14.9.09
Two more sleeps..
What can I say? French-stylie hand flannel glove purchased (the French nurses can't handle square flannels), hand towels washed and ready (likewise they are incapable of handling a bath towel!), betadine presciption poised, hair dryer ready to rock 'n' roll. Most importantly of all TV set to record STRICTLY COME DANCING!! LOL! [insert grinning smiley here].
13.9.09
REALLY counting down the days now...
I had an eventful weekend trying to avoid contact with folk who may have been in contact with the pig plague. Saturday night we had a couple from the next village round for a bbq. I was pretty confident they would be "clean" but we spent most of the evening in the good old outdoors anyway. Far too much booze got consumed and I ended up with a very upset tum which meant I wasn't up to going out today to meet up with another couple and some family recently arrived from Blighty. Maybe in a sense it was a blessing. Folk from Blighty, recently arrived by plane, lot of potential for nasty germs. Still feel a bit dodgy even now. May be time for a medicinal Armagnac and a surf in beddibyes. Three more sleeps in my own bed. Gulp!
11.9.09
The gas woman
Well, well, well. Wonders will never cease! Firstly it was a very charming and very efficient young lady on the check in desk who checked me in in about 5 minutes flat and actually requested the private room for me then and there. Then along the corridor to the anaethetist. Filled in a quick form, no-one else waiting, straight in!
Blow me down, it was the nice lady anaethetist who had been summoned to explain why I'd had the burning sensation last time and she recognised me (not difficult - fat, British bird with dodgy hips!) I told her I still had no sensation in that area and she proposed a possible other method of pain relief post op. Yet again SHE won't be there so goodness know what I shall end up with!! I've opted for the full-on GA this time. It worked okay last time so why not?
The bloods were okay but she laughed when she took my blood pressure - 158/110!!! Crikey WAY WAY above my normal rate (I have a regular more or less monthly checks as I take thyroid medication). She said it was an "emotional" rise and just put lots of exclamation marks next to it.
Now I am counting down the days...once more!
Ooo one more thing. I didn't have a blood transfusion last time but I did have my own blood recycled and transfused back into me. Ewww how yucky is that? Still, safe in the knowledge I have no French in me! LOL!
Blow me down, it was the nice lady anaethetist who had been summoned to explain why I'd had the burning sensation last time and she recognised me (not difficult - fat, British bird with dodgy hips!) I told her I still had no sensation in that area and she proposed a possible other method of pain relief post op. Yet again SHE won't be there so goodness know what I shall end up with!! I've opted for the full-on GA this time. It worked okay last time so why not?
The bloods were okay but she laughed when she took my blood pressure - 158/110!!! Crikey WAY WAY above my normal rate (I have a regular more or less monthly checks as I take thyroid medication). She said it was an "emotional" rise and just put lots of exclamation marks next to it.
Now I am counting down the days...once more!
Ooo one more thing. I didn't have a blood transfusion last time but I did have my own blood recycled and transfused back into me. Ewww how yucky is that? Still, safe in the knowledge I have no French in me! LOL!
9.9.09
It's been a while...
But here we go again!
Sorry about the huge gap in between but needless to say, things went well from that point in. I've had physio with the rather gorgeous Alex who has such a fabulous, deep laugh. Girls it's a laugh to well...think Barry White!! I've got a treadmill at home and an exercise bike. I've bloody well put on weight not lost it despite doing loads of exercise. I was told to ditch the stick in week 7 post op and have been hobbling round like a goodun ever since. Speedy Gonzales, moi!
I've forgotten the agony - haha!! I've had my bloods done, seem to be disgustingly healthy and tomorrow I'm off to see the anaesthetist again with a view to admission next Wednesday. I wonder if it will be the same miserable old cow at the reception desk as last time?
At lest I know what should be going on and the "tricks of the trade" to enable me to get out of hospital as soon as possible. Get using that single cane asap!
Sorry about the huge gap in between but needless to say, things went well from that point in. I've had physio with the rather gorgeous Alex who has such a fabulous, deep laugh. Girls it's a laugh to well...think Barry White!! I've got a treadmill at home and an exercise bike. I've bloody well put on weight not lost it despite doing loads of exercise. I was told to ditch the stick in week 7 post op and have been hobbling round like a goodun ever since. Speedy Gonzales, moi!
I've forgotten the agony - haha!! I've had my bloods done, seem to be disgustingly healthy and tomorrow I'm off to see the anaesthetist again with a view to admission next Wednesday. I wonder if it will be the same miserable old cow at the reception desk as last time?
At lest I know what should be going on and the "tricks of the trade" to enable me to get out of hospital as soon as possible. Get using that single cane asap!
14.7.09
Monday - out of bed
Things are supposed to get better as each day passes, aren't they? The problem is when it's happening to YOU, you don't necessarily see it.
Thankfully with the arrival of the zimmer it meant at least I could get out of bed and avoid the dreaded bed pan. Also I now had a nice room to myself. I declined breakfast as it really wasn't worth having but that may have proved to be a mistake.
