed the Macmillan mighty hike on the Norfolk coast, they've both been hobbling around today.

Now the bad news.. it's confession time, back in March we got an allotment. We had a choice of two so went for the half plot with a shed which is near the main gate. Not really my cup of tea and it's been hard work. I thought my Mrs put us on the waiting list last year but turns out it was back in 2022 when I was having my SRT. The plan was to keep me busy, well it has now! I don't mind rebuilding the shed, clearing brambles and digging over, but I'm not really that into veg, and planting stuff is a mystery to me so I'm leaving that bit to the Mrs, she's dead keen! Apparently, she's the tenant and I'm down as "co-worker" 🤣

Luckily there's an apple tree and some fruit bushes plus a pear tree in the corner, so might be making some wine this year.

Anyway, we've broken the back of the work so I'm hoping to address the backlog of stuff we need to do to the house.

Cheers,

Kev.

User

Posted 12 May 2025 at 10:06

Good to have you back, Kev.

Good luck with your allotment. This hot spell in already hitting my garden. Brown patches on the lawn and the ground is so dry. According to Monty Don, it's down to global warming and soon we'll only be able to grow cacti.

The warmth, has sent my pond fish into a sexual frenzy. They're frantically chasing and rubbing against each other, and end up having a group orgy. I'm so envious. 😁

I've had the pond for twenty years but have never bred any fish. I think the bigger fish must have been eating the eggs or fry. However, this year is the first time I've seen masses of eggs in the pond, hopefully some might survive, before they're cannibalised.

Edited by member 12 May 2025 at 11:23 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 12 May 2025 at 10:14

Hi guys. Good to hear you’re all keeping busy. Weekend weather was cracking and I allowed myself some time sat in the sun.
The wife trimmed the hedge and cut the grass bless her, as I’m not really up to it yet. Although a bit better this morning 👍.

Kitchen guys are starting fitting in units and appliances today . Can’t wait.

Wish there was something I could do but I’m just staying out of the way.

Cheers

Phil

User

Posted 12 May 2025 at 12:50

Hi Adrian, maybe putting your feet in the pond has sent the fish into a breeding frenzy 🤮

Could you drill some holes in a pot and submerge it in the pond as a refuge for the fry?

Hey Phil, I see you're on some heavy duty treatment at the moment, I hope you're coping with it alright. I'm envious that your kitchen is taking shape, seems that we're missing our targets this end, our new kitchen by Xmas is looking tight now.

We're off to London for a Florence Nightingale event this evening, so I've got to put a suit on despite the hot weather.

Cheers all,

Kev.

Edited by member 12 May 2025 at 13:03 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 13 May 2025 at 09:58

Hi guys.

Well kitchen guys are cracking on and it’s looking good. Worktop template this week so worktops in place next week. We opened up the doorway into the conservatory and it’s so much nicer with a wide opening. Just gotta see if Bifolds will work or French doors instead.

Went to the opticians yesterday and turns out I have cataracts caused by the steroids. He can see it’s happened very quickly. Been referred and should be a couple of months. Obviously can’t drive now and even watching tv is difficult… but not worth messing with my glasses lenses for a short period.

Hope you had a great time at the Florence Nightingale event Kev?

Sounds like everyone has been messing about in their allotments . Hope you all reap what you’ve sowed 🤣…

Cheers

Phil

User

Posted 13 May 2025 at 11:12

Hi lads.

Great to have you back Kev. Good luck with the allotment. We're desperately in need of rain here, the grass is turning brown and the soil is cracking. Monty Don reckons it's due to global warming and we'll all have to start growing cacti. I might grow a bed of agave and do my own Tequila. 😁

Regarding my pond fish. I've tried all sorts to harvest the eggs but to no avail. I might try your flower pot idea.

I hope you enjoyed the Florence Nightingale event. With these soaring temperatures and you having to wear a suit, I hope that she didn't have to treat you for heat exhaustion.

