Friday the day after Allys birthday and the night of the party

Woke up just after 12 feeling terrible. No energy at all. I have to make an effort to get up and go in to work. Awoke to the news of my call up papers for the hospital next week. Rang to confirm I will be turning up 9 am on Wednesday. Seems I'll be going to theatre onThursday as there is no advice about starving. Ward 61, still in with both feet. Went to work had a peach sundae for lunch felt sick did a little and tried to sort out ordering my car. Off to High and Mighty, clothes for big and tall men in Liverpool. I stpped going there a few years ago when I got too big. They max out at a 4X - I was into 7X from sizedwell on the net. Today I was measured and I am a 3X. Not much choice as its the penultimate day of the sale. Still picked up two shirts and got a further 9 quid off them. Back home stopping at taste good a local chippy/chinese take away for some soup. The lady who runs the shop is really nice and was impressed with my weight loss. Prior to surgery I used to call there for Dim Sum after a work out at the gym. Saw Paul J a Doc I did somework with over the last couple of years. He was shocked by the change. Got an email from a guy asking about bariatric surgery, got a quick reply of and pointed him to some sources. Party nerves start to kick in, always wonder at this time how many people will turn up. I hope everything goes well. Ally is off to a school Disco and has opted to stay at Lizzies house ovenight. The original plan was back to theparty and then to Nannas.

Thursday Ally's Birthday

Up at 6.45 to celebrate birthday open prezzies etc. Back to bed by 7.45 eventually crawled out of the pit at 2pm. I am well bushed - definitely more awake of an early evening. Limited my exercise to gentle exercise and web surfing. Family coming round tonight or birthday cake and prezzies etc. Work still progressing on wlsinfo. Going into work tomorrow for a couple of hours at least.

Wednesday

Car got vandalised outside Garston Hospital last night, mirror broken - gits. I shall complain to the management. Mum got her feet done and was walking better as a result. I did a lot of tinkering with the website last night. Also ordered some books from USA round weight loss surgery. Slept in late - got up did some work breakfasted and went back to bed no energy. Felt dog rough eat several things -more than usual. Got a note from Hilda who sent my book back - got the idea of setting up a little library for prospective patients going to talk to the library and the PALS (whatever that is).
Tired and weary but eating like a horse Ally's birthday tomorrow - means an early start

Tuesday evening

Morning started bad, couldn't get up had to pick Jane up at the top of the road at 10.20. The weather had gone barmy, hailstones and mad wind. Needed to get some petrol as the warning light had been flashing at me. Got to North PCT for the Virtual Training Team meeting. Dave, Jane, Rose, Kate and Terry, a fine bunch a group with loads of potential. Did a bit of a churchillian speech about whats going on in the bigger picture - might have sounded a bit mad -I am sure I was hypoglycaemic. Still some things needed saying. There will be a lot of developments in health informatics in the coming months. Left late got to the dietitian late - dont like being late. I was impressed with Jenny. We have decided to continue to try to Max the calorie intake until my scope next week. Messages were clear back to six small high cal snacks a day. Even on a good day I haven't been eating enough. She said a lot of things I am experiencing are classic signs of starvation. She was also surprised I was doing so much on so little intake. Agreed I need to cut that down and restrucutre the day. Avoid this early morning rush stuff. Booked to see her after the scope and come up with a plan for restarting real food. Felt good, went to Sainsburys across the road from the hospital bought some high cal snax. Got home felt goosed and off to bed. Didnt sleep but tried to rest. Picked mum up to take her for her chiropody appointment, 6.30 at night what is that about? Must ask the chirpody boss at work.

Tuesday

Been to a meeting and to the dietitian - too tired to write anything. Cancelled afternoon appt and going to sleep now. Eat more do less she said.

Ally's random contribuition- 2003

Oi Dad i'm not impressed by the lack of mentioning of my birthday!!! Thursday, incase any of you knowledge deprived people were wondering.

Monday

Tortured by computer problems last night, access to the net went down several times and progress was not made as I would have liked. Still there is something up there to see. Got up early and opened birthday presents. Got loads what a pile of stuff. Books DVD's, socks sweets, port toothbrush and radox. What a delight. As soon as the girls went to to work I was back off to sleep. I was exhausted, Jean phoned from work several times to wake me up. I was finding it impossible to rouse myself. Guts were not best today. Popped into the Matchworks picked some stuff up and then off to Childwall for interviews. Dog tired when I finished then home and straight to bed not enough energy today. Jean found me impossible to rouse when she got in. Usually we would be out for a meal and have a great time. Instead we got a chinese takeaway and I had a great bowl of crab and sweetcorn soup. A couple of drinks of red wine for me tonight and off to the dietitian tomorrow. Scope next wednesday or thursday and hopefully I will be sorted out.

