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A Hellious Day. Nothing has been done on this blog until Wednesday morning.
Up late, Carer Bitu.
Kettle on,
Snap of the view.
Computer, CorelDraw to make the graphics… After an hour or so of struggling with the temperamental programme and getting nowhere, ARRRGH!
The valve on the day catheter bag had come open!
Left leg strapping, sock, leg, slippers and carpet coated in urine! Not sure how I managed it, well, I do, I worked it painfully, but I got both strappings and undersocks off. Naturally, all the bending brought on Dizzy Dennis and Back Pain Brenda. I carried a bowl of water and Dettol into the computer room and washed the feet as best I could.
Getting feet out of the bowl and onto a towel…
Clunk, thud, down on the floor!
I bounced off of the recliner, thus lessening the pain of hitting the floor… then pressed my alarm wristlet. The controller said he’s calling an ambulance. I explained that all I wanted was someone to help me get upright again. But he insisted. He said later he’s called them, but it will be a long time before it arrives, as the hospital (QMC) A&E currently has 11 ambulances waiting to unload patients collected. 
I tried to make myself as comfy as possible, but it seemed only my lower back really hurt.
Something like an hour later, the door chime sounded. I could not get up, of course, I assumed it was the ambulance people. I saw the light come on in the hallway and saw it was a delivery driver with the food order. He soon got me back up. I pressed the alarm again to tell the controller that I was back up on my legs and feet and only a moderate pain in my back. I noticed later that there were some bruises on the left arm. But they would have been made, I imagine, when I hit the recliner on the way down, so no indication of Warfarin problems at least. The ambulance would not be cancelled and would still arrive within the next four hours. The driver put the food into the kitchen for me. I thanked him profusely and started sorting the food delivered into the cupboards and the fridge. No Butter Butter, Polish Sokalow sausages, Extra Strong blue Stilton cheese (Can’t recall ordering this). And some Coffee for the nurses. 
Close up of the sausages that I’ve taken a fancy to. It used to be women, but old age dictates fancies now. I rushed this job, because the mess made and bowl, etc, needed cleaning and freshening post haste.
Christmas bikkies, the Lu for Jenny & Frank, the others for nurses and carers to indulge in.
The back did get a bit worse after all the bending needed to clean up the spillage and freshen the pong from the leaking Catheter Pouch.
I checked all of the stock of catheters, four boxes, and three boxes of them had the same dodgy, loose valve connector on them. I’ll ask a Carer to change the leaky valve one now, later.

Oberstgrüppenführeress Warden und Primo Ballerina, Warden Deana.
ILC (Independent Living Coordinator) called to see what was what. I explained and showed her the different valves, and she rang Matron, I think it was. But I can’t recall the outcome at present, so much had happened and was to happen yet today, Confusion Konrad had a heyday!
Then, I had to get washed and changed into day clothes, ready for the still-incoming ambulance to arrive. I moved the four-wheeled walker off the balcony and into the wet room. Put the mobile phone, some snacks and NHS paperwork in the basket. Then, I struggled into the day’s clothes to wait for the emergency services to arrive.

I got a message, a text came in from the Doctor’s surgery, but they had left a voicemail, and I didn’t know if I would be able to hear it, even if I learned how to access it! I’ll ask the next Carer.

Sister Jane rang to see if I was alright. As we were speaking, I heard a noise from the hallway, and assumed it might be the ambulance people coming in. I felt guilty, but had to ring off. Sorry, Jane! 💟

A Carer Arrived, and he rang the voicemail for me. Ashamedly, I can’t remember what it was about now. Had it been important, surely I would have?

In the afternoon, no ambulance had been called yet. Someone called me and asked so many questions about my condition; the call took an hour or so. No idea where she was from, but I caught her name (I think): Gloria. She said she would cancel the ambulance.
Bear in mind, I may have got things a little mixed up chronologically across all the calls, but I reckon this may be a valid account of the order. I should have known better than to say that!

