The Nottingham Lads True Tales of Woe

INCHIE TODAY: Saturday 21st January 2023

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Pandemonium! Everything delaying, interfering and stopping things from getting done. Hence the worst Diary ever. I did get the top bit done, though. And that took until 13:00hrs! Sorry!

The Catheter tubing was causing bleeding again from little Inchies fungal lesion. The Mystery stabbing pains have persisted,  wearing me down

Fait dollop of wee in the night catheter.

Terrible morning view photo.

The light bulb needed changing.
I couldn’t get up the step ladder…
Tall Carer assisted!

Ah, that’s better. Thank you.

Carer Richard’s donated minder whiteboard.
No lift for Monday is available.
The taxi, I suppose?

Cor, the little day catheter bag filled up quickly.

An hour later, again!

Then the wee-weeing stopped?

Evening meal, not bad.
Flavour Rating: 7/10.

Followed by a pot of porridge.
A drop of raspberry syrup was added.

Woken by Carer Carole-Anne.
Who gave the painkillers to me.
And added the night bag to the catheter.
Earlier, Carer Kara tried to get me logged back onto Internet banking. It wouldn’t let us. She’d not got much time and will try again later. Bless ’em. ♥

Could I get back to sleep?
Well, no, not for ages.
TSK!

Sorry not much on this blog.
Time is so precious…
But, all the medicationings…
Catheter changing and emptying…
Even getting dressed and washed is time-consuming nowadays.
Cooking with one hand and trying to use the walking stick…
The wearying Mystery Rib Pains…
And my wandering stubborn brain…
Fretting and worrying away…

It’ll get better again one day…

INCHIE TODAY: Thursday 19th January 2023

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A hectic day. Medicationalistically, that is!
I shall reveal only the important & humorous stuff, as time is already running out. (Well, that’s the plan anyway) but I have been known to waffle on. Hehe!
I’ve dealt with the pretty, kind Fall Team’s Lisa.
The Doctor’s Surgery… twice…
The Urology Hospital.
Made two more medical appointments given me.
And failed to arrange lifts… yet!

Here we go…

After another night of sleep-wake, sleep-wake, and sleep-wake… I decided to get up around 05:00hrs – fell back asleep, and was woken by Chiming from the doorbell, and in walked my mate and Carer Richard.
The moment I woke and stretched the one leg on the chair (The other had the catheter on it and needed to be kept off of the chair so as not to trap the tubing), the kicked-off big-time.
Richard, set about getting detaching, then he , and adjusted the straps on the . Gave me the medications and set up the air-fryer for me. We had a little chat while he did it.

The was utilised, and then I stripped off (A horrible thought for you, I know), and I got the done. Medicationalisationings next. Then the painful bit of doing the hemerine . Finally, nearly two hours after entering the wet room, I started the task of getting dressed.   This provided the first and of the day.
I was at the complicated stage of using the picker-upperer to get the trousers up over the and the attached accoutrements, and, with its usual crap-timing, a burst out.
I fell against the racking and, almost in slow motion, slid down, hitting my chin on the metal. However, I managed to land on a knee, and it was my left knee; this helped me, along with the walking stick, to get back up onto my feet. Even if it did take GC broken toothme an age to manage it. Also, no damage to the catheter, tubing, bag or straps, either. So it could have been a lot worse. As I was at my smuggest, the teeth started bleeding. It must have been from when I hit my chin on the trolley? A flaming good start to the day! It must have taken me over two hours to complete the , and !!!

Made a brew of Thompson’s Punjana and got the computer going.
An Email from the lovely Lisa from the Falls team had to be answered.
At last, very late in the morning, I made a start on finishing off yesterday’s blog.
Herbert above’s short concert of mechanical clanging was short-lived.
Then the lift men began working again. But they were such a lot less noise than last week. Maybe they were getting to the end of the job or more floors down? Got to be done, though.

I made an Iceland order for next week.
The Pharmacy man rang about next week’s appointment.
Then the doctor’s surgery rang; The Doctor needed me to come and see her. That sounded a little worrying! She told me the appointment is for next Monday at 10:30hrs.
Around 16:00hrs, I rang Easy-Link to try and book a lift there and back, but the lady said I must call back in the morning twixt ten & noon. But will I remember to? If I forget, or can’t get through, they are not open Sat and Sundays… Oh, dearie me!

I spent hours on blogging duties. It’s amazing how many mistakes, errors, memory losses and losing track that a man can make! All without any effort at all.

Here are the photographs from the day:

Pareidolia moment with the clouds.

All is well with the Catheter!

Air Fryer was all set up for me!

Blooming nippy out there!

All parked up

Sunsetting shot

Sunsetting shot twenty minutes later.
Got the balcony doors open for me.

Got the TV on to watch Heartbeat as I worked on the blog

Logging off now to get summat to eat.

Morning Catch Up

Baked beans with BBQ sauce, bread rolls.
Soya yoghourt & Star dessert.

Eating it, and arrived. Checkedte catheter.
All was well in that department.
Medications and a little chinwag & laugh.

Dished the cold meal after she’d gone. Enjoyed what
I did eat, though. Flavour 7.5/10.

Arrewa…
Arovoi…
Arrevou…
Googled it…
Aurevoir!

INCHIE TODAY: Tuesday 17th January 2023

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Billum Won!

