Got to sleep around 03:00hrs I woke in need of a wee-wee at 05:35hrs. My EQ told me this was going to be a stinker-of-a-day. A fraught, exigent sort of Sunday, lonely as well. (It was right too!)
I extracted my bulbous body from the rickety, ci 1968, gungy-beige, second-hand, £300 recliner, caught my balance, but still took the stick with me, and visited the EGPWWB (Emergency Grey Plastic Wee-wee Bucket). I was gobsmacked at how full the bucket was. I knew that the hours spent trying my best to get to sleep, were wee-wee ridden, but the amount passed surprised me. I think I managed around three hours maximum. Getting fed up of this, especially as sleep was never a problem before the stroke. Hey-ho, mustn’t complain, I’m still here, pale and white, struggling, but alive. I must remember this!
I went to empty and resanitise the EGPWWB. The colouring was a darkish brown. As was expected, Sophia and Caroline had warned to expect this with taking the Nitrofurantoin antibiotic. The hands and finger had joined the right leg in dancing about every time any contact is made. The fingers and hand with a mug of tea and the foot contacting the floor seem to be very popular with the Axonotmesis at the moment. Hehehe!
I had a go at the sock-glide, but I might have been a little overconfident this time, as you can see in the photograph. The shakes came at the wrong time for me (Not that there is a right time, snigger!) Just as I was inserting the foot into the sock.
Hey-ho!
I can testify to the good quality metal used in the frame of the sock-glide. Haha!
The picture is a little blurred, as the hands were also shaking a bit, but they all calmed down shortly. I even managed one of the Hokey-Pokey dance routines again.
Off to the kitchen, and was greeted by blasting wind coming through the windows. Mind you, it was blowing a good bit out there Brr!
On closer inspection, it turned out that I had not pressed hard enough last night when shutting the window on the left.
Hence the wind was blowing in.
So, I managed to get it appropriately closed, after a few tries. That’s some else since the stroke, I can’t believe how weak I am now.
I tended to the health checks, took the medications, and made a brew of Strong English Breakfast tea in the China mug.
I got on the computer and realised how late it was. I don’t like this getting up late. It was already hours passed my usual blog posting time, and I had not even started to update it yet! Sour, bitter, and Fed-up Modes all Adopted!
I had a comment on WordPress, answered it, and went on the Reader Section. By the time I had done this, the EGPWWB was already refilled to a third of its capacity. All of the wee-wees were of the UWTWW Unwilling-Weak-Trickle-Wee-Wee class, up to now. But, they seemed to be getting more frequent, so the antibiotics had worked. Another cleansing of the bucket. More disinfectant added and back in place near the computer chair.
The shakes had tryingly returned, and so much time was lost, with errors being made and having to be corrected. I bet I’ve missed no-end of them. Oy Vey!
Back to the kitchen to take the midday meds: I was most annoyed but unsurprised, almost nonchalant to find that I had left the hot water tap running. To make thing worse, I emptied the bowl, and sod-me, I did it again! Luckily, I noticed before the almost tepid water overflowed this time. I didn’t get annoyed with myself at all this time. For the earlier warnings from the EQ, had prepared me well. But if anything else goes wrong, things might be different. Semi-Smug-Mode-Harnessed!Hahaha!
I realised that I had not put the Ankle-Support-Strapping on, as the foot went over when I was still in the kitchen, lucky any damage was limited by my having the walking stick in my hand at the time. The reason for this being; The toes and feet, still in need of the Chiropodists attention, at least to have the toe-nails cut, are no just too painful if I put on the strapping. And, I have another week and a day, before I can get to see anyone. The situation is not good! For certain, walking is more painful, but perhaps less so than with the Ankle-Support on. But the risk of a broken bone is so much higher now. I can’t win, can I? Peed-Off-Mode now adopted. Humph!
A few more UWTWWs were taken, and the bucket is now about just over half-way filled, so I once again sterilised and freshened it, took the EGPWWB back to the computer chair.
The rain came down, and it took my spirits with it a little.
Finally, at last, around lunchtime, I got around to starting today’s blog going. The shakes were still flamboyant in the fingers and hands, but as I was sitting most of the time, apart from the occasional visit to the Emergency Grey Plastic Wee-Wee Bucket, this was to be anticipated.
I did so far and then went on CorelDraw to create some funny political graphics and a couple of Inchcock Thoughts funnies for the drafts.
Got the fodder on. Black bean sauce with chicken pieces, tomatoes, spirit vinegar, and mushroom slices. Ate it all this time. (Not all the milk-bread of course).
Got the washing-up done. And watched the rain falling for a while.
I got in the second-hand rickety recliner, and pulled the bobble hat down over my eyes, convinced I would surely be able to nod off this time, I felt so weary mentally.
An hour or so later, I nodded off. And had a repeat dream, I think. The night before, I dreamed of working at Scan Security and being sent to Netherfield in a hurry.
This time tonight, I woke in a panic, thinking I was late for getting to the site… It took a moment or two for me to realise it was not twenty-odd years ago, nor real. Most uncomfortable making! I battled to get back to sleep, fighting the pain from the cramps, so it took me a while to drop-off again.
The landline phone rang, waking me up. I made my way painfully to answer it. An Asian sounding voice waffled on, but I could not understand a word he was saying without the hearing aids being available. Over the next hour and a half, he rang at least ten more times, but I ignored them all. On the next ring, I shouted down the line “What?” The same voice spoke, and I could make-out ‘food delivery’… I told him this is the wrong number, and he keeps waking me up! I slammed down the phone. Tired, weary and now annoyed as well! By now; 22:20hrs, any more sleep was out of the question.
So I got up, had a UWTWW, and got on the computer to update this diary.
The landline rang out again – it was as she said; A forwarded text message. I rang-off, an unhappy Inchcock!
I went to make a brew and took a photograph of the night scene from the unwanted, new, light & view blocking, multi-window panes that need cleaning, and I can’t reach to clean them, windows; That will require the use of the stepladder to take pictures of, or see anything down on Chestnut Walk. Such as ambulances, paramedics, fire engines, Police Cars or muggers.
Then, a summoning to the Porcelain Throne arrived. Crikey it was a hard, solid, and most painful, longest evacuation I’ve suffered for ages! I took an extra Senna when I eventually got myself sorted out. Still, there was no bleeding, surprisingly.
Worra lonely, frustrating and nervewracking day! Humph!
03:30hrs. What a horrible, macabre, perturbing and disturbing night’s effort at sleeping. (I might think of more words to add to this list later, like atrocious, dreadful, direful, hideous, contemptible, execrable, lousy, frustrating, heinous, laughable, doleful, third-rate, rebarbative… depictive words like that! Oy Vey and Pickled Walnuts!
I only got about an hour in, then woke in need of the Porcelain Throne. Or at least I thought I required the Porcelain Throne. An almost nippy exit from the £300, c1968, grotty-beige coloured rickety, ramshackle recliner, the feet,, and toes were giving me bother once I stood up, and off to the wet room. Much wind and no movement, despite great painful efforts made, and my continuing to take the Senna tablets? While I sat there a long time, failing to prompt any activity from the innards, the causes of my lack of kip flowed monositantly and incessantly into the brain. Of course, as to be expected, there were no understanding or solutions found on my behalf, of why, or what can be done to solve this relatively new conundrum?
By the I capitulated and gave up all hope of internal movements, I was not interested in sleep anymore. In fact, it was a struggle to find anything to be involved in. Then I remembered it was Saturday, the Cheesy potato meal for Josie. This cheered me up a little.
A wee-wee of the VSSWWW (Very-Short-Sprinkly-Weak-Wee-Wee) urination classification. And then went to get the medications ready and do the Health Checks. A bit different today; Dia 154, Sys 69, Pulse 88, and temperature 54.8°. Getting the tablets out of the blister packs reminded me of Ping-Pong. Humph! The finger-ends were dancing about when they made contact with anything hard, more than ever before, and it lasted far longer too, this time. The right leg was occasionally jumping, but I’ve almost gotten used to that.
I wanted to make a start on Saturday… erm Friday Inchcock to get it done. There is a lot of photographs and writing to take place. The fingers slowing me down was bad enough, but then the Liberty-Global crap Virgin Internet started going so slow! Of course, its the weekend again!
I stopped trying to use the computer, in the hopes that it will come back to its average pathetic speed soon. “In the hopes…” saying such a thing brings on a feeling of dysphoria, and an acceptance of just how stupid I really am!
I made a brew of tea and got some hand-wash clobber in the bowl with freshener and liquid soap powder. A heavy shirt and a pair of bamboo socks. Oh, and the Ankle-Strappings.
I checked on the computer, and surprisingly, the Liberty-Global internet service was still hogwash and slow. So, I have to be careful without the Ankle-Support on, but at least I am not going out anywhere. Another reason for feeling low!
So I carried on with the hand-washing, and did my best to wring them out and got them on the slow-airer flatbed, and hung some up.
