Eight Week anniversary

It'll be my eight week anniversary on Tuesday 30th March since having the MOAS. I have to say that the time has passed quickly and all those pipes,tubes,drugs and nightmares seem a long time ago now,thankfully. I'm pretty positive at the moment and concentrating on getting fit again and building up my strength. Food is becoming easier, my portion size is growing and I am eating more. My weight however hasn't moved, I havent dropped any and I haven't put any on either. I am finding the supplementary Fortisips shakes not so nice now and haven't had any for days.
I have stopped taking the cyclizine and Omeprizol (stomach settling drugs) as I wasn't suffering any sickness or acidity.
At the last set of blood tests taken around a week or so ago my platelet count had dropped to 744. Once it falls below 700 I can then stop the Aspirin. The nurse will be back in around two weeks for the next test and hopefully I'll be below the 700 mark then and able to stop the Aspirin.
I still have a numb area at the base of my back. From what I gather this seems to be fairly common and is down to nerve damage done during the operation. In many cases sensation returns with time.
I went to the stoma clinic this week and they are very pleased with my progress. Usually they aim to see patients again in another two months or so but that should fall around the time of my reversal so they deemed it not necessary. Its been left that I call them if I need them.Good news I think.
I have been doing some research on insurance in recent weeks. Travel insurance looks possible through specialised insurers (see link in useful links section) but in terms of life insurance post op no-one will touch a PMP patient. A few years down the line and this may change providing one stays PMP free.
I have been walking regularly and gradually going further and further. I can do an hour of constant walking quite easily now and spent a lovely afternoon with Chloe last weekend out walking (see photo) just Chloe and Dad time. I'm lucky enough to live very close to the Bristol and Bath cycle path and am making use of it. The path is flat and easy to walk with plenty to look at and semi rural. I'm hoping to walk to Bitton station this week. It'll be twice the distance I have walked previously but I feel if I take my time then I'll do it. There are also a number of places along the way where I can stop and take a breather if required. I'm looking forward to it as it's almost like I'm starting to get back to normal..and I'm setting myself challenges again and starting to think about future challenges once I'm back to full fitness.
I have to take it steady though and not overdo things. The nurse keeps reminding me that whilst I feel well my insides are still healing and I should take it carefully but they do recognise that I'm making remarkable progress and at the same time don't want to hold me back. Its just a case of listening to my body and reacting accordingly. If I'm tired, I sleep. I fell asleep on the sofa yesterday afternoon something I haven't done in a long time and could have been a result of my long walk the day before.I just have to be sensible.
Mentally both Tracey and I are doing well. Things are starting to get back to normal and that helps. I think once the reversal operation has been done and I have returned to work we will truly start to return to normal and be able to plan our future. Holidays,days out,family get togethers, all the things we took for granted before. Finally it seems that the black hole that was my future pre op is starting to look not so black and there are hazy glimpses of future plans and dreams.
However PMP is now our Albatross. It will always be there in the background even on the very best of days and will become all too apparent around the yearly scan dates. Tracey is struggling with this more than I and often asks "will it return?", "if so, how long will it be before it happens". No-one can answer that question, not even the consultants and we cant live worrying about that. If it happens we will deal with it when it happens, who knows I could be knocked over by a bus next week. No-one knows what the future holds.
So for now, I'll keep enjoying those walks, plan my future challenges..Pen-Y-Ffan(again!), Snowdon, fishing,caving and most of all time with my family. I'll get the reversal done and we'll get back to normal and enjoy the second chance that the staff at Basingstoke have given me.