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♫ Oh, what a beautiful morning… ♫ … ! The struggle to get the detached caused the to kick off. However, notwithstanding, besides, furthermore, and anyway, the stabbing pains were far less often than they had been for weeks. Fingers Crossed!
Also, as well as, in spite of everything, howbeit, for all that, in spite of everything, the contents of the
were more than it had been for a few days. I must not get too hopeful, knowing my luck. Hehehe!
I shall not desist from drinking the water and keep at it. I do think things might be improving Urine infection-wise, at long last. I must not be a though!
But, my EQ indicates that new worries may arise today. He’s rarely wrong, Humph!
By gum, a crystal clear early morning view was on offer when I went to check on the taps and cooker. All turned off.
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And got the started. During the hour and a half, it took to get them done, I had to visit the three times! No   this morning, due to my near location to the WC Throne. After these three calls to the , there were only three more up to writing this blog at this point. (17:25hrs). Things were going well!

Finished off the task at hand. 
Feeling better than for ages. The far less frequent compared to the previous week!
The recently emptied day catheter pouch was filling up already, and I’d not had anything to drink yet.
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Carer Richard Arrived. He got the medications sorted out. And told me I’d have to phone the Easy-Link and Doctors myself in future. Fair enough, Warden Deana told me that she could no longer call them for me ages ago. They are all under pressure; bless them.

Then got a phone call from the Doctor’s surgery. Hard to hear what he was saying; I think I was booked in for the Medications Consultation. The man said It would really help if you could bring a carer along with you, as they are dealing with the medications and can answer questions. I mentioned this to a carer, but don’t know if anything can be arranged or what it will cost. But not to fret; I can go on my own; after getting a list of medications from Carer Richard, I think he has a list in the Meridian folder. I just hope I heard things right about times, dates, etc. But I feel I did okay.

I’m going to rush now, or the Carer will come while I’m eating again. Throughout the morning, I tried to get through to Easy-Link, but no chance.

Herbert gave me a few mechanical concertos.
A Carer kindly gave me a few minutes to help with trying to sort out the new bank card, and I got through to Easy link. Arranged a lift for next Thursday, pick-up 08:30hrs, appointment at 90:00hrs.

Tried to get my head around the banking problem, but all the writing on the paperwork and on the card itself was far too small. Try reading with the spyglass, and by the time I got halfway across the page, I’d lost myself. Which sounds a smidge appealing at this moment. Haha!

I grafted away at getting the graphics done on CorelDraw.
Such a slow going.
The time passed like lightning.
Yet when all is said and done, somehow, I was still more content than I had been in a while, now.
Getting through to Easy-Link for once was an achievement. I just hope  I heard everything properly.
I should be feeling sorry for myself now – Cataract making seeing even worse than last week, the waxed-up ear-holes, and the (although they are far less frequent today) should have ensured me nearing a depression But no! Why? I don’t know! But I like it!

I’ll finish of so far quickly, then get summat to eat.
That’ll do me!

Missed photographs

The Fog!

Catheter

A photo I took in 3-d mode on the Lumix.
I shan’t bother trying again.

Teatime view (I think it was)

I seemed to have a spurt of success in passing
water this afternoon. Yee-Haa!

Afternoon car park.

At about 20:00hrs, the day bag was filled again.
Spotted it in time to avoid an .

Carer Richard Arrived, we got the medications sorted, and he got the to the contraption on my right leg for me. This new Day pouch is a little smaller than the earlier ones.
Had a little chinwag. I explained about the appointment at the doctor with the Medications Monitor man at Sherrington Park Medical Practice appointment for Thursday, 2nd February at 09:00hrs; I hope I heard everything he said clearly. He was patient with me when I kept asking him to clarify things for me. And I actually got through to Easy-Link, eventually, and booked a lift there and back!
Carer Richard Checked the taps and stove as he departed. He took the waste bag with him. Thanking him as he went. He’s a grand chap.

For once, getting to sleep was a problem, whereas usually, it is staying asleep that bothers me. The were no bother at all. That is until I woke up in the morning – They were bad!

Guess what went out of date? My Marmite!
Can’t read the dates, cataracts, bad eyesight,
I seem to see better in the dark than in daylight?
I’m waffling; I’m a right blatherskite!

Good Night!

Inchie Today – Wednesday 11th January 2023

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THE PAROLE BOARD WILL CUT IT SHORT!

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DVT Nurse, then the Urology Nurse Fiona, who called twice; First, to take off the catheter and scan the bladder and returned to scan again. She was not so happy with this one. and to see how and if the urine was flowing. She’s coming back tomorrow to do another bladder scan, with ink inserted. And if necessary, to put the catheter back in. Oh, dearie me! Amazon delivery. Important letters arrived. Trotsky Terence was in full charge of the many messy Porcelain Throne usages. I took a tumble in the hallway. Got to stop taking the Anti whatsit capsules… but may need to start taking them tomorrow according to the ink reading results on the scanner. I’m thoroughly confused now. Although this is nothing unusual.

Burnt fingers on the oven. Then I lost the mobile phone. Found it four hours later… I prefer not to say where I found it… Oh, go in then… It was in the oven!?!? Luckily the oven was not on. The question is, why and how did I put it in there in the first place? Pass!

So, an even busier day, the photos and graphics will get put on. Many memory blanks, it’s getting late already and I’ve not started the blog graphics yet.

Two morning photos were taken between the multitude of messy, spongy, gooey visits suffered.
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Potatoes are put in a slow cooker around 08:00hrs.
Got taken out around 21:00hrs.