Despite the Liberty-Global ramshackle pretend service being so slow, I pressed on, battling not only internet, but the electrified jumping fingers, and it was a hell of a struggle, too, I can tell yers. Humph!
Some or other I got the blog finished but was really in need of some sleep. iLife was feeling mashugana to me now!
A lot of tap-tap, nock-knocking from the flat above this morning. I hope he’s fell over and injured himself, self-stabbed with one of his screwdrivers or drills. Oh, I meant I hope he’s not fell over and hurt himself, self-stabbed with one of his screwdrivers or drills. Silly me!
I called to see what time Josie would like her nosh, but no answer.
I kept turning the clothes that were drying.
I went on TFZ Facebooking then WordPress Reader.
I called to see what time Josie would like her nosh, but no answer.
I made a start on this post. But after an hour or so, the internet became even slower.
I called to see what time Josie would like her nosh, Aha! She was up and answered.
We agreed 12:30 > 13:00hrs for the food to be delivered.
I took some photographs from the view-blocking, thick-framed, multi-glass-panes cleaning needed new Kitchen window, that I have to get on a step ladder in the event of my wanting to see anything below, like a fire engine, ambulance or policeman. I take back the last one, we don’t even see any policemen anywhere in Sherwood, and precious few in Nottingham. Tsk!
Far Left
Left
Ahead
Right
Got the cheesy potatoes in the oven already, turned them up and went into the wet room to get the ablutions done.
All cleaned up and feeling better, I got Josie’s nosh prepared and went to deliver it for her, at 12:55hrs. No answer to her doorbells. Oh, dear!
I titivated the drying clothes and got my potatoes in the oven.
No answer to her doorbells. Oh, dear! Mark Two!
Later, with my potatoes burning and hers going cold, I went again to delivery Josies for her. She answered she had not heard the last two bell rings.
Shame it was as hot as I would have liked to have been for her. Still, the gal ate it all she said, apart from the bread, she does not eat white bread, sourdough or otherwise.
I did a bit of updating on this blog, then Josie called to return the tray and things. She seemed to have enjoyed it, which pleased me.
I got my plate of food. But once again, I overdid the quantity. I ate the cheesy-potatoes (Of course, Hehe!), some of the tomatoes, sausages, and cucumber, and a little of the greenery, along with the mandarins in water. Not so bad though, I reckon I consumed about 70% of the fodder on offer.Not too bad, really, and the cheesy-potato flavouring was out-of-this-world, delectable. I used distilled vinegar this time, with a little bit of mustard and sea salt added to the mix.
I got down to watch some TV and set the timer, so I wouldn’t miss that Jackie Chan’s film, ‘Who am I’. A light-weight semi-comedy.
Josie rang the ‘I only want to be with you’ tuned doorbells. She gave me some yogourts and two potatoes. It was her way of saying thank you, I think, bless her cotton socks. ♥
Back to trying to get to sleep, and I saw an advert for the Hughie Tyson v unheard of Canadian Norrad fight. Being as kip was again showing no signs of coming, I foolishly stayed up to watch it. Crap! Absolute rubbish!
To make things worse, I was feeling so tired, despite having done nothing physical for ages, but Morpheus meant to avoid me at all costs. Then the brain started throwing things at me, my worries, desires, and failures, with childhood misery-memories thrown in the salmagundi of sleep denying torments.
The curtains were drawn, and I pulled the bobble hat down over my eyes. This was not working. So I tried the thinking of happier times… which took a lot of memory searching, and brought to mind more errors and wrong choices I had made over the years: Which made sleep even more distant and reluctant! I concentrated on the angling days at Attenborough reserve. And this brought on how much I miss my pipe of Erinmore Mixture. Getting disturbed, wanting a wee-wee so often. This was not working at all.
However, sheer tiredness, I think, got me off to kip eventually. By then it was about 03:00hrs!
I woke in need of a wee-wee at 05:35hrs. Peed-off! Tsk!
03:00hrs. Oh, what a great nights sleep! I woke up, feeling better than I have done in ages. Six hours deep restful slumber, most appreciated. Thanks to Caroline ♥, for her tips on getting to sleep. Although at the time she was telling me, I was somewhat half-not-with-it, she left some printed A4 tips, which I read and used last night. Zzzz… Great, bless yers!
I was in need of a none-urgent (I thought) wee-wee. So I mangled my way out of the £300 second-hand, grotty-pot-marked, c1968, rickety recliner and stood to gain me balance for a moment.
There were no signs of any nocturnal nibbling or nighttime wanderings. But I must have been doing some moving about, for there were tablets, a tube of pain-gel, a pen and a part-filled bottle on spring water laying on the carpet near to the Ottoman? Perhaps I yawned or something and knocked them off? They were not knocked very far, they lie close to the box… (Please note the increase in my analysationistical and investigative capabilities this morning, Hehehe!)
I grabbed the walking stick and went to the kitchen. On entering through the door, my heart fluttered and a feeling of ‘Oh, not again’, rang in my head, as I thought I could hear the tap running! And this without any hearing aids in! (All broke awaiting repair, which is not for two weeks yet, and then a five-week wait for the new inserts to be made, Humph!) I nearly slipped into ‘Moaning Mood Status’ then! However, contrariwise, the hot or cold taps were not running. Phew! But what or where the noise was coming from, I’ve no idea, but it stopped a minute or so later? Another flat 72 Mystery!
A good one this was! I’d got the kettle on for the tea, and as I was washing the mug from last night, the right leg devilishly went into dance-(shaking)-mode. The foot was coming up a good few inches, twisting and slamming down again. If a CCTV camera had been fitted in the kitchen, I imagine it would have looked like a cross between a pregnant overweight baby elephant with three legs trying to dance the hokey pokey, or some poor devil suffering from Sydenham’s chorea (St Vitus). But it only lasted for an entertaining minute or two. I grabbed the counter and let it have its way. Not that I could have stopped it anyway. This reminded me of a week or so ago when this happened. I was at the bus stop on Winchester Street, waiting for the 40 bus. About five other passengers were waiting, who were all taken like I was, by surprise by my sudden impulsive jerking about. When the bus arrived, and we all got on, the other folk all sat as far away from me as they could. The situation was made worse, by my stuttering as I tried to explain why I was seemingly dancing. Tsk!
All calmed down again, and I made the brew, took the medications, including the last of the Nitrofurantoin antibiotic tablets, and did the health checks. Sys 175, Dia 71, Pulse 98, and temperature 35.2°c. With no Carer any more, I can now have a shower at 0700hrs (Okayed by the Tiller Girl and Nottingham City Homes Patch Manager, Angela!), when I do the ablutions later. I’ll struggle with the fresh socks-glide and Ankle-Support-Strapping after the ablutions are finished and done.
Off to the wet room in response to the need for the Porcelain Throne. This was the third movement in over a week now, and a right painful one too! A solid torpedo that amazed me at how it came out at all! This time the blood from Harold’s Haemorrhoids was only slight, that was a good thing! I am still taking the Senna, though. At least things are coming at last, but I couldn’t half do with things softening a bit. Haha! No idea why I laughed there?
The morning’s picture of the pins left me a tad concerned. The pale white, cadaverous, almost hoariness of the skin was more acute than ever.
I found the pitiful paleness, ominous… no, that’s not the wording, erm, ill-boding, or baneful perhaps. Certainly not precisely over-hopeful for how things are going. Ah-well, c’est la vie. I think Hehe!
Later, when I put the photos from the card to the computer, I found this picture that had been taken? Another Inchcock’s Flat 72 Mystery!
Finally, I got on with completing the Thursday post. I was in a better frame of mind yesterday, as I am today too, so doing up the draft was a pleasant job this morning. I got it done relatively fast also.
Until the fingers started wobbling, and that slowed me down somewhat. Made a brew (I’ll get one drank, I hope. Haha!) I took a shot of the distant cloudiness that was hiding a lot of the distant view. The shadow in the foreground is from my (Despite all the mess we’ve had for two years of upgrading), beloved Woodthorpe Court.
I created a page Brexit Humour graphic for top for the Inchcock Today, then I made a start on this post next.
Typing was still tricky, as the fingers insisted in acting like they getting an electric-shock each time the ends touched the keyboard. Yet any sensation of making contact was absent? Humph!
I went again to the kitchen, determined to make a brew and get it imbibed this time. Talking of time, I feel the need to add some advice for other Warfarin users;
Do not take things for granted when washing your tea mug. There may be a pair of scissors in the washing up bowl that you were soaking. The pointy ends of the scissors have a habit of sticking down your fingernails and drawing blood, not good if you are on Warfarin. So try to avoid this scenario, please.
I gave up with making the tea. As it was 0700hrs now, and I opted to get the ablutions sorted, then tackle the sock-glide and the titanic painful struggle to get the Ankle-support strapping on.
Got some shirts and socks in soak for a hand-washing.
Back in a bit, I hope! Hahaha!
The shave and teggie-cleaning were bloodless. (Haha! Smug-Mode-Adopted!) A mid-shave wee-wee proved to be of the SHSNCWW (Short-Hosepipe-Splashing-No-Sensation-Wee-wee) variety. A rarity!
