h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi all,

Have been very unwell and been in physical hospital for a month...had big operation. Need more treatment. Not going into detail for now. Too tired and weak...but at least I'm still here for now.

Nice to see you all again. One thing I learnt from hospital and saw the pitiable cases in ITU where I was for the fortnight is that I never want to sneer at people again who need a faith or some spiritual thing to help them emotionally. It's HORRIBLE.

I even called for the chaplain myself at one point. If I do that sneering again, please remind me. You can't beat real life for facing the rawness of life death and pain.

See you around h2g2.

Glad to see you back! And best wishes for a swift recovery

I am sorry to hear you have been in hospital Effers, I hope you get well soon.

Glad you're OK.

Hi Effers.

Good to see you back!

TRiG.

Get well soon, Effers.

Life here is so much duller without you.

Hope your recovering well, and managing alright

Faith can be very supportive, to those who have faith, I've come to a view of religion and all that goes with it, that if a person has faith, then weather or not whatever it is they believe in exists, is kinda irrelivent, as the faith they do have exists... to them at least... hmmm... if that kinda makes sense

Thanks all for posting here...it's appreciated.

Yes 2legs that's my view. I'm starting to think much of my time here with the arguments on various threads, was like some sort of aberration. I never used to do it. And I don't know anyone in real life who does.

For myself it just poured out of me..i.e. needing some sort of spiritual/emotional comfort. Things were very bad a times. And I felt a lot of concern for my fellow patients.

Doctors and nurses were great with the technical stuff...I wouldn't be here without that...apparently I came close to dying after the op due to an infection, I was kept in a coma for sometime...and had the weirdest dreams and delusions...many horrible...then I suddenly turned the corner. But the medics are so rushed off their feet with all the measuring from a hundred drips and tubes..I was even tied down at one point to stop me ripping off an oxygen mask.

But people need other comfort as well...especially in such extremis; I did and do.

Some of the people in there just made me

And I know my position clearly now. And I'm not arguing about it here with anyone to do with that.

I'm just pointing some stuff out about why its affected me so much and wanting to get back to pre h2g2 self.

It's nice this thread feels real.

I don't know how exactly it will go for me in the future. I don't want endless sympathy...but its a relief to share some of it both with people in real life...who have been fantastic friends and family to me...and people here I consider friends.

I noticed your absence on h2g2 and was worried about you. I hope you have a swift recovery.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Life is in the heart of the living.
God is where-ever the idea is needed.
And I am awfully glad you're still with us.

~jwf~

PS: Is it too soon to ask about your Vespa?
I sure hope it survived your absence and you
get to ride it soon. 'Tis the season to ride!

I'm so glad that you're ok!

Cheers guys.

Your post was very sweet ~ jwf ~.

Vespa is off the horizon for sometime I fear. I can hardly get about. Getting off the floor is impossible without help. A week ago I couldn't stand. It's driving me insane. My muscles wasted and its to do with the size of the op. I don't fully understand why. The ascending colon was removed.Thank god my mum is staying with me...she's very sprightly and fit despite her age.

Anyway its parked up safe and well covered. But just being able to function at all in the world is my first priority. I can't even go up the local shop on my own in case I fall.

I go to Guys Hospital in London on Tuesday for an assessment and then its 6 months of chemo to zap the rest of a tumour which was found...which has spread a little bit to the lymph nodes. Another type of tumour was found in the colon which was fully removed.

I was hesitant about writing that truth here. And I DON'T want to dwell on it. I'm getting good professional support as well as from friends and family.

I'm not good with stuff like this...I'm terrified. But I can see it would be a bit silly to make a mystery of it. Those are facts.

I try not to think the worst...but I may have to face that at some point. We all have to die eventually...

Welcome back!

Sorry I missed this earlier.


Get well soon, Effers


lil x

Get well soon from me as well. Sorry to hear you have been through the mill. What a shock for you as well as an ordeal.

I only just noticed this message now (it appeared in my frames when I went back to the Music journal to think about posting something). I'd wondered why we hadn't seen you.

I'm sorry to hear about all you've been through- and will be going through. I am wishing you well and hope you recover from the operation quickly.

hi Effers,
glad to see you back - I was getting worried when you disappeared.

Take everything (here and IRL) one step at a time

Good you're pleased to see me back. I had felt really pleased to be back..people have been so nice and supportive..but I had a very hurtful thing happen today here and feel scared.

It's easier said than done to take things one step at a time. As my psychiatrist said, 'You wouldn't expect to be facing your possible death at your age'. He's lovely and visited me in hospital..and will see me anytime.

Have an appointment with the oncologist tomorrow to find out about chemo, ie when the bloody thing will start which I'm impatient for naturally. A good thing happened earlier in real life though. I felt upset and angry and the extra energy it gave me allowed me to get up off the floor unaided for the first time..hopefully a bit of my chi and chutzpah is coming back.

But thanks for your kindness in posting here.

I'll keep away from Ask though for now...can't cope with nastiness out of a clear blue sky..at least that's how it feels.

Seems there's some hope. So much happened today at Guys. So many different people.

Shall write more when calmer. I'm utterly overcome with emotion...don't know fully what to think.

I so want to appreciate life more now. Thank god this happened in spring. And so many people are supportive in real life including many excellent professionals.

See yer later nice people here