Woke up for early morning sugars (7.2) feeling quite cold, so stayed snuggled listening to radio and tax story until breakfast – back to porridge and toast. Marmalade run out so had very funny jam instead. Don’t know if it was diabetic as they had helpfully removed the cover, but it was nice. Found the reason why I was cold when they opened my curtains – my window had been open all night. Not very wide ( afety locks on) but enough.
Bit concerned that time was getting on and according to my ward folder, I was due to see the OT at 9, and physio at 10. No one came to get me up and dressed, until the OT arrived at about 9.30 and asked if I felt up to washing my legs and lower half whilst standing up on the cricket. I must admit, I’ve been feeling that I could be doing more in the washing dept, so said yes, let’s give it a go. Put on shoes to get in to cricket, wheeled into bathroom and toileted whilst OT got things ready. I must admit, it was very hard work. I was trying to stand up, and also lean down and reach bits of me that I hadn’t been able to reach since I’ve been in hospital. Felt wobbly a few times, so needed to sit down. For those of you that haven’t seen the cricket, it's a frame on wheels with a sling seat (when sitting on the sling, the frame handle is in front of you).
Eventually got the washing and dressing finished and I was in the wheelchair, exhausted and feeling a bit wobbly. It was gone 10, and I hoped the physios didn’t come too soon. Coffee arrived, swiftly followed by physio. Physio took coffee into rehab room, while I wheeled myself. She confirmed that my official wheelchair is actually the one I am using, not the new one with my name on that is just a pushing chair, not a wheeling chair. That’s reassuring.
It was a very intense physio session (with stops to sit down and have a swig of the coffee). Concentrated on standing up. This is not as easy as it sounds. You sit on the bench with the table in front of you. You have to make sure your bum is near the edge of the bench, that your feet are under your knees, and then you put you hands on the bench and lean forward a lot, then push up with your bottom and straighten your knees, while moving your hands from the bench to the table (whilst not toppling forwards, or sideways). You then straighten up, and take first one hand then the other off the bench. I look at the picture of the mini they’ve put on the far wall, then put your hands down on the bench and sit down in a controlled (!) manner, not thumping down. You do this several times. Then we moved on to side steps. This is virtually impossible. From the standing up, you put all your weight on one foot, then move the other foot to the side, then move the first foot to it. Can’t have the feet too close together (or you fall over), you have to stay standing upright with your bottom in, but I have to look down to see where my feet are as I can’t feel where they are. This means I lean forward too much (trying to see over large boobs and tummy) and so lose the posture and balance. So it’s weight, step 1 foot, step 2 foot, glance down, stand upright. I‘m not very good at it (yet!!).
Then we tried using the frame, using the stepping process. By this time, I was very tired and a bit light headed, so didn’t do as well as I would have liked. The positioning of the frame and your feet in relationship with it is vital, otherwise there are balance issues again. Managed to go from bench to chair and back again. The second transfer to chair was really a huge effort, so we called it a day at that point. Reminded them that they’d said I could have a step to take with me to Oxford and Alice said they would get one out of the store for me.
It’s Monday, so exiled to day room so my room could be deep cleaned. Luckily, didn’t have to be in there long. One of the other patients is a man from Purton that I vaguely recognised. We talked about the lack of physio. He had also been promised intense physio and wasn’t getting as much as he should have. Whilst I was in there, the diabetes nurse called in for the review and agreed to keep insulin dose as at present. She said to go to the pub tomorrow! Back to room where I snoozed, well I tried to do some emailing and watching TV, but I kept finding that I was falling asleep and doing that jerky head thing waking up!
Pre lunch sugars 12.6. Blood pressure 102/61. Lunch very nice – fish in parsley sauce, boiled potatoes and mixed veg, followed by cheese and biscuits.
Did some more dozing and thinking about what I needed for Oxford tomorrow, and texted Sian and Juli what I wanted them to bring in for me late. Felt a bit bad about this, as they were having a bad day in the office.
Alice, the physio asked if she could borrow my bathroom to show some reps. I think they are getting quotes for hoist systems and stuff – rep was talking about taking out the curtain rails and moving the stud wall. It all sounded quite expensive, but as Alice said, there are a lot of bad backs among the staff from physically moving patients even with things like the crickets and wheeled hoists. I saw how much physical effort Julie had had showering me (see update passim).
Discussion with sister about making sure I had a list of questions for tomorrow, and that I needed to take my lunch time meds with me.
Pre supper sugars 20.9. Supper tomato soup (not very good), corned beef salad (no mayo or salad cream) and cheese and biscuits.
Sian and Juli arrived – I had to meet them at the ward door, and ask to be let out as it was just before 6.30. Went to get drinks, and again had to be let in and door closed as M is wandering. Sian had had a bad afternoon. We talked about work for a bit, then more about tomorrow (as you can see, I am still obsessing about this).
Sian has given me another goal to aim for – there is a mini charity event at the end of the month that sounds fun, so I think we’ll see if I can make it. It involves a breakfast buffet and then tea and cake later in the day at the Attwell Motor Museum in Calne. Need to check that they allow “new minis” as that will be easier as I will probably need the wheelchair and I don’t think it’ll fit in the classic (and I certainly won’t be able to get in the Moke!)
We have also bought a voucher for an afternoon tea – so you can see that I am being very positive (and thinking about non institutional food!!)
Back to my room, got my clothes ready for tomorrow and the bits and pieces I need to take.
They left, and I then did the final version of the questions that I need to ask (in my notebook) and my list of meds. I can’t see the step that Alice was going to leave for me – I’ll have a look in the rehab room tomorrow morning, but no problem if it isn’t there as I did the chair/ car transfer without it when we were practising.
Paul the care assistant came to put me to bed and he told me about the arrangements for tomorrow. They are aware of what needs to be done and by when (including breakfast so that I can have my morning meds as some of them, including the insulin, need to be taken with food). A lot to do! We also chatted and I found out that he belongs to a drama group in Broad Hinton and they have just started reading the play they are doing in the summer.
I think that’s it now. In bed, comfy, and ok about the arrangements for tomorrow. I am going to listen to tonight’s Archers if it’s already on iPlayer.
Goodnight!
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| A promotional shot of a Cricket! |
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| I'm not as elegant as this! |
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