Simply Adult Ballet: the progress of one adult dancer who took up ballet later in life

[LinMM]

I am puzzled by the diet they have put you on Michelle as too much of those foods are more likely to make you constipated! It’s usually a high fibre diet recommended for that… but may be more that high fibre could cause more inflammation? I know a friend who had IBS had to avoid quite a lot of fruits etc. Really hope a solution for you is found soon. Don’t forget to let me know the date of any op. or major treatment etc. 

[Ruby Foo]

Sending lots of virtual love and hugs and strength to you Michelle.

I’ve never read this thread before yesterday, but it sounds like you are having an extremely challenging time of it.
Hoping you get through it all super quickly and successfully and get back to your beloved ballet asap. x

[Jan McNulty]

36 minutes ago, LinMM said:

I am puzzled by the diet they have put you on Michelle as too much of those foods are more likely to make you constipated! It’s usually a high fibre diet recommended for that… but may be more that high fibre could cause more inflammation? I know a friend who had IBS had to avoid quite a lot of fruits etc. Really hope a solution for you is found soon. Don’t forget to let me know the date of any op. or major treatment etc. 

 

It’s the diet I was put on Lin.  Basically it’s beige with nothing with pips, skins or seeds.

 

A lady in the bed opposite me on my first stay in hospital last year had been on this diet for over 30 years due to a long term condition and she gave me helpful hints and tips.

[DVDfan]

Michelle and Fiz, so sorry to hear of the health issues that are affecting you right now.

Fiz, I know what it is to have a child with a serious health issue, my heart bleeds for you. We mothers always find the strength to get through it somehow, and truly, time is a great healer. Wishing you all the best.

 

Michelle, there are no unhealthy foods (unless you're thinking that the chicken had fowl pest or the wheat had rust (-: ), only unhealthy diets. I'd check that duck is OK as it is a very fatty meat compared to chicken or turkey. Otherwise it's all down to cooking, and understanding what you are trying to avoid. I think what they're telling you is that white bread is Ok, low fibre, while wholemeal and wheatmeal aren't as they are high fibre. Most of the things you list are regarded as bad in the ordinary way because they contain no fibre and a lot of energy. But just now, that's what you need. I'd select the items from the list that you like, so that you can continue to enjoy your food until the crisis is past.

Wishing you the best of luck for the next stage of your recovery.

[Kate_N]

On 07/04/2024 at 09:11, Michelle_Richer said:

the procedure they are looking at for me is a Right Hemicolectomy. This is where they cut the colon in half and remove the grown and the affected colon area, then join the other two ends of the colon back up again

 

Michelle, if it's any reassurance, my father had something like this done for colon cancer, and after recovery from the operation, continued to build a house - at age 70 or so. He's still going strong at 90 - no stoma bag, and just a course of 'preventative' chemotherapy by tablets rather than infusion after the operation.

 

Good luck!

[LinMM]

What amazing news about your dad Kate_N that’s lovely to hear!! 
 

Also I know somebody who had to have part of colon removed (don’t know which bit) and for a while did have a stoma bag but later on this was reversed so she no longer has one. 

Edited April 12 by LinMM

[Michelle_Richer]

A big thank you for everyones support, especially Kate_N and Jan McNulty, at least I can face this procedure with some optimisum.

 

I have just returned home after seeing the Surgeon at Peterborough City Hospital and he has said my operation will be sometime in either May or June providing the Anaesthetist is happy.

 

I will get an appointment so see the Anaesthetist in the next couple of weeks or so. I did mention to my surgeon that my Specialist Cardiologist from Boston is happy to urgently arrange a Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram to help demonstrate the fitness of my heart to withstand the anaesthesia for the Right Hemicolectomy operation. The stress test exercises the heart whilst I am lying down, the dobutamine make the heart run faster and stronger than normal, whilst the echo cardiogram detects any abnormalities in the hearts response.

 

However the surgeon declined and said it could be offered once I had seen the Anaesthetist.

 

Time-line:

My stay in Peterborough City Hospital 7 to 10days.

Fitness to drive after discharge from hospital 2 weeks (providing I can steer and do an emergency stop properly).

Athletic fitness for Ballet training 6 weeks.

 

For the time being I’m off the low fibre diet, I will be given special instruction nearer the time, however I do know that I will not need to do the bowel cleansing as with the two previous procedures thank goodness.

