Today I shall be Mainly...

[Marilyn]

I know that after the Orange Juice ( obviously not suitable after bowel surgery ), hubby enjoyed some suck sweets ( mints and fruity Jubes ) that I took in. Following that I took in some lovely, perfect fruit..picked the nicest apples, bananas and pears I could find ( again probably not welcome after bowel surgery).
Is Cath into magazines?
Does she have TV? ( that kept D occupied...until he was well enough for his laptop...and then he was basically back at work from his hospital bed...unfortunately!)
I would be happy with my iPad and cups of tea. We are all different.

[Cathy]

And that first shower (even if you do need help), bliss, then back into your own nightie/pyjamas and slippers etc., and sat in a chair instead of having to get back into bed. Even talking/listening to someone about up to date events, the news, tv shows etc., brings you back into the here and now. A visitor that asks what they can do for you. A feeling of belonging.

[Marilyn]

Simple things...clean knickers...washing your hair...getting out of those dreadful hospital nighties. ( even wearing a bra again especially if you are pain free enough to put it on yourself.) After I broke my arm, I needed hubby to put my bra on. It was never 'quite right' and I think the process confused him a little. I could sit on the side of the bed and work up to the effort of throwing my knickers at my feet and gradually working them up with one hand until they were in situ...but the bra was beyond me as the four fractures were through the head of the humerus and I couldn't even breathe without pain. The other thing I couldn't do was wash under that arm, so with my teeth gritted I had to get him to work a single layer of face washer up there and try his best.
But we got there.
Time...just give her time.

[Nolic]

Cath not too good this afternoon. They removed her epidural at mid day and by the time we arrived at 2.30 she was in agony .Left her fast asleep after they gave her a morphine driver. No more news from me until its good news. Nolic

[Sue]

Fourth day the worst, then improvement should follow when the antibiotics really kick in. I remember Wednesday i felt awful , Thursday much better. My op was Friday evening.

[Stanley]

Wendy, there will be two grooves in that road.
Ian, I can remember a day when you just plugged a radio in and switched on....
Up early, thinking of Cath and losing myself in the LTP.

[Cathy]

I can remember when I hurt my back and had to use a long pair of kitchen tongs to help me get my knickers and socks on, ah! fun and games, NOT!!

[Wendyf]

At Trawden Show, helping out on the HAPPA stall. Hope it brightens up a bit.

[Sue]

Big Breton festival at Lizio today.

[PanBiker]

I love a good Breton Festival, quite a while since I visited the last one.

[Tizer]

...they are a link to her normal world...

A very important point from Cath...providing normality, or at least the appearance of normality, can be critical for a patient in the first hours and days after a serious medical event. It's a way of putting them back on the right track, reminding them who they are and preventing them becoming lost in a parallel life...it's easy to feel that you've been damaged and will never be the same again. Mrs Tiz happened to arrive on the scene just as my mother had a stroke and got her into hospital quickly. We followed and stayed with her, talking to her and between ourselves almost as if nothing had happened. She couldn't speak and seemed unable to comprehend what was happening but by the end of the day she was talking again and pretty much normal. I'm sure that her hearing and seeing us talking maintained normality and `rebooted' her brain rather than allowing her to become frozen into some other world.

[Stanley]

Thinking about my eldest daughter. She's in the operating theatre now. Can't cross anything else!

[Sue]

Breton market today at Questembert. One of the best around.

[Bruff]

Coming to terms with the fact that my wife has accepted an unconditional offer to study for a BSc in Psychology full time at the University of Liverpool starting this coming academic year. Really chuffed as she left school at 16 with no qualifications at all (and I mean none at all) and has wanted to do this for years. Liverpool offers a route in for her. Big changes for us tho', and for her who flogged herself for years founding and running her own business and latterly other things. I'm looking forward to Friday nights down the Student Union.........

Richard Broughton

[Sue]

I taught Adult returners to Education for many years. Such dedication they had, and a real joy to teach. She will love it. congrats and good luck

[Stanley]

That'll be interesting Richard! I'm not drawing any direct parallels but be warned that when I went back into full time education aged 43 it had some interesting consequences. A friend of mine who knew about this area told me that there was always a price to pay for further education, in her case it was a gall bladder operation. I wish your wife luck but tell her to look after herself, it's a life-changing event.....
I shall be working on the LTP again.... And starting the latest Philippa Gregory book in the Cousin's Wars series.

[Marilyn]

Cath must be improving by now Nolic?

[Nolic]

Stills ups and downs for Cath. Had her on oxygen for chest infection , took it off her last night, back on again today. Consultant told us today that when she does return home it will be by ambulance. Nolic

[Sue]

Oh Colin, fingers crossed. I do hope Cath improves soon.
All the best to you both
Sue

[Stanley]

Still LTP...... Retirement? It's almost as bad as wagon driving!

[Marilyn]

Hopefully the ambulance men will help her up the stairs when they get her home, Nolic.
It could be an effort getting up and down them for a while. ( best to climb them sideways, like a crab, facing the handrail.)

[Cathy]

Nolic, if Cath doesn't have much energy maybe a shower chair, a walker or walking stick will help, even a tray/counter top on wheels next to the bed or lounge chair. If she is left on her own it would be nice to have a set of crockery/cutlery left out on the kitchen bench, just for Cath, so that she can make her breakfast or lunch, cup of tea etc., without having to bend down into the cupboards for what she needs.

[Stanley]

That sounds like practical and sensible advice....

[Sue]

Today our friends, Wendy and Keith, fly home, can't believe they have been here a week. We are packing a picnic and having a leisurely drive to Dinan airport, site seeing as we go.

[Stanley]

Normal Friday tasks plus dealing with the new screen..... LTP missed yesterday and might do so today.