Sunday

No website work done yesterday too busy messing around. Had a good workout got weighed and have lost less than a kilo so I guess thats good news. Out for picking up the party folk at 4.30, met with Jean and her gang at the cinema, tickets prebooked on the net were ready for collection. Coke and popcorn and few sweets cost 29 quid. Film was more fun than I thought it would be and my back was not in pain at all. I think I enjoyed it, had a small tub of Haagen Daaz vanilla and a bottle of water. Checked out Arbuckles American style diner which the kids really like. I had a knickerbocker glory - removed cream and marshmallows and just eat the ice cream. Very good value and all home by quarter past ten.
Late sleepin Sunday, very tired, visited by Ally, Paul and Archie. What a hoot that Archie boy is. Good few hours spent in a lot holiday talk. They are in Normandy the same time we are in Brittany so much in common. Passed on some of our Normandy tourist stuff as well. Email from Marta in States yesterday she sounds good. Several emails to respond to now, tax form to complete car to pick and website to launch, busy busy busy.

Saturday

Late rise, nutrition then gym. Off to the 5.30 showing of Chicago at the cinema then arbuckles for 7.45. Website work in between. Busy day, did I mention its my Birthday on Monday?

Fridays report

Jean says whats to discuss, and she's right I am up for the Gastroscopy. Friday morning started at 7.20, in the dark. Off to peoples to get the car serviced, MOT'd and a quote for some bodywork. John Mc picked me up outside there at 8.20. Breakfast and medication in Hammy House, a meeting about Training with Tony Paul and Adam. Taxi back to the matchworks and engage in more light duties and a chocolate mousse. Jean picked me up at 3.30 for the return trip to peoples. fifty quid for the wheel trims, MOT passed and 500 quid quote for the bodywork , I should have got it done on the insurance when it happened, doh.
Went to Childwall picked up Sam Paul and Jayne and off to the Atrium in town for Pauls leaving party. What a crap pub! Very young person. Gave some of them a lift to the Shere Khan indian restaurant for the next part of the night then shot off home. Usual Friday bash at Jeans Mums and home to chill. Realised we hadn't booked tickets for the cinema or restaurant for Allys party. OOPs, cinema OK, but restaurant full. Got a table in Arbukles, I had boycotted it when it was called Fatty Arbuckles but feel the name change was sufficient response to my protest. I was always worried about the waitress showing me to my table and saying...this way Mr Arbuckle. Hope they do soup but I doubt it. Got an email from Hilda who had the op last week she sounds great. Got to get my act together and polish up the weightloss website for Monday. It will be work in progres for a few weeks yet, constantly evolving etc. Had some red wine to cope with the rigours of the day, very pleasant.

Thursday Morning

Slept well and got up at 9.45. Tired but up for it. Seeing Veronica today for a bit of personal development planning, she is coming round here as there is nowhere privateto talk at childwall. Just got the Bryan Ferry tickets for Ruth and Jean they will be made up, he is on at the Phil in March. Not really my scene but never mind. Lorraine Mr K's secretary rang, he is on his way to the states for 4 days. Just wanted to let me know that he is happy with the website and will secure sponsorship. Also to let me know that I am listed for gullet stretching on 6th Feb. Gastroscopy and dilatation sounds preferable to me. Hmmm. The way I have been barfing aint good, this liquid diet aint good, and it can't go on. but I have had two gastroscopies in the past and they are the pits. Still if they give me a GA or enough valium that I can't feel or remember anything I am up for it. It involves an overnight stay apparently, not keen on that either. I will have to talk it through with Jean tonight but at face value it seems the right thing to do. Mild panic has set in - just when things were going well (though I really know that they weren't

Wednesday

Terrible sleep last night and woke up late. Made a meeting with Caroline an hour late, saw Dave about training and then met Paul Turner my equivalent from North PCT. Met a few people rond the building and all seemed shocked with weight loss and appearance. I had a discussion with someone who related the views of her friend, who feels that that weight loss surgery, is good for the individual but the money could be spent elsewhere for better benefit to the community. Wouldn't matter but this women is something in public health. I suppose there is more than one side to every story. Made me think though. Very low calorie intake today and felt a bit ropey. Got some work cleared and have a new enthusiasm for the job.

