General Chat

Today o.h. went to see his dad in the new place, he is in a ward with one other male patient who has similar problems to overcome on one side of his body so hopefully they will spur each other on to recover use of their arm and leg etc They have an ensuite wetroom and tv to share, apparently they toss the remote back and forth to each other lol
P. was a bit embarrassed to be showered this morning by two young ladies who he swears are only 17 lol I am sure he will get used to it in the end!

O.h. is planning to visit on alternate mornings before work this week so might not be so stressed out, but his sisters are bickering now so he feels he has to sort them out! Families huh?

Lizxx

Thanks ladies, it's been a difficult time with o.h. having this week off, a bit like the way I imagine it will be when he retires, heaven help me!

He had to some bank business this morning and then visited his dad, to learn that a bed was available at the rehab centre. He was moved after visiting time so on Sunday (o.h. is working 12 hrs on Saturday, by choice) o.h. will only have to drive half the distance to see his dad and how he is settling in. He will then visit briefly during mornings, with special permission, next week as he works the 2 to 10pm shift. Hopefully he will be less stressed, this has all taken a lot out of him and he wasn't well anyway. Next step will be to get him to see his doctor about his memory etc.

We decided to have something from the local Chinese takeaway for dinner last evening. He walked over, 5 mins, and came back with his food, having forgotten that I wanted something too. He went back for my food and then, as I served both meals, I found that on his first trip he had been given bean shoots instead of mushrooms and onions so had to phone and complain, they soon delivered a replacement for him and since eating he has been asleep in his chair. He has to get up at 5am!

When he finally goes to bed I get to relax for a little while before I take him to work as he won't be awake enough to drive. Then I can get a few hours sleep before going out go try and catch up with Christmas shopping!

Roll on 2016!

Lizxx

Liz, I hope you and o.h. are ok, been thinking about you today. If P. is not up to driving then his G.P. will inform the dvla which is a new law I think. Our next door neighbour found out today he cannot drive anymore . Take care

Sylvia x

I was so sorry to read what a stressful time you and yours have been suffering, Liz.

Thinking of you and hoping the new year will be good to you both x <3 <3 <3

Huia, I just wrote your card ready for posting later today, must be telepathy or something lol! O.h. can do it on his way back from hospital, since he has pretty much sole use of the car atm. I am going stir crazy being so tied to the house so will be glad to take him to work at 5.30am on Saturday so I can have the car, he can get the bus home for a change. No hospital visit that day.

I am sorry you are having such problems with the water tank and hope the rain wil hold off for now. All these things are sent to try us but we could do with fewer tests eh?

Do take care of yourself and please don't worry about posting the calender, just try to remember which safe place you put it for when there is time to do it. I keep putting things away for safe keeping and can't find them again lol

Sylvia, thanks for the good wishes, I am sure P. will make a fairly good recovery but might not regain use of his leg or his arm fully which will be frustrating for him. He is a very pigheaded man so that might push him to work hard for good results. He hasn't mentioned driving yet but I don't know if he has realised he probably won't drive again. His daughter was concerned a few weeks ago when he gave her a lift somewhere that his responses were slow but he would have none of it, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

If they have to move house there will be an awful lot of things to be sorted and packed and I know o.h. will get landed with a lot of that too so I can't see life being easy over the next months.

As Huia said, it never rains.....

Lizxx

Liz, my thoughts are with you. I havent posted your calendar yet, you might get it by the middle of next year! We had a big downpour almost 3 weeks ago and our concrete water tank was spouting water about 2/3 of the way down, through a crack, so I have had to lower the water level and try to find a firm which would come and fix it. I finally found one, but it needs another plaster of their magic stuff. In the meantime I pray for no downpours as an increase in the height of the water in the tank would put too much pressure on the leak again. It never rains but it.........

