Yes I’m slowly recovering - the various wounds (it’s a complicated procedure taking the bone, muscle and skin from the lower leg!) are healing more or less normally. It’s just the dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) which is bothering me - although the root cause is almost 100% paralysis of my tongue. It is slowly getting better and I should recuperate capacity as per before the operation (which allowed me to drink and to eat puréed food). It might take a few months more. Being well looked after by orthophonists, nutrition experts, and of course Mrs D!!
Anyway I am very grateful to still be here on this crazy planet 22 years after initial cancer diagnosis!!
Thanks for your message and concern, it means a lot
Having been back and forth from the cancer centre at Guy’s in London and you see some sights that make one grateful of an easier to treat cancer. My wife sees the oncoplastic surgeon on the 21st.
Wishing you an effective recovery Alan (I won’t say ‘speedy’ as it clearly will be gradual instead)… I have mild dysphagia myself so sympathise from some personal experience on that one.
All the vey best with this Alan. May I recommend you encourage your medical experts to really help you get your swallow reflex functioning as well as possible. The daughter of a dear friend of mine had heart failure in her 20s and was in a coma for weeks. She had a feeding tube in through her throat and her swallow reflex has never fully recovered, unfortunately and, now 25 years on, she still struggles, which makes eating and drinking a challenge
This thread reminds me of a recent conversation with a French friend (who spent some time in London and much longer in Australia). He was bemoaning the fact that proper horseradish sauce is not readily available here.
I’ve ordered some (it’s Polish) from Amazon. We’ll see if it is any good.
I think the best horseradish sauce is made from freshly grated horseradish, mixed with creme d’Isigny (French double cream) from Intermarché or wherever and some lemon juice.
A few years back I was lamenting that I couldn’t find fresh horseradish on French markets and @JaneJones offered to send me some roots, along with a warning that they ‘grow like Topsy’.
And indeed they did! Consequently I’m now in a position to pass some on. If you’d like some let me know and I’ll dig some up.
I keep a couple of roots in the freezer and find it works similarly to frozen ginger root, just grate some when you need it.
Thanks Sue, and sorry to hear about your friend’s daughter. I’m lucky to have frequent sessions with an Orthophonist here in Corsica, two or three times a week as well as doing the exercises she gives me. It helps a lot. I should have a gastro stoma fitted soon (first consultation in ten days in Nice) which will help as I won’t need the nasogastric tube which can hinder the swallowing reflex and is a bit of a pain!!
Thanks Gareth!! I agree, we could do with a “I appreciate the post although I don’t like the situation described!” Emoji!! No idea what that would look like though .
Certainly, there’s plenty to spare. However, I’m away till next week-end and may have forgotten by the time I get back, so mail me a reminder in a week’s time
We are seriously contemplating not telling the buyers of our house about controlling the horseradish and comfrey patch in recompense for their low offer!
Feed back from the horse radish that you and @Mik_Bennett sent me, thanks again, the roots all took off well and are in fine fettle. I’ll harvest some next year and have neighbours asking for cuttings
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