All posts by diana Stone

About diana Stone

Diana Stone is a performing composer and musician playing Piano Violin & Guitar. She currently plays with Orchard and The Sonic Boomers. Previously with Rock/Roots band Elephant Shelf and also the Delta Ladies who mixed roots acoustic music and electronica until the death of Vicky Martin who formed the band which was active for 17 years. Diana composes in a variety of styles from pop to rock to Jazz and and classical music. Diana is also expert in multi-media recording and music production. View all posts by diana Stone →

I rang the Samaritans

October 26, 2026Musingsdiana Stone

I ran out of spoons. Finally. Its Monday start of week 6 in hospital. And it got worse.
I had a cytooapy which was agony. but then it turns out I might have cancer,
Fuck… Its raining right now for sure. Thats a real kick in the head.
What can I say. I feel a void…

Maybe one day universe but I guess its not today
Wish I had some witty reppost but not today I am afraid.

Hospital Days

October 25, 2026Musingsdiana Stone

Indeed it is a dull day today. Today specifically I am trying to get outside my head a bit by you know watching YouTube and and plenty of Radio 4 as you do this afternoon I’m going to try and Ride some stuff for my blog is it may be interesting some people because I do have people that regularly follow it also it’s quite good therapy well I’m feeling a little bit less overwhelmed as you can imagine my immediate concern is the mass that they found in my bladder so I’m going to discount the more minimal things and then I considered what is it was the worst case and actually a cancer. Obviously that it could be a problem but then unpleasant as it is people do get cured or remission with the use of chemo and there are also some more novel methods coming in now which didn’t exist a few years back like being able to blast stuff with everything from lasers and ultrasound and I imagine at least on Close study by urology of the CT scans they will be familiar enough to have a very good idea what they’re looking at so what I would hope is that they will be able to perhaps communicate to me by the end of the week what we’re dealing with obviously I would hope it would be a lesser thing like that perhaps kidney stones that had lodged in there or even simply a bit of traumatized bladder that got damaged or perhaps even slightly torn by the dodgy catheter the ultimately even it was to turn out the cancer which I do not think it is it would most likely be very recent as I’ve never had any associated symptoms problems or bladder issues

Yeah I’m still unfortunately in limbo I saw the surgical lead this morning he said I am probably haven’t gonna have to go back to bed for a while they’re doing the conference I think today at some point with the bacteriologist and all that lot and they’ll make the call I suspect whatever happens I have another before actually get back to my own home if I’m in Bedford will get Alison to bring in her Chromebook which is a little super thin laptop so I can so so I can do some proper typing I was on the phone last night to clear the two hours and 15 minutes she called me at 25 past 11 and we chatted till yeah roughly one o’clock in a bit so that was nice and we put the Worlds to write we discussed all our usual rubbish plus I had notions of a wonderful socialist global Society and what we’re going to do in music hopefully next year we’ve also provisionally arranged to go and see if we can do it next April American singer songwriter Kazi blanton spellings probably wrong who is incredibly good rights process songs but they’re really kind of witty and she sings well so a little freed will be maybe next year to do that as well

What I’m going to do next year that is different as I said I’ll be writing some songs that are more like no necessarily focus on but you get the idea you know more towards three chords and the truth quite hilarious when I talk to my phone using speech recognition it’s the voice it likes me to use best is a kind of cross between Fenella Feiding and Judy Dench some really strange reason that’s the voice that my little computer friend in the phone like

However even if it were to turn out to be cancer and treated to some degree that would at least me mean that I would have some more time and it might be a useful amount.

Yesterday I was starting to tip over into a manic episode though. Today I think is going to a waiting day again though
No exams expected or particular signs and revelations. I am going to try and just pull back from things a bit today if so. I dont feel to bad to be honest and overall I was much more active the last 3 days or so. Will try and update my website today too I think today. That will be good therapy for me I did miraculously get about 7 hours sleep apart from a brief interruption for observation at about 03.00 so that was nice. I have calmed down now and I am a bit more back on track now.

Quick update

a little bit more news today I was saying by the urological team lead and they will be doing something this week. Fingers crossed.

I had a heart attack

October 21, 2026Musingsdiana Stone

I’m still here but it’s been a hell of a ride so far 5 weeks in hospital which is not fun I’m waiting surgery for that dependent on my having cleared and infection and it might take a while

With a fair wind I might make it home Christmas I sincerely hope so

This is what is holding up my surgery it’s an infection that normally is in your gut but if I where to have the op it could kill me. Typing this from my hospital bed or rather dictating it as it’s very difficult typing stuff on a phone so stay tuned hopefully more interesting things will follow after the moment check me out on Facebook and The Usual Suspects

This is what’s holding things up for my oo.

VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci) is a type of gut bacteria resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. It can live in the body harmlessly (colonisation) or cause severe infections in the blood, urinary tract, or wounds, mostly in hospital settings. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Symptoms

Fever or chills
General feeling of sickness
Fast heart rate
Redness, swelling, or pain at a wound site
Confusion (if the infection is severe) [1, 2]

Causes and Spread

Natural presence: Enterococci live safely in the human gut and bowels.
Antibiotic use: Long-term or repeated antibiotic use kills off normal bacteria and lets VRE grow.
Transmission: It spreads through direct contact with unwashed hands, contaminated hospital surfaces, or medical equipment. It does not spread through the air. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Risk Factors

Long stays in a hospital or intensive care unit (ICU)
A weak immune system (such as from cancer treatment or organ transplants)
Recent surgery or medical devices like urinary catheters or IV lines [1, 2, 3]

Treatment

Colonisation: If VRE lives in your gut without causing symptoms, you do not need treatment.
Active Infection: Doctors treat active infections using alternative, lab-tested antibiotics that still work against the bacteria. [1, 2, 3, 4]

You can find more clinical details through the CDC VRE Overview or guidance from the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. [1, 2]

Are you asking because you or a loved one has been diagnosed with VRE, or do you need help with hospital isolation and hygiene guidelines?

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) – North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Definition: Enterococci bacteria resistant to Vancomycin and other antibiotics, causing colonisation (no symptoms) or infection. Testing: Faecal, urine, rectal …

HealthyWA

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)

Definition: Enterococci bacteria resistant to vancomycin antibiotic via genetic adaptation. Transmission: Spread person-to-person through contaminated hands, eq…

Healthline

VRE: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Definition: VRE is vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, an intestinal/genital bacteria resistant to vancomycin, causing bloodstream, urinary, brain, heart, and wo…

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) | Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

* Introduction. This leaflet has been produced to give you general information. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to…

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC (.gov)

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) Basics | VRE | CDC

Overview: Enterococci are normal intestinal bacteria; Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) are resistant to vancomycin and primarily cause infections in healt…

University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire

Vancomycin

What is vancomycin- resistant enterococci (VRE)? Enterococci are a type of bacteria (germs) that normally live in the human gut. Usually, they do not cause any …

National Infection Prevention and Control Manual: Home

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) – Information for healthcare workers

Definition: Enterococci resistant to vancomycin, causing difficult-to-treat infections in wounds, urinary tract, and bloodstream, primarily healthcare-associate…

HSE website

Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE): symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatments

Definition: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are gut bacteria resistant to vancomycin antibiotics. Transmission & Risk: Spread primarily in hospitals via …