Bit of a bummer.....

Although a few of you already know the details, I thought I would just briefly explain my recent absence from the forum, I do, after all, count you as friends even though we might not have all met.

I had a total life changing moment in January when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Since then I have moved to South Shields to be near my family.....and nearer the hospital !

Tomorrow I finish a course of Radiotherapy/Chemo and I actually feel not too bad considering.

My op should be in a couple of months.

In the meantime, as soon as I feel better I intend getting away in the van.....with bike.....for a few weeks, just trying to decide where....decisions decisions lol

But Im thinking France, or maybe Ireland, or Scotland or Denmark......dithering as usual

So forgive me for abandoning you for a while, Paul is running Cyclecharge alone until Im back fighting fit and those of you who know me will also know that I intend that to be as soon as possible......Im a stubborn geordie and I will NOT be thwarted especially by this.

Anyway, hope you are all well and dont mind me sharing a bit of my life

Stay healthy

 

Lynda

Hi Lynda, good to hear from you and I'm glad the chemo has finished. Excuses for your absence from here and Cyclecharge have been made in here by others, so no need to be concerned on that account.

 

Wherever you decide to go, have a wonderful holiday, it's well earned and deserved.

Not sure how many miles you want to do but EV5 would be my pick if I had the time. Belgium is one of my favourite holiday destinations tho.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroVelo

 

Not on that route but a couple of not bad cheapish places I stayed last year.

 

Decent friendly hostel, shared bathrooms but lovely rooms and not far from city center.

www.hostel-wohngemeinschaft.de/en/home.html

 

Really big rooms was recently refitted when we stayed, in the diamond district which is busy mon-fri with diamond trade and ghost town on weekends. Booking.com I think we booked it with for big discounts.

www.differenthotels.com/nl/Hotels/Antwerp-City-Center-Hotel

 

Depends what you want to see/do. Give us a rough idea and I'm sure you will get a ton of unusual trip advisor pages to link too.

 

Drielandenpunt at the netherlands+belgium+german border isn't much to see but has an observation tower as it's the highest point in the netherlands so maybe worth a stop if you are driving that way. Seemed like a sort of missed place that local school kids would visit on day trips but we went on a weekend.

Although a few of you already know the details, I thought I would just briefly explain my recent absence from the forum, I do, after all, count you as friends even though we might not have all met.

I had a total life changing moment in January when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Since then I have moved to South Shields to be near my family.....and nearer the hospital !

Tomorrow I finish a course of Radiotherapy/Chemo and I actually feel not too bad considering.

My op should be in a couple of months.

In the meantime, as soon as I feel better I intend getting away in the van.....with bike.....for a few weeks, just trying to decide where....decisions decisions lol

But Im thinking France, or maybe Ireland, or Scotland or Denmark......dithering as usual

So forgive me for abandoning you for a while, Paul is running Cyclecharge alone until Im back fighting fit and those of you who know me will also know that I intend that to be as soon as possible......Im a stubborn geordie and I will NOT be thwarted especially by this.

Anyway, hope you are all well and dont mind me sharing a bit of my life

Stay healthy

 

Lynda

 

Get better soon my loving sexy Linda xxxxxxxxxx and we all miss YOU xxxxxxxxx hurry up and get better GOD BLESS U.

 

PS. Can I borrow your motor and your left hand brake lever until your ready for them?

 

MS.

Lynda, I can't put into words want i want to say. I hope we'll see you soon. Will you be ale to come to any of the events this year?

 

Best wishes.

Hi Funklyn, I did wonder where you had got to, I thought you were busy with your new business. So sorry to hear you've not been well, but I for one will be thinking of you and sending good thoughts. Godspeed to you, in all your endeavours. XX

Lynda, I have missed you. A lot. I wondered what had happened to you. In the abscence of information, all sorts of strange thoughts come to mind. My first thought was, has she gone back to smoking rollups, and is keeping her head down? The truth is that you have had more important things to worry about. I am glad that your treatment is nearly finished. Wherever you decide to go on your travels, I hope you thoroughly enjoy it. I am sure I speak for all when I say that we look forward to hearing from you again soon. Meanwhile, spend some time doing what YOU want to do.

Edited March 25, 201412 yr by neptune

I to have missed your threads Linda, get well soon.

