The Nottingham Lads True Tales of Woe

INCHIE TODAY: Friday 24th February 2023

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HOW LONG CAN THESE HORRID DAYS GO ON?

I woke at about 06:00hrs. The pains in the sole of the right foot were agonising. I tried to stand up, but the pain was so tender I had to sit down again. After a minute or two of ponderisationing, I decided to press the Wristlet Alarm. For I could not even get back up on my feet, let alone get to the Porcelain Throne (I don’t think I need to tell you what happened, very embarrassing indeed!) or unlock the front door.
I was having great difficulty hearing what the nice lady in Nottingham City Homes Control on the monitor was saying. This was hurting more than Mystery Rib Pains Petunia, Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley, or even Catheter Kathleen’s tune had been! It was only about, last a guess, 20 minutes before the Paramedics arrived, and the pains were already reduced to a level-5 rating as they arrived. But walking, or rather hobbling, took me a little longer to tackle. There were three of them, one I think might have been a trainee.

They did the usual ECG Temp etc. But could not even guess what was causing the pain in the foot. The lady had a close look underfoot, declaring that she could see nothing that might be causing the pains? However, they put a pad around the foot that should ease the pressure of standing up.
I just had to go to the Porcelain Throne, which I painfully did.
The pad fell off on my way back to the room.

They asked many questions, many of which I could not answer. The Carer not turning up for the medicationalisationings concerned them. I said they had probably had someone not turn in for work. And they were only about an hour late. Pressure on those at work today, methinks. They came an hour or so later; not their fault, no blame attached.

I told him about the Brain Scan due today and the lack of transport to get there. He assured me that the NHS transport would collect me. The man in charge, wrote a note for the carer to ring the number he’d circled on the QMC letter to ask for a lift for me. During their attendance, one asked me if I usually speak the wrong words. I said others had mentioned it, but I was not aware, pointing out that Dementia Doreen is to blame.

I remember ringing Meridian, but I could not hear properly. I went into a Mind-Blank-Mode for a while. A Carer arrived, Adele, I think. She medicated me. Then, I tried to get the blog for yesterday done…

I seemed in and out all day, mentally. Finally, at about 23:00hrs, the pain in the right foot became bearable… what the heck is it?
Carer Jozef and Carole Anne called. No idea if any others did. The pan had left me terribly confused… which, of course, I always am. But this was more acute in handicapping me.
The day flew by all the same. I’ll get the photos from the camera now and see if any memories ate prompted. I think they will be in order… Huh!

The day is now a blur to me. (Saturday A.M.)
The level of pain from the Mystery-Underfoot-Pain varied throughout the day, I think. From bad to chronic, Tsk! Yet some bits I recall in detail, others not at all, or vaguely. Then again, maybe I just think I remember? But do I? I sense I was laughing and joking with some Carers? But was I?
I’ve had a painful lump or bruise on my neck this morning. Mayhap, I had a tumble or walked into something. But did I?
I’ll get the photographs from the SD card and see if they help. I can recall the sunset being stronger… I think. I’ll get them loaded and onto CorelDraw to sort out and post here.
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Woke in agony with the right foot underfoot pains.
Pressed the wristlet alarm when I realised it was too painful to stand up, let alone hobble around. Controller called the paramedics. Three arrived. (See above, please) Man left a note for Carers in their log book. Asking them to ring the QMC to try to book a lift to the Brain Scan job.
The District Nurse, or the Warfarin DVT nurse, or both (I think) arrived. O~ne rang the QMC for me, but I could not get through. She rang their main switchboard, and they tried but could not get through, (Leave a message each time). The lady will ring back as soon as she knows.
She did ring back. No lift was available, so she cancelled the appointment and rearranged it for March.
I got through to Easy-Link, and the kind lady accepted the booking for Wednesday, 15th March, at 13:15hrs for the brain scan. Bless her!
I was not in a good state, panic-wise and mentally, by then.
I thought it would be a good idea to let the Carers know that I am not going out this morning. So they do not get confused like what I am. Haha!
As I dialled Meridian, I suffered a Stuttering Stephanie Attack, and Dizzy Dennis joined in. I must have been waffling on intelligibly cause I was told I was talking rubbish. Which I naturally assumed I was, no doubt about that. I apologised and rang off.
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Feet-Leg

Paramedics notes
View from the computer chair
Hear perfect Urine Colour.

