My evening meal was not good, I had liquidised luxury fish pie from Tesco. Something happened on the way down and it blocked my stomach. It just seemed to set hard, realising it was blocked I went out in the garden. The pain is sudden and severe, almost bringing tears to my eyes. The neighbours must think I have turned bulimic, retching in the garden after meals. Ally would flip if she hears me vomiting the sound distresses her (doesn't do much for me really). After some water and a couple of chucks the blockage is clear, and the pain just goes. I was absolutely shattered afterwards and lay on the couch in distress. Subsequently I don't feel at my best for the rest of the night. No more food, reduced fluids and a visit from my sister.

After lunch Phil a very old (70+) friend appeared, I drove to Romania with him a few years ago and got to know each other quite well. Our relationship whilst based on mutual respect and support involves a lot of humour and windups. He took great pleasure in describing the lunch he had just had at the little chef on the way up the motorway. I have had to stop reading Bill Brysons Tales from Down Under because of his extensive descriptions of breakfasts. Phil had a heart bypass thing recently so we exchanged stories of pain and intensive care. I also found him a great encouragement, and he often helps me get my feet on the ground. There is no danger of him reading this as he is a total Luddite, he still thinks mobile phones are way cool.

Just had the rest of my staples out, no painkillers still sore but less disorientating. The nurse was great we had a good laugh and she cleaned up the incision line really well. It looks good now, Jean thinks its shrunk to about 12-14 inches now, a sign that the swelling is subsiding. Noticed I have lost weight off my forearms and wrists. Absolutely shattered now going to have something to eat and then a sleep before lunch.

Yesterday was a bit of a blur, I had a couple of strong painkillers as directed at 8.30, and it was all a bit fuzzy after that. The staples out thing wasn't fun, and later I was visited by Cheryl, Lisa and Gareth from Hammy House. I don't think I was 100% mentally aware when they were here, Hope I didn't make any promises I can't fulfill. I felt a lot better after a sleep for sure. The cleaners from dial-a-duster came and so did Frank our G.P. He told me that my wound was infected with staph aureus and that it was sensitive to flucloxacillin which I have been taking. He stopped the frusemide and inhalers as my breathing is loads better. He told me I need to start walking in the street, which I later dutifully did.

10.17 More than half of the staples are out, full marks to the district nurse. I didn't enjoy it, lots of hot needle type sensations. Wound looks good only wet in one place, Steristrips applied across the bits that were gaping.

The LIS team came last night to see me Adam, Paul, Fran and Carole, they seemed surprise to see me looking so well. It was good to see them and Paul especially made me laugh (as he always does).

Wednesday am 9.17 (the blogger clock is one hour slow) - The district nurses have just rang they are on their way. Staples out this morning, I had a terrible nights sleep, restless at first till about 2am and then constantly waking up from the pain of the staples pulling on my skin. I want them out. More later.

Tuesday Lunchtime :- Well it is true I did have an infection, the swab came back positive, and Frank had already started me on Flucloxacillin, which the bug is sensitive to. So I continue on the right track. My mum is here with the dog, giving Jean a bit of respite. My mum must think I'm better because her irritable bowel has settled down.

District Nurse Kathy has just been. She didn't disturb the dressing - just me. Staples start coming out tomorrow, take some analgesia at 8.30 and be on the bed (usually dressings done in the chair). I told her I might be out, she valiantly tried to reassure me but I have never liked them, even in other people. It is also the last chance for the patients to get revenge for all the pain I have subjected them to over the years.

I could kick myself I woke up this morning and realised I had not been taking my zoton for about 4-5 days. Zoton is an anti ulcer drug which is pretty important post op. I am stupid, still took some straight away, too much to remember.

Its difficult to see any weight loss on myself. My sister thinks my cheeks have sunken in a bit, and several people say I look thinner on the face front. My hands and fingers seem less porky than usual. I have a pad of fat at the bottom of my neck, in the middle of my shoulders affectionately known as my buffalo hump. That is palpably smaller. Most dramatic is the change to my feet, my large wide feet were replaced in the night with a pair of old guys spindly numbers. In serious terms I wont have any numbers for you till six weeks post op, when I see Mr Kerrigan. He told me not to worry about weight losss but concentrate on healing.

