What a week

Things have been strange since I last did my Blog. The week started OK My Mum came down Saturday and we had a lovely Pub Lunch at the Royal Oak near Hayling Island, well recommended if anyone is down that way. It was great to see her as the last time had been May when she came down to Devon. Then Sunday after a nice roast beef lunch onboard I went for a bike ride to work off lunch. I set myself the target of 50miles which I achieved but it was all on the flat. I think it can be harder on the flat doing a long distance as it is constant peddling and although you don't have the exertion of going up hill you don't get the joy of coming down hill at 30 with no pedaling.

Anyway things all went pear shaped come Sunday night, I went to bed at about 2300 and a few minutes later the pain started. It was even worse than back in January and no amount of Paracetamol or walking around would shift it. Someone has likened the pain of gall stones to the pain ladies go through giving birth which helps me appreciate even more what Debbie went through when the little ones arrived. Anyway I just couldn't shift the pain and by then I had broken out in a fever which didn't help. So come about 0600 I gave up trying to go to sleep and went up to the bridge to crack on with work and try to take my mind off things. It helped a little and the pain eased off. Well as the Doc had just come back offleave I popped down to see him for pain killers and told him my symptoms and he reckoned I might have an infection so he sent me up the QA. I must have been a great first patient after his leave. Anyway up to the QA I went and after a few tests they confirmed that may Gall Bladder was infected due to the stones, told me they would whip it out and stuck me on a drip with antibiotics. Unfortunately as I am on the C list it is a bit hit and miss with having the OP. So Tuesday I was nil by mouth until just gone 1600 when they decided that it wouldn't get done, same on Wednesday and then today I almost got down but they just ran out of time. Hopefully I will get done tomorrow but it will be nil by mouth from midnight again and then hopefully if I get done tomorrow I will be out by Saturday with five little keyholes in me from the surgery.

It's not all bad though as Debbie came down to my Mums Tuesday so I got to see Debbie, Beth and William on Tuesday and Debbie and Beth came back down yesterday. It was really good to see them, especially as I didn't think I would see them until at least September. When they got here Tuesday little Beth's face lit up and she ran towards me for a big cuddle and William gave me some really big smiles. I had nice a cuddle from Debbie as well even though she had had a journey from hell with William crying most of the way.

Everyone has been so understanding on the ship, especially Dave who dropped me off on Monday and then took time out Monday night to come and see me with the customary bowl of grapes. Then Tuesday Dave and Mark came down and I did the handover from the hospital bed which was a bit surreal. It was just ashame as I had just started to get my self settled, I was over the joining blues and was looking forward to getting to sea, and dare I say it Navy Days.

With three to four weeks recovery it doesn't look like I will be back before September which means Christmas onboard a ship but at least I will be home for our Wedding anniversary. Hopefully I will be back on my feet and we will be able to get a babysitter so Debbie and I can have a trip out by ourselves. Hopefully a few days after the Op I should be able to help Debbie with the night feeds or the early mornings so she can catch up on her sleep. As long as the little blighters don't jump up and down on my stomach I should be fine but I have a feeling they will try.

Well lets just hope they cut me open tomorrow so I can get back down to Devon and recover and help Debbie with the little ones before I go back to sea. I wonder what I will have to write about in my next blog.