"All round excellent treatment"

Up until November last year my health had been gradually deteriorating. I knew I had a fistula and thought that that was the source. For four years I had odd bouts of sickness, too. I was a frequent visitor to my GP both in my home town and then in Yeovil when I moved down. I also came to A and E when the pain became too great at the weekends.

I also began to loose weight and appetite. Eventually, I collapsed at work and was diagnosed as anaemic. Shortly after I visited A and E at Yeovil again and was seen by the on-call consultant who is a coleo-rectal specialist.

He listened to my history and said he thought that the fistula was only part of the problem and didn't allow me out but sent me to Ward 7 until more tests could be done. (I was given a bright orange set of pyjamas like I was a Guantanamo Bay inmate! At least I was noticeable!). Ward 7 staff were kindness personified despite me yelling in pain each time I used the lavatory and disrupting the other patient's sleep.

I particularly remember being given a midnight blood test by charming East European (Why can't I name names? it makes me praise by circumloquation) - I asked where she was from and she said 'Transylvania', reassuring that...

Ward 7 fed me up for a couple of weeks so that I would be strong enough for the operations which I was destined for.

At all times I was kept informed as to my condition, what was intended for me and how long things were likely to take. The original diagnosis of a fistula was extended after the various tests to include bladder stones and a gastric ulcer, just what the original consultation anticipated.

I first had a Hartmann procedure which has left me with a colostomy bag, which maybe reversed later, and then a laser stone destruction which has left me with a catheter, probably a fixture as my bladder seems to have seized up. My fault for not having the fistula fixed earlier.

I left just before Christmas, between the Hartmann and the bladder-stones, so I got to see the family for the first time in three years. I have since returned to work but am still under the care of Yeovil who I cannot praise enough for giving me my life back.

I have just organised my next visit via the lovely urology clinic office who have twice gone out of their way to fit me when I can make it to Yeovil.