Woke up about 7 for bloods – 6.8, which was much better than I was expecting given my diet yesterday, but to be fair, because I was feeling sick, I didn’t have buttons or biscuits!
Wanted to have breakfast and get up as I had a physio appointment at 9 (way too early, really), and breakfast arrived just after 8. The usual, but after having found some bran flakes yesterday, we were back to All Bran. Never mind. Martina came at about 8.30, and reminded me of my physio and we got up. Went to loo (I wanted to be comfortable doing any physio with no accidents, and preferably no farting!) Got dressed, and ready in my chair. Then Beccy popped head round door and asked if I minded having my session postponed until the afternoon as they had a new patient that had to be assessed and have first session. No problem.
Mb came in with her minder, sat on bed, we had a bit of a conversation, then she got up to find her bed. Progress – a good day for Mb. Asked if I’d mind decamping to day room for the deep clean, so I gathered my iPad and phone and trundled off. No one else in there, so I settled at a table in the sunshine, and started emailing and googling. We had had an email from someone on the Moonrakers Run yesterday about the car, so I replied saying Julio would be in touch.
Joined by an elderly lady who was going home (you can tell as they have a green “patient’s property” bag, and other stuff). This lady had one of those walking frames with brakes and a seat. She sat next to me at the table, and I started to chat, but she was clearly slightly confused (although she knew she was going home and that her family would be here soon), so we sat in silence. Then her family (husband, son and daughter) arrived at the same time as the drinks trolley. She didn’t want anything to drink. It was a bit awkward sitting at the same table they were crowded around, trying not to listen to their conversation as they waited for the paperwork. This took a long time (at least 45 minutes). She was still confused and anxious but they were reassuring her about where she was going and what was going to happen. Eventually the paperwork arrived, and off they went. I found out after from the nurse who came to do my lunch sugars that afternoons are best for discharges as mornings are much busier. Mondays are even worse because there is the “white board meeting” as well as reviewing things that happened over the weekend when there are no non-nursing staff. I’ll hope for an afternoon discharge soon, then.
The day room began to fill up with elderly men, most of whom sat together and chatted, so I took myself back to my room, which was now finished. More emailing, googling and games. Pre lunch sugars 8. Janet, the nurse asked about my day out, so I told her all about it. It turns out that they have a Morris Traveller waiting for restoration, too!
Lunch arrived – apple juice and a lovely ploughman's salad, and a cut up banana when my insides decided I needed the loo. Pressed bell and Martina came – we agreed that it was a good thing I had a salad as it wouldn’t get cold! Chatted about my trip yesterday, and another coincidence – she and her partner had been at the motor museum yesterday too and had been thrilled as there was a same model Trabant that her grandfather had had, and a Skoda model that she had learned to drive in! They had been there earlier and had thought that the tea and cake (that Sian had thought was very expensive as there was only a brownie and biscuits) was very good value as she had had an enormous slice of home made coffee and walnut cake that was delicious.
Annie the OT came in to say that she’d ordered a new shower stool, and did I want to tell Julio that he would be getting another call saying when it would be delivered. There is some uncertainty about when they will collect the large one already here as theoretically it takes 5 days for a collection and they shouldn’t mix new and used kit on the same load. I said I’d let him know and that he needed to disassemble it and reassemble it outside the shower!
Wondered when physio was going to happen, so did some knitting and watching tv.
Beccy came to collect me – and off I walked to the bench. I explained that I’d had some trouble with my left hip over the weekend, so she said she’d have a look at it. So, lay down on bench and did loads of exercises, including the really tricky ones of raising knee up as far as it will go to my chest. It is very odd – with effort I can start it, but then movement stops. If I have a bit of help, then after the middle bit, I can do the last bit. Beccy said that although she was supporting my leg through the mid range, I was actually doing quite a lot of the work as she wasn’t supporting the whole of the weight of my leg. Did loads of these (2 x 10 of each leg), then stretching leg out to side, then raising ankles. I had also said that I was concerned that my toes seemed to be curling under, so Beccy took my shoes off and had a feel. I can move them up and down, so I need to do more of those and to try not to let them curl. Easier said than done!
Then bottom exercises – raising bottom from bench (this is the fart danger exercise!) then bringing knees up and parallel with hips and moving each slightly to side and back to centre again. This is more difficult than it sounds! Have to concentrate on so many things at the same time! Gave up and walked back to my room, without needing to stop at the chair which had been strategically placed halfway. Beccy says I am making brilliant progress.
Blood pressure 100/58. Meds given, including my insulin already primed and ready
Michelle, diabetes nurse called in having reviewed levels and decided to increase dose to 44 in the morning. No need to get concerned by this, as it is purely a reaction to the steroids. I will not need to be on this level when the steroids reduce more. Pre supper sugars 15.6.
Supper was tomato soup and a baked potato with baked beans. This time I also had two butter pats for the potato. Cheese and biscuits for dessert.
At end of meal, I was just finishing my tea when I needed the loo. It was also 6.30 and Julio was at the ward door waiting to be let in. Pressed bell. Julio arrived, but no one else did, so after a while, when the urgency was growing, we decided that he’d take me to the bathroom, which he did. I was just managing to pull down clothing and trainer pants to sit on loo when care assistant arrived and apologised for delay. They left me to it, Julio was watching Points West item of potential house buyer that fell 30’ down a well in the garden of the house they were viewing in Malmesbury. All finished in bathroom, so we went to get drink and sit and chat. Talked about the person we’d just instantly sacked for gross misconduct and who turned up at the office begging for another chance (he’d already had two final warnings in his probationary period), and the meeting Juli had had with the man from the solar farm about the state of our field. Also talked about the Medequip delivery and the fact that someone had come to collect Theet’s sharps and driven on the verge and sunk. Julio not pleased.
Also talked about ordering some meat for the weekend. If I’m not home by then, then I’m going on a visit. Later, I emailed Andrew the butcher to say that Juli should be ringing him or calling in when they open tomorrow morning about it. I have also made a diary entry to cancel the GP appointment I’d made for Wednesday. If I don’t hear about going home tomorrow, I won’t be able to go for the appointment then.
Started doing the update and half watching the Panorama programme about Port Talbot. Visited by the handover staff asking when I wanted to go bed and when I wanted my 8pm meds. For some reason, I have one tablet scheduled at 8pm, so usually we just leave it until the rest of the evening meds at some time between 9 and 10. They have also accepted that now I ring when I need the loo, as well as the scheduled visit when I go to bed.
So, after the excitement of yesterday, we were back to normal. I felt that the phsyio session went well, although it was very hard, I sweated a lot and was very tired. Disappointed at lack of progress with carers, and not sure whether to be encouraged or discouraged by the fact that two people went home today and R, the man with no legs is due to go home tomorrow. Does this mean that I am moving up the list? Or is it purely random? I feel angry and frustrated by this, and guilty that I am bed blocking.
Otherwise, that’s it for today. Watching Peter Kay and laughing. Goodnight!
No comments:
Post a Comment