Phil, sorry to hear about the cataract problem. I hope they get it sorted. I'm glad that the kitchen is coming on well. Have you been living off sarnies and takeaways?

Out in the garden again today. Fridge full of beer to keep hydrated and to take my mind off tomorrow's PSA test. Talking of treats in the fridge, I've discovered that Invicorp seems to be more effective when the sun's shining. 😁

PS: I must remember to avoid posting whilst on the beer. Yesterday, I made a slightly saucy comment about an evening out with Miss Nightingale. Which, on rereading, I deleted. 😬

User

Posted 13 May 2025 at 12:47

Hi guys,

It was a commemorative service for Florence Nightingale at Westminster Abbey held on International Nurse's day.

It was hot yesterday but cool inside the Abbey and we managed to dodge the thundery showers.

It was an interesting thing to attend, lots of nurses, civilian and military in uniform proudly wearing their medals.

At the end, the bells were ringing and some tourists were taking our pictures as we left. Bit weird but pretending to be VIPs is the closest we'll ever get to actually being important.

Hope you get your eyes sorted so you can marvel at your new kitchen Phil 🤞🏻

As for the allotment, hopefully we'll reap something! The shed roof had collapsed so I re-roofed it using salvaged pallet wood. I'll felt it this week when it's cooler, got some roofing felt from the couple on the next plot. I'll get them some beers as we haven't grown anything to give them yet.

There were plenty of nurses in uniform yesterday Adrian, it would probably have sent your heart rate up so I'll forgive you for being saucy 😅

Coincidentally my PSA test is booked for tomorrow at 13:30, I'm on 6 monthly now, fingers crossed eh 🤞🏻 I'll phone up Thursday or Friday for the result.

Cheers all.

Kev.

User

Posted 13 May 2025 at 12:58

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Bit weird but pretending to be VIPs is the closest we'll ever get to actually being important.

Most of us are impotent. 😁

User

Posted 14 May 2025 at 08:47

Morning lads,

Just a quick good luck note to Adrian and Kev, for their PSA tests today 👍

User

Posted 14 May 2025 at 13:28

Cheers Ian, but my appointment was a nightmare. I went to my GPs for the blood test and the nurse refused to take one. She showed me a letter from a urology locum from the hospital where I had RARP to my GP. It was dated Feb 2024, requesting that my PSA was checked every 3 months for the next year, if after this time it remained undetectable there was no need for anymore tests. The nurse explained as my last test in Feb 2025 was undetectable, they wouldn't take anymore. I told her that I'd never been sent a copy of that letter and that I'd been told that I would require PSA test for 5 years post op. I wasn't a happy bunny. I went back home and rang my consultants secretary. There had obviously been a cock-up, and they confirmed I still needed PSA checks. I also got the distinct impression that the hospital realised that I hadn't been given the follow up appointments that I should have had with my specialist nurse or the consultant. So I'm now waiting for another blood test appointment and my consultant is telephoning me in 6 weeks time.

User

Posted 14 May 2025 at 14:00

I was just gonna say the same as Ian but I saw your reply Adrian.

What a mess up. Why can’t hospitals and GPs communicate properly. My GPs is the same they have to scan in the letters so they are on the system and they are often very late in being sent to the GPs .

Hope you get it sorted asap , and it’s a good result. 👍

Phil

User

Posted 14 May 2025 at 15:35

That's ridiculous mate! My consultant told me that whilst they'd drop down to yearly eventually, I would be having my PSA checked for the rest of my life?

Hope you get it sorted quickly, as you don't need any extra stress around getting these tests done.

Phil - hope you are bearing up ok pal? Your cataract problem sounds like a pain, but a friend of ours had hers done recently, and says it was the best decision she ever made.

Cheers guys.

Ian.

User

Posted 14 May 2025 at 19:17

Sorry to see this happen Adrian.. anxiety is bad enough as it is without this extra aggravation. I hope you can get your PSA test sorted ASAP!