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Got the Night Catheter off.

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The eighth visit to the .

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The ninth visit to the .

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Nurse Fiona arrived, she was a breath of fresh air, Bless Her! (Yes, I fell in love again!) She was here for well over an hour. When she’d painlessly removed the catheter from Little Inchie, she did a bladder scan.
Too much urine in the bladder. Back to water drinking. That amount of urine should have been released into the catheter. She said she’ll return later in the afternoon to have a look. Constantly reminding me to drink, drink, drink! Hehe!
So I drunk!

The Asda order arrived

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Made sure I guzzled water while putting the food away!

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Delivery

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Bit naughty with the biscuits?

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Cut back on this order

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Although… maybe not enough? Haha!

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When Fiona returned, I’d shrank a two-litre bottle of Valley Spring water. A one-litre Sunrise water and a flavoured 2-litre Elm Water.
I showed Fiona the water bottle for the urine and the drops I’d passed, and Fiona seemed happy enough with my efforts. She asked me to try and pass again, which I did, but not a lot. Seeing the liquid changed her mood a smidgen, And she did another bladder scan there and then.
She, or someone else, will return tomorrow with a different scanner. I don’t think she was impressed with whatever it was that the scanner revealed. She repeated that if I can’t pass more water, they will have to refit the Catheter in the morning; if so, I’m to restart taking the Acute Pyelonephritis capsules.
It’s all go here!

Teatime rains

Around 19:30 hrs. Wonderful sky!

Carer Kara and Joseph called during the day. Kara will try to contact Easy-Link to get a lift to the Coppice Mental Health Hospital for me. And contact Easy Link about whether or not I owe them or they’ve taken the money out.

Well, fancy that!

Straps were left by Fiona in case the catheter has to go back on tomorrow.
at the thought of it!

Fiona left reminders for me about things. I can’t remember what they were at the moment. They were for the carers as well, I think.

Carer Richard Did the late call on me. Checked the Meds, taps, and cooker. He wrote a message in marker pen on the fridge door, as he knew I was abbot to cook my belated meal of the day, to remind me to turn off the taps and cooker.

Early morning nosh prepared.
Very nice, too, it was.
Flavour Rating 8.5/10.

Evening all – No! – MORNING ALL

INCHIE TODAY – Monday 9th January 2023

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Top of the Morning, to yers!

After another night of ever waking up with a jump, never failing to take a moment to work out where I was, I stirred gently back into mock life and realised that the first thing needed was a visit to the . I gleaned this fact from the bubbling innards and warmth of the stomach and rear-end area.
Got to the wet room, yet again, just in time. But that’s a lot better than being too late with all the consequences entailed with that! Hehe!
I cleaned up the pebble-dashed Porcelain and myself and started the complicated job of getting my trousers up past the attached catheter and tubing.
I had not got them up, and a second wave of gooey, sloppy evacuated product arrived. More cleaning up was required; I was getting tired out already. Hahaha!

I got the belated tackled and was well-pleased to see that today was the third in a row of my being in the High-Normal amber zone!


Now, if we can get the Warfarin /DVT INR level up a smidgeon, I can then go into s Super-Smug-Mode. I think that Fridays glitch of shooting up to Hyper-Two, was due to my visiting the Doctor and then the City Hospital Urology appointments?

Time for the first brew of the day. No easing into it with a Punjana… I was feeling pretty good, so delved into a full-on-flavoured mug of the, originally mixed for the Welsh Miners in 1905 by the Thompson family, Glengettie. Great tasting!

I ventured out of the kitchenette window… not too far, cause it was raining a bit. And tool these two pictures of the high in the sky, late morning moon! I was most disappointed with the outcome of them, though.

Determined to make a better effort, I took a shot of the distant horizon.
As you can see, I made a mess of that one too. I must stop wasting valuable time trying to get decent night shots. I’m just not up to it, you know. I took the Night Catheter off.
As I poured the water into the mug, a fourth Porcelain Throne Alert came through. In fact, more than that nearly came through. I took the Night Catheter off.
  So, with the tea left to get cold, I scurried to the wet room…
Despite my best efforts, I could not get the pants down in time. And took total control of the proceedings! All I could do, well apart from swearing and cursing, was to get on with the now familiar job of cleaning things up, putting the pants in a bucket of Dettol, changing the Depends, and getting another pair of trews, giving myself a as I did.

Carer Richard Arrived as I was emptying the day catheter pouch. He was not in a good mood. No one had informed him of the catheter and tablet changes that had (apparently)  been made; they hadn’t told me either… at least, I don’t think they did.

I was working away on the blog, and it only being fifteen minutes since I emptied the bag; I didn’t check it for another half-hour or so.
I was well getting into the graphic making for the news snippets. Eventually, I thought, I’ll check the leg bag…
acci-whoop I had a heck of a job getting the trouser legs up above the mega-full, about-to-burst-looking pouch!.
I got caught out there! Emptied it, and washed, disinfected the bucket, and arrived.
She got the Peptac served up, and I washed the serving pot while she rang the Doctors to try and find out when the catheter is coming out, and if should I take the new course of antibiotics or not. But there was no answer. Sam said she was trying again later and would let me know the result.

I got a landline call from the beautiful DVT-Warfarin nurse, Hristina. She’s coming to see me on Wednesday to take a blood sample to test the INR level.
Of course, in my minds-eye, she’s coming to see me for ulterior romantic reasons. I can dream, can’t I? Hehehe!