Unfortunately this is really just the start of my journey, the hope is that the Radiotherapy coupled with low dosage chemo will shrink the tumour enough to operate safely....after tomorrow I will be left to 'cook' for 2 months before my next CT and MRI scans then a month later hopefully a successful operation. My biggest worry apart from being terrified of anaesthetic (yes....I know...its better than being awake thru it all lol ) is that my op is going to clash with my plans for my mams surprise 90th birthday party !

Anyway, in the meantime I intend getting away in the motorhome and having some adventures before my wings are clipped for a while.

If I can get to any of the bike 'do's ' I will

Meanwhile, the Whitfield Pantry is still up and running by my amazing staff until the takeover in may of the new buyer.

 

Looks like I didnt start vaping soon enough Neptune

Funnily enough I havent felt the need to vape since my diagnosis.....funny what shock does to you.....but I wouldnt advise that sort of shock generally as a way to give up anything

 

Thankfully I have been blessed with amazing family and friends and a sense of humour, determination, optimism and the sure knowledge that no matter what, there is always someone worse off than myself and I have learnt to count my blessings.

 

Lynda

Hope everything goes well for you Linda.

 

If you do venture up to Scotland and are anywhere near my town of Greenock, get in touch and I can take you on one of the many nice scenic rides around the Argyle area.

 

Best Wishes Ken

I Have missed your posts and humour, I was to scared to ask if anyone knew where you were.

All the best with your treatment and I hope you enjoy your trip, if you ever decide where you are going

Edited March 25, 201412 yr by Geebee

Linda.

General Anaesthetic.

To set your mind at rest, my last op. I didn't even get a pre-med because I was in a private hospital.

I walked down to the theatre, lay down on the trolley, they jabbed me in the back of my hand.

I kid you not, I decided to sing to them because they were joking with each other and seemed so happy.

I finished the first verse of 'Making Whoopee'.

I had my eyes closed to concentrate. As I finished singing, the Doctor alongside me said, 'We don't get many of those.' I was trying to think of a clever answer and opened my eyes.

Because they were sticky, I knew that I had been asleep, but I had no sensation of dropping off or coming around.

Honestly, it was nothing at all.

A week later I was in the Dentist's chair and had to endure a root canal filling. Far worse.

So, don't worry at all.

Hi Lynda,

 

Sometimes life can be so cruel to the nicest people...........but who knows, maybe Lewis will make to the end of the next Grand Prixo_Oo_Oo_O

 

What a year it has been one way and other, but it's great that you have friends and family around to give support when it is really needed.

 

Let's all hope you when you get over this you will soon be cruising the open road looking for adventures in the funky wagon;)

The anaesthetic is nothing these days. When I had my operation recently, they wheeled me into the prep room. I didn't even know that they were ready. The next thing, I woke up and it was all over. It was sort of a pleasant experience.

When you wake up from the anasthetic, watch your language. It might tend to lower your swearing barrier.

Lynda

 

I am so very sorry about your news. Absolutely gutted for you.

I did try to contact you a couple of times since Christmas and just thought you were busy with new stuff. I feel bad now that I didn't suss maybe something was wrong.

I have a friend who had exactly the same diagnosis 2 years ago. The radio stuff was horrible she said - I guess you might feel the same - but the op went really well and she is now 100% recovered and running about like a 10 year old. You would never have thought it. So please please ....chin up, as best you can. You'll get through this, especially with friends and family nearby.

BTW, I had a gall stone op 3 years ago, absolutely terrified of the anaesthetic. My colleague's wife here is a post op nurse at the hospital and he knew she would be on duty the day I went in.

'If you wake up and she's standing over you wearing white, you know that the worst has happened', he said. 'If she's wearing blue, you know everything's fine.'. I woke up and apparently said 'Oh good, you're blue'. - then went back to sleep again! I slept the whole day and then tucked into a surprisingly nice dinner (for a hospital), and home the next morning. Not so bad, and I had a nice rest.

I'll PM you later.

Hatti xxx

I sent Lynda an email earlier asking where she was.

 

Oops, that will teach me to read all the forum.

 

Just to add my good wishes.

 

I called in to see Lynda earlier this year, and she is just as good, kind, and fun to be with in real life as she is on here.

 

If there's any natural justice, her treatment will go well.

Lynda, I was sorry to hear your news. Sending best wishes to you x

 

Get your Britstops book out and choose a place to go in your van.

On the topic of anaesthetic, when I had my hip replaced there was an option to remain awake during the operation.

