2007-11-29 — Newsletter — “News from the Nosefeeder”

Dear All

It's a long time since I wrote one of these group letters and thought you deserve an update. Those of you who I meet or talk with more regularly can just ignore it.

The big problem last time I wrote were the ulcers and so on in my mouth and also the disturbed nights. The good news is that things are very much better on both these fronts. Most of the sores are gone (a few isolated ones remain to grumble about). My throat is now very sore (this is a new one to replace the other problem!) but seems to be slowly getting better. My nights are very much better. Perhaps being woken 2 or 3 times instead of the 8 to 10 of before. I still need one or two day time naps but this is no problem.

I have much more energy and am getting things done. I get out more and am back to driving. With one exception, I am in really good shape.

The exception is feeding. I am still on the drip feed — this was necessary until very recently but perhaps is not needed now. But I seem to have a mental aversion to the food I try. The extreme dryness of my mouth is a factor in this — some foods are impossible — but it is also a kind of security thing. I am ok with the drip and seem averse to change! Anyway am working on this (today am cooking a minestrone and also a chicken soup for the freezer to try out) .

In general I am optimistic and quite happy but at times the length of this process does get me down. It has been almost 3 months I think — certainly 2 months since I last ate properly — and it is never ending. But I'm able to shake these times off as I really am so much better and life is very tolerable.

Tomorrow I go for tests (extracting blood, taking the piss, and X-raying) and on Wednesday (5th Dec) the final decision will be made as whether to operate on the 12th or to postpone a while. Will let you know what the decision is. Part of me wants to get it over and part would like to have Christmas with the family before I lose teeth and have all the other indignities performed on me!

Beautiful weather here in Vienna, cold but blue skies — life is good

love to all of you

David

2007-11-23 — Email extract

…

The operation is not scheduled until 12 December. End of next week I start have tests and X-rays to see I am fit for it (in particular for the anaesthetic) and the final decision is to be made on the 5th.

Still not eating except through the tube but things are very much better. Sleeping quite well now and the overall pain has gone. Just enough to make eating real food unpleasant though I can taste things properly which is a relief.

Needing to naps often in the day, usually 3 times for an hour or two which taken with now 10 hours at night means I have very short day.

…

David