The Furry Monkey

02 october 2011
happy birthday party!

A special party for a special Auntie. It's friends and family all getting together.

We had a great time and chatted all afternoon and evening. You can still have a great time without alcohol too.

Loads of cards, I made some special handmade ones which had pride of place on the Mantlepiece. My Aunt loves my cards and even the Easter one is still up!!! I love it when people really appreciate all the hard work that has gone into them.

One lady even said to me "Wow your cards are gorgeous, I got one from Rita for my birthday". I made a selection of them as part of her Christmas Present so it's nice to know they are being used and people enjoy them.

 

05 october 2011
at the gp's again

This time it's for a Blood Test, to see how the Diabetes is going on. You can only have this special test every three months and it tells the GP about the Diabetes and how it's doing.

Whilst at the GP, we noticed the Car Park was full and there was a huge queue outside and then realised it must be Flu Jab time. So I joined the queue and called John over too. "Am I allowed to have one" he said "I'm not over 65 or pregnant?!". Of course says I, you are in the "At Risk Group" so he joined the queue with me. We get a few strange looks as we stood out in the sea of grey heads in the queue, but we need it as much as them so get one too. Lucky us!

14 october 2011
gp's for the results

Well, it appears my Diabetes is going well, the GP is pleased with the result. It's under the normal range which is fine.

I must admit I sometimes get fed up with the needles in the morning, but it has to be done.

I mentioned that I seem to be getting up to go to the toilet a lot at night and wondered if it was the Diabetes and he told me no, more likely the kidneys or a bladder problem.

So there and then (not in the Surgery but in the Ladies of course!), I did a urine test and would have the results on Monday. Sometimes our surgery is on the ball, usually it's not!!!

 

21 october 2011
more leg pains.... ouch....!

My leg (the good one!) is really painful and I'm going to see if it goes away over the weekend. If it doesn't I'll make an appointment at the GP's.

 

24 october 2011
oh dear it hasn't gone away....

As we were out getting more medication anyway, I called in to the GP surgery and found I couldn't get an appointment for nearly a week since the initial pains. Have to wait until Thursday now.

I'm having problems getting up the stairs and just walking, I've now resorted back to crutches again.

 

27 october 2011
at the gp's at last....

I was booked to see a new GP, she had a look at my legs and asked lots of questions. She said she'd like to rule out a DVT to start with and if it's not that, then go down the x-ray route and see what is going on in there. I hadn't even thought of a DVT!!!

We were told to go to A&E immediately with a handwritten letter from her. Oh no, not A&E, it's at least a 5 hour wait now.

I was booked in and waited, Mum and John had gone to have blood tests at the same hospital so killed two birds with one stone.

After a couple of hours I'd been to see Triage and was then told to follow a Porter to the Ultrasound for a scan. It was a long walk but I kind of kept up with him, watching where he went all the time!

I was lying on the bed and the lady doing the scan asked me where I got my stockings (they are compression ones - nothing fancy!) and also my crutches. Strange questions but we had a giggle along the way.

There was a young guy there also and he had to keep squeezing my legs and boy did I wince with the pain. I have a high pain threshold (with all I've had!) but OMGGGGGGGG did it hurt me!!!!!

He kept apologising for hurting me, but I said "I know you have to do it, so keep doing what you need to and ignore me - although if you do the same on my bad leg I'm likely to knock you into the next room!!". (Joking of course!).

After lots of scans later, I was told there was a DVT there. Amazing how such a small thing can cause so much pain.

"So now I go back to A&E then do I?" I asked. "Yes, but you must NOT walk, we need to get you a wheelchair and take you there as we are responsible for you now we know what it is".

I can this taking a long time. Already been there about four hours.

To cut along story short, I then was taken in the wheelchair to the MAU (Medical Assessment Unit) and asked if I'd bought a nightie with me. "I only came in with a pain in the leg" said I "I didn't know I'd be staying in!".

After all the tests and questions I was booked in and then realised Mum and John didn't know I was here so tried to get hold of them, only to be told they'd gone. Strange, they wouldn't normally leave me - unless it was for the gallbladder again! LOL!!!

Then as I was having a blood test (Diabetes numbers) they came around the corner just as I was texting John!

We then had to wait and wait and wait, and finally saw a Consultant who said as I also have NHL, as well as kidney failure and Diabetes, it's causing a few problems with medication they can use, but had found something and the Nurse would show me soon.

So there I was feeling happy it would be medication and remembering Mum's DVT in her lung, she stayed in for ages I started to make a list of things I'd need.

Then I heard the Nurse say I would be discharged after my medication arrived and could go home....yippeeee!!!!

The only problem now was she bought around some big boxes in a bag and told me it would be injections and could I do it myself.......or get the District Nurse in. Ouch!

If there's one thing I've never wanted to do it was self inject. Although I've got used to needles, it's always someone else doing it not me.

So at approximately 9pm, I was given my injections - after showing her I could so it myself - and my medication and allowed home. John thought I was going to bottle it and I nearly did I admit that. Then thought it has to be done so I'd best just get on with it.

 

28 october 2011
back at the hospital

I had an early morning phone call from the Anti-coagulant Clinic asking me to come in straight away. Now I'm thinking it's worse than I thought!

I had a huge purple bruise where I'd injected myself already, this is going to be an ongoing thing so I'd be like a big purple blueberry or blackberry before long. I'll download a photo next time (don't want to be on here long).

We couldnt go straight away as John has to dress his leg, so I had an appointment at 10.30 instead.

I forgot to take my injections with me, so John left me there and went back to get them with Mum. Meanwhile I had to go upstairs to have a Blood Test.

There was a long wait 1 hr, 15 mins people had waited already so I wandered around a bit, then decided to sit down. I've been told not to sit in one position for long so have to keep getting up and moving my leg around. I don't know how long is too long!

After 3/4 hr, the Nurse came out and called my name - "Your Doctor is on the line hold on" and we were still 10 numbers away from my number. Then she came back out and said "The Doctor is waiting and you need to come in immediately" so I queue jumped, the others weren't impressed I could tell but it wasn't my fault.

Back down to the Anti-coagulant Clinic and saw the Doc. A long list of do's and don'ts including some foods I'm not allowed to eat. I have to have regular blood tests and go back to the Hospital on Monday straight away.

I have to inject myself and take more medication. Oh what fun, just when I thought I'd get a break, I get something else landed on me. Nightmare again huh!

Anyway, I must go now and have a wander. Will keep you all informed of what is happening but not so often now.

Everything hurts or aches at the moment, so will have a wander and then sit for a wee while.

Trust me huh!