I went to make another brew of tea, Thompson Punjana, this time.

Took this photo through the glass of the window in the kitchenette of the gloomy morning view.
It’s still drizzling out there.

Aha, another call coming in. I am popular today.
A Call from the Falls Team Leader.
She’ll be coming to see me on Friday around noon time or thereabouts, she said.

Five minutes later, another call came in.
This was from an Amazon driver, telling me that the Dettol order was coming today.
This, after yesterday’s email telling me that it had been delayed and the new ETA is Saturday 14th? Ten minutes later, it arrived!

The lift maintenance men are making all the same noises as last week, but not so loud. I think they have gotten lower down, thus further away.

On with the Goggle… no, Google search.
Got a couple, got the Rostis in the oven, and tweaked the graphics in CorelDraw.

Nosh, time now!
Ersatz bacon, tomatoes, Potato Rostis, BBQ sauce, oven-baked wholemeal bread, and a strawberry jam thingamajig dessert.
Overall Taste-Rating of 7.6/10.
I broke another bit off of a tooth again!

Settled to watch the TV, Heartbeat, a football match, then New Tricks. That was the plan, anyway.
I’d got a bottle of spring water, a bag of cheesy curls on the ottoman, and Heartbeat started. I stayed with it until the first set of advertisements came on.
Then drifted off to sleep...
Two hours later, chimed out, rudely awakening me from my precious sleep, and in came Carer Richard. Who got the medications given and checked the lights, taps and oven for safety. Then put the night pouch on the catheter.
We had a mini-chinwag session, and off he went, taking the waste bags with him for me on the way out.

I swiftly nodded off again… but it turned out to be yet another night of jumping awakes, drifting off again easily enough, only for repeated jerking awakes again. “I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?”

Inchie Today: Thursday 5th January 2023

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05:00hrs: Woke, and almost in auto-mode, emptied the catheter pouch. Noticing that the colour was not so healthy-looking today.

Which was so pongy and under the complete control of . Gooey, smelly, messy, almost Karki coloured with a wet straw texture?

Emptied the night bag.

Not much wee-weeing being done? Seems off checking the bag to see if you’ve pee’d much. Hahaha!

The Iceland delivery arrived.
The fridge & Freezer look fuller now…
Cupboard too…
Accidental shot here.
I’m good at these…
Reserved for the next time, I run out of food.

 Carer Richard. Arrived, sadly, his last call of the week. Boy, was he shattered! Yawning frequently, a few times I had to check he’d not nodded off!
Only joking! I’d changed the night bag when I was doing the ablutions. Richard had a look to make sure all was well with it. Got the medicines sorted and assured me that someone was going to look into the should I  Take -Warfarin-or Not senior for me today. Hat a little chin-wag, but the lad was so tired, I did not keep him from his much-needed bed. He went saying he’d have a word in the office before he left. Bless his Cotton-Socks!

Emptied the Catheter pouch and did some cleaning in the kitchenette.

Off to the again. Same scenario, messy!

Made a much-delayed start to blogging.

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MERIDIAN’s TINA & LISA TO THE RESCUE

Came with the confirmation that I can take the Warfarin okay tonight. ♥
Wonderful, it’s a shame it’s taken eight failed attempts to get an answer.
I was tickled pink! Well, figuratively?
Tina had done what no one else could and got an answer. Thanks, Tina!
went through the lift bookings making sure I’d got it right. Checked th e list of things I have to take with me and got them into the three-wheeled walker in the folder for me, ready for in the morning. ♥ Now awaiting the evening carer to arrive; confident that I can take the Warfarin tonight without worrying about it. Great!
I planned the evening meal. Potato Rostis, garden peas and bacon lardies… no, I’d better not. The Caramelised mini pork pies have a lot shorter date on them. So I’d better have them first. Did you note that? I remembered something… Ahem, it’s nothing, I remembered something in… I forget when now.

It’s nice and peaceful now the maintenance lads have gone home.

Caramelised Pies (just gone up by 25p at Asda) – Garden peas with added basil – Wholemeal (just gone up by 40p at Asda), baps – Tomatoes – & Tasty (just gone up by 40p at Asda), Potato Rostis.
Flavour Rating: 7/10.
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MYSTERY PHOTO
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At this time, I got my head down…
Still confused and with a frown…
Forgot to put on my dressing gown…
Got up 4 times – for the Porcelain Throne!
Stubbed my toe, the nail that’s ingrown,
Hello, the Throne again; well, I’ll be blown!
Diarhorrea style, stinking pheromone…
The catheter straps were all strewn…
Made a brew & photo’d the moon!

Evening All!

Inchie Today: Friday 30th December 2022

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Sorry, but I ran out of time today. Photos mainly. Lots of hospital letters and appointments arrived; Carer came to do the medications and catheter but didn’t know how to do it. Still not done yet. I’ve emptied the day bag twice, but essential I have the night fitted, or else I’ll have to stay up all night again!
Not many comments, just what I could recall, but rushed it, not having had a meal yet with all the trying to sort out the needs and what, what with the Cystoscopy. Got to talk to the Doctor cause they said so, about stopping the warfarin?. in one of the many leaflets, maps and letters of advice they sent – that I can’t read them cause of cataracts. Pretty fed up as well; I know the pain of having a tube down Little Inchie into the bladder – Monday and Tuesday, I must have had the tube in and out five or six times. Anaesthetic is not to be used, and what going to go in this time seems about six times thicker. Plus, they may have to go back in and take samples from within the bladder. How much bigger will that tool be? I was at the limit of my pain acceptance Mon & Tue…
Sorry.
From yesterday.

