– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Terribly up-and-down day today. Alternating seemingly every five-minutes to me, looking back.
But, so busy. Carer Kara helped me sort out the meal ordering. As well as the diabetic course booking.
This period was the most up one of the day.
Electric-like shocks from the ankles came on so often, far more than any other day since they started.
The new day [ouch on the catheter is leaving scars much worse than the old type were. Bleeding f from the fungal lesion is far worse. Plus, Reflux Roger with his blasts of wind coming up, making three carers, Shaquille, Maryham and Kara, all laugh.
Trouble with the Liberty-Global TV.
Watched the Forest vs Man Utd match. It’s a shame they lost; they deserved a draw, at least; the refereeing seemed biased to me… again, against Forest.
The mind blanks/seizures and Electric-like ankle shocks were both persistent today. When asleep, a rarity that… the ankle shocks often wake me up, but when awake and out-of-it, wither they do not strike or wake me up? Conrad’s Confusion reigns.
The Catheter Katie night pouch did not have much in it, and it was far too dark. Removed it from the day bag. This new style, which I believe is a woman’s version, has a really thick, long tubing. The release valve at the bottom is touching my slippers; it’s that long! When it fills, the weight drops it down even further, making reaching it to release the valve to be emptied, is difficult and painful.
Morning view ahead. The misty sky.
called on the first call of his day shift.
The lad looked in top form. He gave me some tips on cooking pasta, after sorting the medications out.
A few minutes later, arrived. On a financial help call. Sorted the letters that had arrived. Then handled ordering the Parsley Box order for me.
She checked the bother with the new-type catheter. I’d hoped she call the District Nurses to see if they could be swapped, but don’t know if I asked her not now.
I’m lost when Kara does not call.
Maryham, Marie, Christopher and Shaquille have all helped me this week. Much appreciated, too. But it is only Kara that the bank will talk to on my behalf. She also helped me through the options for the Diabetes Course. Manuel is phoning or calling on Monday; I’ll mention the painful catheter to him.
A nearly full front car park this afternoon.
Sometimes, I miss having a car or motorbike to use. But it was sensible to voluntarily hand in my driving licence when I started getting the seizures. I don’t regret doing this usually, in fact, I’m kind of proud of myself for doing it. The thought that I could kill an innocent person should I drop off while driving was the reason I surrendered the licence. I was thinking of this and had a look at the mobility scooters available.
called. She had a giggle at my revelations and jokes. Did me a lot of good that did! Kimberly found my jokes funny! Grrreat!.
Diabetic socks were put on, and medications were issued. Safety checks were done.
After an hour or two constantly sat down at the computer, the bag was filling again. I painfully bent down to get to the release valve, which with the weight of urine, was now on the floor! And noticed afterwards the state of the top of the leg, where the extra-thick (No, I’m not talking about me, Hehe!) and long tube had worn a shape into the leg. I wiped off the trickles of blood and took this picture of it. I’m hoping Kara can call the District Nurses, or wherever she calls it, to ask them if there is any chance they can swap back to the old shorter ones.
Easy-peasy one today… even I spotted the mistake. Albeit, it took me longer than the 4 seconds.
Just as bad were my Moon photo takings…Wobble and a double moon. Another bad un… Nearly missed it altogether… Aha, Gorrit!
Later shot from the kitchen.
tended to me. Got diabetic socks on my feet and Phorpain Gel, which medicated me.
Blogging for an hour or so and ordering food for next Monday. 06:30>07:20hrs.
Gotten Himmel! That suddenly filled up!
Carried them into the kitchen No potatoes! But hot dog rolls and baguettes last a week if I use the freezer. Drink treats for the nurses & carers. There are low-cal sausages and some franks in there, too. Wholemeal cob hot dogs? Milk and Carers treats The fridge was filled. The freezer is full, too!
Even darker wee-wee now.
