I achieved:
✔️ Getting out of bed (mostly by myself).
✔️ Sitting on the edge of the bed without fainting!
✔️ Standing with a wheely frame without keeling over.
✔️ Taking a step to the left (3 times).
✔️ Getting back into bed (with lots of help).
I accused the physio of being a Rocky Horror fan and wondered if I needed to do a full performance of the Time Warp before I would be released.
4 times this afternoon the beep beep machine has gone off, moments after a nurse has left my room.
Just now, she literally closed the door 2 seconds before it started beeping.
The current and previous have been to notify that the IV bag needs changing.
She'll be back soon, but I tell ya, I'm annoyed (especially after she tipped my CPAP machine on its end while there was water still in it - which can royally fuck with the electronics).
My 2 cats are staying with my parents while I am in the hospital (they miss having a cat in their life).
Family cats always slept in the laundry behind a closed door. My cats are used to roaming the house. The compromise was that my parents were going to keep their bedroom door shut.
The compromise has not happened, the cats are in the bedroom as they please. Reports coming in suggest Phizzy is snuggling up with Mum and Pi is keeping my Dad company. 🤣
@anathema_device I have offered to loan Phizzy out to them. I think after 3 weeks with Pi they will be begging me to take him home. 🤣
I also suspect I'll be living with them (to monitor and gently support) at least part time within the next 6-12 months. :(
not unhappy at that prospect for me, just that they value their independence and feel guilty that their needs are impacting my freedom. I keep reassuring them.
Interesting, the CW fell off. I wonder if there's a limit, or is just an undocumented feature.
Today I am feeling sorry for my floor nurse. The second nurse on the floor this morning is a midwife not a surgical nurse, and she's having to do explanations etc and taking up extra time.
Both lovely, neither's fault, you all know how it goes.
But my floor nurse is looking just a bit frazzled and apologizing etc. I am being understanding and supportive in all the ways.
This morning's shower and fresh clothes and being able to sit by the window (+ some good pain killers) have definitely helped my mood.
I've just realized that the nurse call button is still beside the bed though, and out of reach.
Currently wondering if I can throw something across at the button on the opposite side of the room with enough precision, or if I just call the switchboard and ask to be out through to the nurse on this floor. 🤣
Aliens invaded Earth and a ragtag band escaped to another planet. A mix of ex-prisoners, military and regular office folk. (I'm always male in my dreams, make of that what you will...)
Anyway, there were meetings scheduled to plan the escape and the military folk went mad because we cancelled one in lieu of getting actual work done.
ACAB
Also, why do I have calendars and meeting schedules in my alien survival dreams?
Day 5 and no poos yet, which meant action needed to be taken.
Various concoctions later and I've spent 1.5 hours on the toilet with some limited success.
Absolutely exhausted though. Called for pain killers and more concoctions.
Day 2 was painful. Today is making me question the whole operation though. :(
An hour into it, the physio came to visit. Saw I was on the toilet and offered to come back in 5mins. I did get a good laugh out of that.
Nurse shift change and the one who has become my #1 is back on.
She praised me for advocating for myself and saying I wasn't ready to go home yet. She agrees.
She also keeps it real.
When I asked her how she was, her response was, "I'm alive."
I hear you woman, I'm with you.
Other updates:
Appetite null, and I've chosen not to push it today, at least until I'm 'cleared' out a little bit more.
Very tired, just dozing while the city cats run around outside.
Phizzy is loving having multiple humans to cater to her every whim. Currently this involves a lot of lap sitting.
Apparently Pi made a break for it this morning when the door was opened to water plants. They managed to catch him though and bring him straight back in.
He's such a strong agile cat that he must have wanted to be caught, or my 82r old parents wouldn't have stood a chance! (I'm not concerned, he'll come back for food if nothing else.)
I managed all the components of a shower by myself this morning.
I did need frequent breaks, and to sit for most of it.
But that and the getting dressed by myself afterwards were the final milestones I wanted to achieve before being discharged. So I'm going home this afternoon. 🎉🎉🎉
Unfortunately I still have a drain, it will probably be removed tomorrow, so that will be an exhausting trip somewhere. But I'm over hospital TBQH.
I am at my folks. Slowly getting settled in.
The cats have worked out they'll get more attention from Mum & Dad, and have barely acknowledged my presence.
After an hour here, I've now had short visits from both.
I'm staying with my elderly folks for a few weeks until I feel ready for true independence. They are also helping out with the cats.
Since I got home, Pi has been the nautiest cat ever (mum's words). He must be the centre of attention, and suddenly he isn't. He's currently trying to break into my bedroom. The door has a lever, I'd personally bet on the cat.
Dad is hovering trying to help, Mum is practical, helping.
Pi finally succeeded at getting me up at 4:30am after slamming himself against the door enough times.
Getting out of bed is the hardest but now I'm upstairs with a selection of books, devices, food, drink, & cats - and the pain killers are kicking in.
The cats have not been fed yet, they've gotten used to that while they've been at my parents' house. Dad is an early riser, and is good with boundaries.
A cup of tea would be excellent, alas. I am impeded.
Normally I'm the one in my extended friendship group providing the empathy and emotional support.