0500 this morning.
Below after Carer emptied and removed the night bag, about three hours later it looked like this!
No idea what happened!

Morning kitchen window shots

HEALTH CHECKS

Emptied the Cataracts and…
To self: No, you didn’t, you idiot!
“I meant to write Catheter!” – Pratt!
Found that Little Inchie had been bleeding

Confused now, after reading what I could of the instructions, advice, and procedure I’ve to go through without painkillers. Not that it bothered me, a naturally brave, hardy man like me!

Early evening

I’ll say no more on this… (Flinching now!)

♫ FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD ♫
Potatoes, smoked mackerel, garden peas.
Wiv a naughty vegan strawberry dessert.

HIS THIRD CALL OF THE DAY.
He’s checked up on the web on how to change (fit)
a Night Catheter bag. And with a smidgeon of luck,
got it on and working. Gave me the Peptac medicine
and two Paracetamol. We had a short natter,
and he took the waste with him to the chute.

TTFN All!
♥ Have a Great New Year! ♥

Inchie Today: Mon-Tue 26-27th December 2022

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INCHIES TWO HOSPITALS VISITATIONS ON THE SAME DAY ODE




06:05hrs: After a night of multiple wake-ups requiring a wee-wee, I stirred. Got up with relative ease for me; catching the balance took a bit longer than usual, but I felt fine.
I could smell the wee-wee from the bucket from where I stood. I thought I’d got to use it and thought I’d better get it cleaned and disinfected before any carers came, straight after the peeing – which didn’t take place… the biggest shock in a while hit me as I looked down at the bucket! But I did notice how full the container was, compared to the average night/morning
I got my glasses on, and that is when it hit me – the amount of blood in the urine shook me.
Also, when I took my leak, the contents of the NWWB (Nocturnal-Wee-Wee-Bucket) started bubbling as I pickled into it!  The camera was in the dressing gown pocket, so I took a shot of this.
I needed to use the .
Which I also pictured after taking a no-content evacuation. All that came out was blood and wind! Now, I was worried!  I checked the back passage as I papered it; there was no blood on it at all?

I took another wee-wee in a cleaning pot, as I thought, surely I’m dreaming here?
But no, it was a colourful medium red.
Now, I was pretty worried! 

From this point, and for over the next two days, I have not passed any urine through Little Inchie without the catheter on. Nor any matter from department. Then again, I’ve only been given food once over the two days, and it was very welcome! Oh, no, sorry, I had two slices of cold toast Tuesday morning at the City Urology Patience 2 ward.
Arrived to the rescue yet again. The lads listened to me, a rarity with certain people, and acted immediately on seeing the blood. Richard made up a bag with a dressing gown, slippers and toothpaste and brush, PP’s included.
He waited for the paramedics to arrive and left after explaining everything needed to them.

The ambulance took me on the journey to the Queens Medical Hospital, depositing me in the A&E unit. Where I was placed on a trolley in what I think was corridor A.
My hopes rose, half an hour later, a porter came to move me into corridor H.
The same chap came along an hour or so later. This time he moved me to Corridor C or something. A wider one this time, but still only room for one line of flesh trolleys. I got the Lumix and crossword book out. But it was hard work making out the clues, and filled in answers to the wrong clubs several times, then gave up.
30 minutes later, I made it inside the A&E unit.
Cheered me up a bit, seeing only about 80 trolleys in the main hall – I was getting there!
Mostly drunks at this time in the morning. Ah, Christmas spirit, the main reason, of course!
Moved me into the side room, and they fetched me out again minutes later. Ah, progress here, I thought!
About to get the crossword book out again, and a lady told me I was going for some scans.
I was taken off of the trolley, given my stick and asked kindly, “You can walk with yer stick then? It was more of a threat than a question.

He looked a bit rough around the edges, so I readily agreed that I could manage.

They walked me into a cold side room

An eerie room; it stank of depression and vomit and had an icy coldness to it.

A largish area, an equipment stand for the BP taking, it didn’t look in good nick.
A mobile radiator (I think), a roll of carpeting, and a single wooden table with one metal leg hanging off.
I got the crossword book out again, took these snaps, and the biff man returned with a petite but stern-faced female; “Follow us”
So I followed them into a scan room. They spent a good while scanning my privates and belly area.
Then, out into the big waiting room again.
It was a sad sight seeing so many people looking angst, agitated, and generally well pissed off.

Although a few of them seem to have the will to live.

I waited there, back on a trolley, and a lot of medics came to see me over the next two hours. Many asking the same questions… there were a lot like that at both hospitals.

The only sleep I got in 48 hours, I think about ten minutes, was rudely awakened by several nursing staff, all intent on getting rid of me ASAP. I was bundled into a corridor and awaited a lift to the Urology department.
The stockcar driver, I mean ambulance driver, gave me a roller-coaster ride to the City Hospital. Where I was wheeled to a bed and told to sit on it. I did. And was told somebody will be with you later.
I thanked the lady. Rescued my bag from a be away where the ambulanceman had left it and sat on the bed in Patience Two Ward. First floor up.
A nurse came and gave me two jugs of water, asking me to drink it all down, and ask for more when I had done so.

