Well, bedtime came and I was a bit concerned as I had agreed that we would use the hoist to get into bed. However, the night staff said we’d try with the cricket as there were two of them, so if there were any wobbles, they’d cope.
So, no trying the loo, and into bed by just gone 8. Watched TV, had a sneaky biscuit and settled myself to sleep around 10.
Woke up about 5 as usual, had a drink, then went back to sleep until 6. Early morning sugars 10.2. Nothing then happened until around 8 when meds arrived before breakfast. Ramipril (blood pressure tablet) dose was halved. And no Senna laxative. Breakfast was porridge, toast and the diabetic marmalade. Porridge was only warm, but still enjoyable.
Tried doing some of my bed exercises, but no one to help and I am finding moving my legs more difficult. Is this a consequence of the increased pins and needles and burning sensations I’m getting? I will need to check with the consultant on Wednesday.
Nurse came to get me up and dressed. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the nursing staff and me wriggling in my chair, I am suffering from pressure sores. She suggested that I ask my relatives (i.e. Sian) to bring me in some sensitive skin body wash/shower gel as the one I am using may be too harsh for the increased sensitivity. Text sent to Sian. Managed to cope with going to the loo and transferring from cricket to commode without collapsing or needing much help. So that’s better than yesterday, then!
Transferred to wheelchair and was left to get on with washing and getting top half dressed, and went back to bedroom. Did usual stuff.
Lunch sugars 14.9. Had chicken casserole, mixed veg and mash. No condiments offered, so raided my secret salt stash in my drawer. I had asked for a banana for desert, and it arrived in a bowl cut up. Staff don’t always appreciate that I can do things for myself and are in “helpful” mode. It is very good that they do this, but I honestly don't need it. Meds.
It was suggested that because of my sore rear end, I spend some time on the bed this afternoon on my side so that the pressure is relieved, so I got back onto the bed via the cricket. Unfortunately, lying on my left side, I can’t really see the TV, so I did some stuff on the iPad and just listened. Sian and Juli arrived, with some Sanex body wash, so all should be ok now. She also brought some other stuff that I needed and some more that I didn’t actually need but appreciated. Most of it was stuff that she and Juli had found in my bedroom whilst they were tidying it up and getting ready for me to go home. This included some non slip socks that I had bought for a spare Christmas present for someone; my South American worry people (little people in a box that you take one out tell your troubles and worries to, put him back into the box and they get together and help resolve the worry!) and my little handbag. My handbag had my driving licence in that I had mislaid and which I need as my photo card one expires/ has just expired and you need the paper copy to renew. Thank you, Sian!
As I was stuck on my side on the bed, we didn’t go into the day room or down to the Grapevine, but stayed in my room. However, we found out that M, the wandering lady we had the encounter with last night, had had her fish and chips brought in by her family.
We watched part of the Cardiff Half Marathon to watch the route, and were amazed at the speed with which the lead runners came up Lake Road East, around the top and down Lake Road West and up Fairoak Road and Cathays Terrace to the finish. It was pouring with rain, but there were some good shots of the Lake and Park.
Sian left and Juli stayed a bit longer, then went when the care assistant came to suggest that I got up for supper – which had always been the plan. Checked my nappy, emptied my bag and got me up with no problems with the cricket. However, I had to be weighed. I am not going to tell you how much, but I have put on quite a lot of weight since I’ve been in hospital. I mentioned that I was very puffy and the nurse said that it was probably to do with the increased liquid I was taking in (although that is being eliminated through the bag that needs emptying on a regular basis) and the steroids.
Pre supper sugars 21.3; bp 115/56. Super meds, including the insulin. Supper was ham salad (again no condiment and I couldn’t be bothered to ask for some Mayo or salad cream). Used another of my salt sachets. Desert was cheese and biscuits, and Paul the care assistant opened not just the cheese packet, but also the crackers and the butter and half spread the butter!
Nothing much else. Juli came back for his second visit, and we went down to the machine and then sat in the day room. The daffodils that Ben S had brought have fully opened and are looking great. The man with no legs was in there not having a good day as he was on oxygen. No sign of M. Juli & I chatted and then back to the room . My TV channel numbers bear no relation to the channel numbers on my Freeview app that tells me what’s on when, and I find it difficult to see the details when I go into the guide as the writing is small, so Juli went through the channels and I made a note of the channel numbers. That’ll make life easier!