Getting late…
Possible sunset brewing?
Not made it, but beautiful all the same!
Loved this one…

Nightie-night!

Has urine stopped flowing?

Totally Crap Meal Made!
Chips tasteless…
Marmite Cobs stale…
Frankfurter Sausage was tasteless…
Strawberry dessert, horribly over-sweet!
Tomatoes were bitter!
Flavour-Rating 2.2/10

Evening all!

INCHIE TODAY: Monday 20th February 2023

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But my hatred outweighs any fear

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Heartbreaking, I bet Rishi is worried about her?

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Hopeless crooked, creep!

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Yet another depressing demanding, busy, can’t-get-anything-done day.
Several acci-whoop of note:
After approximately. six weeks of suffering, bleeding, blood in the urine, and general agony with , I got a letter from City-Care with help and advice on using and coping with the painfully stuck-in Little Inchy tube of .
After several… no, many with bleeding from the filling pouch pulling at the tubing, I went a step further today, and the connector from Little Inchie to the pouch came off altogether!
Having unknowingly and. unintentionally weeing all over myself, the letter with the tips arrived. They were in print to faded and small to read, mind you, anyway. But just one of the graphs, I could decipher. Drink no tea or coffee other than decaffeinated, Green or Herbal tea. I couldn’t read 80% of it; far too small a print… have I said that already?

Also, a Urine Score Card.
Tonight it was level 7, I fear!

First photo of the day.

Blood in the night catheter.

Cleared up during the day, and the flow was much freer and more frequent. It did stink a bit, mind you. Dettol and air spray to the rescue.

Looked like there was a fire in the Basford area.
I didn’t see any blue lights, though.
Ten minutes later, and the clouds were preparing for the sunset?

Phase two…
Phase three…
Phase four…
Then the mail arrived…

Confused, and wanting not to miss the sunset photos, I left them in a pile for perusing later back in the kitchen…

Wow!
Awe-inspiring!
Great colour variation!
An almost marbled sky…
Amazing, this looked like something solid and cream?

Tendrils…

Looks like a cave opening?

Tendrils back?
Could be used in an alien film this one?
Shot down at the car park
Back up to the beautiful sky…
To the left a bit…
Gorgeous!
Nightie-night!

Copy of last week’s BP results, etc., that cost me so much time in preparing to send to the Doctors as requested. You would not belive the mistakes I had to correct… probably still some in it. Humph!

TTFN

INCHIE TODAY: Monday 27th February 2023

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INCHIE CARTOON

ALL THE MISTAKES IN THE ODE ABOVE WERE NATURALLY INTENTIONAL. Ahem!

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I woke and had to force myself not to nod off again. The ablutionisationing just had to be done early today. So as to try and get the Sunday blog finished and get through the marathon shower[shaving and shi…, erm Porcelain Throne Sessioning done. get dressed and all the paperwork etc., ready for the trip to the hospital done in time. A challenge? Yes!
But for a man of my calibre, brave, sophisticated, on the point of being heroic. Such a challenge is welcome. Yes, a two-hour-plus struggle, yet I relish such things. Indeed, I crave them!
Please bear in mind I have not yet taken my medications.

On fumbling my way free of the clutches and crumb-containing aged, grotty-looking c1966 made, charity-shop-bought, horribly beige-coloured, £300, Harold’s Haemorrhoid-testing, non-operational, acne-giving, virus-breeding, rickety, easy-to-fall-out-of recliner…

Signs of much nocturnal nibbling having taken place were found on and around the waste bin at the side of the chair. Ahem!

I tackled the night bag detached.

A smidge dark, traces of some blood in there?

The bag was filling up quickly, but it looked a slightly better colour.
I was planning to shower, so I thought I’d get rid of some urine in case it came on again while I was in the shower.

The teggies were done, and I got my feet in the bowl on the floor soaking in Dettol and was about to start shaving… the was suddenly needed. So it was to be – But what a messy affair!
Of course, by the time I’d cleaned things up, the water in the bowl had gone cold. No problem, I’ll empty it down the WC and refill it… Did I say No Problem? acci-whoop I dropped the bowl. Had to clean things up again, but I was undaunted. Little did I know what dropsies lay in wait for me later in the day, as well! I got the shaving done with only three little cuts,
I reached up to close the shower curtain…

I felt a little discomfort in the armpit… I got the camera to try and get a photo of it…
A right red mark in there, and all the hairs had disappeared???

Was dried off with paper towels.

