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Pamela thread 3 - Bile Duct Cancer, off to London!

1000 replies

WilsonMilson · 05/07/2023 22:51

Just starting a new thread.

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Nottogetapenny · 06/07/2023 10:46

Good morning Pamela. So pleased you are being looked after, as you should of been all along!
Sending best wishes and love, to you and hopefully you will have your op today, so then you can start on the road to feeling much better. 😘🙏🍀🌸

wanteddeadoralive18 · 06/07/2023 10:47

So glad you made it to London. Sending love to you all xx💐❤

frecklejuice · 06/07/2023 10:47

Pamela you are bloody amazing, seriously I don't even know you but I'm so proud of you! ❤️ I'm glad you are finally being looked after by professionals the way you should have been from the start. Lots of love xx

NCfortonight · 06/07/2023 10:48

Oh Pamela I'm so glad you are in London now and being looked after. I'm thinking of you so much.

ihaveayod · 06/07/2023 10:57

Oh Pamela, I have been following and wanted wish you all the very best for today. You are so strong and brave and I'm so bloody pleased that you are now getting the treatment you should have had in Belfast. Sending good wishes and healing thoughts to you. Thinking of you, Kerr, Jacob and your mum.

overthinkersanonnymus · 06/07/2023 10:58

❤️❤️❤️

Keep going girl, we're all here behind you x

cheezncrackers · 06/07/2023 10:59

So glad you arrived safely and are (relatively) comfortable and feel that you're in good hands. I was going to suggest you ask for a fan - I'm sure they have one and it's only going to get hotter today and tomorrow so worth getting your request in - but I see a PP beat me to it! All the very best today Pamela, I really hope the stenting procedure goes ahead and happy birthday xx

Frasecam · 06/07/2023 11:00

Sending you and your family love Pamela 💕xxx

Oceancreature · 06/07/2023 11:00

I’m so glad you made it to London Pamela, well done! Best of luck for your day ahead 💐

difficultlemons · 06/07/2023 11:00

♥️♥️♥️💪

ThursdayFreedom · 06/07/2023 11:01

@WilsonMilson Pamela, there are several shops nearby, ask Kerr to go and stretch his legs while they street you and buy a remote desk fan.

i had one in hospital (not remote though) and the set it on oscillating. It made a HUGE difference and the oscillation was great to focus on when in pain or just unable to sleep.

lots of love & gentle hugs!
xx

loulouljh · 06/07/2023 11:04

Can the hospital provide a fan? Hope today goes well...maybe Kerr can go and get some fresh air at some point and a little break. He cannot support you if he does not look after himself. x

cloudsandream · 06/07/2023 11:04

Sending all my love 🩷

NuttellaAndPuppyLover · 06/07/2023 11:05

Good morning Pamela and happy birthday !

Best update ever. I'm a pro at surgeries (have had at least 5!) and I've no doubt you'll fly through the whole process. GA is actually quite fun and you come back as if you've been on a trip to another planet.

I also believe in good energy and good vibes / prayers. I'm so hopeful this will buy you some quality time with your boys and mum.
Lots and lots of love x

ThursdayFreedom · 06/07/2023 11:07

cheezncrackers · 06/07/2023 10:59

So glad you arrived safely and are (relatively) comfortable and feel that you're in good hands. I was going to suggest you ask for a fan - I'm sure they have one and it's only going to get hotter today and tomorrow so worth getting your request in - but I see a PP beat me to it! All the very best today Pamela, I really hope the stenting procedure goes ahead and happy birthday xx

@cheezncrackers when I was in, there were very few fans & although I couldn't get one brought in from home (would have had to be PAT tested by them) I could bring in a new one.

if Pamela asks now they might have one available as it's not too warm yet. Get in quick would be my advice.

Though it was more relaxing know it wouldn't be removed when I was sleeping. (Friend wrote on it with a sharpie. My name & private belonging etc)

Hummingbird88 · 06/07/2023 11:10

Thinking of you and wishing you all the best for your surgery. It sounds like you're getting the care you need now. Big hugs. Xx

Onthelow · 06/07/2023 11:12

That’s fantastic news that you spent the night in London and things are progressing finally. Much love x

Andywarholswig · 06/07/2023 11:13

Thinking of you Pamela and hoping it all goes well today. If you need anything I am going to be in Harley Street tomorrow afternoon for a checkup and would be happy to bring things and leave at reception for you - if you think of anything please ask Kerr to PM me

DahliaMacNamara · 06/07/2023 11:15

I hope this is the beginning of a better time for you all. Good luck for today. You can see how many people are rooting for you here.

catwithflowers · 06/07/2023 11:27

So much love to you all, Pamela. You are one amazing and courageous woman with the most fabulous family. Hope you manage to get more comfortable and that poor Kerr gets his bed today. Everything crossed that you have the stent operation today and that you feel tons better as a result.