So, sitting here same as yesterday, waiting to be put to bed again. I am watching Midsomer Murders. I may have a chocolate button or 2 later! Day staff going home. The shift patterns here a very odd - earlies, lates, nights and long days ( which seem to be 7.15 to 8.45.)
So, Goodnight, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
Saturday, 26 March 2016
Friday, 25 March 2016
25th March - CCH - Good Friday all round!
Usual night. Early morning bloods 7.9. Huge breakfast of a bowl of porridge and toast with diabetic marmalade. Not sure if I should be having this each day, but they seem happy for me to have it, so who am I to complain?!
Got dressed and went to bathroom to sit on loo, where I did a poo. Got the rest of me dressed. Didn’t do much during the morning – had a cup of tea, watched tv.
Lovely sunny day – saw my blackbirds, sparrows and the first butterfly of the season out of my window.
Pre lunch sugars up to 16.6. I made a bad choice for lunch – fish and chips, and peas. It was all a bit dry and not very hot. On reflection, when I ordered it on Wednesday, I had forgotten that today was a bank holiday. The other choices were goulash or veg pie. Had the cheeses and biscuits. Never mind.
Then disaster struck. I had been taken to the bathroom to sit on the loo (trying to establish muscle movement and routine) and had done very well (i.e. done a poo!). However, I wasn’t able to stand up off the commode onto the cricket. Had to sit down again and shuffle myself back on to the commode as half on and half off. My lovely nurse Ellen called for help, and my other lovely nurse Becky and another young man care assistant came. Had to get the hoist in and the sling under me (whilst I was sitting on commode). Quite a tricky manoeuvre. Hoisted back on to bed, nappy put on, then transferred back to wheelchair. Decided not to use cricket for rest of today, but to be hoisted.
Sian and Juli arrived just as I was being put back in wheelchair, and I had permission given for me to leave ward “as long as I was sensible”. Made our way to the Grapevine, where David and Maria and Debbie and Sandra were waiting for me. They had brought me my piece of Good Friday Pie and cheese and pineapple on sticks, with some Seven Up sugar free (with proper glasses!). Just as well the café was closed as I don’t think we would have been able to eat our own food in there. Chatted, caught up then we went outside to sit in the lovely spring sunshine. Time for D &S to go (there had been awful traffic on the M4 when they wee coming) so we sat for a bit longer, then J&S took me back to my room while T took B to the loo.
Pre supper sugars were high at 25.4, but I had had pineapple juice for lunch and cheese and some pineapple chunks as well as the pie, so I wasn’t too bothered. I was feeling a bit full (!) so didn’t have the soup, just the turkey salad and more cheese and biscuits for supper.
Watched more tv, did some emailing and update, and Juli arrived again. He must have left as soon as he got home. This twice a day visiting is too much for anyone.
We went to the day room, but M the wandering lady was in there, so we went down to get J a drink. Back to the day room, and I asked J to get me a glass of water. While he was doing this, M asked for one too (in quite an imperious tone!). We sat at the other table, but then we were soon joined by the gentleman with amputated legs who wheels himself around quite a lot (and who Sian regularly lets back in when he’s gone outside for a smoke). He had sort of joined us as we were sitting at the table by the tv, so J helped put it on. M had been complaining about how hungry she was and that she was waiting for her fish and chips. I tried to explain that we’d had that at lunch time. She said that a man who she didn’t know had been sitting opposite her and had got quite angry because his fish and chips were cold. She was hungry and hadn’t had anything to eat for ages and if she didn’t have anything soon, she would be getting light headed. I explained that we’d had supper not long ago. She was going to get a taxi and get fish and chips. Or go to Waitrose and get something to cook in the kitchen, but there wasn’t a kitchen here so she’d have to go home. So taxi to get fish and chips and then home. Juli and I beat a strategic retreat and I told the nurse that M was talking about taxis and fish and chips. This is quite common.
So, back to my room. Julio put away my clean clothes. Said goodbye.
I’m updating, having temporarily removed Ria from the recipient list as they are on holiday, and reinstated Dad as they are back, and waiting to see what happens re bathroom, hoist and bedtime. In the meantime, Masterchef on.
Will talk tomorrow.
Goodnight.
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| Our traditional family Good Friday Fish Pie - It's had up to 8+ names before! This year it's the 3 eldest family members! |
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| We enjoyed the sunshine during the visit from Sandra, Deb, David, Maria as well as Sian & Julio who were the photographers! |
Thursday, 24 March 2016
24th March - Chippenham CH - two steps forward, one step back.
