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07:15hrs: After another awful night of disturbed sleep, I slowly started to move and feel out the pains in the body.
Carer Andrew came in, asking what painkillers I needed. I was still confused, half asleep and thought the back pain, shoulders, angina & toothache were well calmed, during which he asked me twice again. Then I opted for one codeine & two paracetamol. He slapped on some back gel, and I convinced him to put the diabetic socks on for me. The slippers he forgot about. But progress was made. I asked him to remind the boss about the upcoming psychiatrist appointment & me needing a Carer to go with me. Of course they will no doubt leave before the meeting is over, just like the last two I went to. To get to their next client. If it is not Wjaz or Mizra who goes, there is no point; they are the only two who understand my problems and can answer questions about any changes from the Doctor, dentist, neurologist, audiologist, or EENT.
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It was all clear!
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This shot was taken to the left of the window.
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Hornwoggled again!
Depressed? Me?
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At long last, after weeks of trying to find the time, I got around to reading the comments! A lot of them!
At last, I’ve got caught up! Sorry it took me ages.
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Carer Ejaz called. He is going to get me a list of medications that the EENT and psychologist need for the meetings. A good lad.
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I then spent four hours making up the required details needed for the meetings, during which I lost them all!
Had to start over again. No idea what I did wrong.
Boulderdash, Cragnangles & Boild Turnips!
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My Angel Jenny said I could email her the list, and she could check it and let me know anything I may have missed or got wrong; I can change them, and Jenny will then print it out for me to take with me to the EENT and psychologist appointments. Bless her ❤️
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So it, angina has just kicked off; can’t win them all!
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Almost bedtime now.
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Tag: Colin Cramps
Inchie: Sat/Sun 19-20th September 2026
Lymph Water leaking from the leg
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you wouldn’t believe what came on.
The chap looked all worn out; he was just about to go home when he got the message. He got me on the bed, asked a few questions, and told me he was going to try to force the urine in the bladder to move. He thought my rear-end escapades (constipation) may have had an effect on my bladder. A short, sharp twang of pain from the blow-bubble thing, and 15 seconds later the urine pouch had filled to the maximum! Wonderful relief!
The other pains remained, even now, but they are piffle compared to the flow-back pains. The tired-out medical genius had saved the day. 👍🏻 I was so happy, I sent a thank-you email to the surgery and nurses for their help, which I got when I took a tumble getting into the Doctor’s surgery. and for this saviour genius who called at 04:30hrs, freed me from worrying about going into the hospital Stalag, and got the Catheter working again.
Thank you all!
But I was, and still am, in a better mood after being saved from a trip to the torture chamber… I mean, hospital.
Then, the Sunday Morning Floods!
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In the wet room, I found that it was flooded, too!
As I was about to get it tested and, if need be, call the NCC Maintenance, the door chime rang out, and Carer Andrew came in. He gave me a hand, trying to do anything that would involve me bending down, bless him.
I asked Andrew to take the wet rugs out first. Which he did. I got the shower going, which had been used only once in four weeks, as the Carers do not have time to help me shower. Occasionally, one will help me have a stand-up wash and clean areas I cannot reach. Lower legs and back mainly. I wondered if this lack of use may have contributed to the drain failure?
Pleasingly, when the shower was turned on, the drain gurgled and worked. I hosed the bits and pieces of dropped bandages, protection-pant fluff, and even noticed a couple of garden peas go down the drain.
Don’t ask. Hahaha!
I tried to get as much down the drain as possible with the cheap long-stick sponge. Later went to check that I’d got rid of the water, as only a few specks came through the kitchen towel I put down.
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Andrew issued the medications, pain-gelled the shoulders, neck and back. He asked if I needed the diabetic socks on; I said yes, as I went back to the wet room to make sure the drain was still working. All looked okay. But we both forgot about putting the socks on.
A proper pair of clots!
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I lost several hours trying to get the new drive attached to the new computer, but the installer wouldn’t work, to no avail. So, yet again, I had to move things into a new file and delete them from the old file to save memory.