Right now I'm the one needing it, and I've got nothing (minuscule) left in me to give.
It's been interesting as I state my capacity with some of my older friends, that they are interpreting my boundary setting as me "disengaging" with the world.
Um, no dudes, I'm just saying it's turn around time, and please don't trauma dump on me.
Good, healthy food, not quite as much as I should be eating, but everything is a balance, I'll get there.
I didn't let the cats sleep with me last night, so straight after their dinner at 6pm they both snuck into my bedroom and curled up.
I felt like such a heel tossing them (gently) out just now, but I just don't trust them not to walk all over me in the morning as all the painkillers are wearing off.
Phizzy is wondering why I don't get up to tend to this terrible situation.
Pi is wandering around yelling, and then sitting (strategically) in the hallway between my parents' bedroom and the stairs down to the laundry where they are fed.
*They free feed crunchies, they just want their morning wet food, and possibly (definitely) more of that chicken they were treated with last night.
All the pre-prep I did organizing all my various bags for each stage of my journey (parents, hospital, parents) and I've either misplaced or forgotten my prescribed multivitamins.
I'm going to have to order some more. I already order them in bulk to avoid shipping fees. I'll be without for a few days, not a huge issue, I'm just annoyed with myself.
Of course, the extra bottle will probably materialize as soon as the replacement is delivered.
Phizzy was on their bed and proceeded to hide. They are convinced she left their room, and shut their door to prevent cats from walking on them during the night.
Pi and I have searched the rest of the house and Phizzy is nowhere to be found.
It's 8:30pm and I'm heading to bed, and will be shutting my own door to prevent cats walking on me during the night.
I predict at least one human will be walked on by a tiny feline before dawn.
Pi: arrooowww, which I think loosely translates to 🎶 "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do."
Possibly more actually translates to, "Where is Phizzy? Why have you all shut your bedroom doors to keep me out, I just want to be loved and to love you! Let me in!"
Possibly with a few swear words scattered in.
Yes, I feel terrible about it, but it is unfortunately necessary. :(
I am much better this morning, pain levels returned to normal.
The mystery of Phizzy has been solved.
She is a cupboard cat and Dad's wardrobe door was slightly open (and only held closed by a weak magnet).
She emerged at 3:30am, to walk over my parents and snuggle up in their bed.
She is a clever and happy (and sneaky) cat.
I've also had quite a number of proper naps during the day. Less overall walking and movement in general, but I suspect that is balanced by the extra naps. I may be leaving the house tomorrow, preparation is important.
The Phizzy-cat is currently having a bath on my lap, whilst Pi is asleep on a dining room chair.
The oldies have gone to bed and I might stay up and entertain myself for a bit.
Both cats beat me to my bedroom, so I had to trick them with the promise of food before they'd leave.
The food was a lie.
There's always crunchies though.
Hopefully soon I'll be able to let them sleep in the room with me... any day now.
I had 2 drains in my torso after surgery. One came out on day 4(?). I came home from hospital on day 6 with the other one still in. It has been mildly uncomfortable at times, but mostly just extra care I needed to take all the time.
The 2nd drain was removed this morning, and it's the best thing to not have to worry about it!
My parents insisted on driving me into the clinic and now they are next level exhausted. :(
As previously mentioned, Pi joined me at 10:30pm to sleep.
At 3:30am he woke up and needed pats. This woke me up enough to warrant a visit to the facilities.
At 6:30am, Phizzy woke up from somewhere (apparently their cupboard until 3am, whereupon she walked over Mum in bed and settled down after establishing her presence) and joined me in bed.
Shortly after that I got up to take morning pain killers, shut the cats out, and had more sleep.
Not doing much though (this will continue for at least another 2 weeks).
Made a booking in 2 weeks to see an OT recommended by my surgeon and I'm guessing to also get a lymphatic drainage-type massage. I'm just doing everything that is recommended. Bonus, they have a site at Redcliffe, which is about 25 mins from home. I should be cleared for driving by then.
All looking good... except for a small haematoma. So I'm back in for surgery tomorrow to get that taken care of. Short appointment, but still a general anaesthetic.
My surgeon is going to take the opportunity to clean up a few of the sutures in the same area while he's there.
Day surgery, went in at 9:30, quick op, but still here. I think it all went well, but Iron infusion, B12 injection and now 2 bags of blood because my numbers were low after surgery 2 weeks ago and hadn't recovered when they did pre-op tests for today.
Pain is very much under control.
Cats are thrilled to see me.
Parents are thrilled to see me.
I'm feeling a bit delicate, to be expected! And I'm thirsty, so I'm drinking all the things. I also remembered I bought gf donuts yesterday, so had a small treat. Thanks past-Andrea!
I slept most of the afternoon, so I'm not particularly tired, also riding high on donated blood. Thanks random donors!
Dad let them into his bedroom at 4 am and enjoyed Phiz snuggles and playing with her (I think he's teaching her bad habits though). He thinks he's training Pi in boundaries (Pi is very assertive in getting his wants met).
He kicked them out at 7 am at which point Pi howled at my door loudly enough to wake me and get me up.
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