tetsudofan

On 07/08/2020 at 22:10, tetsudofan said:

Swab appointment tomorrow morning.

 

Its been a hot day down here, bedroom temperature reached 30c, only second time I've seen that. Aircon is now on and temperature and humidity slowly falling...

 

Time for bed soon, pleasant dreams everybody.

 

Keith

Afternoon, made it up to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford for my Covid-19 swab but it took some time actually getting to the "big white tent" located in the hospital car park that I was told to look for. Got into the car park, saw the white tent but couldn't get to as it was blocked off. Got the car as close as possible without getting out of the car (as was told not to get out of the car) to the tent and was told that I should leave the car park and return to where I had come from, join the main road  and take the turnoff,  pass a private hospital and carry-on until reaching the blocked off part of car park with the white tent.

What surprised me was that there was no signage pointing to the swab centre. Seems as though a lot of patients have experienced the same problem finding access to the tent which gives me the impression that the white tent is mainly for the use of NHS staff (as its quite close to the staff carpark) and they don't want the public with no appointments turning up and asking for a swab.

Once I got to where I should be everything went smoothly. At the booked time of 09:57 one member of staff checked my car details, another guided the car to the testing area where another was waiting for me with the test equipment. Somehow I got the impression that somebody would be sticking something in my throat and up my nostrils but this was not so. I was given the little swab stick and told to put it as far as possible in my throat and up my nostrils without hurting myself. Once done was on my way home at 10:02.

Must have done everything I should have done as this morning received a text advising that the results were negative. Soon after this another text arrived from the Kent & Canterbury Hospital confirming my appointment at 07:30 on Tuesday. Just leaves me to make sure that I'm ready at 05:30 on Tuesday morning for the Patient Transport to arrive to get me to the hospital by 07:30. Keeping my fingers crossed as the service provided by G4S does not have a good reputation, be the first time I've had to use it.

Keith

Swab appointment tomorrow morning.

Its been a hot day down here, bedroom temperature reached 30c, only second time I've seen that. Aircon is now on and temperature and humidity slowly falling...

Time for bed soon, pleasant dreams everybody.

Keith

Evening from a pleasantly warm part of the far south east corner where my period of self-isolation has entered its second week.

Kent & Canterbury Hospital were on the ball today phoning to ask me if I still wanted my biopsy next Tuesday and, once I had said yes, they bombarded me with a number of Covid-19 related questions.

Once I had answered all the questions to their satisfaction we moved to discuss the Covid-19 swab which has to be done next Saturday for which I was given a choice of one of three locations - Canterbury, Margate or Ashford. Chose the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford as its only a short hop on the M20. We agreed on a time and was then told that after arriving at hospital I should enter the hospital car park, look for a big white tent and present myself in my car at 9:57am also being told that I should not, at any time, leave my car.

After having the swab I'll probably return home via the A20 (as its a more pleasant drive than the M20) and then return home for the rest of my period of self-isolation...

As I haven't used my car for a couple of weeks have just put the battery on trickle charge. Wouldn't want to jump into the car on Saturday and find that I had a flat battery.

Keith

One day gone, thirteen to go!!

Bedtime reading is an instruction leaflet for an ultrasonic fox repeller. Only a cheapish one but interesting to see if its of any use. A neighbour of mine has installed something similar and the number of visiting foxes has declined so fingers crossed.

Pleasant dreams,

Keith

Evening from the far south east corner. Last day of freedom for a couple of weeks as tomorrow starting self-isolation for two weeks followed by an overnight stay at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury before which a Covid-19 swab has to be squeezed in somewhere sometime.

Must also remember to contact Patient Transport on Tuesday. As I'm self-isolating on my own I can't get a friend to drive  me to the hospital so Patient Transport has to be provided. Have to be at the hospital at 7:30am so wonder what time they will want to collect me......

Time to hit the sack. Pleasant dreams,

Keith

23 hours ago, Andrew P said:

Many happy returns for tomorrow / Wednesday.

 

We need new pics of you and the Shirt please.

Andrew, you asked for a pic, first the pic taken 25 years ago:

and the picture taken today:

Same shirt, different badge on the shirt, an aged me......

Photo was taken from the waiting room on the top of Big Mountain watching unauthorised items running round the garden:

A friend of mine who shares the same birthdate (who I have also got into model trains) came round at lunchtime bringing some sandwiches and soft drink so we were able to sit on top of the mountain enjoying our lunch, celebrating our birthdays and watching those things of interest running round the garden. Most enjoyable way of celebrating in these difficult times. It was also the first time we have met in person since lockdown even though he only lives on the other side of town.