Everything I do is taking me so much longer with this new computer! Adding the extra medical things I need, I can see I’ll have to give up blogging soon. I do love it, though; well, I used to. Since the new Carers started, the problems I can’t solve keep increasing. British Gas, still not solved. Six promised arrangements were made for an engineer to call to look at the meter; none arrived. Carer Ejaz has been in control of sorting this out, and has done his best. But he calls far less frequently nowadays. Which is doing me no good, frustration-wise.
Now the medical needs are increasing. It’s going to need more in the near future (starting the week after next).
The cataract lasering (EENT-QMC) is taking place next Tuesday or Wednesday. From last time, I know this will need extra care until my vision returns. Various drops to be put in the eye, four times a day. Both Lymphohrea wounds will need the socks on in the morning and off at night. (But this is not happening, so the problems with them will continue for longer, needing more attention).
The psychiatrist’s monthly meetings start next week as well, adding time, Carer, and taxi costs.
We still haven’tmade an appointment at the Audio Clinic to have both hearing aids mended. Without them, it is hard for me to make and receive phone calls. The neurologist appointment has been cancelled again.
Am I moaning or just mentioning?
My chances of getting into a home are minimal, hopeless, to impossible. But I believe this move is my only hope of retaining my sanity and getting a little life back as I await the Grim Reaper’s attention. Yes, it will be more costly… but not when you realise how much I’m paying for the Carers. I could solve my known-but-can’t-do-anything-about-it problems with ordering food online. I wouldn’t need to order food online. Maybe they will offer a lift to a supermarket for occupants? Give lifts to hospital appointments? That will save me costly taxis to the Dentist, opticians, doctors, neurologist, audiologist, urology departments, outpatients, cardiac, psychiatrist, A&E; all currently needing Carer & taxi costs.
I was given this advice about my upcoming first meeting with a psychiatrist: Preparing for your first NHS psychiatric assessment (often called an appraisal or evaluation) involves gathering your medical history and current symptoms so the Doctor can understand how best to support you (PDP).
What to Prepare Before the Appointment
1) List your symptoms: Write down what you have been feeling, when the issues started, and how they affect your daily life, work, or relationships.
2) Gather medication details: Make a clear list of all current and past medications, doses, and any herbal supplements or vitamins you take.
3) Note your history: Write down any past mental health diagnoses, treatments, therapy experiences, or significant life events, history and definitely stresses.
4) Prepare questions: Jot down anything you want to ask about potential diagnoses, treatment paths, or available support services.
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Am I moaning or just mentioning?
Does it matter?
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This may take me too long; with the appointment in four days and busy days, I won’t have the time.
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Home Sweet Home.
Now, tonight, the Catheter pouch isn’t filling up!
Well, I mean tomorrow morning, 01:20hrs
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Inchie Today: No Carer arrived for Escort to Surgery Visit
Mon to Wed 16th SEPTEMBER 2026
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I stirred back into mock life, to be greeted by the acidic upsurge from the innards. So, I knew easily that I’d had seizures during the night. But didn’t fret; that’s not unusual, as Tom Jones sang. What happened next was that I awaited the foul taste in my mouth and nasal throat to clear. Seconds later, a bubbling escapage of wind from
Not today, though. I’ll not go into detail, other than to say it took yonks to get the wetroom furniture, myself and the stinking mess on the floor cleaned up.
There was a little surprise for me when I eventually got back to the bed. On the decrepit, shuddering computer chair was a purple bed throw.
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I’m waffling awfully well this evening.
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Mostly, or muchly, guesswork from here on. May be out of order, as indeed my body and mind were for three days and still are. Lack of balance, hospital, Doctors, District nurses. Lymphoedema in both legs; now leaking lymph-water. Struggling to walk, massive headaches of unknown origin, and two sleepless danged nights. My back pain got even worse. I didn’t think this was possible, but they did. Sitting and standing up are the worst bits.
Then the Carer’s failure to supply and escort me again on Wednesday to the Doctors. That put the cap on it all. More later, if I don’t forget.