Usual sort of night. I had had my first bit of embarrassment during this whole process so far when I was put to bed by a youngish male nursing assistant. Not helped by the fact that I had dirty nappy. We talked about Brussels and that fact that he’d gone there last year for his holiday for the 200th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo and some reenactments.
Awake during night and did the usual of ringing and asking for more water at about 4am. Properly awake at 5 and lay there. Early morning sugars 7.7; bp 112/57, so all good.
Breakfast at 8.30. Proper bran flakes this time and toast with diabetic marmalade. Lay in bed for a while, watching tv, checking bank statement and emails. Diabetes nurse came to see me and we agreed that she would raise the morning dose to 30 units, but keep the night time one the same as the morning sugars seemed to be ok.
Up and dressed. I had been booked in for the hairdresser that comes in once a week, so wondered when this would be. Gerry came a bit later and wheeled me into the loo in the day room, which has a hairdressing sink. She explained that she and her colleague had run the hairdressing service in the “main hospital” for 25 years until her colleague gave up to care for her husband, Gerry retired but then got an email asking if she’d provide hairdressing service for here. She does two mornings a week as a volunteer – one for my ward, one for the other. She provides the hairdressing stuff, and the hospital provides the room and the towels. She washed and cut my hair, then wheeled me out into the day room to blow dry it (not allowed electricity with water!) I felt so much better afterwards, and I had lots of comments on the ward when I got back from people passing my room. I have told Gerry that if she has any vacant appointments she would like to fill (it’s not worth her while coming for less than 3 people and she doesn’t always have 3) I’ll have a wash and blow dry.
No pre lunch sugars today, but lunch was soup, ham salad and cheese and biscuits.
Had a text from Theet saying she’d won the Easter egg raffle, so I needed to go down to Grapevine to collect it before they shut at 3.30. Bit worried about how I was going to get back up the slope with a huge egg in a basket on my lap, but I was saved the problem as a number of the ward staff were in the restaurant having a break, and one of them offered to carry it back up to my room for me. I gratefully accepted the offer!
The physio had called in the morning to take my folder to update it, and brought it back. Disappointed that my Expected Discharge Date has been moved back from 30th March to April 14th. However, this isn’t surprising given that we had to abandon yesterday’s physio session and that there are 2 bank holidays where there won’t be any. I have got three sessions timetabled for next week. I didn’t see the occ therapist yesterday either, and they have to arrange the family meeting.
Another complication of this is that I have an appointment with the NMO team on 5th April, so someone needs to arrange transport to get me to Oxford on time and to bring me back again. I am not sure how well the logistics of this will be managed, as the appointment is for several sessions with different bits of the NMO team on the same afternoon. I shall have to investigate this more next week.
****too much information warning*****
I asked to have my nappy checked, and it was suggested that we revert to the bathroom, where I was cleaned and sat on the commode over the loo. I was left to see if anything happened – AND IT DID!!! I definitely felt something, although I wasn’t in control. Nothing on the bladder front, but it’s the bowels I want to get under control. The nice nurse has suggested that I ask to be taken to the toilet after every meal to try to get more feeling and to get into a routine.
****ok now!*******
Carried on watching tv, doing puzzles and updating this.
They are still worried about my bp, so it was taken again at 4pm and was 99/57.
Pre supper bloods 22.4. Supper was nice - liver and onions, mash and peas and cheese and biscuits. Asked to be taken to the toilet again, and again some success. It also provides a bit of physio as it involves quite a lot of standing up on the cricket and sitting down again.
Suddenly realised what the date was and that I’d missed Sandra’s birthday yesterday. Feel awful, no excuses except this is a time warp. I should have realised yesterday when I put the date on the update. I am very sorry.
Julio and Sian arrived a bit late as they hadn’t been able to leave the office in good time. They brought some mail, including a letter from Dad that he’d posted on the ship (and didn’t think that I’d get before they were back). They also told me that Freckles Farm (where we got the ducks and has a really good bacon butty trailer ) on the corner of the Brinkworth Rd and the road to us had been done as a cannabis farm. I had read about it in the local news page. I hope it wasn’t the nice people who have the farm as they had been talking about renting out one of the barns last time I spoke to them.
S&J left, leaving me in my room. Watched Masterchef and a bit sorry that the little Welsh man didn’t get through. Put to bed, then rang Ria to wish them a good holiday and to see how the packing was going. They have quite a lot to take, including Rosa’s buggy and car seat ( amazingly free of charge) and the surf board with nappies in the board bag. Mylo is nervous about flying, so I hope he’ll be ok. I’m sure he will.