All looked well with the contraption.

I got things medicated, dropping the ear-holes olive oil and spilling much of it on the floor. Got dressed and off to the kitchen to get the kettle on. I knocked the saucepan off of the stove top when I dropped the milk bottle… I have to report that; There’s more to come later… Tsk!

I took a reasonably decent photo of the blue morning view.

Carer Richard arrived. Got the medications done, but he did not look very well. I felt guilty asking him to help in putting my socks on. Poor lad looked proper poor;y to me. Fingers crossed for him. He a grand chap.

I got the paperwork checked, including the times of the lift. Got myself downstairs to wait for the Easy-Lift minibus. Jenny was down there sorting some of her charity work to be collected, bless her cotton socks. Lovely to see her. The van arrived, and the lady got me to the hospital with no bother. Thank you.
I’d not taken the camera with me, cause it’s bigger than the new ones and would be awkward to use and keep safe. I got these two photos from the web when I got home.

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I got inside and joined the queue for the receptionist. A nice lady greeted me, and I gave her the paperwork, which she checked, and told me someone e would be down to see me shortly. I thanked her and moved into a seat as instructed. Remembered that I’d not got my mask on (Covid), so got it on post-haste. After a minute or two, Mr Mann came to me, checked m name and commanded (I’m not joking), to follow him, which was not easy as he’d got a good rate of speed on him. Into his office, sat down, and I was out and going back to the reception in… I’d estimate five minutes max.
He got annoyed when I could not hear what he was saying. But he only asked me three questions anyway. I think they were; how long have you had the catheter on? 8-9 weeks! Have you had a bladder scan? Yes! He asked a third question that I had to guess. 
Then he said; That’s it then; we’ll see how you go when they take it off. You’ll not see me again! Very nice!
Back to the reception area to await the lift home. It was due in about an hour or so. I got the pen and crossword book out and gave it a go for gouty minutes or so. It was hard work reading the clues, but I enjoyed it. Even if I didn’t get many answers, it kept my brain going.

I got the pains in Little Inchie, and I knew that the catheter bag must be full and filling the tube with nowhere to go. I couldn’t check it, because it would mean taking off my trousers.
I thought I’d join the queue again to ask if it was possible for me to use the WC to empty the bag. But the kind lady who greeted me came over to me and asked if I was waiting for a lift or do I want her to call anyone. Kind! I explained my unfortunate condition, and she got two… I say two nurses who took me to the closet and emptied the pouch ♥!
Not only that, but as I was about to go with them, the Easy Link minibus arrived. The kind lady said you get your bag seen to; I’ll tell the diver what’s happening. She made me feel important. Unlike the Doctor, who knew I was an NHS imposter and had no qualms about looking and talking down to me.
The two nurses, by the way, I think, were in the photo from the web. Fourth and sixth from the left. ♥♥♥

The driver, chappie, was patient with me and soon had me back at the flats. I gave him drinkies from the three-wheeled-walker trolley basket.

I met Carer Carol-Anne in the lift.
She sorted the meds for me..

Dropped a mug of tea!

All clean up.

SOD ME!
AGAIN!

Peed off now!

Started A pan of vegetable stew.
Knocked the knife box off of the ledge when taking photos.

AGAIN!
Knocked the box off!!!

Great space-related shots? Hehe!

Later…

Carer Charly.

Time for Food!

Oh, no, it isn’t!

Carer Richard Arrived. Very tired and not looking well at all, poor lad. He got the night pouch attached to the , and he gave me some Peptac. I got him a cold drink of spring water to help cool him down. Richard was sweating and had a croaking voice. I fear he may have to rest and see his doctor soon. Fingers crossed!
Hope he can get through the day; bless him.

Time for Food!

It started with a can of cheapo Asda vegetable soup and a can of tomatoes. I seasoned it with some BBQ marinade, sea salt & Oxo cubes. I added some peas and potatoes from the slow cooker. Then cooked some potato cubes in the oven until nice and crispy (the ones that Richard rescued as he arrived), crispy hard on the outside, and added them to the saucepan of vegetable delights. It was a struggle getting it prepared, what with the four-pronged walking stick and carrying the night pouch about with me. I did manage one more , spilt some soup on the kitchen floor while dishing it up.

