Merv is back ... alive and well

[Mervyn and Trish]

Okay, update from the sickbed!

One or two have noted my absence from the forum for chunks of the past couple of weeks. Did the rest of you not miss me?

A little while back I was diagnosed with a bit of "man trouble". That thing that means you get up too often in the night. Fortunately fully contained and 100% treatable. I opted for the lop-it-off option, which would have involved 1 night in hospital and a couple of week's recuperation.

However, when I went for my pre-op assessment the nurse who checked me over, whom I now regard as my guardian angel, spotted something else going on and referred me for further urgent tests. When I went for those a few days later they found a problem with that beatty thing in my chest and the pipework joining it to every other vital organ in my body. Sufficiently serious and imminently life threatening that the doctor basically said "sorry guv, you're going nowhere until we've fixed that". And it was a big fix. I had another week or so of tests before I quietly went to sleep for 8 hours while a couple of consultant surgeons, an anaesthetist or two, and a whole gang of their mates set about me with a hacksaw, knives, a bag of spanners and an assortment of spares from the B&Q plumbing department.

When the anaesthetist woke me up in the Intensive Care Unit afterwards she asked if I remembered her. I said I did and that I was very pleased to see her again! So another nine days in hospital and now I've been home for just over a week. The consultant assures me I am 100% fixed, though I still have the other small matter to attend to in due course.

The whole experience was very scary and intensely emotional. I've never before looked a man in the eye knowing he just saved my life. But whether I now have 20 years life expectancy, as I still hope, or not, as I awaited my fate in hospital I realised life is is too short to waste another second arguing about issues like Brexit or Covid on which most, if not all, of us on here actually know bu@@er all but get increasingly strident in support of our never-to-be-changed view. I'd never discuss politics around the dinner table on a cruise ship so I'm not doing so ever again on here. Just don't assume that means I agree with you! I'm going to stick to the fun stuff.

BTW, while not posting generally for a little while I did entrust one of your number with some info on what was afoot. Please don't be offended if it wasn't you. I just had be make sure that if the worst did happen my valuable collection of loyalty club slippers would be properly cared for.

[Happydays]

Hi Merv,
Good to hear from you again and that you had the foresight to make plans for your slippers to be properly cared for joking apart it's good news that you're on the mend. Take it easy one day at a time and hopefully your other problem will be dealt with soon
I'm sure it has been a stressful time for you both take care love to you both x
Shall look forward to seeing you on the Games thread Ha-ha

[Manoverboard]

I thought that he should have his own Topic ... a rise Sir Merv

[screwy]

Glad your on the mend Sir Merv, take things easy and don’t listen to Stephen...

[Gill W]

Wow, it must have come as a great shock, and that sort of thing always makes you re-evaluate your life.

I’m glad that everything has gone well, and that you continue to make a good recovery.

[Stephen]

Okay, update from the sickbed!

One or two have noted my absence from the forum for chunks of the past couple of weeks. Did the rest of you not miss me?

A little while back I was diagnosed with a bit of "man trouble". That thing that means you get up too often in the night. Fortunately fully contained and 100% treatable. I opted for the lop-it-off option, which would have involved 1 night in hospital and a couple of week's recuperation.

However, when I went for my pre-op assessment the nurse who checked me over, whom I now regard as my guardian angel, spotted something else going on and referred me for further urgent tests. When I went for those a few days later they found a problem with that beatty thing in my chest and the pipework joining it to every other vital organ in my body. Sufficiently serious and imminently life threatening that the doctor basically said "sorry guv, you're going nowhere until we've fixed that". And it was a big fix. I had another week or so of tests before I quietly went to sleep for 8 hours while a couple of consultant surgeons, an anaesthetist or two, and a whole gang of their mates set about me with a hacksaw, knives, a bag of spanners and an assortment of spares from the B&Q plumbing department.

