Today, I received two letters. Neither of which exactly perked me up, cheered me up or made me sing or yodel with pure joy. But first, I’m afraid this is another rushed blog. Due to the hours spent sorting out the mail in hate form of four A4 pages of the very small print of details required by the hospital for the upcoming operation on the Prostate that needed to be filled in. But, I made a right mess of it. THe Carer who came pointed out that I could do it on the Internet. So, I did, and that took me over an hour and a half to get right! Had to ring Sister Jane to confirm her address and telephone number. But got it done and tried to send it, but it wouldn’t have it. So I double-checked that I’d filled everything in properly. Which, of course, I hadn’t! There was a disclaimer box that had to be clicked on. So, I clicked on it. Another messy day! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
I got out of the recliner, caught my balance, and went off to the porcelain Throne. Messy! Very Messy! Checked the batteries and made sure the Fuji was working.
Took a snap from the window.
Stripped t get ready to go to get the ablutions done. The toes had lost their brown colouring but were more twisted and swollen.
07:40hrs: I started the Ablutionings. My teeth were cleaned, my nose cleared, and I shaved while I was standing in a bowl of soapy water and Dettol. Eye drops in, medicated certain delicate areas. I actually felt worn out; the whole session took ages. I took a photo of the wrist alert bands
Right wrist... Left wrist… Which meant after looking at the clock, that I’d spent erm… 08:55 now, started at 07:40hrs – that was good for me! Smug-Mode Engaged!
The two errant toes were stinging a bit.
Blimey sunshine out!
Carer Adele arrived a little late, not that it mattered in the slightest to me. She’s collected the two letters from the door box on coming in. One was a bill from Easy-Link.
The other (above). was the dreaded questionnaire from the Woodthorpe Hospital. I have to fill it in and register before they can see me. It cost me over four hours to get it all done!
Carers came and went, but I worked like a good un trying to get this blog done… I had to keep stopping for the carers visits, phone calls, answer emails that came in, emptying the daub pouch of the catheter, and forever adjusting the tubing that was giving me some right bother; the bleeding had not stopped since the first accidental pull on the tube. Not bleeding badly, more like a little leak. But it keeps drying, and when I move, the dried blood cracks and starts flowing again; Humph!
Nothing to eat yet. Not that I want anything. I did nibble and dunk a few biscuits each time I made a brew… although five of the mugs of tea went cold cause I was concentrating on doing the graphics.
Tea time, and I went to make another brew, intent on making sure I drank this one. I didn’t. Cause I espied a slimmer of light on the horison – Aha… Sunset was coming, methinks!.
I took a closer shot.
Over the next half-hour, I took several photos of the wonderful sky until the short sunsetting had gone.
Finally…. Ta-Ta Sunshine!
Get something to eat now… I hope!
A much-doctored bowl of veg soup. I was halfway through it when the new Carer Zika arrived. He was late arriving, and muggings here forgot he’d not been. I am a plonker! He’s a nice lad. With chatting with him as he got the medications sorted, I also forgot all about the night pouch that needed fitting to the on the .
He took the waste bags and checked the taps for me as he departed.
Then I got the dish, and cutlery washed and settled down in the second-hand, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-microbe producing, gungy, moth-eaten, beige-coloured, non-working, bacillus encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner.
Another much-interrupted sleep. For I had to keep checking and emptying the smaller day bag, if needed, overnight. Lost count of the times I had to get up and free the urine into the bucket. Tsk! I think seeing a new face and nattering a little helped me forget about the night pouch.
I also got a visit from Dizzy Dennis every time I bent down to undo the release valve. A little disconcerting they were.
Another day ruled by Conrad Confusion. It’s a secret even to me; half of what occurred, happened, went wrong, took place, or I did. Confusionalitis at its finestest! Thank heavens for the photos. The following is not in chronological order; this is because my brain isn’t. Hehe!
One light, one dark leg and foot.
First photo of the day.
I now not what is was taken for.
Afternoon shot. As you can see above… The lowest BP ever taken!
Only one visit all day… Rock Hard and resistant to come out!
Late afternoon Shot.
Ah, I remember that Nurse Christina came to take the Warfarin INR blood to test. Lovely to see her again after so many weeks. She kindly rang the district Nurse’s place to inform them of the shortage of ‘s. The lay said they would order some from the chemist who should deliver them to Meridian. Also, is the pains from Little Inchie continue, I must ring them. They didn’t get any worse, so didn’t need to.
After cleaning the things from last night, I went into the wet room to start washing and shaving. Midway through the shaving, the water ran cold… Argh! I’d left the hot tap running in the kitchen! So, no hot water to finish shaving. I got water in the crockpot, two saucepans, and the kettle.
Meridian cleaner Denise called and did some housework for me, bless her.
Amazing sky, around 04:00hrs.
Amazing sky, around 04:10hrs..
Then I stopped everything (Not that I was doing much other than this blog) and just took photos as the sky changed and became coloured as the sunset started. The best bit of the day for me… well, after Nurse Nichol, Cleaner Denise, and Carer Adele. I do love these nights…
After I took this shot of the car park below, the sky captured my imagination. I started my pareidolia fixation going for the next fifteen minutes taking these shots of the changing sky – and searching for any figures I could find in the multi-coloured patterns!