 

The leaflet advised having music on via an mp3 player, which I understood was to drown out the noise of the surgeon's saw and drill.

 

Mmm, not a tough decision, I went for the full knock out.

 

I believe I did talk some drivel on waking up, I was certainly disorientated.

 

The orientation came back quick enough, but I like to think the drivel never fully left me.

Six weeks ago, at 60, I had my first ever operation, a Cardiac Artery Bypass.

This was a surprise as I had no symptoms and went to see the GP with sinus trouble. Well, it could not have been easier. Sedated and woke up next day in ICU feeling wonderful (morphine, I expect). Even had a picture taken. Within two days was up and walking. wearing my own clothes. Have been back at work for 3 weeks part time. Now going to try cycling again this weekend, and driving, and swimming. My aim is to ride a Unicycle by my birthday in June.

 

Good luck with surgery Lynda. I know these are different operations but the level of skill and care is phenomenal. There is no need to be frightened. Just a couple of tips from a hospital first timer. Limit the number of visitors; you will be tired and possibly a bit incoherent. Second, take a set of good comfortable clothes, I felt so much better getting out of pyjamas and wearing a pair of chinos and a brand new shirt.

 

Still got sinus trouble though.

 

All the very best.

 

Bill

Hello Lynda

As a relative newbie I haven't really got to know you. However, I can see from your posts here that you are a very strong willed, brave and positive lady. Every good wish for your treatment from here on.

About this time last year I flew to Beziers (£10 each way from Bristol with Ryanair - yes £10!!) in the south of France and did a bit of local biking on the Canal du Midi. It was absolutely delightful, as was the bright sunny, but not boiling hot, weather. I believe you can quite easily cover the entire canal from coast to coast. Maybe a bit too ambitious in the current circumstances - but I reckon it would be a great ride to do - all at once or in chunks - at some point.

Take care, enjoy whatever you choose to do, and my very best wishes.

Tony

Anesthetics have improved beyond all recognition during my lifetime. When I was eighteen I had some teeth extracted under "gas" as it was known then. It was a truly awful experience. I had an eye operation four years ago, under total anesthetic and it could not have been better. I walked to the theatre, and as I lay down on the table, I asked the anesthetist to rearrange some pipes that seemed to be in the way. The next thing, I was asleep. There seemed to be no in between stage.

Waking was a strange experience. I heard a distant voice rabbiting on. It got louder, and I realised it was talking about guitar chord progressions. Then, I realised it was MY voice. I then realised I was grasping the left hand of a nurse in both my hands, and trying to force her fingers into the shape of an F major chord...

During the next few hours, I felt little or no pain, and felt I was in a pleasant dreamlike state. I slept well that night, and there was no hangover in the morning. Lynda, I hope your experience is at least as good as mine.

Six weeks ago, at 60, I had my first ever operation, a Cardiac Artery Bypass.

This was a surprise as I had no symptoms and went to see the GP with sinus trouble. Well, it could not have been easier. Sedated and woke up next day in ICU feeling wonderful (morphine, I expect). Even had a picture taken. Within two days was up and walking. wearing my own clothes. Have been back at work for 3 weeks part time. Now going to try cycling again this weekend, and driving, and swimming. My aim is to ride a Unicycle by my birthday in June.

 

Good luck with surgery Lynda. I know these are different operations but the level of skill and care is phenomenal. There is no need to be frightened. Just a couple of tips from a hospital first timer. Limit the number of visitors; you will be tired and possibly a bit incoherent. Second, take a set of good comfortable clothes, I felt so much better getting out of pyjamas and wearing a pair of chinos and a brand new shirt.

 

Still got sinus trouble though.

 

All the very best.

 

Bill

 

For a sixty year old you are definitely up to date with the fashion. I need to keep a close look on you, but I am happy to know that you back on your feet once again. Thanks for giving Lynda the extra support she needs.

 

MS.

LYNDA WE ARE ALL THERE FOR YOU, EVEN CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

THE QUICKER YOU CAN GET BETTER, THE QUICKER YOU CAN GET TO SLEEP AROUND AGAIN.

 

PS. TO ALL THE NEWBIES PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS IN THE WRONG WAY.

 

MS.

Sad news Lynn, was sorry to read this. I echo all the positive comments made about modern anaesthetic. Following the discovery of a rather nasty spinal tumour a few years back, I was treated with great skill & understanding throughout all my time in hospital, it was far more positive experience than I feared. I wish you all the best...