HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 08:55:04 GMT

Hi all, just got off the telephone to Julian, who sounded in remarkably fine fettle for a man just out of brain surgery! He asked me to post and say thanks for thinking of him, and the op went as well as could be hoped for. He's expecting to be out in a few days.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Miriam Lodewyks — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:08:11 GMT

Hey Julian,

How are you doing at the moment?
Had your op yet?

My thoughts are with you.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 13:18:06 GMT

Woew, Just noticed that you saw a Hobby In Rossendale!! And I thought here in Lincolnshire was a long way from their normal summer homes of Dorset and Hampshire?? Amazing. I really do hope ht they are thriving and spreading as widely these sightings al would suggest? A Fabulous little raptors especially in full free acrobatic flight, looking for Matins A Swallows and Swifts! Beautiful creatures?? Thanks for that information!.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

KathW — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 12:05:29 GMT

Wishing you well for your operation Julian. I can’t add to the suggestions of others, breathing exercises, headspace and visualising happy calming events and favourite places have all helped me.
We visited Leighton Moss RSPB reserve yesterday. No red kites there, there are Marsh Harriers, various waders and I saw my first Hobby there yesterday. We also see buzzards over Rossendale now, they weren’t around 15 years ago.
Let us know how things go. Here’s hoping the surgery is a success and you are able to get back to cycling again soon.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Jill Butterworth — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 09:39:23 GMT

Also lots of people like the Headspace meditations. I think its on Netflix too.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 20:45:26 GMT

Sorry to hear about the panic attacks Julian , horrible I know. I am not equating your challenges to my own infuriating anxiety but I find some of the anti anxiety you tube sessions helped me a bit. Some were a bit too woo woo for me but the breathing exercises help when someone is telling you when to inhale and exhale

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 17:16:16 GMT

Sorry but it is me agan!! I have started suffering severe anxiety attacks, numeous times this morning... My wife , and I now think hat I am getting mo reb ee othered by his upcoming hospital stay than I had been before!! I now that I am in good hands getting onside my skull but Annika and I , preferably Annika, =myeife shall have t express my concerns about my tinme spent on the ward ibefore; I doubt that the same ward Manager will be there after all these years and I would not enjoy going through all the bad history about those three nurses before. I would expect Paul, the original Manager would have remembered so would immediately understand!. I will speak to my best mate in Sheffield a day or two in advance as he can always Cheers me up. Then there are all of you on here so will probably return to this thread a few imes before 1st September and admission? In the mean-tme I endure chronic butterflies, sweats and papitations setc. So look for happiness for he time-being!! thanks.

Just founfd some guaranteed hapiness for myself! Forgotten Reordings of the ~~Radio 4 programme: I'm Srry I Haven't A Clue!!

Thak you in advance.!

Julian

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 15:20:35 GMT

Thank you again Jill, That is a very good idea..., that either and/or I or wife Annika will speak to Gerry's two nurses about it rather than upset Gerry directly! Also, Annik tells me that Ward Manager Paul is still thrre doing that job and he already knows about t my problem having told m me the ones responsible were dismissedd a while ago. i shall mention my concerns to Paul again, and ask that nothing like that could ever beallowed to happen again please? Many thanks for your support. Friends and family are the important people helping me battle my depression and anxiety and this includes everyone here on vetsurgeon.org of course! Sheep Veterinary Society were very helpful when we attended the Spring Conference in Ireland not too long ago as I think I've mentioned before? But their help cannot be overstated for me! I first attended SVS in spring 1984 in a little obscure town I'never heard of before, calle Horncatlre. two thingds : I never expected to move sand libvethere in 1989 Also, I joined Sheep Vet Soc for Ovine CPD, but more importantly right now developed ifelong friends!! I might well be AVP- status [SHP] nowadays aftererly retirementof course, but my friendsare keeping me going!! Thanks again Jill,

Bst Wishes....; Julian

BBL!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Jill Butterworth — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 15:35:49 GMT

You were very unfortunate to have such an bad experience with the nurses, I think its unusual and much less likely this time as you can make friends with the nurses before your op ad ask them to be gentle with you.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 13:43:30 GMT