The shower was enjoyed. Getting dressed was alright, and no problem until I went to fetch the Sock-Glide from the spare room, and stubbed my toes on the four-wheeled-trolley! A couple of silent unmild-oaths were uttered. But getting the long bamboo sock on went well.
I went to the kitchen and titivated the clothes I’d left soaking and drying from the had-wash.
I got the two drying/airing devises out, after wringing out the togs as best I could. It’s incredible how much strength I’ve lost since the stroke.
It’s going to take ages for them to get dry, but never-mind, at least I’m still here to make a mess of it. Haha!
One, the flat one in the kitchen with bowls and paper towels underneath to catch the dripping water. Sad innit?
The stand-up machine in the hallway with the damp extra large shirt and the socks on it. Then, having avoided the task for a while, I tackled the dreaded job of getting the Ankle-Support put on.
But it was no bother or hassle, whatsoever, a piece of cake, simplicity itself, cushty, couldn’t have been easier…. all right then… that might not have strictly been absolutely correct as descriptions go…
This picture of the Ankle-Support-Strapping on my foot does look like it has been achieved successfully alright, and this may be the case indeed.
The fib is in my saying it was no bother. If I could bottle the pain and frustration I used-up in getting the thing on; We could then send it to Jean-Claude Juncker, to show him what pain and frustration really feel like! I would not charge a fee for supplying it!
Lucy from the stroke support team and Clinical Neurosis ladies are calling this morning. So I must catch up on this blog as much as possible, for it may be a long meeting with the neurosis ladies.
Lucy arrived, I had put down the appointment wrongly on the Calendar. Hard to believe I know! Haha! It was just Lucy. Cognitive tests, Memory Tests, Blood taking, and Physio tests all done over the next two days… Well, it felt like it! A nice lady, patient with my waffling and going off track, too! She may see me in a year she said when sadly departing.
11:25hrs. I got ready the three-wheeled-trolley- guide and had a limp down to the shops.
The weather was perfect for a little hobble-out. The three-wheeled trolley has still not been mastered going downhill, though. Hehe!
On the walk down Chestnut Way, the place looked busy today, contractors mostly. I called in the Nottingham City Homes, Winwood Heights Flats, and Administration shed for the Generalleutnantess Wardens Temporary HQ, Willmott-Dixon workers breakfast and tea-break room, Sarcasm & Insult distribution area, Tenants Socialisation Shed. Rumourmongering Clinic. Telling Inchcock off Zone, Things like crockery and pottery to be stolen from, and residents shed, but nobody was in, so I continued to the end of Chestnut Way and turned to take a shot of Winchester Court and the vehicular obstructions.
Going down Winchester Street, I should have known the name of these wildflowers, after Caroline told me them the other day, but I can’t recall it. Humph! But to me, they are beautiful!
Down in Sherwood, I bought the groceries and the right-size this time, sink plug.
The Big Issue sellers spot had the daughter in the spot today. She only has two mobiles compared to her Mother’s four.
I went to the Ozan food centre. I had a heck of a job getting around with the three-wheeled trolley, up the steps and getting in peoples way. Huh!
I came out with cucumber, two tomatoes, a potato (For Josie and my nosh tomorrow), and a packet of some chicken cooked skinless sausages, with lots of ingredients, but they taste awfully delicious.
Then I hobbled up to the Co-op store. Again, just like last Friday, the shelves looked bare. Well, the fresh food one did.
I spent a lot in there. Baguettes, mini-tomatoes, salad tray and some smoked mackerel, to go with the Cheesy-potatoes on Saturdays shared fodder with Josie.
She says I am her weekend cook. Haha!
Out and across the road up into Aslam’s Post Office shop.
Got disinfectant for the EGPWWB (Emergency Grey Plastic Wee-wee bucket). Now the Nitrofurantoin antibiotics are finished, I expect that the frequent, everyone-different wee-wees will return. A bottle of spring water.
And the most disappointing loaf of Polish Sourdough I’ve ever had! In fact, looking at the picture, I may well have bought the wrong bread altogether. It was dry and tasteless. Eurgh! Hey-ho!
Back across the road and into the Wilko store. Where I got an air-freshener, sink plug (the right size this time) and some more liquid soapflakes for the hand-washing. Paid up, and made my way up the hill to the Dentist to confirm the appointment for a check-up.
The feet and toes were getting painful, and I was limping badly now. I think that the earlier stubbing of the toes has caused a problem.
As I limped rather embarrassingly up Mansfield Road, just before Hood Street, I stopped to allow the foot and toe-pain to ease.
It took a good while to ease off. And for some reason, I was amused at some poor devil of the motorist who was struggling herself, to get out of Hood Street to turn right up Mansfield Road.
I almost gave a cheer of congratulation out loud, when after I don ‘t know how long, she eventually got out. I wondered how much petrol had been used up in that one manoeuvre? Ah, well! Just thought I’d mention it, after my taking the pictures.
I got to the dentist near the bus stop, and as luck would have it, Christine and her hubby were standing outside. I asked them to keep an eye on my trolley; then struggled up the steep step into the hallway then, to the reception. Apparently, they have sent me a letter telling me the appointment has to be changed as the technician (not Dentist?) was not available on that day. She gave me a new date, Tuesday 28th May 2019. I must remember to put this in the Google Calendar.
I added about the stroke and Warfarin, asking that he does not do any work that is not absolutely needed. She gave a head-moving smirk and said: “None of our technicians do that!” I replied: “You’re talking to someone who knows different. His skill in banging in his screwdriver to make a cavity is well known to those patients who have moved surgery after paying out!” I laughed. The look on her face – I should have shrivelled up and died, really! Hehehe! I departed and joined Christine and hubby. A natter of sorts was had. Getting on the bus, only one seat remained a side-saddle, which of course with the trolley, was fine.
Back up to the flats in the bus, a quick hello with some residents waiting to get on the vehicle, after I all but fell with the trolley getting off. Then limped, no, really limped, with Christine back to the flats.
When I got inside, many letters had been delivered.
One from the dentists was telling me about the need to reset the appointment.
The INR Anticoagulation & Deep-Vein Thrombosis Clinic results and dosages for the week.
I needed to take a look at the pins and feet; they were giving me agony now.
I got the Ankle-Support-Strapping off and got some immediate pain relief from the feet and toes.
Not a pretty sight. The area stubbed earlier had left some scratches/bruises. The wear-blotches were from the Ankle Support Strapping and shoes. The long overdue nail cutting was adding to the discomfort. The big toe is moving behind the next toe, worryingly like Sister Jane’s is doing, though nowhere near as advanced or corrupt yet. But she has her eye problem that has taken precedence now, bless her.
Called at Josie’s to see when she wanted her nosh tomorrow and if she like Smoked Mackerel, but no answer.
After a one-off LHBLWW (Long Hosepipe-Blasting like Wee-wee), I got the purchases away, and the nosh prepared.
I sorted the evening medications into a pot. Jane rang while I was sorting the tablets out. We had a good chinwag. Afterwards, I started the medication pots again, in case I got anything wrong with stopping half-way through.
Took the night medications, a little earlier than I should have, but at least I won’t forget to take them now.
Got the fodder sorted and prepared. I didn’t eat all of it this time. Mainly because the Polish sourdough sliced bread was nothing like it usually tastes. It was bland and dry. Bit of a cock-up at the bakery, or is it me?
The chicken & vegetable flavour skinless sausages were sweet, though. Flavour Rating (Not counting the Sourdough bread) was 7/10 – Counting the bread: 2.5/10. Tsk!
Did the washing up, and settled into the c1968 rickety recliner. Eating and watching the TV at the same time now. I was tickled pink to see that an hour programme called ‘Dusty Springfield at the BBC’, was on BBC 4… but it didn’t start until 21:00hrs. Oh, dear! I dilly-dallied, equivocated and fence-straddled over whether to stay-up-to watch it. My vacillating is getting worse lately.
As it happened, there was no getting to sleep anyway. So I watched the programme. How disappointing it was, though. Cover songs and a few newer ones, but none of her good stuff at all! An old one of the Springfields doing a version of Wimoweh was interesting. A lot of time was spent about her work in the USA, and the sad Pet Shop Boys with Dusty. A duet with a young Tom Jones, in there. All crap!
Although I felt annoyed that I’d stayed up late (for me) to watch it, really I had no choice, because sleep was still not an option even after the programme had finished.
Plenty of repeated bouts of leg cramps, and a few SWWWs (Short-weak-wee-wees), ensured it was hours before I managed to nod off. The mind was doing its toying with me, fears, worries, past errors, even uncomfortable, thorny memories from my childhood joined it the stampede of uncherished thoughts from so many years ago; especially some wrong choices I have made. No chance of any kip, really.
I pondered on whether I should wear the Ankle-Support in the morning, then remembered it needed washing tonight. I’ll do it in the mornings along with a shirt and socks… anything but sleep!