Not that it bothered me or got me grinding my teeth, cursing venomously, encouraged self-loathing, nearly making me cry, or spitting blood…

Then, the feasting started!
Somehow or other, I ate the entire bowlful, and it was a large bowlful.
I enjoyed it and even went into the kitchen afterwards to wash the dishes and check if anything had been missed in my previous cleaning up.
All went well… apart from I’d left the cold tap running, the hob heat on and dropped and broke the sauce pot washing up.
ARGH! An irritated, self-annoyed Inchie could then not get off to sleep… well, not for ages, anyway. Grrr!

INCHIE TODAY: Thursday 16th February 2023

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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.

acci-whoop

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!

Evening, All!

INCHIE TODAY: Monday 13th February 2023

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Lots of hassle today – what about I cannot say yet.
combined with Doreen Dementia’s and Sweet Morpheus’s ploy to ensure my getting very little sleep, a dark depression brought on by the day’s events that I will reveal later on in the week; I am at the lowest point in the contentment stakes that I’m been since, well many a year.
Another cut-short thought circumstances beyond my control (I’m getting a lot of these days lately) in detail diary I fear.

According to my notepad, I got up at 04:00hrs, failing to sleep again. After getting the kitchen mopped and making a brew and Carer Richard arrived. Still looking a little under the weather; bless him. I hope he’ll be alright later on. I tried to cheer him up a smidgeon.

Took this shot of the foggy morning…

Stayed misty all day long.


Went to refill the one-litre water bottles from the cheaper 2-litre ones… Whoopsiedangleplop! The cat shot off of the bottles, hit me in the middle of my forehead, and generally soaked me and the floor as ~I dropped it, and it spun around on the floor, liberally distributing two litres of water.

Mopped the floor and put the togs in the laundry bag.

Had a visitor and got all agitated afterwards.
On the Computer.
Carer Sam arrived to do the checks and medications.

Then four lines of scribbled notes happened, and it said it was 13:30hrs. No idea what I wrote, but @I must have been stressed to write that bad, even for me. Hump!

Seems I took a picture of the Chestnut Way car parking.
And somehow missed it?

I went back to the computer to get Sunday’s blog completed.
Took the above shot through the sliding windows and balcony ones.

Says here that ~I was feeling drained again. Not sure if that meant tired or I emptied Cathy Catheter’s Pouch.

Remembered that the Blood ~pressure has to be taken four times a day now. I created the graph near the top and put it on here later in the evening when I felt so tired.

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Had a nosey about what to eat, and I ended up with a Sweet & Sour Noodles pot. I’ll not try them again.

Carer Kara came to serve me. Medicines and safety checks. Nice to see her, she doesn’t come very often… well, as I’d like. Hehehe!

I was fighting off falling asleep – Marvellous, innit? Get yer head down, and you can’t sleep, give up, get up, and you try working on the blog, and you’ll fall asleep in the computer chair! Not only that, you knock a bottle of spring water off the shelf, and Back-Pain Brenda kicks off when you bend to retrieve it. Fed-up? Me?

Fed-up, I may have said that already, I went to put the kettle on, and what a moon was showing up in the early night sky – Grrreat

Just look at the two-tone colour of it!

The last two above were taken much laterer.
Not so good, are they?

Carer Richard arrived as I was making a pan of stew… of sorts and dishing it out into a bowl. Richard kindly waited for me to finish this before , and gave the medications when the meal was readied. He left me with the tray balanced on my bulbous belly – checked the taps etc., and took the waste bag on his way out.
I ate the rather sad as-it-turned-out meal. Got the pots washed, and with the four-pronged walking stick, Metal Mickey in my hands, I went to lock the front door… well, it’s the only external door. Hehe! ,

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 Zzzz!

INCHIE TODAY: Saturday 11th February 2023

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It is now Sunday morning at 01:35hrs. I’ve had a bad day with the concentration, mind-blanks, a tumble, and the mind has not been my own.
Worrying, which comes oh, so easily nowadays, has played a big part in my Saturday sadly-sinking morale. The arrival of the 2nd food order in two days brought on feelings of guilt and shame. Shame that I cannot seem to be logical about anything at all.
This afternoon, when I made a snack and was washing up the few pots used, Weariness-Willy walloped me. I could do nothing but get sat down and drifted into a deep sleep that even the daymares did not spoil – for while dreaming… the usual, distorted things from the early years, somehow I knew I was dreaming and was pleased that I was sleeping. Had Doreen’s Dementia played any part in this catastrophically depressing, mind-wandering Samstag?

First photo of the day. Followed later…
By three more.