I have just read my originsal post and did not mention the real reason I believe for the original PTSD! It was not the crash because though I remember working that morning on my favourte dairy farm in fact, ,plus warming up for the race, the crash itself being a head-impact is a complete mental blank/. So, I'm afraid and I'll be brief here because it is still distressing almost ten years later, whilst on the Neurosurgical Ward, one male nurse, on thinking i was tying to climb put of bed! He was wrong I was just shifting position would run over, punch my upper arm ad 'd collapse back down onto my pillow w etc. Bearing in mind my f5 rfactured ribs/collar bone/and basal skull, this was Not a nice experience. Then when needing further surgery at hat time, two female nurses were slapping me hard yelling or,it seemed like yelling Wake-up , you shouldn't be asleep at 4pm!! Come Julian wake-up Now!! I was only able to reply to the effect of Get lost!! ou do know 've just had an anaesthetic don't you??? At which point I think they left me alone! A couple of years later! the nice War Manager, Paul on hearing about these events; said,"I know who you mean but don't worry they were all dismissed over something else a short while after you [ = me] were in!" Okay Good I said but I won't shed tears for them! This all kept me awake at night for months after my discharge in November 2012 and think I should there fore be safe going back in again this time?? I never told Gerry because he was so lovely and positive I remember thinking that I must not spoil his day as it were!! That's it, I'd rather not dwell on it ay more thank you. It does show how and why my learning that I do have far, far more friends than I ever realised has proved so significant in my recovery so far, does it Not?? thank you all Kindly Everybody!! therefore, I am not too worried about the further brain surgery, I'm sure as an elective procedure it will be straightforward but don't look forard to tstaying in afterwards even if only up to just 4or 5 days like Gerry predicted!

Thanks for reading.

TTFN!

Julian

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 15:46:58 GMT

Ola again ranscisco. I cannot see how this could be adapted fogluoma as it is quite a big piece of kit and I cannot see how theycould sleave something permanently attached to the eyeball to facilitate constant drainage? Nice idesa but I doubt it!? I'll try and remember to ask about any variations on this gadget for other uses?

HTH!!??

; Byefornow! I seemedica terapy being essential long-term for glaucoma!

TTFN !!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Francisco Gomez — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 21:22:04 GMT

[quote userid="3094" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/30309/help-please-for-me-not-a-patient/237656#237656"]Programmed Cerebroventricular Pump or PCVP for short. It drains CSF at a predetermined pressure from my brain via a tube over my collar bone into my abdomen. fluid. The clever bit is that t e pressure at which it drains is firstly set in advsnce but can be adjusted from the outside! [/quote]

That's amazing. I wonder if they will ever made one for dogs with ever rising IOP in glaucoma. They make implants to drain fluid from the anterior chmber but if often stops working.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 08:25:48 GMT

Power cut halway through this reply a few minutes ago so I'll try again... The implanted gadget is called a Programmed Cerebroventricular Pump or PCVP for short. It drains CSF at a predetermined pressure from my brain via a tube over my collar bone into my abdomen. fluid. The clever bit is that te pressure at which it drains is firstly set in advance but can be adjusted from the outside! Currently it is set to drain at 150mm Mercury which worked well about 6-9 months ago but recent brain scans show that my cerebral ventricles are not changing in size as expected nor does it seem to respond to attempts to re-setthe pressure hence it needs fixing if I want to improve eg; my balance and left-sided function. As advised I use a timer for my left-handed physiotherapy exercises for dexterity, and aI am much much slower than, say 6 months ago. Still not as bad as when my records start, in 2014 and 2015 but it needs fixing if I want to get out cycling again!! I need to get out riding in preparation for bulding up to the 2023 racing season! Watching racing? If you mean cycling? Yes I wath the big races leading up to Le Tour and am hoping my op does not clash with the Tour because i want to see Cavendish try to break the Rcord for all-time stage-wins held by Merckx! Who?? I hear my younger readers say!! Eddie Merckx, Some all-conquering ~Belgian rider who won rather a lot of races and set loads of world records as well. Quite famous back in the day!! HTH?

Horse-racing? Yes I am roped into that with Annika to watch her part-owned equines compete. We've been to Wetherby, Newcastle, Ascot as part of her owner's club this year. I do my best to fit in but not my scene really Sorry!! h She bought sharesi in a couple of Archie Watson horses when her own mysteriously broke a leg out in the field when grazing one day???With the insurance money she treated herself! They are a nice group of folk actually!

Thanks for reading!

Julian...