 

I must confess when I attended both Boston and Peterborough hospitals for these consultations, I really felt out of place as if I shouldn’t be there, I felt a bit of a fraud, most other patience looked really poorly, there need was much greater than mine.

 

Back to pointe training this week Whoopee

[Jan McNulty]

Thanks for the update Michelle.

 

 

[Michelle_Richer]

Pointe work for the past two week has gone really well in spite of quite a long break. My stamina and strength are both getting noticeably better and absolutely no Angina arm ache/pain in the left arm, if fact I haven't used GTN spray for several weeks. I'm absolutely certain its the improved haemoglobin level in the blood from the high dosage of iron tablets, its a pity it took cancer to find it.

 

Last Thursday was quite a busy day with my usual 3 sessions at Lincoln, then a quick knip home for a shower and a bite to eat, then off to Boston as my Cardiologist at Boston Pilgrim Hospital organised a basic Echocardiogram for me, that was disappointing, especially as I wouldn't normally get the results until the next review, as the clinician who carried out the echocardiogram wasn't allowed to give me the results. In any case I would have much preferred a Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram Test as we had discussed previously.

 

Things have move on somewhat since then, I have an appointment on the 9^th May to see the Anaesthetist at Peterborough City Hospital, I understand from the Anaesthetic Secretary that all they are going to do is check what medication I'm on, give me a blood test and also a basic ECG, and of course a chat with the anaesthetist. However I have offered the results from the Echocardiogram that was done last Thursday, as I have the direct phone number and email of my Cardiologist secretary, I have also offered to run my own Stress ECG test and give them the results as I have my own 12 port ECG monitor and treadmill as you can imagine.

 

Next Thursday Adrian has an MRI scan follow up just to check he remains clear of cancer from his eye, now the growth is starting to shrink nicely.

 

Sadly it means I'm missing next two weeks of pointe work coaching at Lincoln Grrrr.

 

[LinMM]

Glad to hear you are feeling a lot stronger Michelle X 

[Jan McNulty]

Glad to hear you are feeling stronger Michelle.

 

Thanks for keeping us in the picture.

 

Best wishes, Jxx

[Kate_N]

On 15/04/2024 at 21:08, Michelle_Richer said:

I felt a bit of a fraud, most other patience looked really poorly, there need was much greater than mine.

 

Your need is your need.

 

You are in a good place to recover your health because you are so active and have looked after your health & fitness. 

[DVDfan]

So glad to hear you are feeling better and stronger, Michelle.

 

You really shouldn't feel that you aren't entitled to treatment because  someone else is worse off. It just means you need less time in surgery and rehab than them. Which is good for you and for the NHS.

[Michelle_Richer]

Things are getting quite close to surgery now, last Thursday I had a meeting with the Anaesthetists, that at least helped with both the Echocardiograph and my Cardiologist recommendation reaching him on time. For me Anaesthetist meeting was a little disappointing because firstly one of his nurses took my blood pressure immediately I arrived in that section and only used the first result, I think it was something like 165/75 pulse 73 ,which was way off my normal reading of below 120/65 with resting pulse of between 55 and 60. When I queried it, she said the reading was quite normal and they would accept a systolic reading of up to 175 as normal, it seamed pointless recording such a reading.

Next came an Electrocardiogram (ECG) test, admittedly the placement of pads were a little different to what I am used to, however the main pads which are usually positioned in very pacific intercostal spaces between the ribs. Her’s were well below the ribcage itself, I ask here how did she know where to place them. She replied she had been trained.

She ran the ECG for about half a minute and showed me the plot, so I ask her how many heart beats was it over, she didn’t know and said she didn’t know how to interpret the result, that was for the doctor. I thought it better to not say anything, but personally I would have used a much longer run to catch sporadic events.

 

Then we came to the nice Anaesthetists, he was full of useful little tips like using mouth wash 2 or 3 times a day to reduce the probability lung infection, use protein loading of the body before the operation so little or no waist is passed through the bowel joint (anastomosis) immediately after the op to allow the bowel to fully take and most of all avoid the serious complication of leaking.

According to my Anaesthetists I have been place on the Enhanced recovery pathway. He expects my operation to take place at either the end of May or the beginning of June, however I still have a second appointment to go with the Surgeon first, once he reports to him on Monday morning. At least that was the most significant hurdle now passed Whoopee.