Wash and nearly dressed. No trews was put on. I’m not going out anywhere, so a relief for the and me!

The accidentally ordered food arrived…

Porridge and noodles stocked up!

Special Prices on Surf.

Fridge overloaded.

Battered Sticks on offer.

Hello, I’m wee-weeing well!

Then came the mind blank, the big one.
The Carers came, but I can’t recall much or who.

I had a snack of sorts

A pot noodles, and a pot of potatoes.

Weariness-Willy Attacked.
Turned off the computer and
did as the body told me to… I

Woke many hours later and arrived
to destroy my daydreaming. This is when I think I.
waffled on a bit. But maybe not? Yes… I did!

Got back on the computer.
Went to make a brew..

Took some night shots; I’d missed the sunset

Humph!

I went back to the computer and saw signs of my
having been nibbling rather a lot in the bin…

How could I do that and not realise it?

I worked on this blog for several hours.
It was suddenly… to me, 03:20hrs!
Where did the day go?

Made some nosh.
It was horrible!

Got down in the c1966. charity shop bought, second-hand, wincingly grotty, beige coloured, not working, crumb-covered from the nocturnal nibblings, itch-making, uncomfortable, virus breeding, easy-to-fall-out-of, recliner.

The legs and ankles were looking much improved.

Put the TV on, anything with subtitles…
But it was not needed. Around 04:00hrs, I drifted off into the land of blissfulness and peace.
But, as tired out as I felt, Sweet Morpheus mocked me and woke me up with a jump and jerk several times. The Git!

TTFNski Each!

INCHIE TODAY: Thursday 9th February 2023

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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 .

acci-whoopHowever, 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!

Carer Richard 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!

!!!

TTFNski!

INCHIE TODAY: Fri 3rd/Sat 4th February 2023

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

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Good morning!
Although it was not a great start to the day. There followed some great and careful help from the District Nurses. But the morning Carer did not show up.
Ups and downs throughout the day. Betterer than yesterday.
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So far behind, I’ll have to just do the few that I photo’d. And miraculously found memories from the chronically badly scrawled notepad.

CATHETER.

A blown bag of out-of-date chips burst open.
I enjoyed cleaning them up.

‘Red sky in the morning – Shepherds Warning!

The pouch fills up quickly.

0845hrs: No Morning Carer Yet. Blogging.

09:15hrs: No Morning Carer Yet.

Decided to take the antibiotic tablet, just in case they do not come at all. (They didn’t) The Doctor said yesterday it is important to take them apart in equal time periods, morning &evening.

District Nurses came to replace the Catheter. I mentioned that no carer had called yet to give me the medications. I was assured that they will be coming. With it already being 11:00hrs, I was not exactly confident about this. They did a good job with the painful (to me) job of extracting and inserting the new tubing and catheter. Working well straight away.
Thanked them and insisted on them taking some treats by way of a thank you. Off they went, and I returned to the slow frustrating job of working on this Thursday’s IT.

The new catheter was working well.

11:45hrs: No Morning Carer Yet. Blogging..

Carer Kara arrived later. I thought she had been up to the neck in it and was coming late from the early call, but no. She was not late. This was her mid-morning call. I explained about the antibiotics and my having taken them to keep the important timing right.
Kara gave me all the other medication that should have been issued earlier.
We had a little natter as she checked the taps and the stove and took the waste bags with her as she departed.

Tea and porridge, and I watched some TV for a break from computing.

Getting darker earlier.

By gum, changing the catheter has worked as a real treat.
Thanks to the two nurses. They sent two because
they didn’t believe last week’s crew when they told them
how tiddly Little Inchie really was. They do now!

I came over all tired and weary, just like I did the day before.
I was so far behind with everything, but I  had to just leave it
and get my head down. I was suddenly shattered!

GC sleep

Interruptions permitting!

I was soon in the land of nod. Zzzz!

But not for long, for I felt the weight of the catheter pouch as I moved into a more -friendly position in the c1966 charity shop bought, second-hand, wincingly grotty, beige coloured, not working, crumb-covered from the nocturnal nibblings, itch-making, uncomfortable, virus breeding, easy-to-fall-out-of, recliner.
I’m glad I did, cause as you can see above, the new catheter was flowing smoothly and persistently… which is good! There were only the very faintest signs of any blood, as well.