Well, I’m just a lad at heart still... Hehehe!
I think these are in order as I took them.
Star shop Enterprise quality these…
The lowering sun…
Beautiful layered night sky…
The sun reached weaker clouds, and breaks through.
Bootiful!
Gorgeous!
Still gorgeous two minutes later…
Distance shot for her last minutes
In close for a final effort.
By gum, I enjoyed doing them!
Evening Carer Jozeph arrived as I’d made a brew. He got the medications sorted for me and checked the stove as it was on; he asked if I was using it; or did I want it turned off. I told him I would make some chips after doing a bit more of this blog.
I got the above photos online, turned off the computer, and I set about getting the meal made.
There you are, then, proof that I am a man of letters! Hehe!
Arrived, waking me up and . He departed, and I finished the meal, then went and locked the front door. I got down to have a sleep, at last!
Half an hour later, rangeth the door chime? I was unsure why she had come, but it seemed she was due? Had to go carrying the night pouch in one hand and the Four-Pronged metal Mickey stick in the other. She asked if I wanted any medications; I thanked her and declined. Explaining that the night catheter had already been done. She checked the taps and stove for me and, after a mini-waffle, followed her to the door and bade her farewell. Locked the door again, stick and pouch in hands, I returned to the £300, second-hand shop bought nine years ago, c1966, discomfiting, alarmingly beige-coloured, crumb-containing, TV remote hiding, not working recliner, and swiftly fell into a state of sleep. I know I’d been dreaming but could not remember the slightest detail about it. Humph!
Up at 06:20hrs. The night pouch was removed. Which started off very annoyed with me, Back-Pain-Brenda, for the rest of the day. Huh!
However, the urine was a healthy colour. Got the pouch emptied. Wrapped it was per the instructions in a blue bag. Then thought I’d better get a shave at long last. I stripped (Not the catheter, of course) and had a good stand-up body scrubbing session. As I was about to get the shaving done, the door chime chimed. No, I didn’t mean that… the intercom chimed; luckily, I’d left the wet room door open, or else I’d never have heard it. It was the Ocado delivery I ordered last week and forgot all about, and ordered an Asda delivery for today as well. I know, four weeks on the trot now that I’ve done this. Is there no hope for me?
Not a lot of things, though, but some expensive stuff in there, And some favourites that no other store stocks now?
Like Marmite crisps, well loaded up now!.
The costly Flash mop thingamajigs, wet and dry pads. They were on sale at half-price!!!
Then the Lynt Easter eggs the carers like, and fresh (Kenyan) podded peas: neither of which are available elsewhere!
Some reet treats here, Alcohol-Free fizzy pretend champagne. Blood orange tonic weather as well. I shared a bottle of the ersatz plonk with someone later on.
Then after getting things put away and taking a painkiller to appease the bone-shaking Shuddering-Shoulder-Shirley, the door chime did go off, and in came Carer Richard as I was putting the kettle on.
The lad got down to sorting out the medications for me, and we had a few minutes of the nattering session, during which he gave me some advice. He was feeling a smidge better, he said this morning. Great news; if he meant it, bless him. Off he trotted, with me telling him to get to bed. Hehe!
Moments later, the Asda order arrived. A big one this was; it filled eight carrier bags and two boxes.
Accifauxpa getting one of the carriers inside. I was carrying it with both hands and tripped over the stick as it fell from my arm… This caused the inserted into Little Inchie Catheter Cathleen tubing to be yanked a little. Christ, it hurt!Still does, actually, nine hours later!
However, being the trooper, hero, and brave bold man I am, after stopping the bleeding, I just got on with the mammoth job of sorting out the delivery.Naturally, it didn’t bother a man of my calibre in the least.
I realised that I’d bought several packets of pickled onion crisps. Cause I’d forgotten that I’d ordered the Marmite crisps. I may have to live on them for a few weeks… along with the Cheesy Curls… But no, to my amazement, they had delivered so many of the items that they had not had in for ages, I ordered two of them or another variety… they fooled me and only had one item not available.
I restocked the Carers and Nurses shelf.
Hohoho! Just look at the new biscuits they had in stock!.
Galaxy Chocolate digestives – Bootiful! Maryland Cookies – Caramelised! Great!
A sliced Farmhouse loaf!!!
Very Nice!
Well, a nicely stocked fridge & Freezer now!
I am a glutton!
To say how busy I was all day…
Thus not concentrating on drinking, I was pleased with the urine flow. Although in the evening, it did get a bit bloody.
Just after midday, a shot of the Sherwood housing.
