Sunday 26 February 2012

Spring is on its way

Good Afternoon to you all,
Another week, a little more progress and a little more frustration: and a couple of pleasant visits.
The week didn't start too well as my physios secretary rang first thing Monday to call off the appointment because she was ill. We re-arranged for next Tuesday, so I decided to continue with the exercises but bump them up a bit.District Nurse called- yet another different lady, this one was very thorough and cleaned the infected area better than it had been done for over a week- they are all very nice and wrap it well but I'm beginning to get a bit concerned that the plan is not being reviewed, it seems that everyone wants to put a different type of cream/lotion on different bits. Its a good job that Lynn has seen it all and remembers what goes on what bit but I think that some of the ladies are here to visit, change dressings and go away again, rather than trying to repair it as soon as possible.
 I decided to see if I can still ride a bike and after a bit of pumping up tyres, set off .Thats where the frustration sets in. Yes, I can still ride a bike, but after half a mile I ran out of breath - lots of work still needed on the fitness front.
Waited in on Wednesday for District Nurses but by midday was getting a bit concerned, particularly as last week I had visits on successive days. My fears were well founded, I rang the answerphone and eventually got a return call from someone saying that there had been a change and I was now down for a visit on Thursday. I've been in management long enough to see the signs when cracks appear in organisations and I had my doubts last week. What has gone wrong is that the managers decided to review the organisation rather than replace the case handler who left. Naturally, the system is now short of staff and there is no leadership or organisation, so we get seconded staff, bank staff and all sorts ;and no-one seems to know who is doing what, where and when. I guess that the same applies to the whole area but it really annoys me that the managers cannot see that their lack of foresight impacts on everyone.
Had a series of visits over the week, including an unplanned knock on the door - Thanks J, nice of you to call round. Decided to play a few holes on Thursday. Hooking, topping and drowning a few balls, but after the first 2 holes, parred the third and hit a 225 drive on the 4th, so the shoulder exercises are working.
Saturdays visit to Sincil Bank resulted in the usual mix of effort and tripe, but at least they are trying now and its worth watching , as long as you dont expect skill or success.
The next op has been delayed a little as some parts have to come from Belgium,If thats going into my mouth, will I be speaking flemish or dutch ? or remain with my usual gibberish.
Thats all for now, must be getting better cos I like a good rant.
Have a good week ladies and gents
Chris

Sunday 19 February 2012

Another week, another step on the way to full recovery

So here we are, this week marks four months since the operation. Its frustrating that progress is up and down , but given that I was not expecting to eat or talk for many months, I cant complain.
The good news this week is that , for the first time in months, the leg is not infected- the swabs results came back negative, so no anti- biotics. The last week has seen a succession of different District Nurses, as they are short staffed at present, the net result is that the wound has been treated differently by each one, as they all have their own way of dealing with it. The leg is now improving and is now back to the state it was a couple of weeks ago.
Eating is going well, there is very little I cant manage - chips and crisps remain off limits for now, but I can even eat sandwiches now - albeit I dont bite, its more a question of ripping them apart.
Driving is going well, trip to Nottingham last week with no ill effects except for a feeling a bit tired afterwards, but my confidence is back. Going to try a few holes this week if my physio doesn't put a spoke in it tomorrow, it looks like its going to be a good week.
Blog again, next week.
Have a good week
Chris

Friday 10 February 2012

Almost four months gone

Good Afternoon All,
Another week gone and not much to report. The foul tasting anti-biotics have been consigned to history but appear to have done the job as the wound continues to heal. The shoulder exercises are going well, I've got much more movement and can now swing a club, so a bit more leg improvement and we'll be chasing white balls around Thonock Park. Worst comes to the worst, I could hire a buggy , but you all know I'm a bit tight.
The exercise regime is now in full swing, I'm walking just over a mile every day without much after effect but I've been warned not to overdue it by the district nurse ( perhaps she might have had a different view if she had seen me last Saturday ). We had a blockage in the sewerage pipe ( lovely ). I managed to get 27 yards of drain rods down it before I found the blockage , which was under the footpath outside our house.Good news, the change of laws last year means that the problem was in Anglian Waters bit, so a quick phone call and out came a man with a van - an hour later, problem solved, so my 2 hours of rodding in sub zero temperatures was not in vain, but I'm a long way from fitness.
Birmingham hasn't set a date for my next op yet but I should know in a fortnight or so - I hope I get a bit of notice as I'm setting up dates for the next few months. Booked 4 holidays to date ( not a ski-ing holiday yet, but it will come next year).
Fridays meal at the Cross Keys went very well, apart from the lack of alcohol, I managed to pick enough from the menu to have a nice meal without having to chew. Social life somewhat curtailed due to the snow fall over the last week but gave me a chance to catch up on all the filing I had stuffed into a heap over the last 3 years- didn't realise how much time my job took up but everything is in order now.Time to take on the utilities !
Best Wishes to all
Chris

Friday 3 February 2012

Ups and Downs continue

Good Afternoon All,
I'm starting to think that all these changes are designed to test my sense of humour. After the last week or two I was getting more and more confident that I was on top of these little problems and that it was only a matter of time before I was out and about doing everything I wanted but .......
The week started well - I sold the raffle tickets at this years pantomime.This gave me the chance to see what reaction, if any, I would get from people who meet me only occasionally.There were no odd looks or comments, in fact, the only comments I got were from people asking why I wasn't in this years production and one asked if I had broken my leg.That gives me the confidence to know that my appearance has almost returned to normal- what I see is not what other people see. I stayed for all 3 performances, which all went down very well. The male contingent ( now up to 4 ) all performed extremely well - a far cry from being the only male on occasions in the past. The ladies always perform well, but ,then again, some of them have performed more often than some professionals. Three good shows and another £1000 + raised for the village hall.
District Nurse arrived on Monday to dress the leg, all looked OK, but the results of last Wednesdays swab were still awaited,so, on course for the fitness regime to start - for all of ten minutes. Thats the amount of time between one District Nurse leaving and a second one arriving with the results of the swab ( yet another infection ) and a prescription of some of the foulest tasting anti-biotics I have ever had the misfortune to swallow. These are particularly strong - absolutely no alcohol and a long list of common side-effects. Considering that I've planned meals out tonight and tomorrow ( Saturday ), that really puts a spoke in the wheel.
Tuesday was a little better, the physio is fairly pleased with my progress to date and suggested a few additional exercises but swimming is not a 'runner' until the leg heals.Started with a cold, but two days of nose running and doses of hot lemon has sorted it out.  Wednesday saw the visit to Bassetlaw Hospital where I saw a very nice young Asian female doctor  who examined my skull, pronounced my wound as 'sun damage' and proceeded to fire a carton of liquid nitrogen at the wound. The temperature of this stuff is minus 'a lot', it felt a little like a red hot poker but I've had worse and let her keep going until she had finished the treatment. Looks sore at present, but not much pain and I'm due back in three months, but it is not skin cancer.
Thursday saw the return of the District Nurse, having decided to let it go for another day. Removal of the bandages showed a deterioration in the wound, it is now back discharging slough, so back to 3 visits a week.
I've decided to walk on it to get my fitness back and did a mile this morning with no pain, so we will see what the next visit brings. Expect another swab next week - at least I will get one week to get a pint or two in. I'll let you know how I get on.
Best Wishes
Chris