That’s it for tonight, then.The ward corridor lights have just gone out, so that’s a hint, I think!
Goodnight!
Awake during night and did the usual of ringing and asking for more water at about 4am. Properly awake at 5 and lay there. Early morning sugars 7.7; bp 112/57, so all good.
Breakfast at 8.30. Proper bran flakes this time and toast with diabetic marmalade. Lay in bed for a while, watching tv, checking bank statement and emails. Diabetes nurse came to see me and we agreed that she would raise the morning dose to 30 units, but keep the night time one the same as the morning sugars seemed to be ok.
Up and dressed. I had been booked in for the hairdresser that comes in once a week, so wondered when this would be. Gerry came a bit later and wheeled me into the loo in the day room, which has a hairdressing sink. She explained that she and her colleague had run the hairdressing service in the “main hospital” for 25 years until her colleague gave up to care for her husband, Gerry retired but then got an email asking if she’d provide hairdressing service for here. She does two mornings a week as a volunteer – one for my ward, one for the other. She provides the hairdressing stuff, and the hospital provides the room and the towels. She washed and cut my hair, then wheeled me out into the day room to blow dry it (not allowed electricity with water!) I felt so much better afterwards, and I had lots of comments on the ward when I got back from people passing my room. I have told Gerry that if she has any vacant appointments she would like to fill (it’s not worth her while coming for less than 3 people and she doesn’t always have 3) I’ll have a wash and blow dry.
No pre lunch sugars today, but lunch was soup, ham salad and cheese and biscuits.
Had a text from Theet saying she’d won the Easter egg raffle, so I needed to go down to Grapevine to collect it before they shut at 3.30. Bit worried about how I was going to get back up the slope with a huge egg in a basket on my lap, but I was saved the problem as a number of the ward staff were in the restaurant having a break, and one of them offered to carry it back up to my room for me. I gratefully accepted the offer!
The physio had called in the morning to take my folder to update it, and brought it back. Disappointed that my Expected Discharge Date has been moved back from 30th March to April 14th. However, this isn’t surprising given that we had to abandon yesterday’s physio session and that there are 2 bank holidays where there won’t be any. I have got three sessions timetabled for next week. I didn’t see the occ therapist yesterday either, and they have to arrange the family meeting.
Another complication of this is that I have an appointment with the NMO team on 5th April, so someone needs to arrange transport to get me to Oxford on time and to bring me back again. I am not sure how well the logistics of this will be managed, as the appointment is for several sessions with different bits of the NMO team on the same afternoon. I shall have to investigate this more next week.
****too much information warning*****
I asked to have my nappy checked, and it was suggested that we revert to the bathroom, where I was cleaned and sat on the commode over the loo. I was left to see if anything happened – AND IT DID!!! I definitely felt something, although I wasn’t in control. Nothing on the bladder front, but it’s the bowels I want to get under control. The nice nurse has suggested that I ask to be taken to the toilet after every meal to try to get more feeling and to get into a routine.
****ok now!*******
Carried on watching tv, doing puzzles and updating this.
They are still worried about my bp, so it was taken again at 4pm and was 99/57.
Pre supper bloods 22.4. Supper was nice - liver and onions, mash and peas and cheese and biscuits. Asked to be taken to the toilet again, and again some success. It also provides a bit of physio as it involves quite a lot of standing up on the cricket and sitting down again.
Suddenly realised what the date was and that I’d missed Sandra’s birthday yesterday. Feel awful, no excuses except this is a time warp. I should have realised yesterday when I put the date on the update. I am very sorry.
Julio and Sian arrived a bit late as they hadn’t been able to leave the office in good time. They brought some mail, including a letter from Dad that he’d posted on the ship (and didn’t think that I’d get before they were back). They also told me that Freckles Farm (where we got the ducks and has a really good bacon butty trailer ) on the corner of the Brinkworth Rd and the road to us had been done as a cannabis farm. I had read about it in the local news page. I hope it wasn’t the nice people who have the farm as they had been talking about renting out one of the barns last time I spoke to them.
S&J left, leaving me in my room. Watched Masterchef and a bit sorry that the little Welsh man didn’t get through. Put to bed, then rang Ria to wish them a good holiday and to see how the packing was going. They have quite a lot to take, including Rosa’s buggy and car seat ( amazingly free of charge) and the surf board with nappies in the board bag. Mylo is nervous about flying, so I hope he’ll be ok. I’m sure he will.