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But, of course, he didn’t arrive…
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Failure and bad luck; both allicient…
A 6-week wait for this appointment,
No communication, nowt accordant,
Waiting for the Carer Escort…
Needed to get me dressed,
Socks, shoes on; he never arrived,
No Care came, can’t apprehend…
I awaited arrival; it never happened,
I was rescued by Frank and Jenny…
Frank called, shoes on & dressed me,
Whilst Angel Jenny called me a taxi,
Frank got me in the lift, & frankly…
To the taxi we had to hurry,
I soon arrived at the Doc’s surgery,
Going into the building hurriedly,
I tumbled, gaining another injury,
Falling over my walker-trolley…
My language turned diderpecatingly,
Turning to sort of self-derogatory,
Rescued by patients, expediently,
Staff moved me into another area,
Their help? Like a breath of fresh air,
They sat me in a higher-seated chair,
Went into a seizure then and there,
Woke up, scratching my buccula,
Where was I? Ah, the Doctor…
Couldn’t have woken me up gentler,
To her office, lacking much acumen,
Feeling in need of an adaptogen,
Mixing reality of the flowing Aufgaben,
Forget most that she said, as it was spoken,
Comprehending? I turned abecedarian,
She suddenly said, here comes your Carer,
Not a word to me or me or the Doctor,
My concentration got worse, even iffier,
Farewells; we left the surgery minutes later,
Taxied home, got home minutes after,
A day of perplexity, complexity, ill-fated…
… adversity, calamity, & misadventure,
Carer shot off to his next customer,
Jenny rang me moments later…
Worried at my late return, bless her,
So much, she’d rang the hospital,
Then my Carers. My Guardian Angel,
Asked why there was no escorting Carer,
Was informed that nobody had told her,
Asked for a Carer to get me from the Doctor,
This explains his late arrival,
These details may be anachronistical,
A mistake, error, fib? No accusing…
A day to do without, all the bumfuzzling,
I’m left in a state so confusing,
Bruised, battered & back-aching,
Blood pressure ever decreasing,
Pride, confidence dwindling…
Being forgotten again; appalling,
But I avoided hospitalisationing,
That’s next week, and exciting!
I’ve an appointment for lasering…
on the cataract, well I’m hoping…
Will the Carer again go missing?
Hope that I’m not overcomplaining,
My head bemused, my body aching,
No light in the tunnel, only darkening,
No signs of good luck approaching,
Hopes of going in a home helping,
Fading; time for relinquishing…
= = = = = = = = = = = =
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TTFN
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OUT of MEMORY
Inchie: 7th-8th & 9th September 2026
MONDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 2026
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Terrible morning first thing; the pains from the back, belly, and legs joined with the leg wounds and brought forth mega-pains. Hard to take.
Carer Ejaz put some of the non-medical heating cream on them and did a good job too. 20 minutes later, the back and belly pains eased off a smidgeon.
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In the afternoon, things took a nasty turn. The mobile rang; it was a food delivery from Asda. Obviously a new driver, and he didn’t know how to get in. I tried telling him how, but the connection was its usual crappy self. I had no choice but to go down to let him in. I got four missed calls on my way down in the lift, and the back pain kicked off big time… and got even worse.
We got up to the flat, and he put the food in bags on the floor. All done, I had to keep bending and stretching to get the fodder put away; the pain doubled. Bad, now! I managed to take a few snaps while I put the food away.
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Today’s snaps
This was under the contraption, and it was puzzling. I put these paper towels under the pouch. Carer Edward, after cleaning up the areas, put a plaster on the larger one. It’s hanging off now, three hours later. But no more leaks. The bigger one is stinging a bit, but all the smaller ones seem dormant, with no blood escaping.
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Dentist visit tomorrow. Don’t know who will be escorting me yet, Ejaz or Mirza, I hope. Might be a rush, cause I rely on Carers to get me clothed and on time, and to take the things I need with me. Must get up early and get a wash & shave; can’t get shoes, socks or trews on.
It is more painful than ever with this unknown trapped nerve or Sciatica, giving me grief.
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The day’s visit to the Porcelain Throne again revealed garden peas in the mix; this only happens with the fresh ones, not the canned ones. Might have to stick with the tinned ones in future.
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The flipping fracas with the food delivery then arrived.
I’ll not mention the struggle and agony again.
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Now I was in real pain. I took a Codeine, and fortunately, in the order I’d bought, there were some Heat Pads for my back and shoulders. I’ll get the Carer to get a couple stuck on after he reads the instructions I cannot read later.
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I thought I’d get some tomatoes sliced, ready to go with the meal later on…Oh, Dearie me!
