Made notes of what I needed to do today – phone calls to make, people to talk to, things to ask Sian and Juli to bring in. I am getting organised!
Was nearly on the BBC Radio 5Live phone in – there had been an item on Breakfast about a study into sleep in hospital (actually the John Radcliffe) so I texted in to say about shoutey man and confused patients. I was rung back by a researcher who asked if I'd take part in the phone in at 9 o'clock, but I thought it politic not too (plus I didn’t know when I was going to be got up), so I said that I had a physio appointment. Researcher was very nice, said she understood, apologised for disturbing me, and wished me a speedy recovery.
Rang the NMO team and talked to Annaliza about my appointment on 5th. It is at 10:30; I'm seeing the nurse and physio and then the consultant at 11:30. I am looking forward to seeing them, talking about where I am at the moment and what is to come. I am also looking forward to having lunch or something at Pret a Manger (although the ward clerk has said that they will try to get me a packed lunch to take with me). I emailed Juli to let him know and he said he would be here by 8:30 so that we could leave by 8:45. I am already panicking about timing and have asked him to be here by 8:15. I need to confirm with the night staff on Monday as they will need to get me up in time.
Needed to go to loo (feeling coming back!) and was about to ring the bell, when they came to get me up and dressed. Put shoes on and went to loo while bed was made.
We then had the great wheelchair mystery. While I was on the loo, Mati got my wheelchair, and transferred me into it to wash my top half. It was when I had finished that I realised that it was not my chair – this one had little wheels and no hand wheel so I couldn’t push myself. However, it did have a label with my name on it. Mati also realised that it wasn’t mine, so went to search for it in the wheelchair room (lots of wheelchairs, of all shapes and sizes, including ones that are big armchairs on wheels). Couldn’t find mine, but asked Alice the physio, who found one the same as before. This now has my name on it.
Alice then came to collect my ward folder to update it for the appointments for next week. She knew not to give me an appointment for Tuesday, but I asked that if I was having an appointment on Wednesday, could it be in the morning because of Mum and Dad visiting in the afternoon. She said that she would do that as she understood about long distance visitors!
Maintenance man came to mend the big light in my room, which has been playing up for a few days. He changed the tube, but it still didn’t work, so he went away to get some more bits and tools. Came back after a short time and after a bit of fiddling, light was mended. At one point there wasn't three points of contact on the ladder, but he managed very well considering he was on a stepladder in a very confined space.
Another GP did rounds. Not much to say- mentioned slight urine infection, but that was it, really.
Pre lunch sugars 11.3 – this increased insulin seems to be working. Lunch was apple juice (I haven’t been ticking that I want fruit juice because of the sugars, but it arrives on my tray anyway, so I drink it). Ham salad and cheese and biscuits.
Went to loo again. Apart from getting my bowels under control (which is working), it is also has the advantage of giving me some exercise as I have to stand up on the cricket and sit down several times during the process.
One of the patients was unwell and was taken in an ambulance to A&E in Swindon.
Alice brought back the folder. We had a chat about what I could do in terms of exercises, and she said to do the “marching” exercise of raising knees up and down in chair, and doing bed exercises when I can – I need to ask the ward staff for help if necessary. Next week we are going to have a go on the cycle machine. Not sure if I’m looking forward to this or not! She also said that she was aware I needed some more supervised phsyio so although they couldn’t schedule it at the moment, they will come and get me for the odd 10 minutes if they can.
Got back to doing emails and stuff, and watching tv, and then the diabetes nurse came in to review my sugar levels and said we seem to be getting them under control with the increased morning dose. Will review again on Monday.
Then it was supper time. Pre supper sugars 15.6. Blood pressure on first go was 85/56 and Mati got a bit worried, but we did it again a few minutes later and it was 103/65, so we decided to record that one! Supper was soup, followed by ravioli and green beans. A bit of a strange combination, but I had thought that there might not be very much, and that I needed some vegetables. I had been right – there wasn’t a lot of ravioli, but it was nice. Cheese and biscuits for dessert. Supper had been a bit late, and it was nearly visiting time by the time I finished. No immediate urge to go to loo, and I didn’t want to repeat yesterday when I kept J & S waiting, so I didn’t ring bell.
Sian and Juli arrived and unpacked what they had brought for me – crayons to go with my colouring book, rich tea biscuits (I am allowed one with my afternoon tea, but don’t always get one), chocolate buttons (I’ve run out) and grapes. Not sure if I’m allowed grapes (there had been a bit of tutting last time) but I have had a few.
We went down to the drinks machine, but we only had the pound coin that hadn’t worked last night. Sian said it was because it must be a counterfeit one. Went back up to day room, with Sian and Juli fed up with no drink. Sat and chatted, then Sian disappeared and came back with change from one of the staff (and no, she didn’t pass on the dodgy one, she’d got a £2 Coin from my purse). Back down to the machine, and drinks purchased for all. Back to the day room, and more chat.
Half past 7 came very quickly, and they took me back to my room, and left and where I rang the bell to go to the loo. Success again, nappy changed and bag emptied. Then back to sit, watch tv and did some colouring. I am not very good at it. The shapes and pictures are small, and my glasses not good enough so although I tried keeping in the lines, it wasn’t always possible. I am also very limited in the colours I am using in that I want the flowers to be flower coloured and the grass green, but apparently you don’t have to limit yourself to that But should let your imagination take over. Not sure if I’m ready for that, but there are lots of pages, so who knows?!
So, all done. A bitty day – I had had my tv viewing all sorted out – Pie in the Sky, Lovejoy, The Bill, etc and I missed bits of all of them due to all the above happening!
Now just waiting to be put to bed, watching Billy Connelly going across America by train. It’s good.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Goodnight!
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