So I did. Various nurses, doctors and Mr Men came to see me.
The BP and temperature were taken every half-hour. A blood sample was taken for testing each hour, on the hour. No sleep again!

Then there was the thing that was supposed to make me pass water. Drink it by the gallon, which I think I did, and they took off the catheter. And the guzzling started. Five hours later, they did another scan and put the catheter back on to rid my bladder of urine. An hour later, the catheter was put back in (A  painful experience in and out!) More water guzzling. Scanned again, and the catheter was replaced painfully. (I’m sure the Doctor had a smile come over her lips each time she put it in or out?)

Back in the scanner loop again. Nobody informed me of any of the results. But they were up to the neck with patients in need. I assumed they would tell me later, but no! Mayhaps they’d got fed up with me not understanding or hearing what they were saying? I found out later they had sent all my details to Meridian Carers. Wish they had told me. Just as well, though. I may have gotten the facts and figures wrong. So, fair enough.

They took off the Catheter for the last time to try once more to force out the urine. So, back to the water-drinking marathon.
It didn’t work. A Shame!

They then suddenly arrived at the bed, mob-handed. They spoke so fast, I must have missed 50% of whatever they said; I recall rightly I believe in hearing: Sending you home… Keep the catheter on for seven days and use the night ones? Erm… Night ones? No mention of the new medications or what the unknown reason was. And they took no interest in my telling them I’ve not passed from the rear end in three days now?

They started cramming my stuff into the big BM bag I’d taken with the things Carer Richard had gathered for me on first leaving the house. This all happened at break-neck speed, and a nurse came to them, ‘The taxi’s here!’ Another well worded: Surely you can walk down to get the taxi – meek me; “Yes, no problem!” I was in the right state by the time we got in the lift, along the long corridor and out to the waiting taxi.
Then the trip home was most uncomfortable. The driver, I called him Sterling Mosseth, was not hanging around, and the springs or whatever they are called nowadays were about worn out. Every crack and pothole, speed bump, and fast-breaking en route was painful.

I was not in good condition by the time I got into the flat. But at least the lifts were working. I got in the flat and put the bag down, but I forgot to call the Meridian Care office to tell them I was home.

I got down in the lift, and after opening the door to the link corridor with Winwood Court, I met, coming the other way to my flat, Carer Kara,  Sam, or Jodie. Any names that I get wrong for Carers, I apologise; blame can be put on Non-Carer, .

We got up to the flat. The carer checked out the Catheter. We had a chinwag after she gave me the medication, and a bit of humour crept in. Hurrah!

After she’d left, I went to make a brew of tea. Glengettie… nothing but the best!

And took these two photos of the evening view. The first one I make a pig’s ear out of!.. But was almost on the verge of having a .
But remembered those I took last week that seemed fins on camera.
So, .
did the late call tonight. We got the medications done. Then Richard opened the letters etc., that the hospital staff had stuffed into my carrier bag.
Not easy learning about how you need to set these catheters up got the first time.
But Richard mastered it, all working, and the night ones fitted me.
He gave me a tip, and that was to put the Night Bag in a bowl, then it’s nice and low, and if, or as in my case, when you do have a split bag or a connection breaks, the bowl will catch it! Good idea!
He also warned me that if I come off of them, the fun will start because I’ll still think of the catheter if they are removed; I’d no doubt wee away without realising. Argh! Hahaha!

BrewI had planned to do a bit of work on this blog and get my head down. But, things, as usual, got carried away, taking so long yet still enjoying doing the blog…
After a while, I risked going to take a break and make a Thompson’s Punjana brew.


❶ I went through to the kitchen and got the kettle on.
❷ Made the tea and realised the difficulty I faced: One cannot carry a mug of tea, a bowl with a catheter in it, and a walking stick together!
❸ My keen, alert, logical (Well, it was a year ago) mind soon sorted out the solution to the problem (I thought).
 ❹ I’d simply take the bowl and walking stick to the front room and return with the stick to collect the mug of Punjana… Mmm! I bet you can see the problem even if I didn’t at first? It’s like those training courses at work, innit?
❺ I took the bowl back to the side of the computer, turned to go back to get the mug, and realised this was not going to work when the bowl tipped over… well, it would; still being connected to the catheter!
❻ I did feel a fool! .
I honestly thought what a I was at the time!

Then yet another Whoopsidangleplop, although I’m not sure it wasn’t closer to a , or might be nearer to the point. A nasty one this time. Yet it could have been worse.
As the leg kicked out with its energetic but short-lived imitation of the Oky-Koki.

TTFNski!

Inchie Today: Saturday 24th December 2022

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CW01b02:30hrs: Woke up for the umpteenth time, but not with , but the need for the And what a change in style this morning it was! I got seated on the throne and knew it would be advisable to get the crossword book out. Nothing was moving, yet the tummy told me there was a dollop needing to be evacuated.
was in command of things, and he was not going to be rushed. I actually got a few clues answered as I waited for the action to begin. I thought it was comical when it did burst out… all of it in seconds, a blessed relief from the travel pains, followed by multiple plop-plopping sounds. And it was all over. No bleeding, no mess! I am not sure if the released product reminded me of hazelnuts or chocolate peanuts, but fell for the nuts cause they were harder. The WC needed only one flush to clear the contents away, and I felt rather good; I expected things to be more painful, messier and take much longer. No help or urging from me was needed at all. However, having been fooled before, .