Carer Chris saw how long and so low down the new Catheter day pouch was. He tried to shorten the thick, wide tubing, but it was glued on, so there was no go. We both think this was a female bag. I’m in great pain as I now have to bend down as low as my ankle to get to the release valve for emptying, which is not suitable. I’ll ask Kara if she can see if these are ladies’ bags tomorrow. Massive tubing! The release valve is far too low down.
Lovely view.
Late night shot. Not too bad for me.
Made hot dogs and had them with tomatoes and mushrooms with a splash of low-calorie tomato sauce in each sliced roll. The chips are processed out of a packet cold, which the Nurse tells me are low in carbs and calories, and I’m allowed to eat.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sorry this is short, but I was so busy making mistakes and correcting things. Losing things and going off track, getting involved in many activities and tasks simultaneously. I forgot what and where I was with earlier self-made missions. They all sort of merged and melted away until something reminded me. Then, I’d tackle the unfinished job and lose what I was doing at that time again. Tomorrow, I will start the three times daily (But only once for the first three days) 15-minute exercises again. Like I had after the stroke. But I’m doing them at home this time. I’m told to leave the bending and lifting ones off but double up on the joint ones, so I get 15 minutes’ worth done each time. I can decide when I find the leaflet, but I remember most of them pretty well – I recall the different pains each open left me in. Hahaha! Might get some stickers for the touch pads they had at the centre. Oh, I am brave, & a fibber!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I only got three of them in 25 minutes! Of course, I can blame my being, , , and . The bits of skin constantly fall from my forehead onto the lenses of my nine-year-old spectacles. I’m still doing daily searches to find the new glasses in the flat somewhere!
I was born with nothing… And have most of it left! Of luck, good fortune, I’m bereft, Surviving was my only skill or craft, And being willing and able to graft, I bet St Peter will have a laugh! Hehehe!
Written in Support of the Inchcock Sanity-Seeking-Subspecies-Swarm
Up at 04:30hrs.
The only decent photos taken all day. Of the sky and moon. Peripheral Neuropathy Pete put an end to decent Kodak Tim shots then. Not many were taken today, and I lost my confidence a little. the Kodak Batteries lasted for only a day, about 12 pictures worth. Later, I put the last of the Kodak batteries in; they are… were, two batteries a day used since buying them. A warning here is anyone is tempted to buy them from Amazon or eBay… don’t! They should be called Energy-less!
Complete reversal. On the next visit to the Porcelain Throne. Still, it does make things more interesting; never knowing what you are going to have to put up with. Constipation Konrad’s unmoveable concrete Torpedoes? Splurging, splattering, almost liquid evacuations, of the Trotsky Terence mode that needed not only my body but sometimes the wet room floor, WC, and splattered floor cupboards to be cleaned.
I mention this for the Mr & Mrs ‘Regulars’, who don’t know the fun they’re missing. Hehehe!
Carer Richard arrived; the lad was not looking or feeling very well. His diabetes. His HbA1c level is all over the place, and it shows. I hope not, but think the lad will have to be off work again soon. Nice bloke too!
I didn’t ask him to put the diabetic socks on; I’ll ask the next Carer to call on me, whoever that is. Which as it turned out, arrived five minutes after Richard had left me. It was . She was on the much overdo and needed weekly domestic visits. Helped me with the ablutions. I really appreciated that and hid my embarrassment, and she didn’t laugh. Haha! While I was shaving and not doing a good job of it, Maryham cleaned the wet room for me. But I forgot to ask her to put my socks on afterwards, Brr! Hehe! ♥
Started blogging many hours later than planned. Then, turned up. She obliged and put on my diabetic socks for me despite being in a hurry; bless her cotton socks! Oh, it warmed me up no end in getting the socks on. ♥
Thanked Marie muchly for her help, and walked back to get the slippers on…. Stubbed my toes against the base of the clothes-airer legs. I just laughed it off, with gay abandonment and a chuckle to myself. . My typing and blogging skills were even worse than they were earlier. I’d typed unknown words that did not exist. Misspellings and grammar disasters that had Grammarly forever showing up. Forgetting the word or words needed to suit the context. Stomach ache, and of all things, I’m being barraged by , Now, stabbing grinding pains. Out of the blue. He’s always started off slowly and built up to a full-on attack before? Not this time!