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Woke up to the chronically painful back pain.
I’ll ask the Carer to put one of the new pain pads on when
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Along came the Food delivery
Not a lot of fresh food ordered for today, but I did
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Had a good wash, shave, teggies done. Managed to get the Protection pants on; not without some extra pain.
I even got a Kaghoul on, but I’ll not be trying that again without help. I got the dizzies, bag pulled, hit my wounds on my leg against the trolley, and felt awful. I even considered cancelling the dentist trip for a while. I felt truly shook up. New Motto for self: Never ever again try to get a nightgown or Kagoule over my head to wear, without Carer help!
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A painful getting on, travelling and getting off of the bus, but we were soon alighting on Mansfield Road, in Sherwood. We crossed the Pelican lights to the other side to get nearer the Dentist’s. As we walked up the hill, we noticed two passengers who carried on in the bus as we got off of it. They told Ejaz that the 40 bus no longer goes to the City Hospital. It turns left and back around a traffic island, and starts the return journey to town. They had dropped off outside the Dentist’s. Ejaz explained this to me and said next time, we must stay on the bus, and it would save us some time and walking. See how he cares for me? Great lad. Shame he doesn’t call so often.
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Amazing, but testing each tooth showed only one that was not good? “Terribly infected”, Ejaz repeated to me.
I was given choices! “I can prescribe antibiotics, but this will not guarantee the pain will not return. Or, I can book you in for an extraction”. I asked her how much this extraction would cost – I didn’t hear her reply, but I did get the nod from Ejaz, the look that told me it would cost a lot. Then I asked for antibiotics. Then she asked Ejaz to leave the room while they did the X-raying of the suspected tooth. This time, using a simpler system, new to me. No plate setup or shields. A plastic thing, whatever it was, in the mouth, making sure the bit of metal was where she wanted it, and a strict command that I bite on and hold it in position. All done in seconds.
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I noticed he was returning to me; well, he didn’t – he had had to nip back into the Dentist’s; something on the prescription needed
Returning as I took this last snap of Mansfield Road, Sherwood, outside the Dentist’s surgery. The bus arrived minutes later, and was were soon back at the Winwood Heights complex.
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Ejaz was running late now. We got in the flat, and Ejaz answered my chirping mobile phone. It was someone from the EENT, offering me an appointment for cataract lasering. I instantly went into bliss mode- at last! Damnations! I lost the connection when I looked at the calendar to see if the date clashed with another. Ejaz did not have time to sort it out. He told me not to delete anything on the phone, and he’ll sort it out later.
He was thanked profusely as he shot off.
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I must ring Deana to ask if she had asked Matron Jacky to take a look & advise me. No doubt it will involve me going to the QMC again. £30 taxi fare, and being treated like an unwanted wart on one’s penis.
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A ready meal of battered chicken, rice & veg, two cheese rolls – these would soak up the sweet & sour and Gung-Po sauces. They were delicious!
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And a long session of lengthy squirts after another. Cleaning myself, and a second splodgy session started!
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My back seemed to be a little less painful for once. But the leg wounds were a lot worse. Can’t win em all!
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I soon got myself tucked into making corrections I’d made on one of the Word files. I spent hours on it but failed to sort them all. Had another bash at them later.
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Then, sat down in the £300 second-hand shop-purchased in 1968 recliner. Which is welt-causing, uncomfortable, not working, itch-in
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Ejaz tried to reach the EENT about the missed call when they offered me an appointment. But it took so long to get through that he gave up and said he’d try another day.
The chances of an appointment still being available are about zero by now.
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And the lightbulb blew.
Luckily, the new Carer is about 7ft tall, and he got the new lightbulb in for me.
He also gave me the wrong dosage of Warfarin, well, I think he did. What was on the printed list was only half a tablet different. It was far too late for me to check with the surgery. He thought I’d used an old, incorrect list and that the one on his mobile was correct. I imagine half a tablet difference wouldn’t be dangerous.
I’ll try to remember to check tomorrow.