That’s it for tonight, then.The ward corridor lights have just gone out, so that’s a hint, I think!
Goodnight!
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
23rd March - Chippenham CH - Another Wobble
Another fairly disturbed night, and awake at 5. Lay there until 5.30 and the early morning sugars were 5.9 – much better!
Waited for ages for breakfast, but it didn’t arrive until gone 8. It’s a long time to go from supper finishing at 6pm and waking up at 5. A cup of tea on waking would be a good idea. More All Bran and toast, but this time had diabetic marmalade. I have abandoned the bran for my breakfast choices – I’m going back to porridge.
No sign of anyone coming to get me up, but I didn’t mind as a) I was tired and b) my vision was a bit blurred. However…….
Physio arrived at 9.30 to take me to the rehab room. I was still in my nightie, and was unwashed (still had horrible morning mouth) but she said that as long as I didn’t mind, she would like to get on with it as I was booked in and she had a long list. Fair enough. I got up onto the cricket and then wheeled across the corridor to the rehab room. Failed to stand up on first attempt. Managed second attempt, up onto cricket, then sat down on the edge of the bench. Was going to stand up, but felt light headed and obviously looked a bit iffy as they said to wait. Kept feeling funny. They decided to check my blood pressure – 76/51. Bit of a panic. Made me lie down for a while and kept checking – got it up to 84/55, but then started going back down again. Called Joy, my day time nurse. She called Julie, the sister. Abandoned physio session and went and got my bed. Slid me from physio bench to bed, and wheeled me back to my room where they checked on me every 10 mins.
Eventually I was allowed to get washed and dressed, although they did keep checking I was ok. Pre lunch readings much better – sugars now 12.8, bp 83/47 still low, so still being monitored.
Watched PMQs and the news. Lunch was pasta bake with broccoli (OK, I ‘m getting to accept that it isn’t the food of the devil!) followed by cheese and biscuits. Sat watching tv and Sian had asked if I was up to a visitor, so she arrived, I checked that it was ok for me to leave the ward, and we went down to Grapevine where unfortunately there wasn’t any food left for Sian to have lunch, so we indulged – me with crisps and a latte and Sian with a piece of cake and tea. There had been a bit of a problem with some accounts stuff at work, so we worked through that and then I needed to go back to the room to have my bag emptied.
Bag emptied, carried on working and had just finished when the lady came from the chaplaincy team. Sian left, and we had a chat and then Communion. It is odd being the only person having Communion in my bedroom. She left, but will be coming back next week.
I have just looked in the mirror, and realise what Sian meant when she said that I looked puffy. I look like a hamster. I shall have to mention that to someone at some point.
A bit of tv - James Martin cooking Jodi Scheckter his own mozzarella. They live close to each other and Jodi has a “natural “ farm and is very passionate about his mozzarella. James did what looked wonderful – day old mozzarella wrapped in Parma ham and flash fried in olive oil just to crisp the Parma ham. Served with plum chutney (made in a few minutes) and char grilled ciabatta. It looked wonderful and I want to try it. Jodi took a mouthful and stood up to walk away!
Pre supper sugars very high – 27.9. Supper very nice – soup, then smoked mackerel salad and cheese and biscuits.
Then nurse came to have a chat about the blood sugars and blood pressure. She has given me some extra cheese and biscuits to have later if either drop. She also said it would be worth testing regularly (they had suggested that as there is an established pattern, it may only be necessary to test sugars in the morning and at supper time). So, need to ask Juli to bring my tester in. She also suggested that I keep a Tupperware container with a couple of digestive biscuits and the 5 jelly babies to about hypos (see updates passim). I didn’t mention my secret stash of biscuits I had squirrelled away when I was given biscuits with my tea. To be fair, they have all gone now and I was only having a quarter of a biscuit at a time in the middle of the night.
Julio and Sian arrived a bit late, so we went into the day room and the soups were purchased. The flowers Big Ben had brought yesterday had begun to open, so Sian took a picture and posted it on Facebook. I am behind them! Talked about arrangements for Easter – I am looking forward to the pie and seeing Debbie and Sandra. All too soon it was time or them to go (after I had extracted some money from Juli for my hairdressing appointment tomorrow). I think this may be a bit brave of me as I am the youngest here and the first item on the price list is shampoo and set. However, I can’t put up with my hair (especially my fringe) much longer and I only have nail scissors, so I don’t think a do-it-myself fringe cut will be a good idea!