I think it was who came again. It may have been, and it could likely have been . Or, . I was so deep in sleep that I could not see much at all cause both eyes had fogged up; I couldn’t hear anything, whoever it was said, and with the ever-present ogre of…

Plaguing me in my current half-conscious state, I fear I recall but nothing of the Carer’s penultimate visit. Whoever it was. I assume I was given the medications. I did not as I remember getting out of the £300, bought eight years ago from the second-hand shop, Harold Haemorrhoid testing, repugnantly beige-coloured, crumb containing, virus-breeding, acne-giving, rickety, none-working recliner, for the whole visit.
In fact, did it happen? Was I dreaming? Was someone toying with me in my ultra-sleep mode? Was I drunk – I don’t think I drank any alcohol. Unless it was in an out-of-body experience in my somniferous early evening temporary hibernation with Sweet Morpheus?
Fair enough, I had been nibbling; the proof of that was the two four-pack biscuit wrappers I found crammed up my sleeve later. More of the nocturnal somnambulistic activities I seem to involuntarily enjoy?

I was struggling to stay awake throughout the gal’s visit.
And was soon back in the dreamland within seconds of the Carer leaving. I was totally done for, tired, drained, and shot! To make things worse, I was aware that with all the visitors, and my lackadaisicalness, I’d not even started the blog off yet! I foolishly allowed myself to imagine I’d get up later and give it a go. It didn’t happen! I wasn’t feeling good at all.

I was not hearing, seeing, or understanding what was going on.
And this is the second day of these experiences.
I look back now, and a dreadful fear of not coping with Doreen and the ailments, and thus going into a home, scares the shit out of me!

Another deep, preciously removing the worries, fears and uncertainty of life. Bless Sweet Morpheus!

Shortly, and far too quickly, I was woken by the door chime. And in came the sweet Carer Sarah. Her mission? To giveth me medicationalisationings, and, and had soon for me, and set about and to the day pouch.
On this rude awakening, thankfully, I was nowhere as out of it as I was on the earlier visit. I was definitely more responsive after I got over the shock of getting up too quickly. The eyes & hearing are still bad, though.

Sarah got the night bag fitted on. She emptied and washed the bucket from emptying the day catheter. Did the medicationings, and we had a little chat. She read some of the dates on the food in the fridge for me too.
Bade her farewell at the door, and I locked it.

Then I decided to make a meal. Huh!
One-handed, with the stick and night bag tagging along.
It was a mistake.
The meal was fine, but the mess I got into making it left me bruised and a mess all over the kitchen!


acci-whoop

Eating away, enjoying the flavour, I dunked one of the cobs several times.
Getting the second one, I broke it open… the greeny-yellow mould spewed out, and it fell with a splonk into the dish, tomatoes and ersatz franks!
That was the end of the meal!

SATURDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2023

ANOTHER HORRENDOUSLY TIME-CONSUMING DAY.

A SPARSE PATCHY EFFORT TODAY FROM INCHIE, SORRY.

The catheter contents were locking mighty colour!

Up, Porcelain Throne, wash, and got a mug of tea and the last pot of porridge. Sob!

Care Sarah arrived, and she helped me clean up the spillage I’d just made when the blown bag of seasoned chips blew up! Hehe!.
Pouch checked. Little natter.

Hours of blogging until the almost-expected weariness and mega-tiredness arrived. After that, I was drained and not good at anything.
(I seem to remember my Dad telling me that?).

Burnt the stew that I was making. Left the kitchen hot tap running.
When it warmed up in the PM, I left the damned hot water running in the wet room! Not a good day, and it got even worserer!

Sinking towards frustrated depression here! I went to put the photo’s on this blog, and can it be? They were not there on the SD card.

Then, for three days now, the mind went into muddled mode.
Honestly, worrying this is. As I recall, I was washing the pots for the eventual meal I’d made for the second time…

Which wasn’t too bad.
I found myself in the spare room, picking through my socks and seemingly sorting them? I carried on separating the short ones from the long ones for ages? It was like it wasn’t me, but a film I was watching?
It has to be said Doreen Dementia is winning here!
How do I explain this to the nurse next Tuesday; when she does the follow-up interview? Should I mention this or the following farce to her at all?

I actually left the junk room, and I started to make another meal!!!
Until waking up on Sunday morning, everything was a blur.
Ni idea who or if a Carer came, but the night catheter was comfortable, so I~ think either Sarah or Kara may have tended to it.

I am now fretting over things.

