Well I started back to work at the beginning of January after nearly 18 months off.

Difficult to get back into it initially? Very much so!

Getting a basic level of fitness back in order to get through the day has been the toughest. You do not realise how quickly you do lose your fitness levels by leading a sedentary lifestyle, even though you might have led an active life before.

The muscle groups and condition that you have previously taken for granted all need work to make them work again. I had aches and pains galore in the first few weeks, but thankfully they are all now subsiding.

Fatigue has played a major part, but also by fighting it to get things done doesn't help any. It just grinds you down until your body gives you a swift reminder or a kick up the backside and lets you know that it isn't happy.

Ignore it at your own peril!

The basic facts are that getting over a major operation takes time, it takes perseverance, but above all it takes patience and understanding. Not only from and about yourself, but from and about others that are around you. I have made a few mistakes as most of us do, but thankfully none that could not be repaired with a little thoughtfulness and self awareness.

Do I regret going back to work? Not in the slightest! It has made me feel so much better about myself, its brought me out of a hole that I had dug myself into on a personal level and has made me feel useful again. it has also got my mind working again, in a far more positive manner.

Has my time off and my experience changed me at all? I think it has to be honest. I now look at things with a more broader and rounded objective view (or at least I think so) I feel different, I don't take things for granted as much and I have a far more positive outlook. My work ethic hasn't changed, I still see myself as putting everything that I have into everything that I do, but I am more objective about what I want and when I want it.

I feel that I am more thoughtful, especially towards other people when I am working. I often find myself asking "what would they think, how would they receive this, what does the end or bigger picture look like? To be honest, I think its helping.

Whilst I have been off I have also launched a nice side line, which in all honesty will probably take over from my current full time job in about 12 months time, and get me to where I want to be financially and with regards to being able to spend time with my family a lot more.

One thing about being off for 18 months, I have been able to watch my 2 young children grow up. I have not really been in a position to get too involved due to health issues, but I have enjoyed it first hand, rather than being stuck in a hotel in some far corner of the UK hearing my sons first words over the phone whilst I was sat in a hotel bar or restaurant, alone having my dinner!...... that was a heart breaker!

Could I have gone back earlier? Possibly, but who knows? It took a big leap of faith as I have mentioned previously, but one for which I have benefited greatly.

Am I back to 100%? Nowhere near! But am I aiming towards that? Absolutely I am! In fact, I might even end up better off.....hows that for PMA?

I have been lucky enough to meet some awesome people along my journey and I think that they will become life long friends. I am lucky that I can see the good in what I have experienced, it has helped me enormously and given me something to smile about during the really low times.

I have an amazing family, and have amazing friends who have been there through the dark times and are still there now during the positive ones.

All I can really say is THANK YOU to each and every one. You might not think that I am referring to you, but I really am. Everyone that I know has helped me in some way, however small and however great, it has all helped me to get to this point and be planning for the future again.

9 weeks and I am back in the land of normality....how good is that!

TC all

Chris