Realised my bag was very full, so called nurse. She had mentioned that the NMO team had asked about the possibility of me having a urinary infection, so she emptied the bag and tested the wee. It’s fine – no traces of anything apart from a little bit of blood, which is normal for a catheter, and a newly replaced one at that, so no infection.
Now I’m sitting in my chair watching Masterchef (and then Panorama) and waiting to be put to bed at some point.
Goodnight
Waited for ages for breakfast, but it didn’t arrive until gone 8. It’s a long time to go from supper finishing at 6pm and waking up at 5. A cup of tea on waking would be a good idea. More All Bran and toast, but this time had diabetic marmalade. I have abandoned the bran for my breakfast choices – I’m going back to porridge.
No sign of anyone coming to get me up, but I didn’t mind as a) I was tired and b) my vision was a bit blurred. However…….
Physio arrived at 9.30 to take me to the rehab room. I was still in my nightie, and was unwashed (still had horrible morning mouth) but she said that as long as I didn’t mind, she would like to get on with it as I was booked in and she had a long list. Fair enough. I got up onto the cricket and then wheeled across the corridor to the rehab room. Failed to stand up on first attempt. Managed second attempt, up onto cricket, then sat down on the edge of the bench. Was going to stand up, but felt light headed and obviously looked a bit iffy as they said to wait. Kept feeling funny. They decided to check my blood pressure – 76/51. Bit of a panic. Made me lie down for a while and kept checking – got it up to 84/55, but then started going back down again. Called Joy, my day time nurse. She called Julie, the sister. Abandoned physio session and went and got my bed. Slid me from physio bench to bed, and wheeled me back to my room where they checked on me every 10 mins.
Eventually I was allowed to get washed and dressed, although they did keep checking I was ok. Pre lunch readings much better – sugars now 12.8, bp 83/47 still low, so still being monitored.
Watched PMQs and the news. Lunch was pasta bake with broccoli (OK, I ‘m getting to accept that it isn’t the food of the devil!) followed by cheese and biscuits. Sat watching tv and Sian had asked if I was up to a visitor, so she arrived, I checked that it was ok for me to leave the ward, and we went down to Grapevine where unfortunately there wasn’t any food left for Sian to have lunch, so we indulged – me with crisps and a latte and Sian with a piece of cake and tea. There had been a bit of a problem with some accounts stuff at work, so we worked through that and then I needed to go back to the room to have my bag emptied.
Bag emptied, carried on working and had just finished when the lady came from the chaplaincy team. Sian left, and we had a chat and then Communion. It is odd being the only person having Communion in my bedroom. She left, but will be coming back next week.
I have just looked in the mirror, and realise what Sian meant when she said that I looked puffy. I look like a hamster. I shall have to mention that to someone at some point.
A bit of tv - James Martin cooking Jodi Scheckter his own mozzarella. They live close to each other and Jodi has a “natural “ farm and is very passionate about his mozzarella. James did what looked wonderful – day old mozzarella wrapped in Parma ham and flash fried in olive oil just to crisp the Parma ham. Served with plum chutney (made in a few minutes) and char grilled ciabatta. It looked wonderful and I want to try it. Jodi took a mouthful and stood up to walk away!
Pre supper sugars very high – 27.9. Supper very nice – soup, then smoked mackerel salad and cheese and biscuits.
Then nurse came to have a chat about the blood sugars and blood pressure. She has given me some extra cheese and biscuits to have later if either drop. She also said it would be worth testing regularly (they had suggested that as there is an established pattern, it may only be necessary to test sugars in the morning and at supper time). So, need to ask Juli to bring my tester in. She also suggested that I keep a Tupperware container with a couple of digestive biscuits and the 5 jelly babies to about hypos (see updates passim). I didn’t mention my secret stash of biscuits I had squirrelled away when I was given biscuits with my tea. To be fair, they have all gone now and I was only having a quarter of a biscuit at a time in the middle of the night.
Julio and Sian arrived a bit late, so we went into the day room and the soups were purchased. The flowers Big Ben had brought yesterday had begun to open, so Sian took a picture and posted it on Facebook. I am behind them! Talked about arrangements for Easter – I am looking forward to the pie and seeing Debbie and Sandra. All too soon it was time or them to go (after I had extracted some money from Juli for my hairdressing appointment tomorrow). I think this may be a bit brave of me as I am the youngest here and the first item on the price list is shampoo and set. However, I can’t put up with my hair (especially my fringe) much longer and I only have nail scissors, so I don’t think a do-it-myself fringe cut will be a good idea!
