Elbow Operation

Friday 16th March

Thankfully the infection is back under control and coming out of hospital. I have been fitted with a removable cast that with velcro can be used easily. Got to get plenty of rest and keep taking the antibiotics.

Many thanks to all the wonderful staff at Three Shires Hospital Northampton who really looked after me!

The spreading infection after being re-admitted to hospital.


Infection

Monday 12th March

It was all going so well until I went back to work...
By lunchtime I was in a lot of pain and the elbow was swelling up like nobody's business. There was a powerful burning sensation and the whole arm was going redder by the minute. Went back to the hospital and the Doctor prescribed strong antibiotics which unfortunately had little or no impact.

Tuesday 13th March

Back to see the Specialist Mr Jepson who took one look and decided to admit me straight away to hospital for 2-3 days. I was put on a drip and given high dosages of antibiotics every 6 hours to fight the infection.

After the op I felt quite rough so they decided to keep me in overnight to be on the safe side. Probably not a bad thing as I had no feeling in my left hand and due to the painkillers was very sleepy.

Did have a fright when I woke in the early hours to find 'Kathy Bates' nursing me , thankfully it was just a lookalike.

Home after the op and looking a little pale.



Typically the swelling that had been a constant companion on my elbow for months decided to disapear the day before hospitalisation.

Under the care of Mr Alistair Jepson MB ChB FRCS (Tr & Orth)I was booked in for an excisionof olecranon bursa and debridement of degenerate triceps (including calcific deposit) left elbow - general combined with regional anaesthetic. I hope that clears things up for anyone who was curious.

Shinedown -HMV Institute Birmingham

Full Set List

• Sound of Madness
• Enemies
• Devour
• If You Only Knew
• Cyanide
• Adrenaline
• Save Me
• Crow
• Diamond Eyes
• 45

Encore

• Bully
• Superman
• Second Chance
• Fly
  

Shinedown really are a band going places judged on this performance. The reception they got was amazing and Brent was clearly touched by the adulation. In fact he said abiut the UK Tour ' we haven't stopped smiling since we've been here'. He reaaly does seem like a genuine guy who has conquered his own demons and appreaches life.

Highlights for me were 'Save me', Simple Man and' 'Second Chance'.



Brent Smith



Acoustic version of the wonderful Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Simple Man'.

Zach Myers

The new album 'Amaryllis' is due for release in March 2012 and we had 3 tracks performed; 'Enemies', 'Adrenaline' and 'Bully'.



Formed in 2001 Shinedown originate out of Jacksonville Florida.
Ater a couple of line-up changes the band's current line-up consists of Brent Smith (vocals)and Barry Kerch (drums), the band's only two remaining original members, with guitarist Zach Myers and bassist and pianist Eric Bass. They are probably best known for the single 'Second Chance'. The second single off The Sound of Madness (their 3rd studio album). It is Shinedown's biggest hit to date, being their first top 10 song on the Billboard Hot 100. "Second Chance" has since gone double platinum. Ironically for the song "that broke into everything", it was one the band hated when they first wrote it



Lizzy Hale



Last night of the Shinedown tour and a rammed to the rafters HMV. Great to catch up with Ali and Jamie again in the ever expanding queue that trailed into the distance beyond.

Support was provided by fellow Americans Halestorm' from somewhere called 'Red Lion'Pennsylvania. Brother and sister Arejay and Lizzy Hale make up half the group with Lizzy providing vocals and playing a mean Gibson Guitar.