Finished watching tv, then went to bed (using frame for transfer to loo and then back to chair, then to bed). Listened to the radio, (catch up with the Archers), then fell asleep. Didn’t sleep very well, and listened to quite a lot of Up All Night. Woken up at 6:30 for sugars – 5.7, despite quite a lot of Rich Tea biscuits. Woken up again at 8:15.
Cornflakes for breakfast. Not as exciting as I had hoped, so may go back to Bran Flakes. Bit concerned as I had a physio appointment scheduled for 9, and breakfast hadn’t come until 8:45 and it takes a while to get washed and dressed. Physios can just whisk you into the rehab room even if you’re not dressed, and I don’t really feel comfortable doing it before I’m washed and ready. Care assistant came to get me up, and we decided (despite my misgivings about not being able to prove I don’t need doing on the bed), that in view of the time factor, bed was best for the bottom half. I managed most of it. Up into wheelchair via frame, the rest of me washed and dressed on my own in the room by the sink. Just settled when Beccy the senior physio came to collect me. We did a number of transfers to bench, standing up, sitting down, squats and marches (still not good at those) then I walked from the bench to the door (around 4 metres) using frame, then chair to my room, then walked with frame to loo, sat down, then back again. Soon, I will be able to do this without the chair, and also some practise walking up and down the corridor with ward staff. More progress! Beccy adjusted my brakes as one wasn’t actually doing much. It is very important that your chair doesn’t move when you are transferring – I nearly lost my balance on this last transfer as the chair moved back.
Whilst I was in the rehab room doing my exercises, Dr Shaw, the consultant, called in and said she was pleased with my progress and that she thought that if all went well (didn’t define what this meant), I might be able to go home next week! Just the Family Meeting to overcome before that.
By this time I was very tired (getting up is tiring, plus the physio) so I just sat and did not a lot until lunchtime (well, I did some work emails, some personal emails and finished off the blue badge application form – much easier than the on line one). Pre lunch sugars 9.5. I had been adventurous and had ordered a baked potato with baked beans. It was very nice. Banana for desert that came cut into slices in a bowl with a spoon! BP 97/55, so a bit low.
Had my excursion to the loo, with Bill, who is back from his holiday. Actually, I think it was his honeymoon as he said “I got married, didn’t I?!” then back again. Juli rang to say that they’d be here early for the Family Meeting so that we could get a coffee in Grapevine and talk strategy (oh dear). I had a list of questions for the meeting/home visit, so came back up to the ward and the day room to wait for the meeting.
There had been another Family Meeting that had over-run a little bit. Went in. It was a bit tense. In the meeting were Beccy (nurse), Beccy (senior physio), Fran (discharge team, Wiltshire Social services), Sharon (OT that I hadn’t met before) and Stella (my OT). We went round the table with everyone giving the current situation and progress made from their perspective. All seemed very pleased with my progress. Sharon explained that I didn’t have to have any equipment that I didn’t want (ie the bed, referred to by Juli as the elephant in the room). We discussed my current needs and what future needs might be. Juli, Stella and Sharon discussed the lack of communication regarding the bed. It all ended amicably, although I think I may have to be very energetic and strong over the next few mornings as I bet Stella will be getting me up and if so, I don’t want to do much on the bed. This will be an effort. I haven’t really got the hang of using one hand to do things and the other to hold on to the walking frame. We’ll see what happens. Nurse Beccy had been making notes of the meeting (as had Sian) and she asked how many copies we wanted. We said 2 – one for me and one for Juli/Sian. We went off to the Grapevine again, and the notes were waiting on my table when we got back to the room at the end of visiting – very efficient, and having had a read through, they are accurate.
I had asked how long the discharge care package lasted and it is flexible (to an extent). If I need more care at the end of the hospital health care package, my care gets handed over to the adult care team at Social Services. Community services will be responsible for my physio and the advice of the specialist continence nurse. In view of my complex health issues (the kidney follow ups and the diabetes issues re the steroids) it was suggested that I might want a catch up session with the GP. Juli asked about swimming. Physio Beccy tactfully suggested we were a way off that yet, but certainly a possibility in future and that the fact that we had expressed an interest will be in the discharge notes. It was also noted that I was perfectly capable of managing my insulin injections (meeting notes actually say “Bev would like more control over insulin injections. This will be addressed immediately” and it was – I did my own at supper time. I also raised the matter of having a family day out on Sunday 24th if I wasn’t home by then, and everyone said that was fine (I don’t think they realise what time I want to leave in the morning!).
Sian left a bit before Juli, and we went back to my room and Juli took a copy of the meeting notes and the blue badge form. Sat a bit until supper – sugars up at 20.5 (having said that they were getting better, but Beccy not concerned). Supper was smoked mackerel salad and cheese and biscuits.
Ward Clerk came in and changed my Estimated Discharge Date to the 20th – a week today. I am not totally convinced of this as we still need to order the equipment (perch stool, commode for downstairs emergencies, shower chair and suitcase ramp for bathroom, but not bed!), have it delivered, then have the home visit and prove everything fine, and organise carers. So, I think this is an unrealistic time scale. We’ll see.
Juli had decided it wasn’t worth going back home, so he went for a McD as he doesn’t much like the Little Chef as it isn’t a proper one. He arrived back just as I was finishing my cup of tea. Off we went to sit outside as it was a lovely evening. My blackbird was singing his heart out and Juli tried to record him, but he wasn’t very successful. Just sitting, relaxing. Very nice.
Back to room, sorted my clothes out for tomorrow, decided what other clothes I need bringing in tomorrow. Watched a little bit of Coast. Did you know that the West of Scotland has the second wiggliest coastline in the world (Norway has the wiggliest)? He left, taking dirty clothes with him.
I haven’t seen M this afternoon, although she was wandering around this morning. When we came to clock back in after being outside, I noticed that someone else was in the bed that she had been in, so don’t know if she’s been moved to a single room to minimise disruption, or has been discharged. I’ll see if I see her tomorrow morning. Mb has been walking very quickly up and down the corridor this evening and has popped her head around the door to have a look around a few times. The care assistant doing her 1:1 and accompanying her looks as though she’s not looking forward to being exhausted by all this walking during the night (although they swap over very so often). She did try persuading her to go into the dayroom and watch tv, but no luck. There have also been some comings and goings so we have some new people on the ward.
Well, it’s nearly 9, so I’ll finish now and ring the bell to go to loo – I don’t want to leave it much longer and be too tired to be able to transfer using frame and undo all the positive impressions about my capabilities!
Goodnight!
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