Realised my bag was very full, so called nurse. She had mentioned that the NMO team had asked about the possibility of me having a urinary infection, so she emptied the bag and tested the wee. It’s fine – no traces of anything apart from a little bit of blood, which is normal for a catheter, and a newly replaced one at that, so no infection.
Now I’m sitting in my chair watching Masterchef (and then Panorama) and waiting to be put to bed at some point.
Goodnight
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| Talking Bunch of Daffs! |
Tuesday, 22 March 2016
22nd March - Chippenham CH - Day 39 in hospital!
Tuesday 22nd March
Another bad night. This time I was waking every half hour or so after about midnight. I gave up at 4am and pressed the call button for water and pain relief as my legs were hurting. I was given paracetamol as I couldn’t have any more nerve ones until the morning. Didn’t really work. Early sugars were 8.9. Catheter bag emptied.
Put tv on at about 7 when the ward lights went on.
Visit by the other doctor covering the ward – Dr Turner before 8am, who tested my feet and shins for feeling and explained that he didn’t want to increase the nerve painkillers because of the reduced kidney function, so he had prescribed a low dose of something else that I can’t remember the name of. I will ask again tomorrow.
Breakfast was a bit odd. I had All Bran instead of the bran flakes I’d ordered. There was an awful lot of it in the bowl, and not much milK, so I couldn’t eat it all. Plus toast. I’ve decided I would have liked something other than just butter on it. They don’t seem to offer marmite, and although someone mentioned diabetic marmalade, don’t know if they do have it, but even if they do, I was always told that diabetic foods are a con – you are better off with just a bit of the real thing.
I felt really tired and still in pain, so when I was asked if I wanted to get up, I asked to stay in bed a bit longer. The next thing I knew, it was 11.15 and I was woken up because otherwise we wouldn’t be done by lunchtime! Had my catheter changed as they hadn’t been able to establish whether it was a short term (4 week or long term (12 week) one. They washed and cleaned my bottom half, then put in a new catheter. Whilst they were doing this, Charlotte the student nurse mentioned she’d just come back from a short break in Rome. I told them about when we were there with the Italian Job. Then they dressed my bottom half, got me into the wheelchair and left me to it. I washed and dressed my top half, but didn’t do hair again as no plastic cup.
Back into bedroom just as lunch trolleys arrived in the ward. The ward is very noisy during the day. Everything is transported by trolley, which rattle along and then there are wheelchairs of various sorts, crickets, hoists, linen cages, buckets for mopping floors ……an endless parade of noisy stuff.
Pre lunch sugars 14.2. Lunch was a vegetable lasagne with peas (I thought it might be a bit boring on its own). I’d forgone the orange juice for starter in a vague attempt to keep sugars under control. Dessert was cheese and biscuits. Cup of coffee.
I tried doing some office work in the afternoon, but was having issues with the spreadsheets. Nurse came to empty catheter bag as they needed to monitor that the new catheter was working properly.
Watched tv and the coverage of events in Brussels. The occ therapist popped in to say that they wanted to do a home visit to check the house, and needed my permission to call Julio. There will be a family meeting, but not sure when it will be.
Pre supper sugars 22.9. Less than the last few days Blood pressure ok at 100/55, but my temperature was up a bit. Don’t know if that was anything to do with the sore throat, or because the room is very hot. Supper was tomato soup then an egg mayo salad (with lots of mayo). It was very nice, as all salads are here. I had asked for a banana, but once again they hadn’t sent it, so I was offered rice pudding or ice cream. I had the ice cream.
Sat for a bit and then visiting time – this time Sian and Juli were accompanied by Ben Stirling, who brought me some contraband – a lovely bunch of daffodils in bud. For some reason you're not allowed flowers on ward, but there was an empty vase in the day room, so we put them in there.
Sat around in the day room and we had two rounds of drinks from the vending machine so built a taller cup tower than we usually do. Interrupted once by Bill, my day nurse, to check the catheter bag again. Sian came back to my room to sort some work things out and collect my dirty washing. Evening visiting is very short (just an hour 6.30-7.30) but the nurse yesterday said that if visitors arrive early, as long as supper and meds round is done, that’s ok. The way to get round the bedside two person rule is to go to the Grapevine for afternoon visiting (as per my total of 8 visitors on Sunday!) or the day room for evening visiting.
All too soon it was time for them to go. Back to room, then fairly soon afterwards my aux came to put me to bed. I’ve succumbed to going into bed when they suggest. While I was having my nappy changed she admired my shoes and asked where I’d got them, so we talked about Cotton Traders and the discount in the outlet village. We then talked about places to eat in Bassett.