02:50hrs. Well, flipping ‘eck, a good nights sleep had! Caroline’s advice tried, and it seemed to work brilliantly! Only interrupted twice for a wee-wee, and the last session last for about five hours, I reckon. Of glorious, unbroken bliss! Woke a lot more refreshed, but still, the heavy eye-lids from previous sleep deprivationing lingered. (Clever word, eh? I looked it up!)
A little mind-musing and wandering about nothing and everything, then I pulled together my thoughts and freed myself from the second-hand, £300, c1968, grotty-beige rickety recliner. Got my balance, Arthur Itis and Anne Gyna both in a good mood; got the stick and wandered off for a wee-wee. Definite improvement with the infection now, a fair liquid this time, a blast experienced that lasted a decent while, and, with no pain or blood with it! Double-Smug-Mode engaged!
The legs amazed me. They are almost in the same condition as yesterday, and that hasn’t happened in months. Same colour (pale), knees not as warped, etc. No new papsules or bruised. Although maybe the left leg has gained some fluid retention? Even the right ankle is not sticking out so far today. Most encouraging!
The morning medications were taken, and health checks are done. Sys a bit high at189. Ah, well, you can’t win em all!
Back to the wet room for a Porcelain Throne visit that came on a bit suddenly. The second session of the week. It was more a tad painful, but far more voluminous (is that the right word?) and a successful session this time. And, no bleeding either. Smug Mode Adopted!
It was then that I began to muse about all the medical appointments for the rest of the week and next week. They seem to get added to pretty regularly as well! Just look at them! Grumph! Still, it shows that someone is caring for me. Caroline – Sonia – Jemma – Muhsina – Angela – Josie – Jane – Stroke Kerry – Physio Charlene, etc. ♥ Contented-Smug-Mode-Adopted!
Please note: No Whoopsiedangleplops heretofore? Yee-Haa!
I got the Thursday… no, Wednesday blog updated and sent off.
Washed the mugs, made a brew, and put some shirts and socks in to soak – cleaned them and got them hanging to dry. All with no accifauxpas! Treble-Smug-Mode-Engaged!
I’m not used to these Midas Touches, and streaks of good luck – surely something will go wrong soon? Hahaha!
Got the ablutions sorted, wee-wee, teggies, shaved, washed and polished the head. Again without any mishaps! (Haha!)
Peripheral neuropathy nurse and Jemma are calling today. Getting out shopping and appointments is hard.
I then had a go at putting on the Ankle-Support strapping myself. I found it problematical, discommodious and devilishy difficult, not to mention detrimental to my determination. However, surprisingly, my willpower was rejuvenated, when after what had begun as a mission impossible, I struggled on and got it fitted, in a fashion. But it was not tight enough for real protection. However, if I can do this today, I can on other future days. I can always ask someone to tighten them later, thus pleasing the Care supervisor and cancelling the carer calling. I decided to cancel them today.
Carried on with creating this blog, until a carer arrived.
A first-time caller. Etienne (French). I explained I could manage in future and asked him to cancel the visits. I also told him to tell his boss that he could have four boxes of disposable Protection Pants. Then explained to him what they were and showed him. I asked him to tell his boss to call and make a date for collecting them, to suit himself. Showed the man the unwanted new balcony with its finger-trapping openings, gaps, feathers that had come through the cracks between the windows and the complicated, uncleanable for old folks, farcical opening system.
I considered making a prandicle for a late breakfast. But decided not to. My options, preferences, selections, choices, alternatives, opportunities, appraisals, judgements and decision-making qualities; even before the Stroke, left much to be desired. Nowadays, things have gone from bad to worse, retrogressed to an unfortunate state of affairs. This is noticeable every time a decision or alternative are called for. So much so, I tend to find myself being manipulated easily or going along with anyone’s first suggestion. Without working out the problems or affect decisions can have on other issues. Oy Vey!
08:30hrs. Made another brew, and went on CorelDraw to do some more blog page top graphics, and then created another draft for WordPressing. This was the plan anyway!
Around 10:00hrs, Jemma and Muhsina arrived, from the Stroke Support Team. Much chinwagging took place in between tests, exercises and medical examinations.
Shame about the pulse-finding, apparently I died twice. Shame. Hehe! The third time I sprang to life: Dia sat down: 124, Sys was 64. Stood up: Dia 128, Sys 68.
They kept it quiet about what the pulse was or wasn’t. Haha! My weight was 88 or something in foreign money. I inquired what that was in English; it pleasingly turned out to be 14.4st Super-Smug-Mode-Adopted!
Jemma tightened the Ankle-Support for me, as I explained that I am freeing the carers from their duties, and going to do it myself, despite the pain and struggle – in the hopes that things will improve later.
Rubbish, Josie not eating chicken, so I had a black bean meal readied for tonight.
Mushina called the St Anns Valley Centre, to check if the drop-in Nail-Cutting Service will be available next Monday or not, with it being a Bank Holiday. Nope! So I changed the appointment on the Google Calendar, to the following Monday – if I can still walk, that is! Humph!
Some physio exercises later, with well-aching limbs, the nurses prepared to depart. They reminded me that I have to vote, and I went with them, using the three-wheeled trolley; down and some more nattering was enjoyed. A real tonic these helpers are. Caroline picking flowers for me, all with a caring nature… Made my day, they did! Ah, Bliss!
Jemma gave me a list of medications to check with the Doctor, for those that should have been stopped according to the Chemist they are still on the list?
We parted company as the girls got to their cars Sad! And into the Nottingham City Homes, Winwood Heights Flats, and Administration shed for the Generalleutnantess Wardens Temporary HQ, Tea-break room, Sarcasm & Insult distribution area, Tenants Socialisation Shed. Rumourmongering Clinic. Telling Inchcock off Zone, Things like crockery, raffle-prizes, books and pottery to be stolen from, and residents room. Cast my votes in the Euro elections, glad I took the three-wheeled-walker me.
On the way back, I had a little Dizzy Dennis moment and had to stop. But it was all over within a minute, and I continued nice and steadily up to flat 72.
Joycie was letting someone out of her apartment as I passed. I checked to see if she like chicken, but she does not eat it at all. So I will demolish the black bean and chicken meal tonight. I got inside, put the wheels away in the spare room, changed into my slippers, then got the oven warming up, ready for the black beans and cobs to be cooked later on.
Shaddath, the Carer Supervisor rang, he will be calling to see me in about an hour. He can pick-up the PPs then to distribute to those in need.
Updated this blog for a while until Shaddath arrived.
He stopped the Carer service. Then got me to carry some of the boxes off PP’s down to his car. Humph, cheek! Made worse, when I realised I had not taken the door fob with me to get back in! Hahaha! Luckily someone came out, and I nipped in!
I got the nosh in the oven, intending to add the part-baked cobs later. Added some part-baked cobs later when I stirred up the black bean with an extra half can of black beans and black bean sauce. Yes, I like black beans and sauce. Hehe!
Although tired, the day has been another busy mind-testing one for me; I ate all of the meal with a certain relishness, but ate it slowly, to savour the excellent delicate flavour! I did three whole mushrooms with balsamic vinegar over the day in the slow-cooker, added some small tomato-halves. The Sharwoods black bean sauce with peppers is another discovery I made, expensive, but truly tasty and worth a mention for any food connoisseurs. I purposely overcooked the mixture, almost caramelised it – and it was gorgeous!
I reckon the wee-wees infection is a lot better now. Just one more Nitrofurantoin in the morning finishes the full antibiotic course.
Despite feeling so weary tonight, and all the concerns milling about in the brain, which I oddly expected to keep me awake, although it took a while, Caroline’s tips on getting to sleep, eventually worked ♥. And a good seven hours uninterrupted sleep flowed blissfully for me! Ah!
Sleep? Morpheus? Rest? What’s that then? Grumblemoanweedoffandtired!
03:00hrs: I decided to stir my humongous torso from the warm-clutches of the £300, second-hand, c1968, dowdy-beige, rattling recliner. Other than the right leg and arm shaking a touch, and the feet, Arthur Itis and Anne Gyna were both in a good mood with me. I rose and was getting my balance when an urgent wee-wee was required. A few paces to the part-filled overnight EGPWWB (Emergency Grey Plastic Wee-wee Bucket) and topped it up a little. Haha! Only the littlest bit, for it, was another of the SSPWW (Short-Sharp-Painful-Wee-wee) category. Still no signs of any activity in the Porcelain Throne department, although, there were a few involuntary silent, nefastous, pongy minuscule escapages of wind coming from the rear-end occasionally this morning. Could today be the day of a movement? Or, not.
I went to get the morning health checks, and medications tended to, moving the remote control onto the Ottoman – but dropped it on the floor. A mug of cold tea slipped through my fingers, splashed the glasses (spectacles), and dropped them while cleaning them. Made a mug of tea, and the milk bottle cap shot out the shaking-electrified right hand – I still haven’t found it yet! Then, to top off the pathetic performance, I lost a few tablets taking them out of the blister packs.
I took a picture through the unwanted, thick-framed, multi-glass needing to be cleaned; and I cannot even reach some of them. Light and View-blocking kitchen window.
