Friday to Sunday.........

I was supposed to post last night, but it was beginning to get late when I finally completed all I had to do on line. Then there was losing an hour with the change to B.S.T, but how much better it is to have daylight well into the evening rather than having all the lights on at five o'clock in the afternoon.

I removed the final dressing today. The wound is fully healed and clean. If only the itching would stop. It's not the sort you can do anything about. A sign of everything getting back to normal...... hopefully.

I've still not touched a glass of wine, or any other alcohol, since before the operation. Is this the new me? I thought I might have lost some weight, so I hit the scales this morning. Yep, lost three pounds........... and am about forty pounds richer! We've a new car to order for October soon, so the extra cash will come in handy.

Our ex- neighbour in Torquay emailed last night, with news about the work being carried out on the old family home. It seems that it's being altered into two flats with mother and father living on the ground floor and daughter taking over the upstairs rooms. Two of the window have been bricked up, one to add more privacy to a bedroom, and a kitchen window, so that new units can be installed all along one wall. New windows, central heating and an extra W.C, completes the work so far. All work that was desperately needed.

It was a beautiful day today. Fine drying weather with a brisk but chilly wind. The promised rain arrived with the sunset and bathed the area in that strange yellow light against the dark grey clouds. I tried to photograph it but couldn't get the colour right. Perhaps another time.

Wednesday and Thursday......

As you can imagine, I've been taking it easy for the last two days. What with the extra tasks I completed on Tuesday, and the trip to get the dreaded staples removed, I fear I might have been pushing it a bit.

A neighbour who had the same operation two years ago told me that it hits harder the second week, just when you think you are on the mend. It's now when all the anesthetic has worn off, and the nerves are beginning to heal, that it lets you know it's there, especially first thing in the morning and late in the day when you're getting a little tired.

I'm waiting now for a recall, to see the surgeon, for him to check out his handy work. It's still quite swollen, which should reduce in time, so I'm hoping all is well. I think it is................

It was our anniversary today. Seven happy years................. and some so-so ones! No, seriously, I've been lucky..................... and Cag's been luckier............... seriously. Have you ever heard any husband be really truthful about anniversaries? I think not ;-)

Easter Monday and Tuesday..........

I am not a lover of Bank Holidays and I'm always glad to get them out of the way. Not that we were doing anything different this Easter, but it always seems like a lot of Sundays added together, and I'm not a Sunday person either.

Today has been different. Lots to do and places to go. A trip to the Post Office first thing, and as a result we are solvent for the week. Carers calling, washing to do and hang out on a beautiful sunny day, then my first shopping expedition for over a week. Not a lot to get and far enough for the first time.

3.20pm and an appointment with the Practice Nurse to remove the staples from the wound. I'd already removed most of the dressing to make it easier and quicker for the lady. I didn't recon with the staples. Nine popped out with ease, but number ten had some how crossed over and would not pull out.

Several tries, then another nurse was called. She tried but to no avail. More tools were brought. I suggested the Fire Service, their Station is just along the road. Then it started bleeding.

They did finally manage to get the 'little dear' out, then cleaned and patched up the area. The staple was unrecognisable, a bent and twisted piece of wire. Twenty five minutes to take out one staple. Did it hurt? Mmmmmm.... just a little.

An easy day tomorrow. Well, nothing could match today!

Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday......

I was due to post last night, but blogging faced tough competition, Pride and Prejudice, the Keira Knightley/Matthew Macfadyen version. I wanted to see how it compared with the BBC series of a couple of years ago. It's a story that needs a lot more than 2 hours 20 minutes allowed in the film. No heaving bosoms in A-line gowns, and no wet shirted Mr Darcy after a swim in the lake. It still managed to be a good tale told reasonably well.

I have dropsy. Nothing to do with water on or in any part of my body. It's when ever you go to pick things up, they end up on the floor! And bending is a problem. I'm not in pain, it's very much a stinging, that creeps up on you when your not expecting it. Involuntary actions are also a problem. Coughing suddenly, or a sneeze that comes out of nowhere and give you little chance to prepare for it. I'm sure Cag is shaking the pepper pot around the house!

I've taken the last of the tablet supplied after the operation. The pain killers are finished, only regular Paracetamol have now been advised, and I had the last anti-biotic tonight, horrible tasting orange and grey bullets, so it means I can have a glass or three once again. Yes, I've been tea total for a week. It's not been easy, and there are a lot of very worried wine growers in the world. To all of them I say, I hope to be catching up very soon.