So, now in bed watching he Obama programme on BBC2. Had my bedtime meds, including a new tablet that I think may be the alternative/additional nerve pain one.
Talk to you tomorrow
Another bad night. This time I was waking every half hour or so after about midnight. I gave up at 4am and pressed the call button for water and pain relief as my legs were hurting. I was given paracetamol as I couldn’t have any more nerve ones until the morning. Didn’t really work. Early sugars were 8.9. Catheter bag emptied.
Put tv on at about 7 when the ward lights went on.
Visit by the other doctor covering the ward – Dr Turner before 8am, who tested my feet and shins for feeling and explained that he didn’t want to increase the nerve painkillers because of the reduced kidney function, so he had prescribed a low dose of something else that I can’t remember the name of. I will ask again tomorrow.
Breakfast was a bit odd. I had All Bran instead of the bran flakes I’d ordered. There was an awful lot of it in the bowl, and not much milK, so I couldn’t eat it all. Plus toast. I’ve decided I would have liked something other than just butter on it. They don’t seem to offer marmite, and although someone mentioned diabetic marmalade, don’t know if they do have it, but even if they do, I was always told that diabetic foods are a con – you are better off with just a bit of the real thing.
I felt really tired and still in pain, so when I was asked if I wanted to get up, I asked to stay in bed a bit longer. The next thing I knew, it was 11.15 and I was woken up because otherwise we wouldn’t be done by lunchtime! Had my catheter changed as they hadn’t been able to establish whether it was a short term (4 week or long term (12 week) one. They washed and cleaned my bottom half, then put in a new catheter. Whilst they were doing this, Charlotte the student nurse mentioned she’d just come back from a short break in Rome. I told them about when we were there with the Italian Job. Then they dressed my bottom half, got me into the wheelchair and left me to it. I washed and dressed my top half, but didn’t do hair again as no plastic cup.
Back into bedroom just as lunch trolleys arrived in the ward. The ward is very noisy during the day. Everything is transported by trolley, which rattle along and then there are wheelchairs of various sorts, crickets, hoists, linen cages, buckets for mopping floors ……an endless parade of noisy stuff.
Pre lunch sugars 14.2. Lunch was a vegetable lasagne with peas (I thought it might be a bit boring on its own). I’d forgone the orange juice for starter in a vague attempt to keep sugars under control. Dessert was cheese and biscuits. Cup of coffee.
I tried doing some office work in the afternoon, but was having issues with the spreadsheets. Nurse came to empty catheter bag as they needed to monitor that the new catheter was working properly.
Watched tv and the coverage of events in Brussels. The occ therapist popped in to say that they wanted to do a home visit to check the house, and needed my permission to call Julio. There will be a family meeting, but not sure when it will be.
Pre supper sugars 22.9. Less than the last few days Blood pressure ok at 100/55, but my temperature was up a bit. Don’t know if that was anything to do with the sore throat, or because the room is very hot. Supper was tomato soup then an egg mayo salad (with lots of mayo). It was very nice, as all salads are here. I had asked for a banana, but once again they hadn’t sent it, so I was offered rice pudding or ice cream. I had the ice cream.
Sat for a bit and then visiting time – this time Sian and Juli were accompanied by Ben Stirling, who brought me some contraband – a lovely bunch of daffodils in bud. For some reason you're not allowed flowers on ward, but there was an empty vase in the day room, so we put them in there.
Sat around in the day room and we had two rounds of drinks from the vending machine so built a taller cup tower than we usually do. Interrupted once by Bill, my day nurse, to check the catheter bag again. Sian came back to my room to sort some work things out and collect my dirty washing. Evening visiting is very short (just an hour 6.30-7.30) but the nurse yesterday said that if visitors arrive early, as long as supper and meds round is done, that’s ok. The way to get round the bedside two person rule is to go to the Grapevine for afternoon visiting (as per my total of 8 visitors on Sunday!) or the day room for evening visiting.
All too soon it was time for them to go. Back to room, then fairly soon afterwards my aux came to put me to bed. I’ve succumbed to going into bed when they suggest. While I was having my nappy changed she admired my shoes and asked where I’d got them, so we talked about Cotton Traders and the discount in the outlet village. We then talked about places to eat in Bassett.
So, now in bed watching he Obama programme on BBC2. Had my bedtime meds, including a new tablet that I think may be the alternative/additional nerve pain one.
Talk to you tomorrow
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