Think I've just had my last hospital test, my consultant is discharging me back to my GP soon, guessing I'll have to make sure I get an appropriate letter sent regarding PSA testing.

Cheers,

Kev.

User

Posted 14 May 2025 at 22:36

Cheers for your support lads. I think the problem in my case is the hospital that did my op is in a different Trust to my GP. If I had to test at the hospital it involves a two hour trip plus it's a pain getting the results which can take a week or more. If I get tested at my GPs I have a five minute stroll down the road and because they use systmonline I can view my own results within 24 hrs. The only problem with the GP doing it is, on budgetary grounds, they didn't want the additional cost of 'sending' the results to the hospital.

I find their bickering, of who pays for what quite insulting. Anyway, what I'm hoping for now is, because I've been two years with undetectable PSA, that my consultant will approve 6 monthly tests and discharge me to the care of my GP. That way, I'll continue booking my own PSA tests and monitoring my own results, just like I have been doing for the past two years.

Since expressing my displeasure this morning, I've had a couple of 'nice' messages and phone calls from both Trusts. I think they've both realised they haven't given me the care they should have done. The hospital realised that they hadn't had an official PSA reading for 2 years and the GPs realised that they hadn't sent readings to the hospital. It's just as well I can look after myself.

Edited by member 14 May 2025 at 23:22 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 14 May 2025 at 23:09

A few of my posts have included the phrase "You have to manage your own case in the NHS".

My case started after a locum at my GP referred me to urology with suspected prostate cancer, the urologist effectively said "oh all people have problems peeing at your age. Good bye".

I had the presence of mind to say "but my PSA is 29”.

He said "that's new information to me" and so the diagnosis began.

It turns out the locum had not put the PSA in the letter. So the consultant wasn't bothered about a middle aged bloke having a few problems peeing. If I had not known 29 was high, when he said "good bye". I would have said "good bye" and blissfully gone home, probably returning in five years with advanced cancer.

I was referred to The Christie. Which was fine. After I was discharged from the Christie (five years later) the local urology department said, "Oh we should have been following you up too, can you book an appointment".

I cynically assume that, they didn't want to follow me up in case I died in the first five years and it would look bad on their statistics, but after five years, they were guaranteed a green tick in the "survived 5 years box".🤷

Dave

User

Posted 15 May 2025 at 08:32

Hi Dave.

Unfortunately the NHS seems such an esteemed national treasure that most of us feel a bit ungrateful complaining when things go wrong.

During my PCa diagnosis and treatment, mistakes were made that left me in quite a precarious position. Since then, I check and recheck everything.

Late edit. Just got a call from my village surgery to have a PSA check there tomorrow. All's well, that ends well. 🙂

Edited by member 15 May 2025 at 09:04 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 15 May 2025 at 18:34

Yes Adrian, I have my reviews at a hospital not on my GP system. So I get a paper letter through the post and it looks like the GP scans it to my record often with a strange title. One scanned document says on my record 'Discharge from hospital' when actually it was a transfer from Urology to Oncology.

When I went to Oncology they asked where I had my blood tests and were pleased when I said it was at their hospital. Although when the time came the nurse rang my local hospital for the psa result and asked why I hadn't been for a test when it was on her own system. The 2 large hospitals are only 16 miles apart and share specialities so you'd think sharing electronic data would be a priority.

User

Posted 17 May 2025 at 10:33

Hi everyone.
I can not bielieve I got on. 😀.

well Adrian that has been a nightmare. Just glad u got appt v v gd luck. When will u get results,did u say?

sorry iv not caught up with everyone’s post yet to see what’s happening. I will. Hopefully today. I’m not signing out incase a don’t get back on lol.

phil how are u & Mrs Phil doing. I sent u a message couple days ago. Explaining I only getting on here now & again. Don’t think u got it.
right is it ok to talk about my hubby y results here?
oche a will tell you all & if it’s ok please any advice is good. I’m like you Adrian I look after everything to do with him. He is hopeless. Wish he was like half of you onhere. e.g.