I’m going to take an extra Codeine now.
Took the tablet, and was summoned to the wet room. What a mess! And an awful lot of cleaning up afterwards was needed.
While in there, I had a mini-wash and oiled the ear holes. Germoloided the delicate areas after more bleeding from . Then Germoloided the delicateApplying the Germoloid ointment has never stung before. Well, it flipping well did today?
The mist and fog disappeared suddenly, and I took these shots with Kodak Tim of the emerging clouds from the darkness. Bootiful all the same.
After a few hours farting about making mistakes on the blog, I opened the box of Walkers Worcester Sauce-flavoured 21g potato sticks and gobbled it up. Not the whole box you understand, just one packet. Hehehe!
I’ve never known time to go so fast. Well, I have, when Grizelda came to visit me, and we entwined. But that’s another story, and now only a memory. Where was I? Lost my concentration there… the mind wanders… The tears flow.
Oh, yes, the evening Carer called, it was precious Marie. I really thought it was hours earlier than it was… then again, nothing unusual in that. Pleased to see her again. Medications, Peptac and painkillers were issued.
I went to use up the last of the chips. Doing the daily meal preparations… Placing the chips in the oven, and up popped kindly, gave me a . With a clatter as the tray fell to the floor, the chips seemed to catapult all over the place, and a feeling of depression overcame me instantly; these were the last of my chips, and I was going to have a last feast of them, now they have been banned by the doctor! After the pain of getting down to retrieve them and then getting back up and cleaning them, I carefully got them back in the oven and cooking. Then made up a baguette with the usual No-Butter Butter slathered thickly on the wholemeal roll. How will I manage with eating no potatoes? Can witchcraft help? Praying didn’t.
Here it is! Sadly, these are my last chips until I get the diabetic level down to a safer level… even then, and if I can do so, will they allow me to once again eat the staple food of the 1940s-born generic Nottingham proletariats ever again? Will this be the final score high score of my noshes?
The sky cheered me up a smidgeon as I washed up the pots from the gorgeous meal enjoyed. It came out a little better this time.
I saw here, Mummy & Daddy clouds, with the babies all in line below.
Little did I know as climbed into the itch-creating, bruise-giving, catheter-tube-tugging, crumb-decorated from my nocturnal nibblings, God-awfully uncomfortable, cringingly-grotty, no longer working, dirty beige, anti-sleep designed, c1966, second-hand bought for £300, ten years ago from the charity shop, recliner, this was going to be one of the worst nocturnal shifts ever! Not counting the night I had the stroke!
Oh, forgot to reveal the quiz findings. Better late than never… He says! Keep smiling!
A tinge of brown in the first-morning snap of the view from the kitchenette?
Thus, I evacuated the splashy sludge.
The brown clouds had lessened. A hazy-looking moon got through.
I did the waste bags and then made up the day’s spring water bottles.
Getting lighter now. Frost was on the ground, but that soon cleared up, especially on the bottom field, decorated with footfall-made paths.
Despite my guzzling away at the water, the flow from bladder to pouch was far less today.
Late afternoon.
I had a search for Meals-on-Wheels, as it was known on the web. Totally confused. As I am with the instructions over the Diabetic Course Email. I sent a reply on Friday explaining that I did not know which of the options to choose. No indication of where they would be held, and I have to sign up in a few days or not get on the waiting list. I’ll ask Carer Kara if she can contact them for me. Miguel… no Manuel… well, one or the other to clarify the situation, location and when. If I remember.
Bye-bye, sunshot.
Veg soup, nosh. Had just two thin rounds of bread, and some potatoes were in with the beans. Sad, innit? Hehe!