Easter Day and visitors. Two of Cag's sisters and our favourite brother-in-law (he might be reading this) arrived in the most comfortable ride that ever came out of Sweden, nothing to do with Ulrika Jonsson, more a Volvo. Cag had been really looking forward to more company, as it had been a very long week for her, with very little she could do. It was also a joy for me to have more conversation and to get away from repeats of News 24 on the T.V. And they brought chocolate cake!!!

I'm hoping to get myself back to near normality this next week. Still no lifting but I should be able to get out more and do a little shopping etc. These next few weeks are going to be the real pain. As I get better I will want to do more, and therein lays the danger.

Wednesday & Thursday..........

It's getting easier, at least for me. The carers have a better idea of what to do and I can keep out of the way. Now I know their routine, I can get things prepared which makes their visits shorter. Cag is still not happy having to use the hoist. I must admit, she does look like a trust up chicken when they are transferring her from bed to chair and back again. But what's the alternative?


I do wish Cag had a better attitude towards the carers. She makes her feelings known about her dislike of the situation. At times she is not the easiest person to get along with. I take very little notice, I know her ways, but to strangers it must cause some concern, especially as they are trying to help us both. I'm sure they have seen and heard it all before, but it's not to my liking.


I felt well enough to drive our car to the Surgery today. The dressing needed to be changed. Yet another lady nurse viewing me below the waist......... and I don't mean my socks. She was very impressed (careful Fi)............. with how the wound has healed. Very little bleeding, no infection, a little bruising but that's to be expected. I've another appointment now for next Tuesday to have the clips removed all being well. Should be interesting.

.

Easter is only a few days away.

It's not all fun for everyone, especially Easter Bunnies.

Monday and soresday...........

Oooooooooooooh! Only kidding. The operation was fine. Everything went like clockwork. I arrived a little early, thanks to my neighbour who hates being late for anything, had a pre-op interview, and was on the table at exactly 2.00pm.

The worst part was the bathing of the area with antiseptic. It stung, I mean, IT REALLY STUNG! There was a little prick from the local (stop it Fi) and the rest was pain free. Plenty of chatting from the nurses to keep my mind off things, and a cup of tea afterwards.

Neighbour picked me up about 3.30pm and we were home before 4.00. Even up to the time I got into bed, everything seemed fine, so I got a fair nights sleep.

Today has been O.K. A dull ache rather than actual pain, and a sharp stab if I move too quickly or try to do anything I shouldn't. So all in all I've fared rather well.

Cags hasn't had the same luck with 'faring well'. The carers have been having a lot of problem in using the hoist and it's been very uncomfortable for her. It is getting better now we've found how best to position it and the sling, but it's never going to be her favourite time of the day. It's not forever, so we will make the best of it for the time being.

And now another early night. Sorry I shan't be able to read my usual blogs, but I will catch up in the next day or two. Night, night.

Fourteen, going on Fifteen....

I was going to post last night, but as you can guess by the previous post, Friday was one of those days. I started the ball rolling at 8.45am by phoning Cornwall Carers Support. I couldn't speak to my contact there, but her supervisor Monica was covering for her. I told her the problem.

I got the feeling that this was not a new story to her ears. She asked for all the details, and then said "Leave it to me, I'll get back to you".

Within half an hour I had a phone call from Adult Soc. Care. They confirmed the carers would be contacting me within the hour to arrange a visit, a hoist would be found and delivered by 10 o'c Monday morning at the latest, and that Technical Services would phone, arrange a visit to raise the bed that very afternoon.

By 11.30 I had seen the carers supervisor and gone over our needs with her. Tec Serv were arrived at 3.30pm, and a few minutes later the manager of the carers phoned again to make sure I was happy that everything was in place. Waow!

Monica phoned back a little after 4 o'c to check on progress and I was able to tell her that all angles were covered. She said it was all about knowing who to light the fire under. I got the feeling that Monica was not a lady to cross. I thanked her for all she had done and she made me promise to get in touch again if anything even looked like going wrong.

Now to gird my loins (or shave them) and get ready for the big day. I shall write in ballpoint, just below my naval "BE GENTLE WITH ME".