Tackled then. Toothache Tiffany followed my breaking off another bit of a tooth.
Not such a good shaving session; back to the old habits of multiple nicks and cuts. About six, I think. The main reason is my own stupidity. After my first two nicks, I got out two new razors and dished the old ones – But No, I found out later I hadn’t! What I did was throw the new razors into the waste bin and carry on shaving using the duff old ones!

More Followed in the medicalisationing activities.
Made a bigger mess of missing the eyes with the drops than ever before!
Had to conserve the Germoloid cream for. I forgot to get another tube when I went to the pharmacy on Tuesday. Yes, I swore at myself rancorously!
I was so close to taking a Galpharm capsule in mistake for a Senna to help free ‘s grip on the rear-end workings. Just imagine if I had taken one… That could have been a right pickle and mess I’d put myself into again! A genuine bit of good luck that I realised in time!

acci-whoop But, of course, my smugness was short-lived. Putting the olive oil in, I somehow squeezed the rubber, and the oil flowed, I dropped the slippery bottle, and it landed with perfect precision: right on my left foot’s . It made me jump a smidgeon. Of course, I took it all in my stride, grinned and laughed off the agony.

I dropped the tube of Germolene due to an unexpected sudden and I dropped tube, and totally without thinking, I bent down to pick it up !
Oh, I’ve mentioned my new ailment yet, have I? I’ll introduce you to it then. Not easy giving it a name cause I’m not sure what it is yet.
Pains similar to , but around, the back of the rib cage. At first, I thought I must have banged something when I took the tumble on whatever day it was. But Carer whatshername could see no bruising.
Then I thought it might be something to do with bladder and urine infection coming back again.
Then I changed my mind cause I found the ribs hurting when I tried to lift my right arm; and if I tried to bend down at all. No idea if means anything, but had given many more bouts of the shakes this morning than she did all of last week?
Now, over the last eight hours, there have been times when there were no stabbing pains at all (unless I bent or raised my right arm), but the sharp stabbing pains always return and stay longer than the moments of relief.

I thought at first, well, it’s good luck that I have made (Carer TY did, actually), an appointment to see the Doctor. Then it dawned on me, it is 15 days away!
So, I’ve been at the analgesics more than I would have liked. But needs must. Is that the right saying? Needs must? Grammarly has not objected?

Right now, as I am typing my errors and mistakes on this blog, has just kicked of with her most violent attack of the day yet. But the stabbing pains in the ribs are now far less frequent? I’m confused… but that’s nothing new.

The last Accifauxpa of the , was only one of the regulars… No, having said that, I’ve done this for weeks, I don’t think? It was a bog-standard shoulder charge at the edge of the wet room door on leaving it. . And… please note this – there were no revenge shakings from . I’ve confused myself even more now?

It’s taken so long to get up to here on this blog – Blog time at 07:00hrs, but the real-time is now… sod it, the clocks stopped, battery kaput, methinks. I’ll get the spyglass and look at the computer clock… hang on… 15:18hrs, I just will not have time to put everything in detail now. Shorthand from here on folks, sorry me hearties!

Worked on updating and making mistakes on the Friday blog (4 hours). Got it posted. Pinterested. A massive amount of comments had come in on WordPress, so I replied to it. (One. Hehehe!) Emailed the link.

Carer Jamina arrived around 07:30hrs. A new gal to me. Lovely lady. Had a natter after giving me the medications. She checked the taps and stove on leaving, taking the waste bags to the chute for me. ♥

Went on WordPress Reader. But it wouldn’t give me access to some sites?

The Tap-tapping, bang-banging, drilling gentleman in the flat above kicked off again. Amazingly he was not too noisy this morning.

Pressed on, making error after mistake and hitting the wrong buttons and icons in my effort to get the Ode for the day done and Nottingham News graphics done. Harder work than ever now with the eyes so bad. I do love trying.
Sorry for any errors that get through!.

Here are the early morning photographs from the kitchen. I nearly forgot them. Tsk!
Not too bad.

Had to keep going for wee-wees regularly throughout the day.

I don’t think I’ve taken so many in such a short time (six hours) before. Then again, thinking back, maybe I have; Hehe!

I just took my fourth trip to the Porcelain Throne.

I think Herbert must be going out today. Mayhap delivering some of the steam-powered toy trains to the kids at the school? All quiet now!
11:30hrs Carer Kara Arrived! I asked about the cleaner lady I’m paying for who had not called for three weeks. Kara looked at this week’s roster, and she’s on it… no, next week’s roster.

I pressed on, making cock-ups and mistakes on this blog for hours.

So tired now, with my getting up so early. Going to make something to eat, methinks some potato Rostis, tomatoes and rolls? Yes, with some BBQ sauce, of course. I might not be back until morning… then again, I may get up early again and make a start on updating this blog…
Or not.

Whoops, not done the Health Checks.

:

Smug-Mode-Adopted – Yee-ha!

A photo of the half-eaten meal of the day is here on the right. Vegan bacon, tomatoes, Potato Rostis, Orange yoghourt, and two brown rolls.
With my usual BBQ sauce.
Despite the and that kicked off as I started digesting this feast of flavour, I still enjoyed it muchly. Flavour Rating: 8.8/10!