Aww Liz. so sorry to hear about all this. It will be very stressful for you all. I hope P. gets moved soon and can get on the road to recovery. Years ago my father in law had a stroke and was in hospital for 3 months and we were there every day, and at weekends my O.H and one of his brothers stayed over night with F.I.L. with 4 young children it was so stressful so I have an idea how you feel. I hope things get easier for you all and your o.h. can rest a little. Take care. xx

Today he had to go and pick up his stepmum, when he got there she had a list of jobs, replace a lightbulb, take out the recycling bin, containing a few pieces of paper, so that request was ignored as not worth putting out. Carparks all full again but P. was chirpy enough which reassured o.h. After taking stepmum back home, traffic had built up again so o.h. didn't get back till past 5pm, it's wearing him out.
Roll on the move to the rehab. unit.

Lizx

BIG BIG HUGS Liz, you sound as if you need them. xxx

Count to 10, G? I am fit to scream with o.h., he is frustrated with himself for doing nothing else but visiting his father daily. It takes 4 hrs, the traffic is dreadful around Norwich these days and the hospital car parks are full to bursting so almost an hour to get there and park by 2pm then 2 hrs visiting and more hassle getting home. I sourced an adult bib which o.h.'s sister bought, and that is saving P. getting quite so messy, and o.h. went to the same place today and bought another, he also bought a squeezy ball to exercise the weak hand. The assistant asked if the items were for someone who had a stroke, and told o.h. that he was able to buy the items vat free which was useful as the bibs are £17+.

There was good news: P. can now swallow better, his food only has to be mashed instead of pureed and he is well enough to be moved to the rehab. centre which is not as far out of the city so easier for people to get to. P.'s wife can get free transport to visit which will be easier for her and everyone as she lives about 10 mins drive away from the centre. All he has to do is wait for a bed at the centre and then rehab. can begin in earnest and the future will become clearer as to whether P. will have to move house etc

I have to say I will be glad to see o.h. back to work next week lol He will visit during the mornings as a special arrangement and traffic and parking will be easier. He will only visit for a shorter time. It's been so stressful, he is emotionally and physically exhausted so is falling asleep all the time. He really isn't well himself but won't see his doctor. I am worried that he will end up with a stroke too, as he is just like his father in every way and having had a bleed on the brain already, is vulnerable. He still gets disorientated and confused at times but sticks his head in the sand and won't talk to his doctor, which is stupid. Men eh?


Will just have to hope for the best, in every way and take each day as it comes

Lizxx

Keep counting to 10 Liz. It's sure to get better in time. Take care now xxx

Thinking of you Liz..I am going through a family crisis too and haven't been on here much since coming back from holiday...that's why I've only just seen this.

I do hope things settle down for you soon xx

Thanks all. I went with o.h. to see his Dad today and managed to find a Dr to talk to o.h. and stepmum who was there. It was reassuring to hear that they are happy with P.'s progress so far and as he progresses with more therapy etc, he will be moved to a different hospital which is now set up in part as a rehab centre but only if and when there is a bed available. It won't be for several weeks yet. P. managed to eat some pureed fruit today while his wife held the container and even tho we got a bib for him,, he got most of it down without spilling it out of his mouth. All his food has to be pureed as he hasn't got full control of his throat yet, but I am sure it will improve as will the feeling in his hand, arm and leg. He can talk well and still has his dry sense of humour which is good.
He made us laugh by saying that when he had a catheter in, he enjoyed being able to tiddle while chatting with visitors, and they had no idea lol O.h. and I took stepmum home then went shopping. Got home and I had to help o.h. find the specs and case he had with him while out. He swore he must have left them in a supermarket so I had to ring round with no luck. After 20 mins he found them, in a place he said he had already looked! Grrr, he's a flippin' liabilty! Roll on next week when he is back at work!

Lizxx

Liz <3 <3 <3

Hope things ease up soon Liz, as everyone has said take care of yourself also. xx

So sorry that you are having all this stress right now Liz. I hope it will calm down before too long. Take care of yourself as well as everybody else. xxx

Liz sorry to hear your news .Love to you & thinking about your family . <3 Barbra ,

Oh dear Liz, i hope things settle down real soon

love and best wishes

Stella <3

Oh Liz what a sod of a time you are having,abandon Xmas and don´t forget to take time for yourself.

Hope things get a little easier soon.

You are having a tough time of it at the moment. I hope things improve for everyone soon. Don't forget to take care of yourself while you are caring for everyone else