Then things got busy and went pear-shaped after Carer Kara, Sarah or Samantha visited to see me… Sister Jane rang, and we had a nice gossip. Nurse Christina called to say she would be coming tomorrow to take the INR blood test for me. Esther called to see how I was. Bit unfortunate in the timing cause just as I caught the damned catheter tube again, Argh! And the blood flowed as she rang, so I could not concentrate properly on what she was saying. Then a belated Amazon delivery arrived, washing soda. Then…
It was getting late, and my eyes were as usual, getting increasingly blurred; I think I must have hit the wrong combination of keys, and CorelDraw froze on me! I lost all the work I’d just done as I was about to save them to file. Grrr! I had to force close things and restart the computer. With fingers crossed that all the photos of the sunset and the day’s happenings would still be on CorelDraw – HA! No chance! I booted and opened CorelDraw, and ALL THE WORK I’d done over the last three hours HAD BEEN LOST! Not only did I have to do it all again, but the file had to be name changed, and I lost over an hour trying to find the original to do so!
Not going too well at the moment!
Carer Charley arrived, and we laughed and nattered for a short while, which cheered me up a smidgeon.
I took the above picture while waiting for the kettle to boil.
This below is the last day photo I’d taken and forgot to put on earlier.
You can see the sunset getting ready to appear at the bottom. And Bootiful it was when it came.
I had another bash at this blog, then got myself something to eat. A reet treat, too!
Well, apart from the soggy tomatoes and not nice Kenyan peas and slightly tasteless potatoes, The imitation pork & strawberry cheesecake were fine. Taste-Rating: 6.2/10.
Arrived. Got the and the medications are given. We put the world to right during our three-minute chinwag. (We brought back hanging, 20-year minimum sentences for anyone who kills anyone with a vehicle, Escooters, or bike) Made a life term to be a life term for murderers, and got rid of all the Parole Boards, and sentenced everyone involved in freeing a convicted killer to murder again to life imprisonment on bread & water, with no visitors and no medical treatment. Made cannabis legal, unless when driving. Brought down the cost of Vodka for Richard, and Marmite Crisps for me. Well, that was a fine start. Now we have to form a political Party. Hehehe!
I woke up (I do that sometimes, you know) a little later than I intended to, but Sweet Morpheus allowed me to fall back asleep again earlier. I got the Night Pouch off and collected the things I’d amassed last night in readiness (blimey, I sound so organised this morning… don’t I?) and the wee-wee bucket to empty and sanitise and hobbled painfully (The sole of the right foot) to the wet room to do the. Which were slow and painful, especially the stop to utilise the .
However, I had an FND moment when I got around to dressing… I actually believed that a person was standing next to me! I didn’t recognise her; she didn’t talk but just melted away into the ether as I got over the shock and turned to look at her. It was so real, I looked around for her. The door was closed, and at that instant, I had an out-of-body experience that lasted only a few seconds… this is impossible, of course, but in some way, I felt I was watching myself and was not myself, but someone else. Weird!
arrived, but I didn’t tell him what had just happened. I felt such a fool and too embarrassed, too! And here I am now, telling the billions of tellurians and my vast amount of followers on WordPress about it! Still, my legions of followers are both decent lads. Hehehe!
Poor lad looked all in, shattered at the end of his long shift. It’s a fact that when the chap takes off his glasses, releases long, noisy yawns, and falls asleep while I’m talking to him, he needs his bed! (Only joking!) A grand bloke & Carer. Not that it stopped him from sorting out the medications for me. Then he departed; after checking the taps (faucets) & stove. I hope he’s not coming down with anything! And his insulin level is okay. He’s such a nice lad.
I rushed to get the Thursday blog finished and posted it. Then it was time to get ready for the visit to the Coppice Hospital.
All dressed in the outside gear. Today is the first time I’ve worn trousers for about a week or more. With problems, it’s rather painful being trousered. So, fingers crossed that today’s little trip out will not agitate the situation in the lower regions.
I got down in the lobby, with ten minutes to spare before the lift from the was due. We took the long way around this time. Still got there in plenty of time, though. I was dropped of in the car park and made my way to the reception door. A lady came to let me in, and by the time I’d adjusted to a comfortable sitting position with , the nurse arrived and said follow me. Through the corridors, but I nearly lost her; she was fast! The sole of the foot and dangling tubes from the catheter slowed me down. The lady mentioned that I had not brought my carer with me, and why not? I explained that last time because it was my first session, hate carer helped me out by coming with me, and that’s why he was so sleepy. I couldn’t ask him again. Fair enough, she said.
No messing, sit down, and the Q&A session began. It took a similar format at first as the last session. I think I was doing as well as last time. Then the drawing, writing, telling time and mathematical tasks were done. I feel I did well on the words, naming animals, people etc. The maths buggered me, though, as is usual.
The next hour or so is just a haze. I remember having to check the , as I thought it was getting fuller, pulling on the tube and poor Little Inchy. The lady said; Finally, what can you remember about the first test you did when we started? I thought for a while. (Hoping something would trigger the brain), but no, I had no idea. This had obviously happened before. The lady tried to help, and an example: Was it Brian Douglas, Johnson or Smith? I had a guess. Then another tip; Was it Milton Close, Avenue or Road? I guessed. Was it number 72, 44 or 39? Aha! I got that one. It was the number of my flat! Was it Dorset, Falmouth or Dorchester? I guessed! Obviously, the names here are made up cause I can’t remember them.