I did… but not in the time allotted. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Late Carer Came. Socks were not taken off, and no nocturnal pouch was attached to the catheter. It’s my fault; I forgot to ask for it to be done.
Carer Chris, who brought my laundry back last night, arrived. Medications administered. Peptac & Paracetamol were taken this morning… that was because was giving way pretty often. At least up to now, anyway. I pointed out the fictional line in the ode, where he hits me with a feather duster; he did larf!
I started to put last night’s laundry away. The dressing gowns were still damp. So I hung them on the air warmer.
After blogging for an hour or so, I took this kitchen photographicalisation. Surprisingly, IU found the day pouch needed emptying, so I did. It looked as if the blood streaks had gone, but it was still a smidge red and had bubbles… large ones this time in it. I took a second shot of the wonderfully clear now clouds. I saw a rabbit’s head and a spaceship in the sky while I was there.
More blog work was done… but it was not helping my concentration, and the usual cock-ups and mistakes were rife. I’m taking ages to correct them; even now, I don’t know if it is.
The second Carer took this photo of the once again filled-up catheter day pouch…
Rang out. It was the Vitamin B12 tablets. A year’s supply!
The flipping pouch needed emptying again. The Carer took this photo, too. Not many folks get a picture taken of them by their Carer as he’s peeing… well, pretending to pee! Hehehe!
Another shot while the clouds were so perfect for picturing. I saw more things in this one.
I must phone the district nurses on Monday. To inform them of all the wee-weeing going on.
Getting late now. Another beautiful view was taken.
The sun goes down. Bootiful
Minutes later.
I think there was a fire somewhere later. I could hear a lot of klaxons and see red, blue and twos. I think there is smoke in the photo above. It seemed to be in the Basford area again.
I missed this one I took earlier at the end of the car park mudslide.
Eating, over the years, is changing,
Had to stop alcoholic drinking,
After the heart op, limiting…
Brassica off the menu, heartbreaking,
No caulis or brussel sprouting,
Broccoli, kale “No Eating”,
Low in Vitamin B – could cause dying!
The doctor suggested Smoked Haddocking,
Which is high in Vitamin K, alarming,
Can’t eat that cause of the Warfarin!
Now Diabetes 2 is coming… Now to cut down on bread, appalling!. Potatoes too, It makes me blue… What can I do? Come on… I’m asking you! Oh, did you find the faults? The Two?
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I’m not sure if this ever happened. I do not trust my memory anymore. Yet I dreamed of this last night, and to me, it was a real memory… but…
I’d be about nine years old at the time; I was visiting Mr Widdowson, a grand old chap, and his wife. I was concerned about his knees playing up and asked him if I could call on him after school the next day to see how he was. He lit his pipe before answering me (I loved the smell of his baccy, whichever it was) and replied, “Well young un, it’s reet kind on yer, but you should get on with living; I’m ready for death, and a bit of peace, but mostly to be free of pain.” “But I’ll not half miss the missus!” He smiled gently and added, “If yer lives long enough, you’ll understand worra mean, lad”. And gave me a threepenny bit and a home-baked buttered scone. I’m not certain, and I think I had the exact same dream later on in the morning. Twice more! I just thought I’d mention it.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Woke up by Carer Chris. To find the right hand mangled by the Peripheral Neuropathy Pete. And the left one, by Colin Cramps!.
Carer Chris removed the Nocturnal Night Pouch, and took the above photos for me.
Gorgeous skies.
Not passing much these last two hours, and I’d been guzzling the spring water?
Another view of the sky.
More bills arrived. Huh!
The afternoon brought the clouds out!
Nibble time.
Aha, the Amazon cans of beef arrived; I shall try these on a wholemeal roll with chips, methinks…Chips! Did I say chips? No, they are banned! Ahem!
Evening views are not very good, mind you. I got a duplicate-ridden one here… Tried again Not good again, but betterer?