Tuesday night

Been to work early today. Did a presentation with Sam to the Primary Care Directorate. She is a star. My sense of humour wasn't quite in tune, I think it needs a bit of tweaking. Once we got into it it went well. Then it was off to Blackburne House for a conference. Met the Chief Information Officer for the strategic health authority Paul. He seems decent enough. It was all about how we will spend the load of dosh the govt will give us next year - unless they are buying munitions to trash a country thats already been trashed. I aint keen on this war stuff, caught a really good satire programme about it last night. It wont be funny when the killing starts. Going to try for a relatively early night tonight. Business cards for the new website arrived today, I'll have to send em to Mr K. Good to see the same faces at the Blackburne House today. Sorted out catering for the party tonight, all booked no cake needed.

Oasis

Just rang the Coca Cola customer careline. Bloggers will recall on Saturday I drank some Oasis summer fruits. No food value on side, Summer fruits comes in at a scandalous 41cals per 100mls thats 200cals a bottle - no more for me I am afraid. The citrus punch is 43 per 100. Aint weight loss sad, once again its nice so musnt be allowed instinct worked.

Monday AM

No work today - cept clearing emails from home. Had a lousy nights sleep, troubled with what my GP describes as prozac dreams. Graphic three D surround sound affairs with bizarre storylines. Jean left me sleeping and rang after nine to get me up - no way. Then Cheryl from work rang at 10 to say she and Steve have bought the house three doors up from here. Firing on only 2 out of 6 cylinders this morning. Not helped by the fact the glass exploded when I was mixing my buildup drink. Got to gym, and haircut this pm. Also a presentation to write for tomorrow morning. and a web site to sort busy busy busy. Back feeling better though.

Sunday Morning

Woke relatively early at 10.30. Felt good when I woke up, drinking build-up soon put that right. Feel guilty as Jean has to do all the cooking for the lunch, her mum, Alan ruth and Paul are coming. Roast beef, gratin dauphinoise, ratatouille and eton mess. Soup and ice cream for me I think. The strong smells of onion andgarlic really knock mey stomach off. I'm trying to be of use by keeping out of the way and going to pick Ruth and Paul up from Church. Back feels pretty good - Frank as usual is spot on with his plan. Got weighed yesterday lost 5lbs in a week, lost the bit of paper with the details on so need to find it and update chart. Need to get to grips with WLSInfo.org.uk over the next few days, launch planned for 27th Jan (my birthday).Can't go out for a meal so we might as well launch a website instead. Couldn't find anything on the web about the calorific value of Oasis - not a good sign - but a nice drink.

Saturday night

I was Thirsty when taking my mum home so I stopped in the newsagents by her and bought a bottle of oasis summer fruits. It was great, but did not contain details of food value etc so must be disalllowed. I will check later.

Saturday

Dog tired yesterday after work, avoided the temptation to go to sleep. Went to mother in laws, after first picking up Ruth and Paul whose car has died. Went to Tesco with them after and got myself down looking at all the things I can't eat. Got some flowers for Jean and OK magazine for Al. Took some diazepam to relax my back and it seems to have worked feeling a lot better today. Didn't get out of bed till 12.30, and felt pretty nauseous after my breakfast build-up. Eventually got myself together and went to the gym. Lost another 2.5kg (in a week) had a good workout, showered and went off to pick my mother up. NannyBanks has got really bad celluilitis and is taking antibiotics.
Rang the Hospital to see how H was (had op on wednesday) she had gone home, obviously they wouldnt tell me what the score was and I was worried she had done a runner or worse still been cancelled. 30 minutes later she rang me with the great news that she had been done laprascopicallyand was as at home today. She sounded great, and I was dead impressed with her willingness to become only the second patient Mr K had done. All the outcomes for laprascopic surgery seem better than the open type. I was overjoyed for her she sounded great.
Ally will be pleased too, she has been out today, to Hannah J's party. Off in a limousine to Caesars palace and then back to Hannahs. I would like to go somewhere in a stretch limo must be an experience.

Friday morning.

Exhausted at work yesterday, fell asleep on the toilet, don't think I was there long but, it felt like too long. Took some milk headed home. Fell straight asleep when I got in and perked up after 2 hourskip. I slept in a bit this morning and felt pretty good on waking up. The build up drink is less nauseaous now but still a challenge. Jean has gone to town shopping for birthday prezzies I am moping around before going in to a meeting at Childwall at 2pm. Still more party invites to sort and lots of things to do.

Thursday morning

Sent out the invite to the party with no date on it Friday 31/01/03 for anyone who needs to know. Didnt realise two stone of the weight loss was off my brain. Doh!