All done; no idea how I did, but felt okay, and as I walked back to the reception, the pain from the sole of my foot was much easier. There was a wait of about 50 minutes for the Easy-Link to collect me. But I had not taken the crossword book and pen with me. So I sat quietly in a too-low chair… Oh, I’ve remembered I missed something that happened in the session: I told the lady I had made a list of unusual happenings and handed her the notepaper… She handed it back to me; I had taken the list I’d made for the visit to the doctor. I rifled through my pockets and found the one I wanted to give her, and gave it to her. She asked a couple of clarificationalistical questions, and it was not mentioned again.
So, there I was sat, sitting in the chair, and… Zzzz!
As I woke up with a jump, the lady from the reception was coming to me; she had seen the Easy-Link Minibus arriving. Walked out with me to have a word with the driver about something. We were soon back at the flats, quick route taken, gave the driver a choice of drinkies from the cans from within the three-wheeled walked bag, thanked him and got indoors and up to the flat. Phoned Meridian Care; to let them know I was back home.
Started to cook some food, and the sunset caught my eye. I wasn’t throwing the eye, Haha!) Over the half an hour I was cooking, I took four photos with the Fuji camera (It’ll need six new batteries shortly; it is an old camera, but highly appreciated). It was given to me by Carer Richard when the Canon camera crapped out. Now the new Lumix has bit the dust, and Fuji continues to work but is too big to take out with me.
I thought did a fairish job.
Then one of the houses below.
Eerie one this?
Arrived, and we decided not to add the yet, as it was only 20:00hrs, and @I need to make my meal. Which is dodgy with a walking stick and carrying the tubed catheter pouch at the same time as prepping food. I was working on this blog at the time and knew it would be hours before I got the meal. Although, I got it prepared and in one saucepan to make it easier to get served up. I’ll try to fit the bag myself later.
Hours later, it came to now. I’ll get the nosh sorted and then the flipping added on… I hope.
I’ll be back in the morning to finish this off. I hope!
I made a bigger meal than planned. Ate most of it. Flavour Rating: 702/10.
Then, I to . It was a painful experience. This simple task left me with , , , , and even the kicked-off, with a vengeance. And, apart from that, I had been doing so well with the lack of ailments today. Humph!I even pulled at the inserted into Little-Inchie’s tubing and started stinging and the .
I’ll try to remember not to add the night bag myself again. It’s not worth the pain and lack of sleep this caused.
GETTING TO SLEEP – Hah! I suppose, looking back, it was rather comical, really, all the same. After fiddling with the tubing in Little Inchie, adjusting the Protection Pads down to avoid contact, and finally finding a position that was less hurtful… Then of all things came into action! Which moved the tubing, bringing back the twinging pains and started the Fungal Lesion leaking again! I went all the adjusting things rigmarole again. Having nearly found a more comfortable arrangement... I then needed to utilise the .
I gingerly rose, Catheter Night bag in one hand, walking stick in the other, and hobbled to the wet room. Git there in time, at least. The evacuation was another of the gushing, watery, messing, pongy jobs. You know? One of them uses up half a toilet roll to clean things up afterwards?
After stemming the bleeding, cleaning and medicating, I returned to the £300, second-hand bought, c1968, nauseously beige-coloured, not-working, rusty, rickety, crumb-holder of a tatty recliner; and went through yet again, the process of finding a less painful position to settle into.
had calmed down, but unfortunately decided to have a go at me. Early hours of the morning, I was almost at the point of drifting off at last… There was a loud dull thud from the flat above. I pondered and worried over this; Is the new tenant who moved in taken a fall? It was no good, I just had to go up and ring their bell, just to see if he or she was alright… I struggled painfully out of the £300 second-hand, c1968, cringingly-beige-coloured, not-working, rickety recliner and caught my balance. Put the hearing aids in so I might hear if I got any reply when I rang their bell. got the stick and was about to go to the hallway… fearing the worst, I just had to know if they were okay and get help if not. Then I heard music on TV, the radio playing. So it seems whoever is up there is okay. Which was a good thing. Back into the second-hand, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-microbe producing, gungy, moth-eaten, beige-coloured, non-working, bacillus encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner, and once more went through the getting into a comfy position routine for Little Inchie and the .
Then moments later, I realised it was time to get up for the Iceland delivery anyway… And to think I looked forward to retiring and having a life of peace, rest, pleasure and comfort!
Be interesting seeing how they change the catheter. Take my Warfarin Blood Sample, Drain the nest sticky DVT vein, and inject me with Enoxaparin. I’m looking forward to having the next stroke. Hehe!
As I bounded back into imitation life, I remembered I have no Lumix Camera to use. I tried to last night on the meal and sunset.So, today it gets ignored. Boy, I’m glad Carer Richard gave me his old Fuji camera. I’ll get some batteries in it. I’ll give it a go later. I removed and . During which, I observed, felt and swore about that agony the sole (Just under the toes) of my right foot was in! Another new ailment had arrived! No name was given to it, cause I pray it is only going to be a temporary one. The toes were pale and white, and the boot and ankle looked almost light brown. When I wriggled the toes, only three of them moved? When I stood up, my balance was all over the place, and the pain, just from the one foot, I classed as a 3-rating. Later in the day, it did ease off – until the evening, around 19:00hrs, then it returned? I was hobbling somewhat.