 

However once I got home I went through my Anaesthetists “Surgical Risk Calculator” which is an American piece of software. I must say I didn’t agree with the classification of some of the assumptions, however I have now bitten my tongue and decided not to challenge it as I have the outcome I wanted, with being placed on an urgent pathway.

 

As this week is up in the air, unless I hear anything by Wednesday, I’m back on pointe work in Lincoln on Thursday to keep my strength up.

[Jan McNulty]

Thanks for the update Michelle.  As long as you don’t mind, please keep us in the picture.

[LinMM]

I don’t know whether you’ve heard about Louise Michelle I will send you a private message. 

[Ruby Foo]

I really admire you being so active in your treatment, asking questions and querying everything. This is how I would want to be, but I'm sure I'd be less good at it than you! I'd be going home and thinking why on earth didn't I ask about that.

[Fiz]

Wishing you all the very best, Michelle. You are in my prayers along with a few others who also have this wretched disease. 

[Sim]

14 hours ago, Michelle_Richer said:

Things are getting quite close to surgery now, last Thursday I had a meeting with the Anaesthetists, that at least helped with both the Echocardiograph and my Cardiologist recommendation reaching him on time. For me Anaesthetist meeting was a little disappointing because firstly one of his nurses took my blood pressure immediately I arrived in that section and only used the first result, I think it was something like 165/75 pulse 73 ,which was way off my normal reading of below 120/65 with resting pulse of between 55 and 60. When I queried it, she said the reading was quite normal and they would accept a systolic reading of up to 175 as normal, it seamed pointless recording such a reading.

Next came an Electrocardiogram (ECG) test, admittedly the placement of pads were a little different to what I am used to, however the main pads which are usually positioned in very pacific intercostal spaces between the ribs. Her’s were well below the ribcage itself, I ask here how did she know where to place them. She replied she had been trained.

She ran the ECG for about half a minute and showed me the plot, so I ask her how many heart beats was it over, she didn’t know and said she didn’t know how to interpret the result, that was for the doctor. I thought it better to not say anything, but personally I would have used a much longer run to catch sporadic events.

 

Then we came to the nice Anaesthetists, he was full of useful little tips like using mouth wash 2 or 3 times a day to reduce the probability lung infection, use protein loading of the body before the operation so little or no waist is passed through the bowel joint (anastomosis) immediately after the op to allow the bowel to fully take and most of all avoid the serious complication of leaking.

According to my Anaesthetists I have been place on the Enhanced recovery pathway. He expects my operation to take place at either the end of May or the beginning of June, however I still have a second appointment to go with the Surgeon first, once he reports to him on Monday morning. At least that was the most significant hurdle now passed Whoopee.

 

However once I got home I went through my Anaesthetists “Surgical Risk Calculator” which is an American piece of software. I must say I didn’t agree with the classification of some of the assumptions, however I have now bitten my tongue and decided not to challenge it as I have the outcome I wanted, with being placed on an urgent pathway.

 

As this week is up in the air, unless I hear anything by Wednesday, I’m back on pointe work in Lincoln on Thursday to keep my strength up.

Wishing you the very best, Michelle.  Stay strong and positive. 💪💪

[Michelle_Richer]

Thank you everyone for your kind wishes.

On 10/05/2024 at 22:18, LinMM said:

I don’t know whether you’ve heard about Louise Michelle I will send you a private message. 

Yes Linda I did know about Louise, I see you post on FB during the early part of last week and it was quite a shock. I remember saying to her jokingly at the Chelsea Ballet show in November, that we were falling apart, I this I was only a week or two at the most out of hospital. I will really miss her, a truly lovely lady.

 

On 11/05/2024 at 00:42, Ruby Foo said:

I really admire you being so active in your treatment, asking questions and querying everything. This is how I would want to be, but I'm sure I'd be less good at it than you! I'd be going home and thinking why on earth didn't I ask about that.

Hi Ruby some years ago I had a partially ruptured right top quad muscle ( Rectus Femoralis), it was miss-diagnosed with everyone I see mainly because it effected the whole of the leg, even the MRI scan didn’t pic it up, why? They scanned the ankle, so now I check everything.

