This is the real Equinox as far as I am concerned!
A bad night. Woke up at 4 ish and had to ring bell for more water. They checked my bag and emptied it. Couldn’t get back to sleep, so gave up trying and sent some emails, played some games, read some of my book and was wide awake when they came to check my sugars at around 5. Sugars highest in the morning yet – 12.4. This may be something to do with the chocolate buttons I had last night (5 of them followed by half a biscuit at 4am).
Usual dozing (I must get these sleeping/waking times better), then breakfast at 8. Another change – I’d been adventurous and ordered cornflakes instead of bran flakes, followed by a boiled egg. I must admit that I’d been curious about how this would be served. Pretty sure it wasn‘t going to be runny boiled egg with soldiers and I was right! It was a hardish boiled egg, shelled and cut into pieces and served in a bowl with a spoon. It was quite nice, but no salt ( let alone celery salt!), so I don’t think I’ll be having it again. The bread roll that came with it was nice. 19 tablets, plus insulin. The morning dose has been increased to 24 units.
Got up after breakfast. Usual washing and dressing bottom half by nursing staff, followed by transfer to wheelchair and into the bathroom for me to do my top half. I was going to do my hair, but there was no plastic cup, so I’ve left it until tomorrow. Looking forward to Thursday when I have a hairdresser’s appointment. Not sure where or how that happens.
Settled in my chair, then was asked to go to the day room as they do a deep clean of the room on Mondays ( and had to change my bed as it was broken and took AGES to go up or down). They also took my table and sat me in the sunshine coming in from the window. The day room overlooks the garden, although I didn’t get outside. Gradually I was joined by several other patients, most of whom are recovering from strokes. They seem quite nice. One wants to go home and keeps complaining that she isn’t being allowed home. She is walking ( with help at the moment) and kept getting up to go to tell the desk she was going. I rang the call bell for help for her. Conversation is a bit difficult with those who have their speech affected – you have to concentrate on what they are saying, but it gets easier the more you listen.
I was wheeled in to my physio session. It was very hard work. I explained that I felt that I had lost some movement in my knees and the difficulty I was having getting the right number of sessions in per day when there was no one to help. I asked if I could ask any of the nursing staff. They said that they would raise the issue in the ward meeting, and that there was no reason why they couldn’t help. Some would be better than others as they have had some movement training, but anyone could help.
We did some bench work, with me lying down while she tested the range and strength of my legs, ankles and hips. Not as bad as I thought, but it really does make a difference with someone helping ( holding my feet, knees etc). Then the scary bit – the standing up! Did this several times, and also standing, raising one of my hands.
We then progressed to me bending my knees and then standing straight again. I had no idea where my feet and knees were or what they were doing. The physio had a tall mirror she put in front of me so that I could see where they were. Sitting back down was a huge leap (or rather crouch) of faith as I had to let go with my hands, put my hands down on the bench then sit down.
Then another huge step forward – literally. They decided that instead of using the cricket, I could use a walking frame to move. Sat on bench. Wheelchair next to me. Hauled myself up onto frame. Moved feet sideways. Moved frame sideways. Repeated process several times until I was in front of wheelchair. Sat down. Success! Felt very proud of myself but completely knackered.
Back to day room. Lunch arrived and we were rearranged a bit so that we all had tables or trays in front of us. I was by far the most able ( and hungry) in terms of being able to eat. Some had mashed food, some had specially adapted cutlery and plate shields. In many ways I am very lucky in that it’s just my bottom half that doesn’t work properly.
Stayed in the day room for a while, until Theet and Bap were due to arrive. Not sure if they were going to meet me in my room or the cafe. Had a text from Theet saying that they were at the entrance to the café, so I wheeled myself down and met them.
Had a lovely visit – we had a cup of coffee and I had a packet of crisps and Bap had a small packet of biscuits. Bought a couple of raffle tickets for the giant Easter egg. They went home after about an hour, and I wheeled myself up the ramp back to my room. Pre supper sugars were high again – 25.8, so Bill the nurse said that the diabetes nurse was on the ward and he’d ask her to pop in and see me. It turns out that I was on her list of people to see anyway.
We talked about the sugar levels, steroids, and the menu. I had my menu choice card and we looked at the choices. She couldn’t understand why there weren't more nutritional guidance notes/symbols and I said that wherever I’d been before now, there had been. She was also surprised at the choice of desserts and lack of low sugar options. So we decided I’d give up,on the fruit juice ( already decided that) and would go for the cheese and biscuits or, if I was fancying a change, then the sugar free jelly or the small tub of ice cream. I also need to have pasta as a slow release carb choice. She has increased both morning and evening doses by 2 units, and will come and see me again on Wednesday.
Supper came – cream of veg soup, and a salmon ( as in tinned salmon, not fresh- this is the NHS, after all!) salad. I was again allowed a sachet of salt when I asked. Cheese and biscuits for desert. It was all very nice and I enjoyed it.
Just about finished when my regular visitors arrived with more t shirts. At this rate, I will need a new wardrobe. I said I didn’t want to go down to the entrance, so we decamped with iPad and phone to the day room, where Sian helped me with my I t issues and Julio nipped down to get the machine soup he has developed a liking for. We had a group text session about Good Friday. I was getting very tired and in quite a bit of pain, so at the end of visiting we came back to my room, and we said goodbye.
Carried on updating this and the nursing aux came to ask if I was ready for bed. Usually 8 would be a bit early, but bed seemed very welcoming. Cricket from wheelchair to bed - the last bit of this process is a bit undignified – start sitting on edge of bed, then I throw my head and top half one way onto (hopefully) the pillow, while the helper lifts up your legs and puts them on the bed. If it works, you end up lying down straight down the middle of the bed. If not, it involves quite a lot of undignified shuffling. The knack is to be as high up the bed as possible so that when you put the head of the bed up you’re not all folded up!
This time it went quite well and I’m well positioned.
So, that’s it for now. Waiting for drugs and lights out later.
Goodnight!
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