Where have I been?

Last published September 7th....................... I know, I should be ashamed of myself. I, like so many others, seemed to have found myself in one of those 'looking for something new' situations. My life, since my wife returned from the hospital, has settled into an easily managed routine. The only addition to our needs has come from a neighbour who's husband has had a major bowel operation. I've been taking her shopping twice a week, and lending her an ear, oh boy, have I been lending an ear!

I'm accepting that probably now is the best that it will get with Cag's situation. Not quite in the 'last stages' of M.S but any setback now could be very serious. I don't think she has the strength to fight anymore. She has not given up and will not give up, but there is only so much a person can take. Perhaps the next dealer will bring more luck.

I've set myself a challenge. To cook with a Remoska. ( I can hear the question from here! Try Google). I've known about them for years and recently a few neighbours have 'invested' in them, with varied results. Most swear by them. Another used it once, blew the fuse, and plunged his home into darkness. He over filled it, it boiled over, and he has been afraid to use it since.

I mentioned that I was interested in one and he gladly offered me the whole kit, with two unused recipe books, for well under half price. I reluctantly agreed. I've taken it to bits, checked it over, and now it's ready to go............................... and after a weekend of scanning the Net, I will be too.

I find myself in the same situation as many single and elderly people, now that I only have to look to my own needs for food. I have a good breakfast, but I only have main meal during the day, around 6.30pm. I've been through the packets, the tins and the prepared meals over the last few months. Now I need to stretch myself, and get back to the joy I used to find in cooking. I look forward to it.

Note. Must watch Jamie Oliver next week.

Nearly a week.........

It's been nearly a week since I last posted, a week of ups and downs. Generally, we are both fine, but that's not to say there haven't been problems.

The main difficulty this week has been Cag coughing about two thirds into her feed, around five in the morning (I feed Cag over night). I thought it may have been due to the different formula, one that she had tried in hospital, upsetting her, but I am now of the opinion that a ten hour feed may be too long.

I split the feed last night. I had to stop the feed around 700mls, flushed, then let Cag sleep for a couple of hours, and restarted the feed around 8am for a further two hours. That still left about 100ml short but I put that in manually with a syringe later. It seems to work, but I will check it out with the dietitian first thing in the morning, just to make sure it's O.K.

We had a visit from the PEG nurse this week. It was her first time in the area, so she was late, not being able to find us. She told, and showed me all the things I should have been instructed in while Cag was in hospital, so I'm a lot more confident in the whole system now, providing we can get this coughing sorted out.

Wednesday saw a visit from the outlaws, two of Cag's sisters. They came baring gifts, red wine and sticky coffee cake............ the perfect combination............ well I thought so! They hadn't seen her since she left hospital and were full of praise about how well she looked. Her skin is so much clearer and her hair shines, but not with hospital gained grease. Her colour is also very much better, with even a little rosiness in her cheeks. It's wonderful what a couple pints of beige soup and H2O can achieve. Wonder If Gordon Ramsey knows?

As for the rest of the problems, the pressure sores are on the mend, and I think I am going to have to accept that the limbs are never going to be as they were. We must make the best of what we have.

Sleeping on two feet..........

I've been expecting all sorts of verbal chastisement for my failure to post since August 22nd. No excuses, I've been about, but have had very little to say about the last couple of weeks.

We've settled into a rather confused routine. Confused for me because doesn't seem to fit my body clock, and confused for Cag because she really doesn't know what is happening at times.

I am disappointed about the physical condition Cag was sent home in from the hospital. The retraction in her limbs is causing problems with lifting and shifting. Hopefully a little bending and stretching will gradually put this right over the next few weeks. Cag is also suffering some skin deterioration around the base of the spine. Not quite pressure sores, but could easily become so if not treated. Hence the sleeping on two feet.

Our Community Nurse has supplied an inflatable pressure mattress for Cag, which takes up over half the bed, and the 'two feet' is all that is left for me. It's back to dressings three times a week, but I feel happier having the closer contact with the nurses, especially in these early days.

Everything else seems to be working out O.K. Cag's put on a little weight, about 2lbs in the last week, and that's fine. The feed has to be adjusted. A little too much fibre, if you get my meaning, but that's very much trial and error. Apart from that, she's looking fine. Hair shinning and skin clear, with a good colour. Must be the beige soup.

One of my neighbours did leave me speechless a day or two ago. I mentioned about the beige soup that Cag was on, to which he replied that I must be saving a fortune, not having to buy food by getting it by prescription!