Came to sort the medications. He told me today was the replacement day for the . I hadn’t any idea… the damned is not easing off. I’ve got the second assessment tomorrow afternoon at the . Oh, that reminds me, I looked up the FND thought.
Functional neurological disorder – Findings
Functional neurological disorder (FND) describes a problem with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body. It’s often helpful to think of your brain as a computer. In someone who has FND, there’s no damage to the hardware or structure of the brain. It’s the software or programme running on the computer that isn’t working properly. The problems in FND are going on in a level of the brain that you cannot control. It includes symptoms like arm and leg weakness (Yes) and seizures (No). Other symptoms like fatigue or pain (Yes) – are not directly caused by FND but are often found alongside it. It can cause a range of symptoms, including Problems walking (Yes) – heaviness down one side (Yes) – dropping things (Yes) – feeling like a limb isn’t part of you (Yes). I’ve got all of them. If you have FND, any scans you have will show no damage to the brain to explain the weakness.
Well, I can’t read these above on here, but the spy-glass helped me to. Caused a spell of depression as well afterwards. I’ll not learn anything about it tomorrow, it’s just another assessment, but in a week or fortnight, I have the first Brain Scan.
Doing the , I had an . I managed to fit in an . No real harm was done.
and I think it was called. The notes on the pad when I got around to doing this bit were of no help at all. A Scrawl!
I must have had for ages; cause hours of the day had been lost. I put this on the list to tell the nurse tomorrow.
I got the batteries in the Fuji camera, and it worked a treat.
I did an order for Ocado for next Wednesday. Then the Asda order that I’d forgotten all about arrived.
The kind driver took them into the kitchen and got them where he could manage to; there was not a lot of room in there. Damned decent of him.
Anywhere was alright with me.
The guilt… the Guilt! Haha!
Aha, got some washing-up liquid this week.
And to aid my following the nurse’s repeated commands and instructions. I’d got many bottles of spring water in.
Did the evening medicationings. I waffled on a bit, sorry mate.
Rang to confirm their lift for the afternoon tomorrow. Nice!
Got some sausages and made sarnies with sauce. Too tired out and stressed to bother making a meal. Wanted to get it done and eaten before the last Carer calls to put the on and medicate me. Hehe! The meal was okayish. Say, a 6/10.
arrived. Did the tasks needed. Had a mini-natter… well, moan from me. Haha! Richard checked the taps and stove, then took the waste bag with him as he departed.
The days started painfully – I needn’t have said that, had I? Hehehe!
The darned Lumix Camera was still not letting me take any photos!
Although, in the afternoon on what must have been close to the 12th.
try-to-get-the-bloody-thing-going; When I received some
official-looking brown envelopes mail, it did.
But it wasn’t bad news! & were with me on awakening… I’d be lost without their little morning greetings.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The day of memory loss, disappointments, getting little done, , (Particularly her!), a few confusions of attacks via and a few bursts of feeling for no particular reason whatsoever. As per usual, made what should have been a better day worse. The Lumix playing up ruined any idea of a decent day’s photography. Yet apart from the odd depressions, which didn’t last long, but there were a good few of them, I seemed to press on regardless.
Arrived during one of my ‘up’ periods. Not that I can recall much. And why not? I’ve literally lost the notepad I’d been using for over half of the day. Likely thrown out later when I got the shock of the letters arriving. I reckon we had a natter and a laugh. I think he reminded me to ring Easy-Link to confirm the lift was arranged for Thursday’s visit to the Coppice Hospital… but that could have been yesterday.
Carers (I think) Sam called. Then Carer Charly. She took some photos of the Sunset. I tried the Lumix again, and it let me take one shot!!! I may have worn it out last night in taking so many shots of it? Hahaha!
The thicker envelope delivered was opened first.
Aha! An appointment for the first Brain CT scan had arrived. It’s for Friday, 24th February… I’ll just recheck; hang on… Yep, it’s for 2023. Luckily, Carer Sam, I think it was who collected the mail on her way in, read it for me. The print was a little small, and Cataract Katie is getting worse every day.
The picture of the CT machine,, was just like the one the QMC A&E took a scan of my bladders last month; it was just the circle bit…. or was it the month before?
I remember falling over in there, trying to get my leg up and over, so they could get to the bladder.
The map of where to go was even smaller in scale.
A long list of things that need ‘Special Attention’, included Diabetes and Neurological Conditions. Of which, I have.
I must remember to ask Richard if he can make a list of anything changed in my ways to take with me to the nurse at the Coppice Mental Hospital on Thursday. I keep forgetting to ask him. Or have I asked him yet? Worra-life!
I managed to get through the Easy-Link people and got the lady with the voice that suited my ear-holes. Checked and confirmed that I had booked a lift for Thursday at the Coppice and then made one for the 24th for the Brain Scan.
The other letter was telling me I had failed to attend the Doctor’s to have an INR Blood Test and had to do so urgently. I must contact the Doctor to book an appointment immediately. Well, being as they have been coming to my flat to take it for two years now, I assumed they were going to continue to! Also, as well as, besides that, No one told me anything? Does the nurse’s striking have any effect on this scenario?