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Inchie Today: Week-ending 6th September 2024
I’m struggling a bit. There are ten areas of my body in need of thrice-daily Porpain or Voltaren gel. Back rear, left and right, up the backbone, neck, both shoulders, both arthritic knees. More painkillers to cope with the toothache; Dentist on Tuesday. Both leg wounds need to be redressed twice a week. Haemorrhoids, penile fungal lesions, ear drops, eye drops, Catheter contraption, weekly visits from the nurses. INR Warfarin level has never been so consistently low. I’m using the Zimmer frame or two sticks as standard now.
Getting into the kitchen is so painful and takes so long; I’ve stopped bothering. It’s the getting up and sitting down that is the most painful; for whatever it is I have going around my back, front down my legs, up my spine into my neck, it’s, I’m guessing. With the earliest appointment available when Carer Ejaz rang up to book one being 4 weeks away – four weeks of ever-increasing agony- I might find out on the appointment day, which is next week, 16th September.
It’s all these that are killing my best asset, time!
Even typing is painful, and depression seems to be in a permanent mode lately. Because I’m taking so long to apply my medications and ointments to all the areas in need each day, I’m not getting a shower and don’t shave often. Everything is taking so much longer to achieve.
My usual getting-drained time of 16:00hrs hrs starts at 13:00hrs hemerinely.
Another oddity, I think due to the peripheral neuropathy, is the number of times I’m dropping things: saucepans, pens, camera, mobile phone, bottles or mugs, food, plates, cutlery… anything, owt I am grabbing, holding or lifting presents a danger of either being dropped, or, amazingly, I cannot lose my grip on some things? I actually had a can of deodorant in my hand for two hours until the Carer came and had to force my fingers to let go of it. At least it produced a moment of humour for him and me. He was amazed at my strength, but it wasn’t that, of course. It was the neurotransmitters that were making me hold on to it, but as they were slowly dying, the brain was misreading their message… I think anyway. Two Doctors at the Mary Potter Centre, and having all the electrical readings analysed, told me this would happen eventually, and they could do nothing; it is impossible to repair neurotransmitters. That was in about 2008, so I think I’ve done well to have lasted this long, awaiting the forecast, turning into reality.
The back is getting worse. I’ve taken some snaps this week, but after dropping and breaking two cameras and having to buy another, not many, I’m nervous about taking snaps nowadays. I’ll get them on with any memory I have of them. I think they’re in order, more or less chronologically… ish.
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It didn’t make it into the veg stew.
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Inchie: 27/29 Aug: Hospitalised. Sciatica, Cataract, Deaf, Hospital
The reason for my trip to the A&E infirmary…
Started failing to install the Catheter tube,
No-go into Little Inchie,
Not through the nurses’ deficiency,
Earlier, I was feeling pretty perky,
As I got off the bed, I felt all whoosie,
Nurses rescued me immediately…
Laid me down on the bed, carefully,
Seizures ensued, repeatedly,
Considering it a medical emergency,
Why are they here? I’d have no memory,
Each of many times as I made a recovery,
Who is who? Why are they here? Weirdly,
Rose with help, took a tumble…
Ejaz said later, I was talked tarradiddle,
As if I’d been on drugs or the bottle,
Then, taken away to the hospital…
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
In a corridor, then a room, and then,
corridors, bays, again & again,
A handsome medic, called Ivan,
I.D.’d me, soon changed the pouch for me,
With blood in, he was Ukrainian,
The Catheter badly, I was kyboshed,
Lifted home, again painfully
New ailment; in the back, feet & knee.
Methinks it is sciatica,
Got home through rain & thunder,
No time for blog or reader,
New ailments bring limitations…
I join others who are solitudinarians…
Pathetic, lost, sad and incapable,
To the WC, was soon in trouble,
Took me too long, due to my sciatica
Then the pain made me wobble,
A fall. Catheter pouch lost some widdle,
Involuntary rear-end evacuation,
Pity the Carer can’t use teleportation,
Five hours later the Carer arrived,
Got me up as I begged & directed,
Even more painful than I expected,
Friday, timed my walk into the kitchen,
12 minutes, then I abandoned
my mission, for tea to be brewed
Phoned the Doctors, as told…
By the can’t-come-out trict nurses…
To tell of my new ailments & curses,
I’ll book you in for next slot free,
16th of September, on Wednesday,
All due to fitting the wrong Catheter,
And the bloody sciatica!