TTFNski

INCHIE TODAY: Thursday 2nd February 2023

/ Inchie / 4 Comments

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Due to circumstances beyond my Dementia, physical capabilities destruction, frustrating lack of control of my body and brain… Well, it sounded good to me. It’s true! Hehe! And the visit to the Doctor, which is just a blank in my mind now. Thanks to Dementia Doreen, I have never been so confused in my entire life about what going on around me as I do this morning (Friday); Time forced me to limit this Inchie Today diary. That old killer, ‘Time’, forces me to do this, Hope to be back to the old format later. Broken sleep dominated the day – as was being demanded from my body and brain!

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Today, mostly stolen from memory, distorted and warped by the avaricious, covetous, cruel Doreen Dementia, and hassles and complications from the

I’m only putting in what I think I know happened today.
Up and in the wet room to tackle getting the ablutions done in readiness for the visit to the Doctor. Lift arranged with the Easy-Lift charity, volunteer drivers and a reasonable charge.

This session went fantastically well. Well, apart, that is, from the controlled evacuation. Not so much a torpedo, more like a nuclear submarine! Hahaha! But no bleeding with it.
It felt so good to get a shave, shower etc., after so many days of inability to do so. But, this and the medicationalisationings, then dressing was timed. It took me 2hrs-25minutes! The longest ever! But at least I’m still doing it on my own. The main reasons were the catheter, extra time shaving, my not having had a shave for days, and the struggle.

I’m dreading it hewn Doreen gets worse, and I have to pay for some carer to clean me. When it comes to this stage, I don’t think I could cope with the, and perhaps , maybe even still having a catheter fitted as well, frightening! As the ever-present oink  ruling the roost, I would not want to cope. Of course, it’s going to come. Not that I expect to be aware of it. So I decided to try and make the best of things until then.

Lost the plot there… off subject again. Sorry.

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Emptied the brilliant-looking urine, not a sign of any blood!

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Made a brew, and I took this morning’s view, too!

Carer Richard Arrived. A little vague on this visit for some reason. Maybe we talked of things that worried or concerned me, and I went into denial mode and filed memories away from my own grasp? But this happened later in the day at the Doctors and is a new trait that conceivably I can expect in the future?

Got the outer clothing on and readied to go to catch the lift. I checked the taps, heating, stove etc., and then I rechecked them.
Down to the lobby. The Easy-Link minibus arrived two minutes later. And ~I was on my way to Carrington and the Sherrington Park Medical Practice. The fiver dropped me at the entrance; I thanked him and went into the surgery with my EQ telling me this would not go well. Naturally, no details, He sometimes gives a type of upset, jealousy, fear, greed or something of that nature as a guide for me. He was right!

Worryingly, a ‘Haze’ Came over me when the man spoke to me when I got into the room with him. EQ was talking gibberish to me in the background throughout the meeting? As I said, this was worrying!
No idea why or what caused this, but I spent the rest of the day in this state. Utter confusion, what the hell was going on? Was all I recall thinking?

Bits and pieces of the session remain, but others are vague and mixed up in the ether of my brain. I may not have these memories in order, but they are all I came out of the hour-long meeting with, and I’m the least confident about actually having happened.

❶ I’ve got to stop taking Ibuprofen.
❷ Something about letting me have some Haemorrhoid cream.
The Doctor consulted, and she said I didn’t need it?
❸ He wants me to take the BP twice a day & record it for him.
❹ I’m sure they issued a prescription electronically for some anti powders. I mentioned that I could not fetch them today as I had an Easy-Link picking me up. ‘Why can’t you?’ He asked. ‘Because they cannot digress from the arranged route, or they are not covered by their insurance, you see.’ I replied. Your Carers should fetch it then.
❺ The only other bit I recall is telling him about the problems with the catheter, but he stopped me, ‘You must talk to Urology about that. Phone them; the number is in the book and on the web!’

I departed, and got an Easy-Link lift home at a reasonable price, thinking clarity would return once I got home. It didn’t!

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I took this photo when I made a brew of Glengettie.
I’ve no idea why, but it may come back to me.

My body was demanding sleep all of a sudden. I agreed and got the clothes off and the dressing gown on, and with drooping eyelids, I got into the £300, second-hand, c1968, charity shop-bought, eyesorely-horrendously grungy coloured, Harold Haemorrhoid-testing, easily-falloutable from, unfit-for-use, not working, recliner, and was in a deep sleep very quickly.