Washed the pots… but when I got in the kitchen to do them, I found that I’d left the darned hot water tap running… Again! Self-cursing began!

Zzz! Deep sweet sleep… heavenly… I think I was having a tête-à-tête with St. Peter at his gates at one point. Well, more of an argument, really; he wanted to send me back to life again. No Way! Not with the everyday agony of the ailments, struggling with hearing, seeing, and the Mental-Torture of Dementia Doreen – I wasn’t having that! And, she’s given me aboulomania!
I was woken up when the 21:15hr late check call arrived at 22:10hrs. I recall the gal apologising for being late but little else. My chronology clock was all topsy-turvy. I remembered the Toblerone for her cause it wasn’t in the treats box this morning, so I got something right.
Locked the door as she departed. (I know this cause it was locked in the morning).

Got off back to sleep, but this time it was full of the usual repeated, regular pullulating jerking awake with the twitching right shoulder, and often knocking something off of the ottoman as the limbs flail! That’s not right, is it? I did tell the Doctor about this. The response I got was an odd down-the-nose look that said to me: “The man’s potty!” followed by, let me know if it gets worse. What’s she waiting for, the arm to drop off? Or, for me, to pass away through sleep deprivation? It’s a lot worse now with extra waking-ups from the unaccountable …

Still, yer don’t like to complain, does yer.

TTFNski!

Another year, nearly, yet – still time to regret!

Inchie Today: Wednesday, 21st December 2022

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NOT SO GOOD TODAY: Very little time to get anything done. The Urine Infection is returning. Anne Gyna has not yet gotten over the shortages of medications that laid me up for three days of agony nada frustrations. Between them caused a lack of concentration and depression beyond belief. I think I’ve also got the lurgy that Richard had. Link above to first Snippet. So not so much diary news, sorry folks,

06:15hrs: Spent the first hour of wakefulness between the wee-wee bucket and the Porcelain Throne. So many trips were needed, and all like the urine-fungal infection started last week. Putrid-smelling pee, pains starting in the bladder area, then moving all around the torso, almost to the back.

The Asda order arrived. Carer Richard arrived as I was putting it away, and he gave me a hand to do so; bless him. We spoke of the infections and my symptoms, and he said they were exactly the same as he suffered last week. His doctor told him of a new ‘bug’ going around. (Please see the link in the First News Snippet)
Richard told me to ring the Doctor, bearing in mind that last week I was late in doing so, nada paid the price in pain and lack of sleep. He even wrote it down on the whiteboard for a later carer to see.
When Carer Ty arrived, he rang the Doctors for an appointment for the infection to be seen quicker this time. I got an appointment for 6th January. About 15 days’ time, that’ll help me with the urine agony, won’t it?

Spent many hours on updating the Tuesday blog, at least five! Before getting it done. Accident and mistake-ridden, I’m sure. All to the accompaniment of the blasts of tap-tapping and bang-banging with either sawing or drilling noises supplied by the blocks the smart-alecky, insensitive, unsympathetic, toffee-nosed, self-important, naff, noisy nasty man, from the flat above on the 13th floor?

The pains, the noises from him above, and my still tripping to the wet room regularly. All, shattering my concentration.

Carer Ty arrived. He got the appointment with the doctor booked for the 6th of January, and he wrote the details on the whiteboard.

Eventually, I got the updated Tuesday blog posted to WordPress. (Well into the afternoon now!)

The pains seem to be easing a smidgeon from the innards. Not, I hasten to add, from Anne Gyna, she was in the full crippling, agonising, concentration-destroying form!

gave another blast of thudding and knocking; just to keep me on my toes. But it was a shorter session this time. Phew!

Sorry, I said that… just gave a little, almost musical again a blast of mechanical abbellimenti, with tempo and rubato. Once again, it didn’t last too long, but he was putting plenty of effort into it. I do hope that he hasn’t broken his hammer or chopped his chopper off, and that was the reason for his sudden silence. Or had too much of the Single Malt Whiskey and fell over, cracking his head against one of his train engine models.

Better get summat to eat then.
Got settled to watch the TV and eat the meal off the tray on my fulsome belly.

Carer Cheeky Charly Arrived. In a perky mood as per, bless her. Fed me the medicine, tablets and capsules. Soon off again on hare rounds.
The meal was tasty enough even when not so warm. The vegan bacon from Asda was a bit better than the others I’ve tried. But their Sourdough rolls (Cobs to us Nottinghamians!) were pretty tasteless. Hence a Flavour Rating of 6.5/10.

while watching TV. I was having an odd dream, something about frustrations, involving me working in a giant office complex. Couldn’t get out of the building…

But I was rescued. When woken up by arriving. He soon got the medications sorted out. The old Anne Gyna was still giving me stick, so he gave me two extra Paracetamol. He gave me some clues on marinating, we had a mini-chinwag, and Richard checked the taps and stove, then emptied the NWWB (Nocturnal-Wee-Wee-Bucket) for me; bless him.

Was not too keen on letting me get to sleep, so I put the TV on. That helped. I nodded off as the first round of adverts came on.
And, not so many waking-ups overnight. No more than about ten or so, as I recall things. I managed another weird dream. On a country lane, nighttime… and in my old Diahatsu Fourtrack; lost. For some reason, I started walking and whistled to the car, which followed me… vaguely recall going into a caravan with a radio playing ‘Onward Christian Soldiers… and finding dead bodies that turned out to be mannequins?

Evening all!