Carer Chris arrived. Nocturnal pouch was taken off, diabetic socks were put on, and medications were given. The lad was treated, and off he went.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY CHECK
A young friendly gentleman rang the door chime. He was the man to do the electricity safety checks. He was here for three hours. But that includes the help he gave me with the TV remote and checks he did on all of the plugs, at least five, that were fitted to things when the speed merchant who fitted the new fibre system, TV, landline and internet, (which costs me four times as much as the one that would not work). This was after the internet went down, and he didn’t tell me I had an extra landline, which he put on the floor, or that the telephone number had been changed.
WordPress just froze, and I lost a ton of work!
No idea what I did wrong or keys hit in error. Well pissed off now! I’d just finished the blog, too! It’s so late now too. I’ll get the photos on again, but can’t remember what I commented on. Grrr! Nothing ever goes right!
. The ceiling is marked for the new to come-in month’s fire alarm to be fitted.
Paperwork to sign.
The Peripheral Neuropathy Finger Mangling came on, and the chap took a photo of it. Hehe!
Note to Doctor! I bought the pics before Obergruppenfurheress Nurse told me to stop eating bread & potatoes. Naturally, as soon as these wicked foodstuffs are used up, I won’t be buying any more!
The night view… Gorgeous! Grrreat! I do love this view!
A new pattern design from the automatic warping fingers of . I’ve no control over the digits at all. No wonder I’m making so many mistakes typing and dropping things.
A Great Vagueness followed. No idea which Carer called or what I did or didn’t do for about four hours. I do recall worrying about the electrical checks due tomorrow… but I was unclear why? Maybe losing the internet connection?
Late evening sky… Gorgeous!
I saw a few figures in these shots.
No evacuation boredom for me. A difference on every visit. Hehe!
This was not good! Looks like a spot of blood in the dark, misty-looking urine on this last emptying out of the . Oh, dearie me!
I found a jar of frankfurter sausages in the cupboard and decided to have them in the wholemeal cobs with a few chips. It looked pretty good… However, the sausages tasted rank! I trashed them after the first bite. But ate the rolls and chips. I gave a decent score because, for once, the chips and bread both tasted absolutely fantastic! I later discovered that the jar of sausages were dated use-by-Nov 22! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I Couldn’t! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I’ll get the considerable embarrassment over with first.
Today, I got yet another food order to arrive! That is six in eight days, and I can remember ordering two of them… albeit for the wrong day and week. Joy? Carer Kara is back from holiday! Nurse Hristina is coming in the morning. Joy? The mind blanks/seizures seemed far less today! Joy? I got the PPs on in five massively less painful minutes today.
However, I lost yet again… this time it was four hours before I found it again. Missed the sunset and annoyed myself. Nothing new there!
I was so weary, in the afternoon, I took a kip in the itch-creating, bruise-giving, catheter-tube-tugging, crumb-decorated from my nocturnal nibblings, God-awfully uncomfortable, cringingly-grotty, no longer working, dirty beige, anti-sleep designed, c1966, second-hand bought for £300, ten years ago from the charity shop, recliner, waking an hour later when Carer Chris arrived to wake me, and after he’s gone, so had . I really thought it had gone this time, finding it… I’ll tell you where later…
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
I stirred reluctantly in mock life.
Removed the nocturnal catheter bag.
Wash and shave. The legs & feet were looking okay. The bloodless parts of the toes were seemingly getting larger in the area? The make on the right foot is actually, I think, a mark on the camera lens. But I tried to clean it off the other day without any success? It does not show up in dark areas, so I cunningly took the top photo upside down. Clever, eh? Or not. A second attempt at evacuating from the rear end, and Trotsky had regained control. Last visit!
All done ablutionally and medicatingly, I tackled getting the Depend PPs on. I am not kidding; I reckon the whole operation took me about 5 minutes from start to finish! With some miracle, the pains from knees Arthur Itis and the two Cartilages were not too bad!
I made up some bottles of spring water (flavoured with cordials) for the day’s intake.