Now, if I snuff it via a blood clot or stroke, heart attack, or bleeding to death… according to the unknown because it’s not been taken level of INR is too high or low – if anyone reading this can investigate for me, please.
Naturally, you may not find out cause I’ll be dead, won’t I? I’ll be busy at St Peter’s Gate logging into whichever department they send me to. I’m hoping St. Peter doesn’t want to send me back to try again? That would be horrendous… one lifetime of misery is enough for anyone. I shall refuse to go back, and if he doesn’t like it… well… I’ll sulk!Hehehe!
Better get some nosh sorted out, then.
Which I did – no photo, of course; the Fuji needs new batteries. Tsk!
I got carried away today… No, not the undertakers or men in white coats to blame. Har-har! It was a moment of freedom granted to my mind by VDD; Vascular Dementia Doreen. A cunning trick on her behalf to give me more grief, and it fooled and lured me into spending half an hour or so of heavenly pareidoliaing as the sunset faded for the day. And I took many photos of its progress, Bootiful! (Further down never the bottom of the blog.
But and however, she made me pay dearly for my moments of contentment. While viewing, photographing and admiring the beauty of Mother Nature through the kitchen window… I’d left the hot tap running. And dangerously accifauxpa-temptingly held in the evacuation that was brewing; So as not to miss the last photos as the darkness fell – But I had to rush off to the Porcelain Throne as things in the rear-end were starting of their own accord! Naturally, I failed to make it in time. Another mess to clean up! Which I did as quickly as I could to get back to the photographicalisationing. Which is when I noticed the hot tap (faucet) running. The water was cold by then. But the real pisser of them all? I missed the dawning of the darkness to picture. I do believe I swore vociferously! Ah, well, on with the diary…
Up at about 06:40hrs. I think the shock of a certain organ being extended, thus giving me great discomfort with the catheter, helped get me up and into wakefulness of sorts. I got the night pouch disconnected.
Went to wash the tube end, and the moon was still in view, so I snapped it wide and closer.
Not very well, mind.
Unbelievably, the day bag had reloaded with clear wee-wee.
I soon got it emptied.
Carer Richard arrived. Medications were given, and he reminded me of Thursday’s visit to the Mental Health Coppice Hospital. Now I must remember to ring Easy-Lift to make sure I have booked a lift. Before it is too late to do so. (Of course, I forgot to do it). Richard checked the taps and stove for me.
Ah, a bit of blood in the urine now. But it cleared up later. I caught the tube earlier, and it may have ripped the fungal lesion a bit. It hurt like hell. (I did this three more times in the afternoon and evening)
I received an email from Lisa at the Rehabilitation and Falls Service (South Locality). She is a caring lady. Asking many questions, which I probably went into too much detail in answering, now I think of it. But I answered them all. Bless her. Carer Sam arrived. Meds and safety checks were done. I was working on making mistakes, errors, misspellings and forgetting things on the blog.
Carer Kara called. Always helpful, that gal.
Teatime, I went to make a brew, and the sunset photo farce began. Here are the photos in the order they were taken; some zoomed in and some not. There are a good few; sorry if they bore you.
But I love them, even if they did cause the Porcelain Throne and tap to be left on scenarios. Hehehe!
I took a couple, one of the car park, the other of the houses, to break up the monotony for you.
Then back to the sky…
Then I had to tend to the Porcelain Throne farce.
Air Fryer tried arrived; good timing on my behalf. The frier-timer had about ten minutes left to go. Richard let me make the meal before he gave me the medications and put the night pouch onto the day bag for me. He took the waste bags with him. The chip putties were consumed with some tomato ketchup. The letdown (I usually get one of these regularly) was that the Lumix would not work for me at all. Well, it gave me a blank screen. I’ll try it again in the morning… but my hope is not high.
AN UP AND DOWN DAY TODAY Depressed one minute, singing away five minutes later, looking for figures and faces in the clouds… Then for some unknown reason, I got such a sharp pain from Little Inchie, and I was not moving, just sat making my usual mistakes and errors on the computer? Unfortunately, off and on, they have been pestering me all day. They still are. Humph!
When I burnt the meal, the third time in three days, a reason or cause to feel down you’d have thought? But no, I just drained and wrapped the burnt stew in multiple thick waste bags, and I took them to the dustbin. Returned to start making another meal.
I couldn’t find my favourite smooth writing Paper-Mate Ink-Joy pen. There’s no logic about the panic I got myself into. Jesus, I’ve got no end of pens I could have used – But No! I just had to find it at all costs! Nothing else got done for well over an hour; nothing else seemed to matter! Until I found it underneath Hopewell’s c1962 falling apart splintered cabinet, right at the back against the wall.
This was not going to beat me, oh, no! I got the best of the picker-upperers. Picker-Percy.