Karen (still in the tiny village in Northumberland) ♥️♥️♥️😆

SlightlyJaded · 06/07/2023 11:28

Thank goodness you went for it.

No matter what, you - Kerr and Jacob as well - will be confident that you've thrown everything at it. You are right not to focus on the failings in Belfast and your positivity and determination shine through your words. You are now in the best hands, surrounded by love and an Oncologist who believes it was with you making the trip. What a difference a day makes.

Keep going girl.

Rockschooldropout · 06/07/2023 11:40

I echo what another poster said - I was treated at National Hospital for Neurolgy and Neurosurgery 18 years ago which is part of UCLH - my care was second to none

RedDoughnut · 06/07/2023 11:41

I'm so glad you have arrived safely.

I'm very saddened you can't get this treatment on the NHS.

But you need more time. Hopefully this is the start of a better chapter.

Sending love as always

PollyAmour · 06/07/2023 11:42

Sending love and prayers

WilsonMilson · 06/07/2023 11:42

Update. Feel like I’m bombarding you now, but I’m on my own just now with my thoughts. We spoke with Prof B.

Tomorrow is now going to be the operation as it is really complex procedure under general - not endoscopy, it’s open surgery. So happy birthday operation to me for tomorrow - I really hope it’s a good sign that it’s going to be 7/7, always my lucky number.

Latest scans show I now have a main biliary blockage and number of smaller blockages, which is total shit given that I didn’t have those before the monumental fuck up in Antrim (need to stop dwelling on that), and they can only viably stent the main one. It will be open surgery and and I will have external drains, so further surgery on Monday to remove the drains (I think) but anyway, the hope is that it SHOULD be enough to help the jaundice down to a level where I can start chemo (sadly not immunotherapy though until jaundice gone totally), but the chemo should help the jaundice by reducing the tumour and then hopefully everything starts to work and get unblocked better and we can really get on. Got to think positive - jaundice be gone!! No guarantees here, but we do whatever we can. We fight on. We just do. At least they are operating and that’s something.

Hopefully all going well, with everyone’s good thoughts and prayers, chemo is still the plan for mid next week. It’s the only option I have. I’m fully convinced I would have died at home by Monday if I’d stayed there. Even if I’d survived that long, they were going to to the bare minimum and endoscopically stent which Prof B said would have been futile. Enough now though, I need to lose my bitterness and anger and just direct my thoughts to positivity and healing. Tell me off if I complain about the past again, it’s not good for me, I mean it. Let’s not get bitter.

After I have these transfusions (still half way through first, taking ages), Prof B said it’s really vital I stay as active as I can today - a threatening thought as I’m mainly in bed sweating and knackered. So going to have wee visit to the family room along the corridor once I’m de hooked up - there is nice chamomile tea there apparently and I like different teas. He even suggested Kerr take me local for food later - it would need to be very local, like next door! The thought of even sitting a restaurant seems impossible, a madness, but maybe I need to force myself, he said it was actually extremely vital to remain as normal and as possible in all of this. 7 weeks ago I could totally be on board with this, but I’m so knackered now. I do see his point, but seems like an Everest climb today. Will try to see what I can do, within reason, I think back and forth to the family room and the little patio would be enough for me.

So now I get to order lunch. The food is fantastic, all silver served with cloches and whatnot. Over the top really. I wish I felt like eating any of it. Doing my best though. Small and steady.

I’m just spending time with you now as Kerr’s downstairs on the phone to Bupa to make sure we’re fully covered for this and I’m slightly nervous at how long he has been gone. Im hoping he doesn’t walk back in pale and sweating! I’m sure we will be, cancer care is meant to be fully covered, certain all will be ok, he’s been gone about half an hour though.

Right, going to look at the lunch menu now and see if there is anything I could force myself to eat.

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