When the anaesthetist woke me up in the Intensive Care Unit afterwards she asked if I remembered her. I said I did and that I was very pleased to see her again! So another nine days in hospital and now I've been home for just over a week. The consultant assures me I am 100% fixed, though I still have the other small matter to attend to in due course.

The whole experience was very scary and intensely emotional. I've never before looked a man in the eye knowing he just saved my life. But whether I now have 20 years life expectancy, as I still hope, or not, as I awaited my fate in hospital I realised life is is too short to waste another second arguing about issues like Brexit or Covid on which most, if not all, of us on here actually know bu@@er all but get increasingly strident in support of our never-to-be-changed view. I'd never discuss politics around the dinner table on a cruise ship so I'm not doing so ever again on here. Just don't assume that means I agree with you! I'm going to stick to the fun stuff.

BTW, while not posting generally for a little while I did entrust one of your number with some info on what was afoot. Please don't be offended if it wasn't you. I just had be make sure that if the worst did happen my valuable collection of loyalty club slippers would be properly cared for.

Bu99er....I had me spanners all ready to have the battery of your car.

Glad your on the mend Merv. I can't afford flowers this week

[Stephen]

I thought that he should have his own Topic ... a rise Sir Merv

There'll be none of that for several weeks yet.......said Trish

[allatc]

So you had the plumbing and the engine room all sorted in one go ?

[Stephen]

Mrs S said 'poor man'. I said, 'leave it out, he worked for the BBC'.

[oldbluefox]

Nice to see you back Merv and that your ticker has had a good service. Fortunate in its own way that you had to go for the pre-med as otherwise you would never have known. Stressful time for you both. Hope you make a good recovery and if you've any HPB points going begging..............!!!
Get well soon.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Glad your on the mend Sir Merv, take things easy and don’t listen to Stephen...

No fear of that. It's not my brain they removed!

[barney]

Glad to see you back Merv.
Take it easy

[Stephen]

Glad your on the mend Sir Merv, take things easy and don’t listen to Stephen...

No fear of that. It's not my brain they removed!

No need for that

[towny44]

I am very happy to welcome you back Merv, that must have been one scary experience.

[Whynd1]

Welcome back Merv.
Keep safe and well now.

[Onelife]

Sod your loyalty slippers I’d have been wanting my chocolates back

xx

[Mervyn and Trish]

No chance. They've been placed in tier 3 quarantine and buried in concrete.

[Stephen]

Glad your on the mend Sir Merv, take things easy and don’t listen to Stephen...

No fear of that. It's not my brain they removed!

Just your sense of humour them

[Jan Rosser]

Glad to hear you are on the mend Merv and that you've seen the light and will now concentrate on the 'fun' threads Having had experience of what you've been through from Trish's point of view please give her my best wishes and don't forget she needs support too - take care both xxx

[Mervyn and Trish]

Glad your on the mend Sir Merv, take things easy and don’t listen to Stephen...

No fear of that. It's not my brain they removed!

Just your sense of humour them

Ho ho ho

[Mervyn and Trish]

Glad to hear you are on the mend Merv and that you've seen the light and will now concentrate on the 'fun' threads Having had experience of what you've been through from Trish's point of view please give her my best wishes and don't forget she needs support too - take care both xxx

Thanks Jan. She's been a rock.

[Quizzical Bob]

Welcome back to the world of the living Merv.

I had a quad bypass eight years ago and I’m still here. It certainly makes you examine your priorities. Look after what they’ve given you and I hope everything else is sorted to your satisfaction.

[Jan Rosser]

Glad to hear you are on the mend Merv and that you've seen the light and will now concentrate on the 'fun' threads Having had experience of what you've been through from Trish's point of view please give her my best wishes and don't forget she needs support too - take care both xxx

Thanks Jan. She's been a rock.

I knew she would be - her health and well-being is important too - big Welsh cwtch coming your way

[david63]

Did the rest of you not miss me?

No - who are you??????

[Stephen]

Did the rest of you not miss me?

No - who are you??????

Do you still vet new members David