Some may be old enough to remember Muhammad Ali and George Foreman's famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight in Zaire.
For the first several rounds Ali just lent back on the ropes and let George throw everything he had at him. According to the media there was likely to be only one winner of this fight as George had swept all before him on his way to the meeting including old adversaries of Ali (such as Joe Frazier) with consummate ease.
Ali was a wily fox and limited the damage of Foreman's efforts until he had exhausted him and then struck like a cobra to take a tiring Foreman out of the ring.
To the uninitiated it looked like Foreman had been destroying Ali because he was the one scoring the points by throwing punches and Ali had been passive. Clearly, Ali's strategy was a risk because he was losing a lot of rounds and relying on a well conditioned Foreman tiring and becoming vulnerable.
Last week was not at the same level as that because it was the only strategy that I was able to enact i.e. laying in bed and trying to work out what drugs were having what effect and what was the best way to get out of the situation whilst this beast of a disease had a free rein to attack me from all angles. Conserving my energy was the only way of combating the situation especially with the effects of the nausea.
The strategy seems to be working and I have a run of consultations that may help me get the balance of the drugs and the approach to the current status of the condition right. Yesterday, I was at the Marsden and today I was at my G.P.'s.
My G.P. is very thorough and we reflected on yesterday's discussion whilst dishing out the prescriptions that I did not have an opportunity to get yesterday due to time constraints. We also discussed how we move forward because I have my first visit from the MacMillan community nurses on Friday and this is an area in which they excel. I am then due back at the G.P.'s next Monday and I hope to be in a stable place by that time.
Today, I have been more active and am also about to take on my third meal of the day, which is a marked improvement. If anything I am mindful of doing too much too soon and there is a balance to be struck but signs are encouraging that the blip that I have had may not be wholly representative of what I will facing every day going forward.
The next job on the list is telling the children. We had intended to do this over a week ago but were not able to because of my condition. It is not just about telling them but also about dealing with fall out. That process will start tomorrow.
So glad you are having some good days again. I like the others reading your blog daily always scan through for the optimistic swordfish and your words of wisdom when things are not going well we all feel the sadness and frustration but are able to smile when something uplifts you and you are smiling. The stories you tell of Notoplip and the gang always bring a smile to my face and I would like to share a story with you.
ReplyDeleteMany, many years ago three young ladies spent the evening in the basement bar in Kingston, the usual gang were there and after the bar closed we all went down to Volts to party on into the night. Kitten was smitten with a very dashing DJ and flirted and danced the night away, after lots of alcohol at the end of the night the Wrexham lass, kitten and myself headed home (not sure if we were in a cab or big boss was driving….some bits are a bit blank) but I do remember kitten shouting stop the car I’ve got to get out. She had seen swordfish heading back to his bachelor pad by the river. “I’m going after him” don’t be silly we said you don’t know where he lives “I’ve just seen him walking up there I will catch him up” before we could make her see sense she was away like the wind, mesmerised by the swordfish charm. We carried on home worrying about kitten who turned up 20 minutes later as she could not find you. I don’t know if she ever told you that story and if she had not …sorry kitten. There is another story about the glass shoes and that one last JD and coke but I’ll save it for another time.
From that first day she knew you were the one and you have made her very happy, the house you live in is full of love and it' love that will get you through. I can’t imagine how you have that conversation with the children but kitten is with you every step of the way.
I’m thinking about you all the time and sending love xxxx
Lance Corporal,
ReplyDeleteI had heard the story but, as I recall, it was painted to me in a way that Kitten had hopped out of the car momentarily and when she couldn't find me got back in. I had no idea that she was missing for twenty minutes. The truth of the matter is not of concern as a good yarn is a good yarn!