Too much too soon takes its toll on a body

Reporter: David Whaley
Date published: 25 March 2015


The Chronicle’s managing editor continues the story of his recovery from cancer surgery


SO there I was last week, dishing out wisdom on how you have to listen to the experts and your body when walking the long path of recovery.

It was very much a case of “do as I say and not as I do” - because I didn’t take my own advice. The experts have been happy for me to maintain my exercise regime and increased food intake - but I have been made aware that it’s only been nine weeks since I had major surgery.

I have been steadily working on my 15km a day on the exercise bike on a virtual road to St Andrews, Scotland (I’ve just passed Motherwell, by the way). And I have been using my passion for golf to get my walking in.

For me it is as much about getting my brain working as it is physical repair. I realise I’m not going to be able to hit the ball as far as I did before the operation on my throat.

I possess a GPS watch that tells me how far it is to the hole and over the last few days I have been taking more of a note how far I can actually hit the ball — not how far I think I can hit it.

The results of this exercise show I have lost around 20 yards at the moment, and need to hit one or maybe two clubs more to reach the distance. This might seem trivial but it’s vital if I am to become competitive.

I’m quite competitive...

I spent Thursday morning on the practice ground, hitting balls and walking a fair way to retrieve them.

From there, having already done 15km on the bike, I went into work for an afternoon meeting.

I worked my way round the building to get updates on things then headed to the meeting. That was 90 minutes, but my total stay was around four hours. My body wasn’t amused.

By the time I got home I could just about manage my evening meal. I was coughing and having pains across my chest. I wearily trudged upstairs to lie down... and didn’t return downstairs until the morning.

When I did resurface Wendy told me she had made an appointment at the doctor’s, and I dutifully took my place in the waiting room. Thirty minutes later a quick check of my lungs and heart determined nothing was wrong and the fatigue was put down to the strain caused by my constant coughing (currently an after-effect of the surgery).

Then she asked me what I had done the previous day. It was probably a trick question: “Well, there you go then,” the doctor replied to my exercise report. “It’s your body telling you to slow down.”

It was polite, but it was a rollicking...

So from now I’m going to be doing what I say, and won’t be going into the office for meetings quite so often. And when I did, on, well, Monday, at least I kept my office door shut and my secretary kept people at bay

Having used Friday as a “down” day to recharge my batteries I have picked myself up and quite literally got back on the bike.

I was boosted by a visit from my step-grandchildren and I reached another milestone when we went out to a restaurant for the first time since my op.

And just as I was about to file this copy, I received a text from “Droylsden Bill” — the man I had been asked to mentor as he has surgery similar to mine. He was letting me know he was on the mend and up to having visitors.

The news gets better and better. But now, a bit more slowly...

KEEP SMILING!