All caused anthropomorphically.
I’m so sorry,
For the agony,
Tried the Zimmer frame today…
Will I wake in the am? Who can say!
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It’s all gone wrong… again…
But much worse this time.
I can barely walk; I even tried the Zimmer, but no better than two sticks. Doing the blog is agony.
Cannot wash, shave or do my teeth.
The last three trips to the Porcelain Throne, unable to walk, I only managed a slow little shuffle and could not get there in time. The place is a pigsty.
Virtually deaf until I get the issue mended. Np blogs until this whatever it is; it’s agony; let’s get the grip pm the pain lessen. And if the cataract or TBI sessions come, bet they clash with the dentist, Bank, deliveries and/or…
I’d np goog. It is no good; I’ve got to stop.
TTFN.
Sorry I didn’t get this posted earlier.
I’ll try to get a blog done when I can. But so much time in daily medicationings, medical appointments, and my back & legs are terrible.
Inchie Today: Wednesday, 26th August 2026
THE LONGEST DAY
But possibly the most frustrating.
Errors, accidents & mistakes.
My self-esteem, well, what bit I have left, anyway, collapsed as I made cock-ups, errors, mistakes after mistake.
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Have to be a quickie. It is not Thursday, and I am only just starting this blog. Life is so hectic. My dream of peace & quiet in retirement has crumbled. So much to do yet;
2) Both hearing aids are not working; I have to get someone to call the Audio Clinic, but make sure it does not clash with any other appointments.
3) The Dentist appointment needs arranging. Make sure it does not clash with any other appointments.
4) I’m still waiting for an appointment at the EENT to have the cataract laser treated.
5) Waiting for an appointment with Mental Health at Haywood House Hospital to get the results from the test and be referred to someone.
6) A neurology appointment to re-scan the TBI; is also on the waiting list.
7) Yesterday & this morning, the Doctor’s surgery phoned. Still wanting a Carer to call them re an appointment. I asked Carer Andrew three times yesterday. Said he could not get through the navigator AI waffle. Earlier this morning Thurs, I got Andrew again. Too early to even ask him to ring the Doctor. Then they sent a new Carer to join Andrew… and Andrew teaching someone what to do is a recipe for disaster. Looks like the new lad, Raj, will be calling now, so Ejaz and Mirza may call even less often. This is scary for me. They are both so supportive. Driving me to silly thoughts. I realised the futility of the situation while talking to the Doctor’s receptionist.
8) The bank needs to interview me again.
9) I’ve been told by two different sources that my chances of getting into a home are approximately zero.
10) The new instructions that I need to go to the QMC A&E told me that when the Catheter blocks, I must go by taxi, as this is a Medical Emergency.
The one time I went, once there and £24 out of pocket on the taxi there, it was for hours before a Doctor saw me. He could not replace the Catheter tube in three attempts. Then I was taken to another Doctor to try. He got it in on his second try. But the only instructions given were not to let the array pad holding the tubes in place come off. It fell off of its own accord the next morning. I phoned the hospital, got the department, and was told to see your district nurses. Even now, months later, I can’t figure out why I had to make sure the pad stayed in place.
11) Each of these appointment visits & arrangements will involve taxis and Carer costs.
Impossible to do without my hearing aids; Carers not ringing to make appointments when I asked them to (Only one, but that was the one who is hard work, and determined to do as little as possible and then as badly as possible). Such as laundry returned still wet, mopped the kitchen in only 5 minutes; I timed him and pointed out the dirt marks still on the floor between the floor cupboards. My future looks bleak, Care-wise.
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Through frustration, I over-waffled there. No time for a proper blog; I’ll just put the photos on.
It was all mayhem anyway. Three pages of notes made too; I’ll select and pick just a few.
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I’ve got too much to do for Thursday; no chance of doing a blog. I’ll try to put some old odes on WP.
Nurses’ visit, Social Lady, deliveries, doctors’ problems to sort, appointments to make…
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My Plans were destroyed again.
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Doctor rang again wanting to speak to Carer; said I’d ask them again, but not interested yet.
Misra helped with showering, very much appreciated.
Dettol & SD card delivered.
Care navigator rang again to speak with Carer, Huh!
No interest when I asked them again to ring him.