Sorted the waste bags.
I was gobsmacked to see that the Catheter Day Pouch had filled quickly. Oddly, the shade looked a little deeper as the day went on.
I started on the blog, photo, and CorelDraw work.
Joy? The landline rang . My beloved Hristina of the DVT Warfarin Anticoagulation Team advised me that she would call on Wednesday to take the blood for the INR test. And very welcome she will be! ♥
After Carer Kara ♥ had called and got the diabetic socks on for me, dosed me up, and she’d checked the catheter date and condition and departed Sob! I was hit with fatigue. I made a microwave hot dog and some chips. I got back down on the 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. Ate the snack, put the TV on, and fell asleep at as the first set of adverts came on. Zzz! I was woken up by Carer Chris arriving, medicating me, and shooting off… damage done; I could not get back to sleep. So, I rose, washed the pots, and got back on with the much-belated blogging.
Then, an ASDA (Walmart) order arrived.
Not the foggiest recall of ordering it. Humph! At least it was a small one. Baguettes, beans & bacon soup, Soda water, a can of minced beef, kitchen towels, and Worcestershire Sauce flavoured chip sticks. And… Hot dogs, potatoes, rissoles & Lamb Patti!
The day pouch was choker-full again!
And even darker now.
Noticed the sunset and wanted to take photos of it… but my search for the Kodak proved futile. I must have been looking for an hour non-stop.
I finished the blog for Monday and posted it. Then I made a start on this one… Carer Chris made his last call of the day. I was always in a rush on this one; I was his last call before he got home for a few days’ rest. Gave him some treats as he left.
Then made another search for the camera… I eventually discovered that I must have knocked it off the recliner arm, and it’s fallen into the control pouch outside the chair. Angry at myself but so pleased that I found it, I went to take a very late shot of the night from the kitchen. Not a brilliant one, though.
After spending more time on this blog, it was not going well; I stood up and, crikey, the pouch dropped down! Full again! And look at the dark colour?
The infection may be returning? I hope not; I’ve got enough going on, thank you!
I got my head down again for an hour or so and then got up for another bash at this blog.
Got back in the recliner at about 04:00hrs.
Up again at 06:50hrs.
Carer Richard arrived We’ve agreed to leave the ankle & leg strappings off, to see how it goes. Richard did not put the diabetic socks
on, as I was hoping to get a shower this morning. But that didn’t happen!
Lovely morning view. Amazing cloud and lighting.
Carer Maryham came, I thought it was for the domestic, but she helped me with getting the diabetic socks on, washing and shaving. We had a natter as we got the ablutioning done, and after getting a fresh dressing gown on, she took a photo of me. What handsome looking best!
I got some bottles of Bladder-pleasing spring water into the front room. I’m trying to during more, as the urine in the day bag os getting darker.
A very rare event here! I microwaved a hot dog, opened a packet of low-calorie sticks, and I added a pot of orange jelly, and had an afternoon snack! Nice!
For four hours or so, nothing was done. It’s as if I had a seizure to memory blank. Nothing had been done on the blog either. No TV on, but that’s not unusual. The kettle felt cold, so I’d not made myself a brew of tea. Nothing else on the reminder notepad? What the heck was I doing?
I tried to concentrate on blogging, even though I knew there wasn’t a cat in hell’s chance of getting caught up; I’m a day and a half behind now! Add all the cock-ups, mistakes, errors and mind-blanks that followed, and I eventually gave up. Tired, mentally weary and frustrated in the extreme! I did, however, get the few photos taken into CorelDraw and got them in the WordPress gallery to use in the morning… at least, I hope to. I pondered over where the term cat in hell’s chance may have originated, I looked it up on Google: A footnote to a humorous poem printed in The Gentlemen’s Magazine of April 1792 perhaps gives a clue to the origin. “Charon”, it says, “has orders to deprive all cats of their claws. Whence comes that saying in hopeless cases – he has as much chance as a cat in Hell without claws”.