Nursey came for the dreaded toilette. It was a different set of nurses. They seemed a little less friendly than the previous lot. One reckoned I didn't speak good enough French considering I had lived in France for nearly five years. Well that was red rag to a bull and I all of a sudden became "fluent". She laughed and said I spoke great French when I was angry! To be honest, I really couldn't be arsed to converse much as I was tired, in pain and generally miserable.
I made my way to the bathroom and made the fatal mistake of trying to do my wash standing up. All seemed to be going swimmingly, Johnny popped his head round the door and kindly left me a newspaper. I'd more or less finished, had struggled into my own night attire instead of the horrible hossie gown when I felt ill. A drop in blood pressure, I felt violently sick and thought I was going to faint. If only I had got my trusty smelling salts!! I pulled to emergency bell and stood there. Fortunately there was a chair just in the doorway and I managed to sit before I actually fell over. The things going through my mind - I didn't want to fall and break something else, I didn't want to be sick.
The nurses seemd to take an age to arrive but when they did they rushed around and helped me back to my bed. A senior nurse came rushing in and took my blood pressure and it was pronounced my blood pressure must have dropped but was now nearly back to normal. I failed to mention I hadn't had anything to eat - oops and had stood up for the first time in 4 days! Double oops.
Thankfully with the arrival of the zimmer it meant at least I could get out of bed and avoid the dreaded bed pan. Also I now had a nice room to myself. I declined breakfast as it really wasn't worth having but that may have proved to be a mistake.
Nursey came for the dreaded toilette. It was a different set of nurses. They seemed a little less friendly than the previous lot. One reckoned I didn't speak good enough French considering I had lived in France for nearly five years. Well that was red rag to a bull and I all of a sudden became "fluent". She laughed and said I spoke great French when I was angry! To be honest, I really couldn't be arsed to converse much as I was tired, in pain and generally miserable.
I made my way to the bathroom and made the fatal mistake of trying to do my wash standing up. All seemed to be going swimmingly, Johnny popped his head round the door and kindly left me a newspaper. I'd more or less finished, had struggled into my own night attire instead of the horrible hossie gown when I felt ill. A drop in blood pressure, I felt violently sick and thought I was going to faint. If only I had got my trusty smelling salts!! I pulled to emergency bell and stood there. Fortunately there was a chair just in the doorway and I managed to sit before I actually fell over. The things going through my mind - I didn't want to fall and break something else, I didn't want to be sick.
The nurses seemd to take an age to arrive but when they did they rushed around and helped me back to my bed. A senior nurse came rushing in and took my blood pressure and it was pronounced my blood pressure must have dropped but was now nearly back to normal. I failed to mention I hadn't had anything to eat - oops and had stood up for the first time in 4 days! Double oops.
12.7.09
Sunday - don't bother visiting
I was very upset with what had gone on so far that Sunday, as with the whole weekend to be honest. I was in pain and confused and to top it all had to face the "toilette" thing again. This time I know what to expect only they threw a curved ball. The wound drain, which to be honest I hadn't realised existed, was removed - boy THAT stung! Then the epidural thing in my back was removed and the wound dressing changed.
I was free of everything that linked me to the bed the downside is I had to move...out of the bed...and onto a chair! A brand new zimmer frame appeared, as did a lovely commode. I was assisted out of bed and onto the zimmer then finally onto the commode where I was wheeeled into the bathroom and left to brush my teeth and "perform" in privacy. I managed the smallest of pees and the nurse sternly told me I was not producing enough and probably had an infection. Well I had news for her, if you don't drink and don't eat there won't be much to come out!
I did eventually manage to get onto my chair, modestly covered, bas hiding knees and gown covering most other things. Dr G arrived, did his usual, sternly told me it was the last day of rest as from then on we were going to work. I needed to be using one cane as quickly as possible.
I called hubby and advised I was up for visitors and he and faithful house elf Dobbie turned up. En route to where? The boozer of course, I have no doubt!! LOL! I forgot to mention, I had had one non-family visitor the day before, Johnny, who came bearing magazines and a lovely pot plant. Flowers were not allowed but the pot plant had it's own container and could be placed out of the way of nurses on top of the cupboard.
I was free of everything that linked me to the bed the downside is I had to move...out of the bed...and onto a chair! A brand new zimmer frame appeared, as did a lovely commode. I was assisted out of bed and onto the zimmer then finally onto the commode where I was wheeeled into the bathroom and left to brush my teeth and "perform" in privacy. I managed the smallest of pees and the nurse sternly told me I was not producing enough and probably had an infection. Well I had news for her, if you don't drink and don't eat there won't be much to come out!
I did eventually manage to get onto my chair, modestly covered, bas hiding knees and gown covering most other things. Dr G arrived, did his usual, sternly told me it was the last day of rest as from then on we were going to work. I needed to be using one cane as quickly as possible.
I called hubby and advised I was up for visitors and he and faithful house elf Dobbie turned up. En route to where? The boozer of course, I have no doubt!! LOL! I forgot to mention, I had had one non-family visitor the day before, Johnny, who came bearing magazines and a lovely pot plant. Flowers were not allowed but the pot plant had it's own container and could be placed out of the way of nurses on top of the cupboard.
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