 

I must confess my Anaesthetists surgical risk calculator really bugs me, there are 3 issues that are so way off they are unbelievable, these are:

1) Discharge to Nursing or rehab facility Av 1.4%, my score 6.7%

2) Functional Decline Av 14.4% My score 32.5%

3) New Mobility Aid Used Av 11.7% My score 41%

 

Ive search the NHS and I think this is what they are focused on, based on someone who is extremely frail:

Plan for your days after surgery

It's important to arrange for appropriate care after your operation. For older people, it's important to arrange for suitable equipment and care. You should not be afraid to ask for things that may help you, such as a wheelchair or walking frame.

 

It also sounds very much like Convalescent care:

Convalescent care is a temporary form of care that provides extra support if you’re recovering from an operation or illness. In a convalescent care home, personal care and assistance with daily tasks like laundry and cleaning are given, similar to a residential home. Having fewer responsibilities allows residents to focus on their recovery.

 

That leaves me speechless, as it is so so inappropriate, however I think this may have inadvertently come from one of the inputs to the “ Surgical Risk Calculator” which came from a question I was asked “ Are you supported at home” and of course I answered “yes”, as I have my partner Adrian at home.

 

However I think the meaning behind the question could well be, do you have help ( like social services) coming in every day to support your personal care and housework due to lack of mobility. Otherwise it just doesn't make sense.

 

I may mention this ambiguity in passing to my Surgeon when I see him next, but I wont raise it as an issue with the anaethetist. I just hope when Im about to be discharged from hospital, I don’t get a visit from a social worker wanting to arrange convalescence care for me. Grrrr

 

[Michelle_Richer]

Quick update:

 

Second appointment with my Surgeon this Friday, date of operation pencilled in as the 28th May, only two weeks of pointe work left to go before the unknown.

[Jan McNulty]

Fingers crossed that your operation goes ahead as planned and successfully.

 

Thinking of you.  Jxx

[LinMM]

Glad you’ve got a date Michelle will be in touch X 

[Michelle_Richer]

 

 

This week has turn out to be a very hectic and challenging week.

 

Firstly we lost Monday trying to sort out Adrian scammed football ticket, however we should recover the money for that (no small amount) from either paypal or his bank, both are looking into it.

 

Last Friday I received two more appointments at Peterborough City Hospital, the first today (Tuesday) where I received some prep medication to take just before and on the day of the operation. However one of those is an injection I have to give myself, the day before the op, something i've never done before Grrrr.

 

Adrian had an eye test booked with Specsavers for today, but I had to move it to accommodate today’s hospital appointment, we moved it to Wednesday, so I will loose a bit of practice time.

 

My next Hospital appointment is for Friday, then I will be given a full pre op briefing off all the does and dont’s , the expected outcomes and enhanced recovery plans they have for me and of course another blood test.

 

Monday is where most of the real pre-op prep start, then its up at 4.30am Tuesday morning for a public transport trip to Peterborough Hospital with Adrian, as im down for my op that morning. Im expected to come round in the evening between 8pm and 9pm, then I guess I start to worry.

 

 

 

[Jan McNulty]

Thanks for the update Michelle.  Very best wishes for the coming week and beyond.  Jxx

[LinMM]

Fingers crossed for the best outcome for you Michelle xxx

[Ruby Foo]

Remember to make some quiet and relaxing time for yourself Michelle. 
Thinking of you all this week and next.  Manifesting loads of positive vibes and energy and sending them all your way xxx

[Fiz]

Praying for everything to go well. I will be thinking of you next week. 

[DVDfan]

I know the NHS staggers a bit with the minor ailments but when it's something serious, you're in very good hands.  

So while I wish you all the best for next week, Michelle, I am sure that that is exactly what will happen - the best.

[Fiz]

Thinking of you today, Michelle, and praying that it all goes well. 

[LinMM]

Michelle has already had her first meal but is very tired( who wouldn’t be)  So this seems like good news to

me!! 

[Fiz]

7 hours ago, LinMM said:

Michelle has already had her first meal but is very tired( who wouldn’t be)  So this seems like good news to

me!! 

Thanks for posting this, Lin!

[LinMM]

A Michelle update after a couple of days of setbacks after an initial very good three days ( really the body getting used to the “new” situation). those probs have been finally sorted and Michelle has been given the all clear to go home today!! 
Now just take it easy Michelle with a bit more rest time before jumping back into those pointe shoes!!!