Keith

Seeing that the site is "offline" tomorrow better post what I was going to post tomorrow now '

This time 25 years ago I was still living in Japan and very rarely returned to the UK during the summer months, normally returning home in spring and/or the autumn. 1995 was a special year when I reached the grand old age of 50 and returned home for dinner with the family:

Where have the last 25 years have gone?  I don't know.

OK, I had more hair then ( got a no.1 soon after returning home in 1999) and was into Irish coffees (think that is what they were called) but I still have the shirt I was wearing 25 years ago. 

Maybe the shirt will get an airing tomorrow!

Keith

Had a phone call this afternoon from the Kent & Canterbury Hospital at Canterbury advising  that my cystoscopy biopsy and diathermy under general anaesthesia will be performed on Tuesday August 11th. Bearing in mind that the problem only appeared on Saturday June 13th and since then I've been through the Out-of-Hours Doctor (in person), my GP Surgery (on the phone), urine and blood tests, CT scan, flexible cystoscopy and pre-op assessment I think I'm a lucky bunny to get it all done so quickly in these difficult times. Could have had the procedure a week earlier but there was a reason for the delay.

As it stands at the moment I'll start self-isolating after this coming weekend during which time I'll be called to go somewhere for a Covid-19 swab. If I don't get that done I don't get into the hospital. As I live by myself I can't get a friend to take me to the hospital so they have given me the phone number of the patient transport guys to book transportation - have to check-in by 7:30am.

In addition, as I live by myself and the procedure involves anaesthesia, I have to spend the first night after the procedure in hospital but my friend can collect me the following day. Last time this happened it was winter and it was snowing. Little different this time.

Keith

43 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 

Thats looks like one heck of a climb for adhesion only.

Been there, done it many times when I was living in Tokyo. Fantastic railway but at the time I was living there the trains were only comprised of two coaches. These trains were built specifically to run up and down the mountain, power and braking wise.

Once you got to the top you could get a cable car over the mountain down to a lake on the other side, catch a ferry to the end of the lake and then a bus to get you back to the where you started at the bottom of the mountain.

Took my parents there when they visited Japan and we overnighted at an onsen on the top of the mountain. Great end to the day, relaxing in the open air hot spring bath. 

Keith

Pleased to advise that the NHS is still looking after me.

Last Thursday involved an early morning drive up the A20 to Ashford to have the CT scan done at the William Harvey Hospital. Had to be there an hour before the actual scan so that copious volume of water could be drunk but was called in for the scan earlier than expected and all was done and dusted before the scheduled time for the scan.

Decided to drive back home on the A20 rather than use the M20 and stopped at Cheriton to get some petrol, first time petrol has been purchased since March 5th. Think the car was happy being able to stretch its legs.

Today it was time for the flexible cystoscopy which, based on my previous experience of the procedure, was not looking forward to. This time it was different, last time I was sitting more or less upright and was able to watch the activity on the screen but this time I was more-or-less lying flat and could not see the screen. Apart from the ticklish feeling at the beginning I didn't feel a thing, in fact you could say it was a pleasant procedure. Once it was over was rolled over for a quick digit test.

Just as at the first procedure four years ago they found another red blob but nothing like the size of the blob found four years ago. To ensure that the blob is not nasty am now waiting for an appointment for a biopsy which will probably be done at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital at Canterbury under anaesthetic which will involve an overnight stay as I live alone (apart from a rather large teddy bear!!) at home. The NHS does not recognise the teddy bear as capable of looking after me after the operation.

What still amazes me is the speed of which the NHS has been looking after me since the current problem started. When the problem first arose I was worried that everything would have been sidelined because of Covid-19  but it certainly hasn't. Many thanks NHS.

Keith

After my telephone call to 111 a couple of weekends ago and a meeting with the Out-of-Hours Doctor a couple of hours later I had some discussions with my GP regarding urine and blood tests during the following week after which she said that I'll be fast -tracked to the Urology Department to ensure that there are no nasties hiding about.

Last week received a phone call followed by an appointment letter for a flexible cystoscopy at the local clinic on July 7th and today received a phone call asking if I could get to the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford for a CT scan tomorrow reporting at 8:20am. They certainly are fast-tracking things!!

To get to the hospital by 8:20am means using the car, it will be the longest run its had since lockdown started. Think the car will be happy to get the chance to exceed 40mph, maybe take the scenic route along the A20 rather than using the M20. 

Time for bed now, up early tomorrow!

Keith

Evening all, been hot and sunny down here in the south east corner. Have got a slot at the local Tip tomorrow so had to cut the grass (what little of it) and sort out the other garden waste to load into the car first thing tomorrow morning.

Temperature in the bedroom is 29c (the joys of living in a chalet bungalow) so aircon just fired up for the first time this year, temperature gradually being lowered to 20c-22c resulting in a good nights sleep.

Which reminds me, its time to say goodnight.

Keith