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Virginia Campbell — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 02:40:44 GMT

Hi Julian, I hope you get your head gasket or whatever it is replaced soon and feel better. Have you been watching the racing this week? I had a few bob each way on Tempus, I know that's not your one but same colours and I always look out for them now.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:33:17 GMT

tHanks |Francisco, I don't know that area all. I had a month in ttotal in vizcaya and the Picos falling in love i the area which islargely why I asked if you wee from here. I did have a family of friends in the town Zalla but Miguel is likely to have passed away years ago now or else be about 110 years old!! Lovely/friendly people with an impossible local Basque-language to comprehend!!

T\grtacias again, stay safe and well Amigo!!

Julian...

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Francisco Gomez — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:27:29 GMT

[quote userid="3094" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/30309/help-please-for-me-not-a-patient/237644#237644"]P.S. Francisco, whereabouts i Spainn are you from?Could it be theBasque region by any chance? [/quote]

The other side of the country, Julian! Not as pretty, but just as hard on the bike when you take into account the heat of the South!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:10:46 GMT

Thamnk you Clare , ihave agreed with your comment re. Not to long a ait. Ihave wonderedd how long my resilience cabn lst and VetLife said from our duscussions that my resiliene seems to come from all the love/support and friendship from the people in my life! I cannot arge with that. THe profession hs indeed show that itis a very caring onefor a colleague in great diffivculty! o thanks again. I'll no doubtpostmore informatn when something materialiseslie a efinite dateetc. Thnk you,I'd be lost withouyou all!!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 16:47:13 GMT

Hi Julian ,sounds like your surgeon is going to sort it as soon as he can . It must be very hard for you not biking and for your wife to find you flat out but you’ve shown your courage and determination so I’m sure you can do this.
keeping everything crossed for not too long a wait for you.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 16:12:55 GMT

Indeed Ihope so, hence Light at the End of My tnnel I hope!? If not i will be getting seriously desperate!! having akll my friends on here is crucial for keeping me going,thank you!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 14:24:10 GMT

Thank Francisco , I think it might be hence my idea that this could be the light a the end of my tunnel Consultant Gerry feels that sorting out the shunt and so improving how mybrain functions should be a big step towards conquering depression? Time ill tell I guess! If I can start gtting out cycing nd training again both alone or with clubmates will definitely boost my sense of well-being. I have all my objectives in mind still!!

P.S. Francisco, whereabouts i Spainn are you from?Could it be theBasque region by any chance? I loved that awhen riding there some years My first cycling trip abroad in fact Zalla, San Glorio, Fuente De and more! ao!Unforgettable snery! Reply by PMif you don't want to answer this on the pen forum/ Salud!!

Thanks. Best Wishes...!

Julian Earl.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Francisco Gomez — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 08:30:25 GMT

Just managed to read this Julian. Hoping everything is going in the right direction for you now!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:00:53 GMT

[quote userid="4664" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/30309/help-please-for-me-not-a-patient/237618#237618"]sounds hopeful, please keep us updated, hopefully you’ll get a date for your surgery soon.[/quote]

Thanks Kath, My wife aretitred nurse says that thefaxt they took pre-operative bloods indicates intention to operate within 4 weeks? Ihope so!The \Consultant Gerry did check if I was fully vaccinated so was able to say yes, absolutely!

Tetanus/ COVID/ RABIES/ Smallpox which were all good. And it made everyone laugh which made me feel better as well!! I shall no doubt let all of you lovely people on hereknow what happens next!!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Julian Earl — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 20:49:23 GMT

[quote userid="4664" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/off-duty-discussions/30309/help-please-for-me-not-a-patient/237618#237618"] hopeful, please keep us updated, hopefully you’ll get a date for your surgery soon.[/quote]

I will do Kath. Some earlyadvice to me about my depression asnot to beashamed but be pen and discuss it it with friends and family .So I try to do that and it has proved very good advice. My young friend HHervey Pickup N=MRCVS who tookhis own life n 2009 never ver wore his hearton his sleeve andidi not discuss his problems with anyone not even his dear parents with whom I became friends in about 2017. So Ipledged not to follow Harvey'spath by keeping it all inside! Thank you everyone i anticipation of your help and friendship!!

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

KathW — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 17:22:13 GMT

That sounds hopeful, please keep us updated, hopefully you’ll get a date for your surgery soon.

RE: HELP PLEASE, FOR ME, NOT A PATIENT !!

Jill Butterworth — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 16:56:52 GMT

That sounds like good news Julian.