The Doctor’s surgery rang up. To tell me the next INR blood test would be on Monday, Tuesday or it might have been Thursday. Yes, I forgot again.
So, I emptied the four-wheeled trolley basket of paperwork, nibbles, etc., and folded the trolley back into the balcony storage area.

I got the kettle on and was about to start the computer again, and another call came in from someone. More questions, and now they have decided an ambulance will be calling tonight. Oh, dearie me.

Almost went over again as I got the four-wheeled trolley back out from the balcony. Refilled it with nibbles, NHS paperwork, etc. and got it back in the wetroom for when they call for me.
Worranother Messy Day!

Another call with a load more questions came in. Whoever it was said they will not be collecting you. Unless they think it is necessary after testing your vitals and condition.

They arrived and did a load of checks, body, vitals and asked questions. They were here for a good while, leaving after telling me they thought I was fine. The ablulance men left this note on the left. For me this note, report, in advice. The usual stuff:

Call Lifeline or 111 if you fall, collapse and cannot get up: Any injuries, especially to your head. Chest pains or difficulty breathing. Bleeding or severe pain – If you suspect a stroke, heart attack or any of the following: Loss of consciousness –  Fits or seizures that are not stopping – Acute confusion – Breathing difficulties –
Severe bleeding – Severe burns/scalds –
Severe allergic reactions – Call 999.
There are a few in there that are almost regular with me, Severe confusion that comes and goes when ot wants is part of my life now.

I got a meal made. I was hungry by now, had settled in to eat it, and the Carer came in. I told him I didn’t need any medications and about the ambulance visit.
A shame it was cold chips for me by the time I got back to eating them, but it was tasty even then. 8.2/10.
I fell asleep with the empty tray and things on my knee. Woke up later, the tray and plate were on the floor. The cutlery and empty dessert pot were entangled in my dressing gown. I found two empty Teryaki-flavoured crisp packets in the waste bin, and a biscuit-and-nibble jar on the floor to my right. I may have had a seizure while asleep and knocked these over.

I took this sad effort of a photograph while doing the washing and cleaning up. Then, as I turned back to get my four-pronged Fifi walking stick, I lost my balance and went full tilt to my right – thank heavens it was to the right; the wall was there and saved me from another tumble. Phhhew!

I’d but the not safe to use cather bags, and bags of nappies, no, I mean protection pants on the bed, and had to take the four-wheeled walker out of the wet room to get a wash, and put that next to the bed – so could not get in it! I settled into the c1968, tatty, scruffy, unkempt, uncomfortable, virus, microorganism, bug, bacterium, bacillus, germ, parasite producing, eyesore-horrendously grungy, disease-fermenting second-hand, beige-coloured, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, moth-eaten, non-working, itch-encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, catheter tube yanking, recliner. No place like home!

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So, it’s no surprise the High-Mood-Horis does not call very often. I think I’ve caught my depression!
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I’m beginning to think that moving into a home is a good idea, now. The flat is a right mess, and a danger in itself to me getting around. I’ve got and still am in a pickle with ordering unwanted food.
The Carers’ time cannot be increased, so they can’t do any cleaning, help with finances, or handle mail & emails. I’ve a stack of unopened mail that, when the Carers started, was dealt with weekly for me. 
No flat cleaning has been done for weeks now.
No date-checks on the food being done, unless I remember to ask them… Hahaha!
The Catheter is not changed unless I remember to ask. They just do not have the time. We thought it was a good idea to buy a wheelchair, so I did. Then they could get me out once a week. But no… they didn’t have time to help me order one, so I did. The wrong one. That’s still on the balcony with the next one I bought. 
A Carer, well, two Carers did try to help with the magically difficult-to-fit leg plates, but they are still not fitted and are next to the old 3-wheeler and four-wheeler walkers on the balcony. I explained this to someone when I was last in the hospital. I was told they could help me with this when I am released. They will call me to set it up. Also, help with the finances… but I’ve heard nothing from anyone.

As I was taking this picture of the evening view, I had a terrible premonition… a feeling of certainty that tomorrow would have moments as bad as today!
And it did!

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TTFN
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