he said other day. You know what Suzanne since we got phone call saying we getting results by phone on fri. My goolies have been sore. Just shows u. A lot off it is on mind.
WELLLLLL a said what the hell has phone results got to do with your goolies. He looked at me AS IF I WASTTHE DAFTY. I said G it’s not your goolies it’s your PROSTATE. He said
omg I thought past 9wks it bn my goolies. 🙈🙈🙈.🤪
right here we go guys—

prof was on phone for about 5m on loudspeaker. I was shaking felt physically sick. So all I could understand is. There is cancer there. It been there 5yr roughly nothing to really worry about. He sending appt for oncologist to catch up n ask any ?s and give us options.
it’s not going to do anything for about 10 years. So they will give him options n explain more on 21st June. I said quickly. What would be best option. He said well it up to your hubby. Radiotherapy would be best potion if he decides on that. No need for surgery. Then I could not rem the bldy words Active survveillance. Felt a total numpty. I said what about getting blood tests every few months. Yes he said we will deffa be offering that. What the hell does this all mean guys??? Don’t get me wrong. We were both over the moon. Wasn’t as bad as at least I was expecting. All family came here after there work & ofcource they where all relieved. Although Bianca said to me in kitchen. Mum I’m no happy that dad actueallyDOES have C.

I put my arms around her new both cried. I tried explaining. This is good news B. I not got a clue but didn’t want to say this to her. as for our boys. Told you mum nothing can brake wee g. (There dad). If anyone can explaine anything to me I would so appreciate it. I am going to go have wee look about radiotherapy see what it entails & side effects

WEll I would really like to thank each & every one of you from bottom off my heart. Don’t think I would have got through this without you. Special thank you to Phil & Adrian who have explained a lot off this to me 🤝🤝 also to kevwhotold me to try stop worrying. I will try get on n catch-up with all your updates & patter it has kept me going &ihave missed it so much

Thanks AGAIN

Suzz 💙💚

Thanks again

ohhh forgot to tell yous I had all my ?s wrote down & loads of stuff printed out. Never even got asking about glesan count. It all went out window. He did call at 9.45 & call was meant to be 10.20. So that put me right off my stride 😂😂 as G call me. Mrs know it all n know ***k all. Haha.

User

Posted 17 May 2025 at 11:28

Hi Suzz.

It's a shame that they didn't give you hubby's Gleason score or cancer staging. From what you've said it seems he's been offered all three options, surgery, radiotherapy or Active Surveillance. If that is the case, it usually means that the cancer is low grade and confined in the prostate.

I'm glad that you and your family are dealing with the situation well.

Good luck with your June appointment. In the meantime if there's anything you're not sure about pop in and we'll try and help out. X

PS: One of our regulars, Spongebob is/was up in Scotland on a fishing, boozing and hiking holiday with some of his mates. We haven't heard from him since. I hope he's not stuck up Ben Nevis. 😁

Edited by member 17 May 2025 at 11:42 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 17 May 2025 at 16:23

Hi Adrian

prof said deffa no need for surgery. So must be AC or RT 😀😢

don’t know how I feel about all this.

How are you how’s Mrs Adrian? Did u get results of blood tests yet. You & kev. It’s the waiting. It’s terrible.
how’s everyone’s family doing. Adrian how’s the grandkids. You been to any football with your grandson lately.

would yous still be worried about hubbys phone call prof prob no even realise I know about gleson score or cancer staging.. roll on June guys hope i have everything altight with all my questions etc will try come back on bed time tonight n I might even have double vody n coke I will buy AGAIN ADrian 🤣🤣🤣

ohh SpongeBob will be having grt time I’m sure us Scot’s are friendly honestly

Do you know when he was due back?

Hope I can catch up with you all later We not going anywhere so when I’m tucked up in bed a will try get a catch up

again to everyone who has helped me through this THANK YOU ALL 💙💚

right need to go but I’m still not logging out.

Suzz 💚💙

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