The carer came to give me Peptac and Paracetamol.
I was soon back asleep. Zzzz!

The Night Carer, Sarah, I think it was, came to put the on to the day pouch.

But; Houston, we have a problem…


The rubber attachment on the end of the , was longer on the end of the day pouch? So the gal could not possibly even try to have . Without her fitting a new day pouch. Which is not on her remit. The gal was a little concerned about what to do. I settled her nerves and told her to leave it. Hopefully, a nurse is calling tomorrow to check the new catheter; and may change it for us.

I nodded off again. Up around 01:30hrs to make a meal.
Food balancing on my belly,
Wobbling on my knee,
I turned on the telly,
Contented gastronomically,.
Again, I felt sleepy…
There was no stopping me…
Zzzz!

I woke at 041:00 hours, still feeling tired.
Had to empty the pouch and use the .
So I stayed up.

GC why

Fat, fatigued, frazzled, fearful and fed-up!

INCHIE TODAY: Tuesday 31st January 2023

/ Inchie / 6 Comments

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Well, well. Another messy day of pains, panics and failing, falling, spiritual aspirations… and a constant battle with the flaming, flipping, ruddy, scary
Urine is much bloodier.

A sudden fill-up nearly caught me out!

Extra painkillers imbibed.
Thanks to the urine & blood not going into the pouch,
and settling in the bladder.
EEEYooowOutch! Is the word.

Carer RichardUsual care is taken. Medicines issued. Spoke of the unbelief of us both that I am not in the hospital having the blood clotting looked at.
Checked the taps and cooker and took the waste bag to the chute.

I spent hours on and off today trying to get the blood clots in the tubing through to the bag. Dizzy Dennis visited many times. The constant bending down to the tubing is the cause
Also, because the urine could not get out, I suffered such pain all day long. This is not going to help at all.
Fiona from the Falls Team rang. Asking if the antibiotics had arrived yet. I told her no. She or the Nurse will be calling tomorrow. I must be firm about telling her of the stomach pains, blood clots and Little Inchies agony.

Called. Soon off after a little one-way natter.

Late morning photo.

Asda Delivery arrived

Again, not a lot for the money spent!

The fridge was looking well stocked now.

Had to constantly squeeze the tubing into the catheter.
The and backed-up bladder full of blood clots and urine was wearing me down. Well, the pain from them was!

Sister Jane rang and we had a natter. She went to the hospital last week, and they said she needs a cataract operation. It will be a few weeks, they told here… A few weeks? I’ve waited after eight assessment appointments over the last two years before getting the go-ahead… and am still waiting? Is this Postcode Prefferality? Could it be because they live amongst the ‘Posh’, and I amidst the ‘Rough’? Hehehe!  Only joking. Jane & Pete come under the Rushcliffe Borough Council, me? Nottingham City Council.
Jane is suffering from her sight badly now. Fingers crossed that she can get it done soon. Me? As usual, I’ll just wait. Har-Har!

This new day pouch is just not getting its due supply of urine. It just stays in the bladder infecting everything else in there, and then occasionally, not very often, it fills up with a rush when I can get the blood clots through.
Still, it’s bloodier, so redder, and gives me pretty patterns to look at.

A new-to-me (I think) Carer arrived tonight for the big medicationalisationing.
After the gal departed, I started to make a mug of tea and had to limp smartly to the Porcelain Throne. By gum, this session was different! For the first time in many weeks, Trotsky Terence had surrendered his command of the evacuations over to Constipation Conrad! Hard as the torpedoes were, there was no bleeding at all from the rear end.


I was chuffed with this nice change. Got back to the computer and spent some time urging the blood clots through the catheter. Thought I’d make a brew of tea and found… I’d left the hot tap (faucet) running!
Oh, I do annoy myself at times!

An hour later, the red blood in the urine was turning back to the brown colour it has been for the last four days.

Caught a photo of the end of the sunset...
Then started to make the meal of the day.

Ersatz bacon, spuds with some BBQ sauce, and tomatoes.
Flavour rating 803/10!

Carer Richard Arrived for the final call of the say, well, night.
Over the last hour since emptying the Day Catheter bag, not a drop of liquid had gotten through to the pouch?
Richard got the night bag attached, and very slowly, the flow began. More an occasional drip here and there. Back to the brown this time. Still had to shake the extra tubing and squeeze the thick, clotted blood through at times.
The stomach/bladder was aching again.

Got this blog finished off, around 01:30hrs.