Then straight on with updating yesterday’s Inchcock. I don’t think I was making as many mistakes on the keyboard today, despite the shaking hand and electrified fingers. I finally got the blog finished and posted off.
During the updating of the Inchcock Today, I had five SSPWWs, and each time the colour was slightly different. Eventually turning from deep yellow; to a sort of pale brown, now. Well, it helps keep you from being bored. Hehe!
The ablutions were sorted out. Teggies, shave… all done, and then the Porcelain Throne was used!
I shan’t go into too much detail, but it was hard-work and somewhat uncomfortable. The evacuated product was almost black, lots of solid pieces. The blood flowed, I think from Harold’s Haemorrhoids, so some cream was applied after a sanitisationing session. Hehe!
The legs were looking a little worn and white, almost anaemic! Warped and pasty! Right Ankle without the strap on, all twisted outwards. Hehe!
Misshaped, knotty, one fat one thin. The knees may have looked a little less scary.
Not very healthy at all.
No wonder I’m not feeling very well this morning.
I did some hand washing, socks and a couple of long sleeve tops. Hung the tops up on the shower rail in the wet room to dry. Socks on the warm airer.
I think that the strategy was not a good one, the shirt-tops do not seem to be drying at all. A change of ploy might be needed later on in the day if things?
Made a start on Today’s Inchcock. But didn’t get far before the Morrison delivery arrived, around 07:20hours or so. Included amongst the purchases were some black bean & chicken meals with egg rice. They were on offer at 3 for £6.
I’d got a lot of stuff at this time. But I think I needed everything I bought.
The carer Jay arrived. He soon had the Ankle-Support fitted and told me that the carer service will shortly be costing me. I asked him how much, he said he’d try to find out for his next visit and would have a word with his boss to see if a cheaper (yet he didn’t know how much it would be earlier?) or a free service might just be available from volunteers. I thanked him, and he was off.
The sun came out momentarily, and I grabbed the camera, but it had gone in by the time I took this picture.
Caroline from the Stroke Support arrived and got to work helping with advice on getting to sleep. The phlebotomy nurse came to take the blood for the Warfarin INR test. Which she soon did, and departed in some haste. I thanked her.
Caroline carried out a sleeping questionnaire with me. Then she did another Q&A form.
She recognised that I was tired and not in my best form. The bus trip with the trolley was cancelled, and we had a little walk outside by the tree copse with the four-wheeled-trolley. I took some recycle-bottles and jars out with us and dropped them in the appropriate bin.
I enjoyed the hobble so much. Caroline even told me the names of some flowers. SHe kindly picked some and put them in my coat front pocket. The weather was warm and hardly any wind, and as I said, the walk was appreciated from Caroline, bless her. ♥
Hobbled back with the new four-wheeled stroller to the apartment, and Caroline took a photograph of me with the flowers she had plucked for me, in my pocket. That was so nice! ♥
Don’t I look, anaemic, etiolated, anaemic, grey, pasty-faced, waxen, weak, drained, ghostly, infirm, sallow, deathly and enervated? You don’t have to agree. Hahaha!
She then called the St Anns Valley Medical Centre and discovered that they have a Nail Cutting Service available, starting on Mondays at 10:00hrs.
I’m not sure if they will be open on Monday next, cause it is a Bank Holiday… again!
The intercom rang again after Caroline had left. It was the Stroke Teams Physiotherapist, Charlene. This is the first time she had visited. By gum, she put me through some tough exercises. Haha! We managed a chinwag in between the agonising exercises. Hehe! She said she would ring me with the next appointment, thanked her and off she trotted.
Back to the computer, and the intercom rang again. When they arrived at the door, it was two heart nurses. They were after Audrie, it turned out she is at Winchester, not Woodthorpe Court.
Got the meal cooking, hope it comes out alright.
Took a snap of the wildflowers, and put them in a tub of water. Bootiful!
Got the nosh sorted out. A ready meal. Chicken in black bean sauce with Special egg fried rice. I’ve got two more (Three for £6 Special offer), to use on Saturday, if Josie likes black bean sauce and chicken, of course. I must ask her tomorrow. I added some extra bean sauce and some tomatoes. I ate most of it, and all of the tasty baguette!
Blooming busy day today!
Found a letter delivered. From the Division of Clinical Neuroscience! Confirming the appointment for Friday 24th at 10:00hrs. For cognitive tests, a questionnaire and a blood test. Another busy day is coming up! Is there no rest to be had? Life in my later years seems filled with habeas corpora, hassle and medicationalistical mayhem! Not to mention my losing it mentally, Hahaha!
03:15hrs: When I woke this morning, things felt comfortabler, and life appeared and felt a little rosier. And, I could still taste last night’s Cheesy Potato on my palette. Hehe!
But my earlier bright outlook was dampened as soon as I moved my limbs. The fingers ends were shaking when coming into contact with anything, (this did not happen at all yesterday) had returned. Moving the remote control, pen and putting the torch on the Ottoman, resulted in my dropping each one!
I got out of the £300 second-hand, c1968, uneasy on the eye grotty-beige, rickety recliner with relative ease. But bending down to retrieve the dropped items was not easy. Humph! This caused my temperament to be obrumpent with frustration, after seconds earlier, feeling so… what are the words? ‘Optimistic, that things were improving.’ Ah, well!
I needed to use the EGPWWB (Emergency Grey Plastic Wee-wee Bucket), and what a wee-wee came forth, of the LBHPWW (Long-Blasting-Hosepipelike-Wee-wee) variety of old! All over in a few seconds, but by gum there was a lot released in a hurry. Hehe! Changed colour too, a deepish orange today. (Well, it creates a bit of interest!) I cleaned the EGPWWB, rinsed, and made a brew of tea.
As I got the computer on, another wee-wee demand arrived, and off to the wet room for this one. Well, well, back to the SWWW (Short-Weak-Wee-wee) mode. But the colour remained orangeish. Washed and back to the computer.
I checked the Google calendar. Had to update the Carer calling times from 07:00>08:00hrs to 07:00> 09:00hrs. Add the Morrison Delivery and the next Stroke Team call. Then added the Audi clinic appointment for June!
Typing is more than a drudge and somewhat frustrating. The jumping fingers are making more and more corrections necessary. Causing adscititious hassle. Kine-Ahora!
I went to make another brew of tea to replace the one that went cold. As I was about to take a photo of the view through the unwanted, extra glass to be cleaned and I can’t reach to do so, thick-framed, light & view-blocking new kitchen window, that needs the use of the step ladders to see anything below to photograph; and a crow flew into view. I got back on the computer and emailed the picture to the TFZ’s Lona. It’s not very big in the piccy, but she does love them, crows. An English bird for her. X
Knocking noises aplenty from up above.
08:00hrs: Carer Jay arrived. He soon had the Ankle-Support strapping on for me and was shortly off on his way.
I started to finalise the Monday diary. A real hassle with the right-hand fingers being so jerky. Almost looked like I was having an electric shock. The right leg is sometimes almost stamping the foot on it own accord at times? After a week or two, (Joking!) I got it finished and posted. Hahaha! Only three wee-wees during the hours of my doing the diary, all of the SWWW variety.
No signs of any interest from innards to use the Porcelain Throne. Odd, this is!
I got some bobble caps and bamboo socks washed in the liquid soap powder.
Quick change of subject here – I found the missing not working new hearing aids! They were in the white porcelain crock-pot in the picture at the back.
A natural place to look for them, but I didn’t on the earlier searches. Hehe!
Getting them dry is going to be a problem. I went down to the laundry room, but both dryers were in use.
So back up, and got them on the slow-airer-dryer thingy. I need to keep going and moving the clothes around to share what heat there was available. Tsk!
Knocking noises aplenty from up above.
Next, I got a good scrub up, shave, shower, etc. After the shave and teggies, I realised how bad the floor was in the wet room. So I got the mop out and gave it as good clean as I could. No Whoopsiedangleplops! Then got the shower.
The legs were not a pretty sight. Haha! Deep Vein Thrombosis, the cause?
The knocking noises keep sounding on and off as I moved the clothes around and made a brew. It might be some noisy repair work going on.
I took a snap of the view from the unwanted, unliked, trouble bringing dangerous new kitchen windows.
Sister Jane rang, and I thought someone was knocking at the door and rang off. But it from up above again. Hehe! I rang her back to finish the chinwag so she could tell me of the stuff the Doctor had given for her eyes. The problem is called Blepharitis, I looked it up on Google and emailed the results to her. Hope it works out alright for her.
Moved the togs around the airer again. With the shaking hands, the things kept getting shaken and knocked off, and I ended up using some naughty language as I annoyed myself. Humph!
Still there were no signs of any Porcelain Throne needs. But, the innards are beginning to feel somewhat bloated. Oh, dearie me!
Knocking noises aplenty from up above.