It’s been used almost daily for a couple of years or more, but still working well. It can (and does) pick up individual tablets, even the smallest ones, the Beta-Blocker, Bisoprolol Fumarate, and I-litre bottles of water. A great friend indeed, especially when in need. But, this time, and not Percy’s fault…
I foolishly leant a little too far forward in my effort to fish the pen from the darkness beneath… By the time I’d got it, a few things had taken place…
❶ As I leant down, I squashed against the catheter tube and yanked it out a little… ❷ The swearing and cringing did not help the pain in any way, but I felt a smidge better. ❸ I got Metal-Micky (the four-pronged stick) and went to the wet room to stop the bleeding from Little Inchy. Got some new Depends on, and back to the problem at hand. ❹ Stooped and lost my balance, ‘Clunk’ as my head hit the loose door on the cabinet… ❺ Then back to the wet room and put some Savlon on the forehead, and once again, to stop the bleeding from Little Inchy. Got some new Depends on. I tried to assess any damage to and back to the problem at hand. I got the pen retrieved and should have been more than content… Hah! ❻ It was a different pen, not the Paper-Mate! That’s still hiding somewhere. Hehe!
Carer Jozeph, Carer Sam, and Carer Sarah called up to now. (20:00hrs) A late one to fit the later.
Only been two visits up to now.
Here are the few photos taken today?
♫ FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD ♫ DELIVERED I was soi lucky that Carer Joseph was here when they arrived. The driver left them down in the main lobby! Joseph fetched them up for me, for which he got some cold coffee and all my thanks for helping.
and the last of the fodder
I took this early after getting up to try and catch the shadows from the other flats as they stretched across the tree copse/.
Going to get my evening meal now. Before the night bag gets attached.
Adding the tasty ersatz bacon to the tomatoes, Mediterranean 7-vegetable sauce, and sea-salted, chopped tomatoes with basil in the saucepan. Stirred continually ( as the hot water tap was left run cold, Huh!), and got it served up on the tray.
I got settled in the £300, bought nine years ago from the second-hand shop, Harold Haemorrhoid testing, repugnantly beige-coloured, crumb containing, virus-breeding, acne-giving, rickety, itch-producing, back-pains-guaranteed, none-working, recliner. Two of the over-floured bread rolls to dunk in the juices. And the last of the cheap Strawberry jam imitation desserts. I wallowed in the feast, slowly enjoying the flavour. The Taste-Rating for this one was 8.9/10.
after mayhap the best-flavoured nosh all week came the job of washing the things up from its creation. It took me ages to get the pots clean. Thank heavens I used a throw-away tin foil tray in the oven; that made things easier not having to scrub the oven dish.
After getting things sorted, I dipped into the Sprinkle buttons for a self-treat. Seemed a good and earned idea to me.
Sorry I did now! I popped three of the rainbow-covered bits of chocolate into my mouth.The pain and blood from the broken tooth that one got lodged in, indicated that doing this was not a good idea. It wasn’t! Tsk!
I took these photos of the late sun setting. Bootiful!
A distance shot… Then a close-up of the departing sun over the horizon.
Came in, and to the for me. He emptied the urine bucket and checked that the flow from Day Pouch to Night Pouch was working. All good. Richard checked the taps and stove were not left on. He pointed out that I’d taken the antibiotics at the wrong time. At the time, I was convinced I was doing right and could not get my head around the problem, but accepted his findings without question. Somehow deep in the depths of the controlled brain, I was more confused than ever, however: In the morning, when I thought about it, it was so obvious to me that the lad was so right. How these changes in awareness come and go annoy me. Then I get angry with myself. Not as angry as when I do stupid things, like leaning forward and bending, kneeling full well there is a risk of a visit from or at worst, an . Then get pee’d off when it happens! Grrr!
Another example of Inchies newly acquired ineptitude, incompetence, inadequacy and incapacitation are shown above. Not one of the best selfies I’ve tried for. Hehehe! Still, I might use it on the blog, mayhap as an ode-topper?
Safe Sleep, with Bo-Beep, After counting the sheep, I hope your sleep is deep… Dream of nothing grossièreté, Find happiness in a heartbeat!
Total mayhem-problems with the . I’ll try to explain what they were chronologically. But with so much and farcical situations arising, I did little else all day. Trying to sort out getting the flow to the bag again… and even worse problems. As I hope you will read about; I need some good luck through the ether to me, so I can cope with them a little easier and not get frustrated so much. Not many memory notes on the pad. It all happened so persistently.
I woke feeling myself for the first time in months, peeing away merrily… I thought I was dreaming at first, but no!
The blood and urine mix was all over my clothes, body, and the £300 second-hand shop bought nine years ago, c1966, discomfiting, alarmingly beige-coloured, crumb-containing, TV remote hiding, not working recliner.
The flow was so vicious, that the Protection Pants were soaked, and legs, socks, feet and slippers were covered in blood. I got the night catheter off first; no point in cleaning up and making more mess straight away… Huh!
Aha! I’ve found some scribbled notes – hard to read, but I can use them for updating here and there. Seems I got up at 03:00hrs. And took off the night pouch and visited the , the first of several in the morning. The first three were practically normal evacuations; the next three were sticky, phooey and messy!
