24th April - An escape on a Mini Adventure!

Last night was quite quiet, except that I really didn’t sleep well. I don’t know if it was excitement about the morning, or worry about how I would cope, but I listened to the radio and played games until around 2am. Then dropped off, but woke up again at about 3 and thought I needed to go to the loo (I didn’t want any accidents throwing the morning timetable). Pressed bell, and was accompanied to loo by night nurse, who left me to my own devices as another bell was ringing and there were only two on duty, and the other person was dealing with Mb. Nothing happened, so after a while, I was put back into bed. I wasn’t walking very well.

Woken up at 6 - sugars 9.1. Shortly afterwards we started getting me up and dressed.
All done by 7.30. Ellen arrived with my breakfast and she’d made sure I was the first one served. Then Mita came with my full little tub of morning meds (now on 19 tablets as they don’t have the correct dose ones for some of them, so have to have more of a lower dose). Had my insulin. Sian and Juli arrived, and Mita then put together a care package bag for me, consisting of my lunch time meds in an envelope with my name and all the details on it; some spare pads so that I can get changed if necessary (I was a bit panicky as I usually have trainer pants during the day, but pads are easier if you are wearing trousers. This meant that I needed something to keep them up with eg knickers, and I was worried that Sian would forget them, but of course she didn’t). I was also given disposable gloves, dry wipes, and the cleaning foam and cream. She then added a couple of the cardboard wee pots used for emptying the catheter bag.

Off we went, with everyone wishing me a nice day. My legs still not working properly as my hips feel odd, but managed to get into our Classic Mini named "The Enigma Machine". Sian was being support vehicle and driving my MINI Cooper S rather than her own classic, Gem. I needed my pressure cushion in the car, as I felt that I was slipping sideways sometimes (which I was ‘t).

We did the short distance to The Pheasant pub, where everyone from the Moles Mini Club was gathering, and I got out of the car and into the chair and was wheeled in. Breakfast buffet (my second breakfast), which was wonderful – real, non-hospital food! Bacon, egg, sausage! Then all out into the car park for the usual mini meet activities of walking round looking at other people’s cars, rearranging cars, taking pictures and getting our goody bags and route. The Moonrakers Run is an annual event which is a sort of convoy (with the inevitable gaps due to traffic lights, Junctions and other idiot road users butting in). We wended our way to the first regrouping point at the services in Melksham . These services were being redeveloped, so only Burger King open. Juli had a coffee, and Sian, who wasn’t feeling at all well, had a fruity drink and a bottle of water to take some tablets with.

Then off again through beautiful Wiltshire countryside – the sun was shining, there were daffodils and bluebells in bloom and very new lambs gambolling. One point looked familiar, and we realised that we were passing Boyton Farm, owned by a magistrate colleague that has the Ginger Piggery. She has the oldest and largest herd of Gloucester Old Spot pigs in the country amongst other things and they have their own butchery. Juli and I had gone on a farm visit there some time ago.

We went through loads of very pretty villages, and ended up at the services/ business park outside Warminster. There was a costa, a McD’s and something else I can’t remember. We opted for McD on the basis that they would have a disabled loo. It was very busy, but we had lunch inside and then I had my first experience of a disabled toilet. We had to wait for a while as it was also the baby changing loo, but Sian took me in, and we managed. I want to thank Sian hugely. I had intended managing on my own, but that was a bit ambitious. Managed to do a poo (sorry), and get cleaned and sorted. We also emptied the catheter bag. My wee is very dark, so need to keep an eye on it. I must admit I was very impressed with the loo – enough space to manoeuvre the chair and grab rails everywhere, so didn’t need to use the walking frame (Don’t tell the physios!).

Back into the car. Legs still a bit funny. We regrouped and another lovely drive to our final stop at the Atwell Motor Museum. This is one of my fav car museums. It started as a small private collection, and just grew. They also hire out a lot of the cars as wedding cars etc. We had a cup of tea and then went round the museum. I then had a pleasant surprise – we only had to pay for two people instead of three as I was in a wheelchair! We had a chat with the man there about some of the cars, and their expansion plans.

Then back in the car and as it was still not time to go back, we decided to go home for a cup of tea. Arrived back, and said hello to Theet, but I needed to go to loo, so upstairs on the chair lift and into the bathroom. Needed to do a bit of manoevering, what with me, Sian, Julio, the wheelchair and the walking frame in there. Managed to get onto the loo, they all left me.

****too much information****
I did a poo, then managed to wash myself using the dry wipes and spray I’d been given and put the stuff in a bag. Then I got to the point where I couldn't do any more, so called for help. Juli helped me remove my trousers so we could take off the trainer pants, and put on the knickers (as it happens, it wouldn’t have mattered if Sian had forgotten to bring them as I hadn’t needed them before now) and new pad and put trousers back on. We then emptied the bag again (wee still dark).

**** ok again ****
Then out of the bathroom (I had needed the chair since coming home as I was running out of energy and the legs were beginning to behave badly again). On to the stair lift to go downstairs. Logically, I know that there is no way I can fall down the stairs getting on it at the top, but it still doesn’t feel like it. Sian had stood a few steps down, and Julio was holding on to the walking frame at the top. Down I went, and wheeled into the kitchen. Not sure if I’ll be able to boil the kettle for a cup of  tea yet, while sitting in the chair, but that will come when I can stand up.

Into living room for cup of tea and a fuss from the dogs, then I to conservatory for a very quick “hello” to David, then back in the  car. Sian was feeling really rotten by this time, so she stayed at home to have a nice hot bath while Juli brought me back to the hospital in my MINI. Sian had posted some pictures in Facebook, so I updated my status.

Mita greeted us when we got back and asked how it had gone, so we showed her the Facebook pics. I confirmed that I had had all my meds and the insulin, and handed back the insulin pen to be put back in the meds trolley (there are still no patient meds in the bedside cabinet compartments). She gave me my supper meds.

My remote control had disappeared, so we went hunting for it. Ellen had borrowed it yesterday a few times as one of the others wasn’t working properly, so I had said it was fine to borrow it today. It had ended up in Mr Shoutey’s room, so Mita retrieved it for us as they had ‘t realised that it was ours as we’d bought it when we arrived. Apologies were given.

Juli helped me get my clothes ready for tomorrow, we sorted the changing bag out and put what was left of the hospital stuff ready for further use and he left.

I started the update, but I am not feeling too great – quite tired and a bit sick, to be honest. So I’ll go to bed soon.

I am feeling very pleased with myself. Lots of in and out of the car, using the loo and cleaning myself. On the other hand, hospital food may be a bit boring, but it is reasonably good for you. Back to one breakfast and no McD’s tomorrow.

Goodnight!