Caroline and Sonia from the Stroke rehabilitation arrived. A how-to-get-up-after-a-fall lesson was given. The leg was still shaking occasionally, but no problem. Caroline tried to call the foot lady for me. No connection? She will try again later, and let me know what’s what on Wednesday, bless her cotton socks.
Sonia off for two weeks for the kids holiday. Caroline is calling in the morning. The sweet INR blobotaminist, phlebotomist blood nurse, is calling tomorrow as well. She rang after the girls had gone, to confirm her appointment with me.
I got the nosh started.
Black beans with peppers and beef in the saucepan, balsamic vinegar, extra gravy, tomatoes and some chips on the oven. And some Polish sourdough bread thawed out from the freezer.
I didn’t eat it all, the ever-changing appetite had gone back to the less-hungry mode. Although I started off, feeling peckish, this deteriorated to a ‘Not-Really-Bothered’ style. Huh! However, it was not the best tasting of noshes I’ve made, so it’s understandable.
The washing up afterwards was a long session.
No cuts, but I managed to drop the saucepan, big spoon and dining spoon while doing the pots. Got down to clean the floor afterwards, and amazingly I got up almost without any bother, although it took me a long time to do so. Hehehe!
I had to stay awake for when the Chemist brought the prescriptions for the Atorvastatin and the proton pump inhibitor, Lansoprazole. (Yes, I looked it up, Haha!)
I failed to remain conscious and fell asleep. Luckily the headphones were not worn, and I heard, even without the knackered hearing aid in, the intercom ringing when he arrived. Javid did not look very happy, so I tried to cheer him up with a few quick quips, and a dimple-smile – which failed. Humph! Thanked him and added the medications to the evening dose pot, and imbibed them all.
I got back down in the shaky, beyond its best, £300 second-hand, rickety, c1968, gungy-beige recliner. But sleep would not come. I suppose, with the lack of being able to get out and about having lasted for so long, I should not be surprised really. I hope to get out with the four-wheeled-trolley tomorrow with Caroline. I’ll ask her if it is possible for me to keep both aids, the three and the four-wheeled, so I can use the three-wheeler for going on the bus, and the four-wheeler for walking? I’ll see if I can muster up the cheek to ask Caroline.
It was ages before I nodded-off, which unfortunately gave the mind time to fret over anything and everything. Glumph!
03:25hrs: Morpheous, Morpheous, sweet Morpheous, where for art thou? Well, certainly not in the £300 second-hand, c1968, tatty-beige, rickety recliner in Woodthorpe Court! That’s for certain. Humph!
Any hopes of getting some sleep were abandoned, and I removed my oleogustus body out of the rusty but trusty, recliner. And, after a few seconds looking around, I remembered I had misplaced the stick. As I got in the hallway, there on the first clothes-hook, hung the naughty walking stick! In plain view! What a schmuck!How I missed it on my searching, I don’t know, but I was glad I found it. I utilised it and got in and on the Porcelain Throne.
Oh, heck! What a painful, slow, drawn-out action. Still, at least things are starting to move now, slowly. The following wee-wee was of the rare SPSHPLWW (Short-Painfull-Semi-Hose-Pipe-like-Wee-wee) variety, for a change.
I took a snap of the amazing view outside. The sun and the shadows.
I got the computer on, and finished off the Sunday blog, and posted it off.
The following wee-wees were all of the SPWWW (Short-Painful-Weak-Wee-wee) mode. But not so frequent.
I carried out the Health Checks and took the medications.
Back to the wet room, for an uncharacteristic Porcelain Throne session. An entirely different one compared to the first one earlier. Absolutely no movement at all, just wind. Despite all my excruciating, unpleasant, best trying-to-force things efforts. Not even any wind. Hehe!
I did the ablutions while in the wet room. Teggies, shaved, washed, dried, and made myself smell nice. The right leg began to shake just as I was getting the Sock-Glide ready. I decided after yesterdays Whoopsiedangleplop/Accifauxpa, to leave the socks on from Sunday. Too risky. The carer might help me later. (He didn’t)
I was still feeling a little rough around the edges. Of course, the shaking stopped when I got back on the computer! Oyvay, and Flumbleflak! With the new pains, well, aches in the feet, extra shaking and generally my feeling worse, I checked out the side effects of the Antibiotic tablets.
The more common side effects of nitrofurantoin can include: Agranulocytosis; alopecia; anaemia; angioedema; aplastic anaemia; appetite decreased; arthralgia; asthenia; chest pain; chills; circulatory collapse; confusion; cough; cyanosis; depression; diarrhorea; dizziness; drowsiness; dyspnoea; eosinophilia; euphoric mood; fever; granulocytopenia; haemolytic anaemia; headache; hepatic disorders; idiopathic intracranial hypertension (Thanks to the Stroke); increased risk of infection; leucopenia; lupus-like syndrome; nausea; nystagmus; pancreatitis; psychotic disorder; pulmonary hypersensitivity; pulmonary reaction (possible association with lupus erythematosus-like syndrome); respiratory disorders; skin reactions; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; thrombocytopenia; urine discolouration; vertigo; vomiting; nausea; loss of appetite; stomach pain; numbness in your hands and feet; pain in your hands and feet; weakness; dizziness; drowsiness; red blood cell damage; liver problems; nerve disorders; nerve damage.
Most unfathomable, I seem to have had a lot of these side-effects before taking the medication? I imagine the lack of sleep can be put down to the Nitrofurantoin, as maybe the nerve damage making the right leg and arm jerk about and shake more now, the Axonotmesis and or Peripheral Neuropathy, as well? The Mary Potter nurses told there is no chance of redivivus for the nerve ends. By golly, I sound almost intelligent here. Hahaha!
I’m not a franion, but things will be, and nothing can be done, accepting things that cannot be changed, I find comfortable enough. Yet I worry and fret over anything to do with authority, banks, shops etc. I don’t know why I said that?
07:29hrs, the Carer, Jay arrived. In and out within a few minutes, Ankle-Support-Strapping all done.
I then felt a little down because there are not any more callers coming today. Well, the Medical Compliance Service is to call me to arrange a visit. I wondered what this title meant, so I had a look on Google. It’s a well-paid job, at least! Egad!
Still none the wiser as to what they do, though. But I’ll find out if and when he/she comes.
Off for yet another rather unpleasant SPWWW, again.
Time for a Nitrofurantoin, I took it with some spring water.
I’m still dropping things a lot today. Nerve ends, I suppose. But it is vexing, all the same.
I have to stay in, in case the MCS Medical Compliance Service ring me to make an appointment. I could do with somebody with me when they come, but no one is available. Then again, will they call at all?
Got a landline call from a Stroke Team lady, (missed her name). She will be calling around 13:00hrs today to see me.
I went on TFZer Facebooking to catch up with them, and add some photographs.
Then, I took the Nitrofurantoin and made another brew.
The right leg still shaking now and then.
I was thinking of taking a picture of the legs, and for some reason: 16th-century Galligaskin Breeches came to mind; as a perfect partner to go with the longer bamboo diabetic socks? Just a passing thought.
I went on blogging, and everything froze on me in WordPress? A yellow bar came up, telling me that Grammarly was causing the machine to go slow. I could not type anything, so I closed the option to stop Grammarly. I looked in Chrome extensions, and it said that Grammarly was enabled. But when I opened it again, no Grammarly was available. After much-complicated efforts, I got a message to explain the problem to Grammarly. (This being half-an-hour later) Then it came back on again. Incapable and not intelligent-enough, springs to mind as a description for Inchcock! I am desperately short on Mazel Tov!
Leoni, from the Medical Compliance Service, arrived. She sorted the prescriptions out for me, then rang the Chemist to try and get a date for the blister-pack delivery of medications. The man who does the blister-packs is on holiday so he could not say? But the make-up of the new intermediate medicines for the shortfall should arrive in a couple of days. Very hit & miss, undivinable and iffy, that!
A confused Inchcock, again now! Nice lady, I thanked her, and off she shot.
I had an SPWWW, a wash, and the intercom rang. It was Kelly from the Stroke Unit Support. Then the door chimes burst forth with Dusty Springfields ♫I only want to be with you♫. She’d come to interview me about how things were, recovery-wise. We had a productive long chinwag, and she had ordered me a shower chair with a back on it, to be more comfortable. She then contacted the Audio Clinic and made an appointment for me. Bless her cotton socks.
I got the nosh cooking and called to see if Josie would like some cheesy-potatoes. She had a visitor and was going to go shopping. I said I’d wrap her potato in foil and she could collect it whenever she wanted.
Went on the WordPress Reader section.
Got the noshes sorted. Wrapped Josies in foil, and continued to demolish mine. A ate the lot. Which surprised me with my recent poor eating mixed with devouring all of the meal, almost alternately.
Watched some TV, but didn’t want to fall asleep, with Josie calling and miss her. But I did nod-off. Woke up and worried that I may have missed the gal, I got her plate and visited her flat; all of the three paces from my apartment door. Handed her the prandicle, and she asked if she could do one for me, and what would I fancy. I said I’d have to give it some thought, she laughed, and I left her, wishing her well.
