‘T-minus 1 day’

There was real sense of the complexity of this procedure today evidenced by the differing representatives that have visited me:

• Consultants x 2
• Physio
• Dietician
• Anaesthetist
• Cancer Nurse Specialist
• Stoma Nurse
• Phlebotomist
• Psychologist

Psychologist, now that was really interesting. I gained something, and learnt something I never new before.

I ‘may’ hallucinate after the operation whilst in the early stages post anaesthetic. Enter the ‘grounded reality spot’ that now adorns the back of my hand.

The theory is, if I sense I am hallucinating (pink elephants in the room, Elvis sat on the end of my bed, that sort of thing) I look at the back of my hand….

If I see the black spot it will ‘ground me’ and I’m back in the room. If I don’t then I’m defiantly hallucinating.

That’s the theory. Sounds all very ‘The Matrix’ to me, ‘Red pill- blue bill’ . As long as Morpheus doesn’t appear then I should be ok.

I also had the pleasure of medical students practicing their skills on my arm. Thankfully my veins eventually made an appearance

‘Group and save’ is my other new buzzword. You match two blood groups and you get the third for free … or something like that