I knew I was getting low on overnight bags and would need to order more so yesterday morning I decided on a stock take of all my kit. I found I had one new overnight bag left so it was definitely time to order more just in case that one was faulty and I had only two or three leg bags left so I might as well order more of those too.
The big shock came when I checked my stoma bags. I thought I had a couple left in the small case where I keep the stuff I need each time, bags, wipes, disposal bags and so on and to my surprise there were no stoma bags in it. I didn't worry too much as I had another box of them somewhere ... except I couldn't find that spare box. Somehow I have miscalculated as I can't see how I've mislaid a whole box of the darned things. I must have used both boxes I remember having delivered.
So it appears that on Saturday night I used my last bag and I was going to have to make that one last until I could get some more delivered which would be Tuesday at the earlieest. I normally wear a bag for two days and I've currently got into the havit of taking a shower only when I'm about to change bags as the shower loosens the adhesive on the bags. Clearly in hot sweaty weather that will have to change but for now it works out OK.
However there I was on Monday morning with no spare bag if the one I was wearing started to leak. I broke out in a cold sweat & rang my supplier immediately and orderd what I needed.
I was worrying all Monday and especially over Monday night and, of course, I didn't dare have a shower.
There was huge relief on Tuesday morning when my new supplies turned up so tonight I can have a long, luxurious shower before fitting my new bag.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Normality Returns
I didn't go out today partly because of the miserable weather but more importantly because I had to wait in until my delivery of equipment arrived. More on this in my next post.
However I have been out and about a lot in this last week and finally it is becoming a pleasure rather than an endurance exercise. I am back to walking at my full speed for the first time for nearly three years rather than shuffling along like an old man and it feels absolutely great.
Last Friday I even considered seriously walking back from the centre of Sale but it was pretty cold and the bus was due any minute so I did chicken out in the end.
There is, I think, no doubt that life is rapidly returning to normal.
Mind you, I did duck out of helping to carry a half hundredweight of bird sand upstairs the other day. I think that might have been pushing my luck a bit too far.
However I have been out and about a lot in this last week and finally it is becoming a pleasure rather than an endurance exercise. I am back to walking at my full speed for the first time for nearly three years rather than shuffling along like an old man and it feels absolutely great.
Last Friday I even considered seriously walking back from the centre of Sale but it was pretty cold and the bus was due any minute so I did chicken out in the end.
There is, I think, no doubt that life is rapidly returning to normal.
Mind you, I did duck out of helping to carry a half hundredweight of bird sand upstairs the other day. I think that might have been pushing my luck a bit too far.
Friday, 14 January 2011
A Bursting Bag
Well, that's a bit of an exageration but it was a close run thing.
Today I headed back to hospital for a renal scan. This is to establish a base level reading of my kidney function and consists of pictures being taken as my kidneys work. A mildly radioactive substance is injected into a vein and a camera tracks it through my system as the kidneys try to get it out of my system. After about 15 minutes another injection is given which is the same stuff as in a water pill. Now such pills make you run to the bathroom pretty often and you can probably imagine how quickly they work when taken intraveinously like this.
I could feel fluids pumping through my still healing plumbing. My back ached and my stoma was throbbing as my kidneys worked at full capacity.
It was soon over, thank goodness, & I was told that I would keep on passing water pretty rapidly for a couple more hours.
Before leaving the hospital I enptied my leg bag but by the time my cab dropped me at home some 20 minutes later my bag was blown up like a balloon & I really was worried that it might burst.
Luckily I made it up the stairs to the bathroom and emptied for the first of many times well into the afternoon.
The aftereffects of all this are that I have a few more aches and pains and will probably take a pain killer before I go to bed tonight. Clearly I am not completely healed
Today I headed back to hospital for a renal scan. This is to establish a base level reading of my kidney function and consists of pictures being taken as my kidneys work. A mildly radioactive substance is injected into a vein and a camera tracks it through my system as the kidneys try to get it out of my system. After about 15 minutes another injection is given which is the same stuff as in a water pill. Now such pills make you run to the bathroom pretty often and you can probably imagine how quickly they work when taken intraveinously like this.
I could feel fluids pumping through my still healing plumbing. My back ached and my stoma was throbbing as my kidneys worked at full capacity.
It was soon over, thank goodness, & I was told that I would keep on passing water pretty rapidly for a couple more hours.
Before leaving the hospital I enptied my leg bag but by the time my cab dropped me at home some 20 minutes later my bag was blown up like a balloon & I really was worried that it might burst.
Luckily I made it up the stairs to the bathroom and emptied for the first of many times well into the afternoon.
The aftereffects of all this are that I have a few more aches and pains and will probably take a pain killer before I go to bed tonight. Clearly I am not completely healed
Back To Court
My sitting as a magistrate is an important part of my life and I have missed it but, of course, it would be unfair to my fellow magistrates and also to those appearing befor us if I returned before I was fit enough to give cases the attention and concentration they deserve. Yesterday was therefore my first sitting since my surgery.
Ann thinks it was too soon and that I would be exhausted but I promised her I would get cabs both there and back home and that I would try to avoid a late sitting. Also I took a sandwich with me rather than going out at lunch time.
It was a slow start to the day but once we got started it was an interesting day. We finished at about 3:15 and I was offered a lift home which I gratefully accepted.
I was tired but not excessively so & I came home with a sense of another milestone having been passed.
Ann thinks it was too soon and that I would be exhausted but I promised her I would get cabs both there and back home and that I would try to avoid a late sitting. Also I took a sandwich with me rather than going out at lunch time.
It was a slow start to the day but once we got started it was an interesting day. We finished at about 3:15 and I was offered a lift home which I gratefully accepted.
I was tired but not excessively so & I came home with a sense of another milestone having been passed.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)