Monday - wound red and discharging a bit. Jean took a couple of snaps with the digital camera, I'll send them to anybody who is interested. Went out to see Frank the barber in the afternoon. He was surprised at the amount of weight I've lost off my face. Keen bloggers will recall I told him that I was having my gall bladder out. I levelled with him yesterday, in an almost empty shop. He was made up, he said he has been worried about me for some time. He wanted to know lots of details about the op and questioned me on a target weight. I haven't got one, yet.. E-mail from Helen Maguire last night who works for In Practice one of our suppliers. She says no details yet about weight loss...well.....

Sunday was a quiet day all told, no visitors but several phonecalls. I spent the day gingerly re-establishing my relationship with food. Couldn't eat all my lunch but by tea time I was back in the saddle. We watched blackhawk down quite the most bloody film I have seen for some time. Bit too much American jingoism for me but plenty of action and some good helicopter footage. Other top video news is the new series of League of Gentlemen, starts on Thursday 10pm BBC2, watch it, tape it then watch it till you find it funny.Get a taste of it here.

Cant eat all my breakfast this morning, not even going to try, don't want to feel like last night again.

On looking back I think the milk was the killer, it is listed as a meal not a drink. I shouldn't have had it so near to mealtime. I don't know if I just overfilled the pouch or it was blocked but the pain was terrible, but the relief was instant. Anyway put it down as a good experience and learn from it. Bit cheesed off, its the first time I've thrown up, to be fair some people do it six seven times a day so I've been lucky. No more to eat that night, just concentrate on fluids.

The girls came back, and Jean went off to Tesco for some essentials. On her return she got me a drink of milk. Usually served as a meal, I thought it would be a good idea to keep my protein levels up. (We are only talking 20mls of semi-skimmed BTW). About an hour later I had my meal, liquidised steak and gravy and mashed potato (two tablespoons in all). It went down fine and I snuck off into the garden while the girls finished their meals. Once outside I was crippled by abdominal pains, radiating from the centre of my belly up to the tips of my shoulder blades. I couldn't breath properly and thought I was about to croak. DETAIL ALERT :- THE SQUEAMISH SHOULD SWITCH OFF. I threw up on the patio, nothing to do with what I'd eat but clear viscous liquid and a large bubble????????? What's happening here, panic sets in. I was going to the door when Jean came out. She saw my obvious distress and sat me down, we talked about what to do when things block, sips of water they say. I tried it and it worked, I vomited twice and felt heaps better. Relieved that what came up looked like something I had eaten as well. That episode had me scared.

No posts yesterday, my brother emailed to check if I was ok. I just didn't have time in the morning and well I'll tell you about the afternoon later. The morning was running late the DN came, she was impressed with my wound which is nearly dry (hurrah). No more bg pads just a small dressing. Jean and Ally went to town to get a new outfit for a party later that night. I was left on my own, for a couple of hours. I bummed about the garden, watched TV and had a sleep. All fine there.

Lousy nights sleep. Suffering from belly warch ( a colloquial term I remember from my nurse training in Warrington), a generalised ache and a burning sensation down the staple line. Up about 6 times in the night. Running behind this morning - but hey who is counting. We got a phone call late yesterday afternoon telling us to pick up a prescription for some new antibiotics and cream. I am being treated as though I have an infection it would appear.

Visited by Sandra Bagnall and Gail Campbell fro the matchworks last evening, they were late but they were probably saving lives or something. They brought me three talking books - a gift from everyone at the matchworks thanks everyone. John McCoy that dedicated engineer popped in on his way home and dispensed some of his homespun philosophy, He is managing a kids footie team at the minute and I think the bright lights of stardom are beginning to affect him. My big sister came to see me later (older not bigger).

Bit of a worse night last, feels like someone is putting their heel into my wound. There is a tight painful area 2" along from the top. Making moving very uncomfortable, and stopping this being the brightest hour of the day. Might just be it all knitting back together again, no leakage from the wound in the night and that's positive.