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TTFNski, Each
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Inchie Today: Tuesday, 25th August 2026
TUESDAY 25th AUGUST 2026
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06:35hrs: I stirred back into ersatz, pretend life. Wriggled and rolled a little to test out which ailments might be the most painful, in my effort to dismount the hospital bed and get my nocturnal Catheter pouch off. The outcome was rather less than expected. The new magic neck pain, the discomfort of the day Catheter tubing, and Anne Gyna were the only ones sensed.
Colin Cramps and a few seizure aftertastes, which had been waking me up so often overnight, had dissipated altogether. Nice!
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I managed to get up, sort the pouches out, and do a safety check of the flat for taps left running and fridge/freezer doors open. Then got the kettle on. Doing these little tasks, I had to make three visits to the Porcelain Throne in 15 minutes. Constipation Conrad in total charge.
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Carer Andy arrived in a perky but reluctant mood. Medications were issued, but we could not find any codeine tablets. We both searched through the medical prescription and Over-the-counter medicine drawers. Andrew said he had informed his head office about them. I got the waste bins into one large bag. It’s still there now (2040hrs).
Carer departed, and I had another dock-hard, Haemorrhoid-tearing visit to the Throne.
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I’d prefer to not mention them again, please. Thanks.
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The new Warfarin INR blood results came in the post; that was quick. New doses confirmed.
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Carer Mirza visited. Checked LV house content problem, and I called Complex Warden Deana and asked Mirza to talk with her about the lower cost of NCC insurance. Not sure what happened. Just had a seizure while writing this. Memory Mangling Malcolm? Mirza fitted a new Catheter on the right leg this time.
He then took the laundry down to the laundrette. Then he mopped the kitchen floor for me.
Then went down to put the clothes in the dryer. Did the safety checks and hoovered up. Checked the drawers to see if the missing Codeine tablets were there, but no.
Then he went down to collect the laundry.
While he was out, more food arrived, and I was having difficulty getting all the canned food on the top shelf of the double cupboard.
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At this point the self-cursing started, as Carer Mirza returned with the washing.
He cleaned up a
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How did I take this photo with no camera?
Well, as soon as Mirza departed, Amazon delivered the camera. I can’t photograph it, but I’ll ask a Carer later to take one on his mobile and email it to me. Like any other childlike 81-year-old with a new toy, I decided to set up and use the new camera. As recommended by Carer Ejaz: “It would be a good idea to get the same model as before; otherwise you’ll get in a pickle with the new contraptions and workings of a different one” Very good suggestion, mate; a wise idea. Thanks!
So, after setting it up but entering the wrong date and not remembering how I set it in the first place, I gave up and got on with taking some sky-cloud shots.
Here is my first effort…
Then back to try and set a wider
view for the snaps.
I attempted to read the instructions…
Aha, I cracked it…
A smug mode developed.
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Well, me making this a great dollop come mound; this agglomeration, hodgepodge of a gigantic meal, is a perfect example of what can happen when something in my head tells me not to bother and to press on. Worrying.
It consisted of Mushroom pâté, chicken lumps, tomatoes, carrots, garden peas, soft cheese, curly fries, pork & pickle mini pies, cheese & onion bread, cooked beef, gherkins, and potatoes!
Needless to say, I could not eat it all, and must have binned two-thirds of it. I recall eating all of the mushroom pâté, the peas & carrots, the bread and the potatoes.
Then washed the dishes, etc., and moved on to an ice
cream cornet & lemon curd dessert?
Then put the TV on early to watch the Nottingham Forest match against Leeds Utd. (Sister Jane called to remind me it was on ITV). I stayed awake up to half-time, and the adverts came on. Zzz! Waking up in a seizure a couple of hours later, still TV on and the volume louder… Sorry, neighbours. I think going into a home might help me; I’m not coping well.
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Inchie Today: Monday, 24th August 2026
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I got out of bed and guessed at the colour of the product inside. Read the amount on the pouch label chart: a good dollop again. 1600ml. I’d had a lot of cramps overnight. Fingers, hands, and lower legs. Still alright now.
Emptied the pouch, bagged it in the yellow bin, cleaned
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The usual, but extended, session of cursing, swearing, and self-lambasting had its moments. I put the last of the bruise-ease ointment on the ribs.