Back to the flat, and resumed my place in the £300, second-hand, c1968 rickety recliner.
Got up a while later to make a brew of tea, and noticed I had been nocturnal (for me) nibbling, and an empty bag of Marmite Crisps on the Ottoman! Guilty Mode Assumed!
Took a shot of the amazing looking sky from the unwanted, light & view blocking, impossible to get to for cleaning, thick edged kitchen window.
Sleep did not want to come anymore, but I did get-off later.
And as far as I could tell, no wee-wees of any classification were needed? The Nitrofurantoin seems to be helping, or not, I’m not sure. Sad innit?
04:00hrs. After a terrible wee-wee interrupted sleep, I woke reluctantly, unwillingly and grudgingly, for yet another SWWW (Short-weak-wee-wee). I rose from the £300, second-hand, c1969, gungy-beige, tattered, moth-eaten, threadbare and often not-working recliner, and got upright, with hardly any difficulty this morning. Trudged limpingly to the wet room. About the twelfth visit of the night, or thereabouts. Due to spraying nature of the current wee-wees, I am using the WC, as opposed to the EGPWWB Emergency Grey Plastic Wee-wee bucket, to keep the splashing onto surrounding things, to a minimum. Because the control of wee-weeing is intractable. Not within my grasp or abilities. Modulation of the bladder is impossible at the moment. Ululation Mode Adopted!
Had to use the Porcelain Throne, and that was stressful, it was hard work encouraging what bit that came out, to come! If you know what I mean? A bit of bleeding, but the solid nature of the evacuation meant it was far less messy this time.
I got the wash and brush-up, teggies, shave, etc. done, and another wee-wee was needed.
I hadn’t noticed earlier, but by gum, the skin was pasty-looking and anaemic-like, again. I wondered if I was really alive or was I dreaming? Hehe!
The left hand suffered a Colin Cramps attack. However, it didn’t last long, and I found this surprising.
Then, as it calmed down, the lower arm went red, and the hand and fingers whiter than ever!
I must say because one cannot see the rust, the £2 second-hand charity shop wristwatch looked a bit on the posh, with its new £10 strap. Haha!
I thought that yesterdays performance with the Sock-Glide was funny, but today’s trials were much more testing and trying, yet so amusing.
The legs had one bigger than the other again, both merging with the rest of the body, in showing pallidity. The Sock-Glide performance was Charlie Chaplinish! I got it level, and the first sock over and clipped in place, easily (almost!). Getting it on, was a different thing altogether! I got myself sat on the Throne, and the metal guide out flat in front, as I slid the foot into the sock, the right hand and leg started off on a Shaking Shaun episode… However, the long bamboo socks hide the pot-marks nicely. Haha!
Then, I slipped off of the Porcelain Throne, and got tangled up with the Glide on the floor, knocking the stuff off of the floor cabinet! And found myself laughing about it! Klutz!
I struggled beyond words to untangle myself and get back up again. I thought I might get my telegraph from the Queen before I was back upright.
This was the first case of the leg Shakes coming, at an inopportune moment, for me. So I can’t complain. Not sure how long it took me to get back upright and sort out the mess, but I had to start anew with the Sock-Glide. The bruises blended in the many I already had, apart from one (I assume) on the bum! No photo available. Oy-Yoy-Yoy!
Getting the first sock on proved time-consuming, embarrassing and painful. But, I think getting it on, was about as funny as it could possibly have been! Thankfully, the left sock fitting proved far less bothersome. Hehehe!
I offered a prayer for my luck to change.
I made another brew to replace the one that had gone cold.
I got the computer on and did a graphic for later use on CorelDraw. Then updated the Saturday blog and posted it off.
Anon, the carer arrived and soon had the Ankle-Support on the leg, and it is working fine. I emailed this photo of him, on the right to him, but, the email address was not recognised by Google. Bother!
I took the medications and new Nitrofurantoin tablet.
During which I realised I had stupidly left the hot water tap on! No hot water then, until tonight. At least I had got the ablutions done first this time. Looking for silver lining there, Haha!
Back to the wet room for another Porcelain Throne visit. Which was much like the first visit. But the following wee-wee: what a difference this time. I almost needed another shave, by the time it stopped coming! Still not controllable, but a little more pressure this time. I think an excellent acronym might be, an ELUWW (Extremely-Long-Uncontrollable-Wee-Wee) Tsk!
No hot water to wash the hands with, so I went to the kitchen to boil the kettle to use. While in there, I opened the unwanted, uncommonly thick-framed, light & view-blocking, extra window panes to wash that one cannot even reach, the needing the use of the step-ladder if one wants to see over and the ground outside to check if any fire-engines are there in response to the Fire Alarm, That I cannot hear anyway, new windows, and took some shots of the slowly brightening day.
A distance shot using the panorama button that doesn’t work anymore.
A shot below, taken blind, so as to avoid using the step ladder, as my luck has not been all that good this morning. Whoopsiedangleplops galore, as you might have noticed, already!
Then a close up one at random, of the Elmswood Gardens and the Rise area, opposite the flat.
The one element missing, is there are no human tellurians in view anywhere.
A lot of work to be done on blogging today. So, I made a start on this blog, up to here, and then went on to create some drafts and page headers to use later. All that concentrating had tired me out. Poor old thing!
I seem to have been dropping things from the right hand and walking into things a lot today.
Josie called at the flat, and gave some bananas, tomatoes, then called back with some potatoes! Bless her, my pleasure to do the Saturday nosh for us both.
Got the shakes again, feeling tired, so stopped on the computer, and made the nosh.
Well, at least I ate all of the food this time. Slurp!
Not feeling too good, had a sit-down, and watched TV.
Tired as I felt, sleep would not come. Watched the gogglebox for ages, in between a few more SWWWs.
I got up and took a couple of photographs through the open curtains of the unwanted, work-making, mega-thick-framed, multitude of glass to be cleaned that I cannot reach, rain admitting balcony windows, of the sun setting.
Bad I felt healthwise at this moment, the beauty of the view did not escape me!
The right foot began aching more than hurting. I struggled and got the Ankle Support off early, but the ankle aching continued?
During the nipping to the WC and into the kitchen, I realised that the walking stick had hidden away. Tsk! Had a proper search and seek session, but where it had gone was beyond me.
Then the Colin Cramps started; a lousy bout this time. Still no sleep came!
I must have nodded off, eventually. Gawd knows how late in the morning, cause I woke up at 03:30hrs, and gave up on kip, and rose with the ankle still aching and feeling not a little rough?
04:25hrs. I woke, feeling so sapped and narcoleptic. This, despite my having just been in the arms of Morpheus, for the most extended sleep I’ve had in years! (At least I think I had). And yet unwanted ignavia, persisted? I believe that I’d slept for about eight-and-a-half hours!
Thinking about it, I suppose the therapy exercises with Nurse Sue yesterday, might have taken more out of me than I thought?
I heaved my crassulent torso from the £300 second-hand, c1968, gungy-beige recliner, and took the two steps to use the EGPWWB (Emergency Grey Plastic Wee-wee Bucket). I was benumbed when I found it almost a third-filled. I have no recollections of waking up to use it during my nocturnal head-down? I shall resist telling you of what it looked like, apart from unnatural. I added to the quantity without much pain for once. Still thick and coloured a pale yellow, damn it, I’ve told you now. Hehe! A new bowdlerisation or an acronym for today’s latest style of wee-wee would be a TCRWW (Thick-Colourful-Reluctant-Wee-Wee). But more aggressive than those of recent days. It seems the Nitrofurantoin antibiotic tablets are doing their job, I hope.
I took the medications, including the Nitrofurantoin, and carried out the Health Checks.
Then off to the wet room, for a shave, wash, teggies and scrub up. Applied the pain gel generously on the Arthur Itis and Axonotmesis affected legs and knees. Then Haemorrhoids Harold was creamed. The next job, tackling the Sock-Glide, which was a log, difficult job today. PPs and togs on. Deorisational spraying and aftershave applied. Both pairs of Spectacles cleaned. Hearing aids de-waxed. Olive oil inserted in both of the lug-holes. And off to make a mug of tea.
On the way to the kitchen, the right arm, hand and leg went off on one of their Shaking Shaun episodes, a vicious one. Nothing could be done, so I just waiting, glad that no one was there to see it, and waited for the bout to stop. Luckily, I had the walking stick with me when it arrived. The fingers were reluctant to stop the shakes, but all the other affected areas calmed down to a stop for me, in about ten minutes or so. Much longer than usual.
I made the brew, and got on the computer, to update yesterday’s diary. Which was a little farcical! With the finger ends jumping all over the place each time I hit the keypad; a lot more time correcting was spent than typing. Then, just to make things a bit more interesting, the violent sneezing started! Humph!
The Carer, Anton arrived and soon had the Ankle-Support fitted. He’s mastered the job now.
Back to the computer and: Most annoyingly…
I battled on against the ailments, the Liberty-Global Internet and repetitious amendments, and got the post finished and sent off, eventually. Worra life! Hehe!