Sorted out the mess of the pouches and got new Protection Pants on. I just had a smashing phone call from the Lovely Lisa-Petal ♥ and Billum 👍 in the US of A! I fear I was a little not up to much when the call came in, and I had great difficulty in hearing everything that the Sweetheart said. Damn it, we lost the signal. But it was fantastic to get the call. Lisa & Billum are my Cyber-friends and are much loved.
The needed attention all the time.
Rising, things looked okay
Removing the night bag
One of the emptying sessions
Carer Richard arrived. The bag problems were all I had to show interest in. I was a smidge depressed – but got to the stage of Dracula Depression later. The constant changes in the bag’s performance riled me. Richard got the medications done and checked in the right leg bag.
Carer Sarah was the next visitor. Got the medications sorted. Then the great cock-up with the Catheter Bag!
I emptied the blood again…
But the flow from the catheter was not getting through to the bag
The blood still flowed from little Inchie. But, nowhere near as bad. Unfortunately, my trying to get the tube further into the Little Inchie, it irritated the Fungal Lesion. Added to my having to bend and stretched so much to clean things up, the Mystery Stabbing Pain in the Ribs returned.
A damned good job. I’ve got a good supply of Depends in stock.
PHEW!
The Catheter pouch suddenly filled up in fifth gear time!
Boy, it was full!
Emptying the bag was difficult, with all the blood clots.
Carer Kara arrived. I told her of my problems. She wanted to know if I wanted the night bag fitting or not. I farted about and dithered on whether to. As I saw it, with little blood and urine going into the day bag again, it should be okay; with my doing the blog until the early hours, it won’t matter about missing sleep. I’ve missed that much already. (Sarcasm Detected)
Going to get this posted off and get some sleep if I can.
06:20hrs: Woke and removed the Catheter Night Pouch. And well-bloodied it was. Tummy ache.
Amazed at how many times the photos of the Catheter Bags seemed to have faces, figures of animals, and other objects on them. Can you see the mousse in this one? I’m worried about the pains still coming from the guts and Little Inchie. And, of course, the thick blood in the urine.
Emptied the Night Catheter bag in the WC.
Took this photo when making a mug of tea.
Carer Richard arrived, and he got the medications given to me. Told him about the blood in the urines again and how it was even redder than yesterday… or less brown, mayhap.
The blood coming into the Day bag seemed thicker than ever?
Back to the Wet Room to use the Porcelain Throne. Found that the bleeding from Little Inchies Fungal Lesion was worse than ever before. The tube was tugging at it. I imagine.
The Co-op delivery arrived. Not a lot this time.
Yee Gods! The Day Pouch had filled up already, and I’d not been drinking the water, cause I was sorting the food out? Better get it empties…
The overloaded pouch only let me release a tiny drop of blood & urine. Then the release valve seemed to stop working! I could be in trouble here cause the bag is so full will only block the bladder with the stake blood in it. No wonder I had a tummy ache! I tried to ring the Meridian Office, but no answers to the three calls I made. So, I called the District Nurse’s number. As I was explaining my problem… The bloody valve in the catheter opened itself… Blood and urine-soaked slippers, socks, and feet, as well as over the carpet. What a state I got into cleaning it up… well, trying to! You can see the blood clot in the above picture that shot out first. followed by a torrent of urine & blood. Argh!
The lady at the District Nurses HQ said she was sending someone around to take a look at things for me and rang off.
I continued to try and get myself, and the place cleaned up. But the stretching and bending, even though I was using kitchen towels wrapped around the picker-upperer, started Back-Pain-Brenda, Anne Gyna, the Mystery Rib Pains, Shuddering-Shoulder-Shirley and a lengthy Dizzy Dennis attack off. I was not in a good state at that moment. Half an hour later, I was washing the wee-wee bucket. and a nurse arrived, a pretty nurse, too. I was in a bit of a state panic-wise, so didn’t get her name… or maybe I did but forgot it. Yes, that sounds likely to me!
The nurse listened while I told her the sequence of events. Took a photo of the blood clot and date on the guilty pouch. Most annoyed at the Catheter Pouch being changed, asked me if they knew (Carers, I imagine) that the bag must be changed every seven days. That’s what it is designed for, no longer; seven days is the limit permitted. Doreen Dementia intervened, and I could not answer her. The pains were not helping me to concentrate. She told me to ring if had any other problems.
An interesting photo here. No idea what it’s of. Hehe!
Gotten Himmel! The new bag filled up quickly again.
Emptied the pouch.
Took a snap of the much-missed-visiting tree copse.
I see an image in this picture of the day bag. Can you?
This one reminded me of Telstar.
The new shape of the pouches was noted. No faces or images were seen.
Back to the Porcelain Throne. Wearing the just emptied day bag. The blood flowing in looked like veins. Haha!
The bag keeps filling up so quickly?
An hour after emptying it.
Carer Sam arrived on a safety visit. Later, Carer Kara arrived for the late medicationalisationings. We had a quick natter, she was very busy.
Carer Richard came for the late check. He got the night bag fitted.
I pressed on with this blog until around 02:00hrs. Then got my head down.
Back in the morning – Hopefully.
Arrived and to the day one. Checked the taps and stove, then took the waste bags for me.