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Carer arrived. Put some more cream on the chest. Issued the medications. Phorpained gel to both shoulders (the arthritis is spreading over to the left one now) and the oddly painful neck. The Doctor said it was arthritis, but I find the pain very different to the ankles, shoulders, back and knees affected. Sharper, and hurts when touched. Could it be something else? The gel has no relieving effect at all, and it stings when applied.
Not that it is too bad yet. Then I disturbed him on his mobile, asking him to make a mug of tea. He said, you didn’t ask! I said I just did. You know how we English love our tea and get bothered when we get a mug of light brown, unbrewed tea with a gallon of milk in it? Haha! I reminded him not to put too much milk in and to let it brew properly this time. Well, he made a darn good brew for me this morning, bless him.
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It opened alright, but was I brave enough to open CorelDraw? Not at first, and it was gone by midday, with all the kerfuffling I’d done. Hours later, after using MS Word, WordPress, and Notepad’s word lists to make the Ode of the day, I needed to Doctor a graphic and put a photo in the Ode header. I was on a late-in-the-day roll now, and without thinking of what happened earlier, I opened CorelDraw. Dang, dang dang Dang! I realised what I’d done, and got ready for the Blue Screen of Death to appear! Positive that it would show up!
As of this moment in time (13:20hrs), I’ve not had a moment’s bother from CorelDraw! I’ll hold back from going into a Smug-Mode for now, though.
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Carer Andrew came. Carer Andrew left.
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I went to make a mug of tea, and Carer Mirza arrived. I was so glad to see him again; I’d almost forgotten what he looked like. (Sarcasm for them not sending him to serve me for so long) Not his fault. A Caring lad.
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Dropped the Kodak 1 camera. Now not working, broken, no longer usable! Heartbroken… again!
I decided to buy another one, which means using Amazon. I’m nervous about this. The number of times they have left parcels down in the main lobby, and someone has nicked them, puts fear in me. Cause I can’t get through to tell them. Complaints: click here. The list of options you can select from is not what you want, so you pick “My parcel has not been delivered. Then they show you a photo of it as it was delivered to the correct address. A snap of the parcel outside what was supposed to be my flat doorway, which had a different flat number on it. “
It took Carer Ejaz three weeks to get an acknowledgement, and a month to get me money back.
Now, I think, did I order it properly? Did I order the right one? I’ll check the site out later.
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The blood-taker arrived to take some haemoglobin for testing my Warfarin INR level.
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Deleted some things I put in Monday’s blog. It was pointed out that it was risky prosecution-wise.
I reckon I’m doing risky things when I’m in a deep depression. Or could it be the TBI and/or dementia being a part of it? Laura told me afterwards, after the assessment, that I struggled with many parts much worse than on the last assessment.
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ACCIFAUXPAS
I got into the wet room to find I’d left the hot tap running, yet again. Needless to say, but I will:
I realised I’d not boosted the British Gas meter.
WOT-A-PLONKER! So, B.O. alert put in place. Hehe
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Inchie Today: Saturday, 22nd August 2025 – With Memory Photos
Another chronically wasted day. No shower, no laundry done, no reply yet from email ot the Carer Company about the financial situation, and on top of that, I was all over the place, losing things, deleting things, making errors galore; and all with a confused outlook. Sorry about the little moan again, but that’s how it went.
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I deleted the photographs taken on the camera after downloading them to the computer. Then later, deleted them from the file, thinking I had already put them on the blog. I shan’t tell you of how angry I got! Especially when I broke and dropped and shattered the glass biscuit barrel. The language I came out with surprised even me. Boy, did I get Angina after this. It is likely that I lost, misplaced, or couldn’t find umpteen things: dates, letters, my mobile phone, the TV remote control, even the walking stick once! Losing patience with me, I got me so wound up.
So, a sad block. Or even blog!
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Afternoon skies.
Got me on my feet. (A tumble)
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In the evening, still not having made a start on this blog, I tried to calm down and make a concerted effort to begin working on Friday’s blog. Got the computer on. I just kept switching things off, back on and crossing my fingers.
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Dad & Brother Pete
Railway Houses, two up, two down
Brookfield Place, the Meadows
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