I made a start on creating the draft for this post. When another Shaking Shaun episode arrived. But this one only lasted for the more usual few minutes. I began to type again and realised I had to take an antibacterial tablet. So took it, and made another cuppa. Then I got the potatoes baking in the oven.
Then onto CorelDraw to make some Page Headers and Thoughts to use for tomorrow’s blog.
Josie called. I plan to get the meal ready for 13:00hrs, so she can get the bus put to visit her family in time.
Stopped computerising to take care with the nosh.
Delivered Josies, then got mine sorted.
Again I couldn’t eat it all, but the cheesy potatoes got devoured completely!
I think the new medications are making me more tired, lose my appetite, and struggle with the wee-weeing. Tsk!
Josie returned the plates etc. I’m so glad she enjoyed it.
Did the washing up, took the antibiotic tablet and settled down to watch some TV. I was soon asleep again, a deep one.
But the need for another wee-wee woke me up (luckily!), and things were changing for the better I think. I passed what must have been half a cup. That’s more then I have moved in a long time. So the Nitrofurantoin is working with the infection.
Back down in the £300 second-hand recliner, and nodded off again.
Woke in need of another wee-wee. Washed up and took the medications, changed into the nightwear, and again nodded off.
Woke up to use the Porcelain Throne, but things were still hard and solid, although a little evacuated, painfully. Humph!
The rest of the kipping was intermittent throughout the night. I kept waking with a different problem or worry on my mind each time. It was heavy going.
01:40hrs. I woke, I noticed the legs were a little different again. Boy, were they pale and anaemic looking. The left one still had far more water retention than the right leg. Is there a name for ‘Leg Watching’ I wonder?
I soon sensed the need, dismounted the £300 second-hand, gungy beige, rickety recliner, wobbled a bit in standing – then lunged for and used the EGPWWB Emergency Grey Plastic Wee-wee bucket. With a resulting releasing of what must have been more content than for weeks, now. Only an SSPWW (Short-Sprinkly-Painful-Wee-wee), but it might have half-filled a small cup, and that is more than I have managed, as I said, for weeks now! The pain was worth it! Thank heavens for Nurse Jemma yesterday, and her getting me some antibiotics! ♥
I limped along to the kitchen to put the kettle on, and get the health checks done. I realised that I had not had any Colin Cramps last night!
The Sys 121. The Dia 63, both much lower than yesterday. The temperature was 35.4°c. The new medication doses are far less now, as can be seen in the blue pot lid. The scales are now hidden behind the two walker-trolleys in the spare room, so I used this as a self-excuse for not weighing myself. Guilt-Mode-Adopted!
Thankfully, thanks to Jemma getting things sorted for me, the following prescription medications in June will be blister-packed, all bar the Warfarin which will come separately, as the doses change all the time. She really has helped sort things out for me. She earned her wages yesterday, bless her!
I made a brew and got on the computer to update the Wednesday blog. It took me a long time this morning. Partly due to the mistakes I keep making from the shaking fingers and inattention, and the other reason, I had to break off at least eight times for an SSPWW! I used the WC for these, and was, despite seeing the state of the legs earlier, I was almost horrified to see how pale the rest of the body was. I considered taking a photo but decided I could manage quite well, without seeing it myself. Humph!
When the blog was done and dusted then sent off, I went to make another mug of tea. And it dawned on me, that the wee-wees had stopped. I’ll see how long this last for. I must try to remember the Nitrofurantoin tablets at 10:00hrs, 14:00hrs, and 18:00hrs.
Well, fancy that, I just took two SSPWWs in the EGPWWB, within two minutes. I spoke too soon!
Time to get a wash and shave, teggies and dressed, etc. A bit concerned about the shaking right hand and leg today, I’ll take care when shaving. Back in a while.
Blimey, I had three SSPWWs while doing the ablutions! Then they dried up again? Got all spit and polished, shaved (one little cut, no… I tell a fib, it was two, Hehe!), teggies, scrub up and dressed.
The shorter-wider topped socks were adorned.
Me using the sock-glide, really ought to be filmed and sent for a comedy award of some sort or other – it’d be a winner! I can see the headlines now; Nottingham’s nearly toothless Pensioner Inchcock’s Sock-Glide Farce, beats all to win the British Comedy Award for the best Medical – Whoopsiedangleplop of 2019! “Sock-Glide Company Sue”! Hahaha!
The face had a little more colour, but then I had just had a shower and bleeding shave. Hehe!
I made a brew, got the antibiotics put on the calendar as a reminder. I made them for 06:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00hrs, I’ll check with Jemma to see if that is okay, later. Taking them with fodder is essential the advice leaflet reads.
While washing, the right leg did one of its shake, rattle and roll performances. I could have sent a clip of that to ‘You’ve been framed’ perhaps. It must have looked to anyone watching like I was having an electric shock down my right side. But these episodes never last long, and somehow, oddly, even I find them funny. (Not when they catch me out and cause injury, though. Haha!)
The tea had gone cold, so I made another brew.
It looked a little precipitation threatening. As I opened the new unwanted, light & view blocking window, now with extra glass to clean that we cannot even reach, in the kitchen, it started to spit rain. But it was still a beautiful view!
When I was taking the picture, I swear my nephelococcygia recognised a shape of a fish up in the clouds. But I’ll be blown if I can see it now.
I had a bash at the headphone connections again, and they are working? But the sound is muffled. To me, anyway.
Called to see Josie a few times, but she was out. Hope she’s enjoying some time with her clan.
The wee-wees were the same for the rest of the day, but less frequent, SSPWWs.
Nurse Sue arrived around 10:20hrs. Nice lady, who commenced the occupational therapy exercises with me. Gently and kindly, though. We also had a jolly-good natter at the same time. What seemed like a day-and-a-half later (Hehe!), Sue had to leave me. Boking another visit for next week… or the week after, whichever. Fitting the gal in the medical calendar was fiddly. It is already pretty full. Hard to get anything else done. She said I could nip out to get my potatoes now. I hobbled to the door with her and said my farewells and thanks.
I’m looking forward to her next visit already.
I had missed the bus, but no bother.
I decided to walk slowly and carefully down Winchester Hill and get some bread and potatoes for tomorrow’s cheesy-potato-nosh.
Out and down the hill, as I say, nice and steady with the three-wheeled-trolley. The trip went well, without accifauxpa or incident. There were very few Nottinghamians about on Mansfield Road.
I called in the International Food Store, to investigate what large potatoes they had on offer. Oh dear! Not very good, they were a little motheaten looking and cracked with shoots growing out of them! The shelves looked a little barren.
So I walked up to the fruit & veg shop… only to find it had Closed Down! A sad state of affairs!
So I crossed over te Abdul’s store on the other side of the road, in search of a Polish sliced Sourdough loaf.
But none available!
Back over the road and called in the co-op. Where I got some baking spuds. But the fresh food shelves there were even more barren than in the other shops, minimal choice or options. This was not good for a Friday, and very depressing for anyone with a family who were hoping to get in the week’s vittles.
I moved up past Hall Street, making my way to the bus stop to catch the L9 back up Winchester Street to the flats at Winwood Court.
A little busier here, the bookies and cheap alcohol shop probably the main attractions. Hehehe!
Surprisingly, there were none of my fellow residents at the bus stop. So, a lonely wait and ride up the hill home.
As I got off the bus, I could see Mary coming towards me from the other end of the road. But, no doubt due to the magical time-space continuum’s tear in the fabric of space, and or the ghosts and goolies of Winwood Heights, it was as if I blinked and she was gone? This photo proves I did not imagine Mary being there… but where did she go? Another mystery not to get solved!
Apart from the legs and feet, I was in pretty good knick. I took a photograph of Winwood Court as I made my way down Chestnut Way.
Called to see Josie, but she was not in.
Weariness dawned. All that effort, just to get two potatoes, hehe! But worth it, for me to do some Cheesy-Potatoes for Josie and me, on Saturday. I got the nosh sorted, and it was a disaster of sorts.
For the appetite had gone again. Despite the meal looking, tasting, and smelling fair to me. Only ate a little of it? Why?I wondered if the Nitrofurantoin may be a cause of this? One of the many possible side-effects is loss of appetite? Now I’ve taken a few more tablets it may be affecting me?
The plate when served, and how it ended up.
I got washed, took the medications, removed the Ankle-Support (Not without some grunting, pain and curse words, hehe!), and settled n the £300 second-hand, c1968 grotty beige recliner. Sleep came early, easily and quickly. The occupational therapy exercising helped I think.
Deep in sleep, and the mobile rang. I tried to answer it, fumbling about and the Axonotmesis nerve affected fingers, ensuring I made a mess of replying and it rang off before I could answer. I rang Jane back, and she rang me again. We had a chinwag, although not a lot of it remains in my memory. I was so deep in sleep. I must get in touch later, I think she has another problem, with her eyes this time. I must find out.
Getting back to sleep I thought, would be a problem. So I watched some crap in TV. Turned it off, and within fifteen minutes I was back in the land of bliss!
