MON, TUES, WED and THANKYOU VIV !

Bit of a catch up here and about Viv.
Sunday was quiet, good and calm. I spent much of the day writing my version of what I require in terms of Care... then planned to complete on Mon to give to Michelle at he planned visit today... But this got cancelled... there is a lot of snow here in the Pennines.
On Sunday evening Elsa came round , wheeled me in and out of the shower and made a GnT for when I had dried and dressed.
However, Sunday night was not a good night. I woke to turn over . My right leg turned, but my left didn't... I ended up in a frightening situation, where my legs were knotted and I had to lift them apart... I then couldnt get back to sleep... worrying....
Consequently on Monday morning, when I had to leave for Halifax Royal Hospital at 10:30 (early for me), I really , really, didnt want to go. BUT I had cancelled the first appointment , the hosp had cancelled the second ( the machine wasn't working), and thus at the third attempt at the Spirometry clinic appointment, I really felt I must not fail.
So having had a major stress re parking at the hospital (looking for a space), I made it to  Spirometry only 2 mins late .. Viv met me and said that she had been looking at my notes.. and had noted that I had another appointment for Fri for the 48hr ECG machine to be put on. (I sometimes have a racing heart beat). So, clever , kind Viv, had organised that I could have it put on at this visit. AND , not only that, but transport would pick it up to return it on Wed morn . (The only problem being that it could be any-time after 7:30 !! Needless to say I will still be in PJ's !!!)
I was well pleased with this service. My huffing and puffing into the tube ( that's what you do for a Spirometry test), went Ok.... A computer has to match and compare readings , so you don't know how good your breathing is till the results come through. However I could see that my effort was consistent , so I've done the best I can do.
I had planned to go to The Range after this, but the need for the toilet, and hunger, drove me home.
I enjoyed pasta with mushroom and tomato sauce... yum.
Laura had been and the house was welcoming and sooooooo clean .
I then worked on the care plan and printed it out, watched Lewis and went to bed... noticed it was snowing !!!
This morning the snow had deepened, so I thought the ambulance may not arrive to take me to the Hospice. I therefore put on painting trousers so as to hedge my bets..ie,  if transport didn't come I would have a calm day of painting. BUT the transport did come.. so in clean (but dirty !!), jeans and fur coat I set off for Hospice.
There were only a few of us today, my friend Jackie had a hospital appointment so was absent ,and another friend is in bed care... sadly , not well at all.
I had a coffee , a long chat to the nurse and then it was lunchtime. I had my usual of jacket potato:  and today there were prawns and also a lovely salad. For desert I had some fruit . We all sang Happy Birthday to Ann, who will be 40 on Thurs.
 There was chocolate cake, but I was having Reflexology when this was cut ... RATS !!! But the Reflexology so relaxing that actually the trade-off was worth it .
On the way back Michelle rang: no visit re Care Plan because of snow... now fixed for 2 weeks time .... RATS !!!
So here I am watching ( well listening to ) Four In A Bed. I plan to do emails, watch the news and then paint for a few hours...
Snow was deep at 3:00 ,but since it has rained and is being washed away. However it is predicted to get very cold tonight, so if it freezes the roads will be very dangerous...
Good job I am not planning to go out tomorrow though I do have a visitor ... which I shall write about then...... A new challenge, someone is going to shower, dry and dress me.
I cant begin to tell you with how much trepidation I am approaching this....  but it is the next necessary step... I can see that.......... BUT.........

HUG ME, I'VE GOT MND

TITLE...YOU CHOOSE....

I couldn't decide on a title for today's Blog,    so thought  I'd give you my list of possibles. do email me nicola.woodman@virgin.net, , or tweet 1949NW, to give me your thoughts:
Possible titles are:  Or have you a better one!!

1. Laugh or You'd Cry
2. Spirometry
3. Hospital visit
4. Porters I Met Today
5. Waiting, Waiting , Waiting
6. Oh,  To Be Independent
7. Hospital Maintenance ! 
8. Gold Medal for Survival!

Today I had a planned visit to the Spirometry clinic at Hospital. At this clinic you blow into a tube which is linked to a computer. You have to do each test 10/12 times sitting, then laying down. You have to breathe long and slow, and hard and quickly.

This test measures not only lung capacity, but more importantly the strength of the muscles controlling breathing. It is a fact that these muscles will weaken. When they begin to I will have to wear a breathing apparatus...................................... 

So My appointment was at 1:45. 

I left home at 12:45.. (Jessica from next door locking the door for me. ( I can't lock the door at the back of my house .The angle of the lock is strange, and I fall if I attempt to do it myself !))

I left home at 12:45. Traffic lights along the valley meant I got to Halifax at 1:35. I managed to get the last disabled parking space. YEY! I tottered to the speaking post, pressed the button to get help. No answer. Pressed again. No answer. Kind lady in pink fleece asked if I was Ok. I explained that I was trying to contact reception to ask for a porter with wheelchair, to get me to my appointment. She kindly said she would notify them.

I waited 5 mins. Thinking she might not have given the message , I rang from my car. Yes, the message had been given. A porter on his way.

It's now nearly 1:50. Two ladies in uniform come out. Can I walk... no, sorry.,,,,A wheel chair has been ordered, but he person before me has been waiting for 20 mins... I'll have to just sit tight.... They promised to let dept know  that I was on premises, but would be late.. Thankyou.

During my wait, many cars pass.. Are you going? (politely) No sorry.. I'm waiting for a wheel chair. (Car-parking is at a premium)................... I made quite a friendship with one woman in a yellow Metropole.. she passed so many times! Eventually she said she was giving up on trying to find a space and just going home..................  Most of us in the parking situation are polite and understanding of the problem... But one man,, U goin! ... (really quite aggressive tone).. No, sorry , I'm waiting for a wheel chair. Then because I simply couldn't resist... I cant walk  .    Perhaps I misjudge him, perhaps he was about to have major lifesaving surgery and needed to park quickly........................Perhaps........................ Oh aren't I wicked!!! 

2:05. A polite porter, in a beautifully ironed shirt,  arrived, no wheel chair.( I mention the shirt because my experiences have been to date, that porters rarely look ironed, and or tidy... sorry,  but they are often grumpy too!)..

Need a  wheel chair?    OH ! Two minutes , I'll get one. At 2:20 I arrive at the correct department.

There I huff and puff. The room is small and has air con. The air seems dusty.. Remember there is a peg on your nose, so air in through the mouth causes you to get very dry. Kind lady technician, Viv, gets me water.

3:30 and the assessment is over. I am to meet my friend Val in the coffee bar at 3:40. So Porter called, and I was assured that it wouldn't be long. But I did think that I would have time to go to the toilet.

So I get out of chair, and walk in my ungainly fashion, 7 steps to the disabled loo............. All well. I finished, let down the side bar  to help me stand..... and it wobbles. I try again... it wobbles... I try again, again, again.... .................Well I've been stuck on many toilets, but never imagined this would happen in a disabled toilet in a hospital! But it did. It had!!

No option, I pull the orange cord. A woman shouts through. Are you OK?    No........ Is the door locked? ...........Yes.............. So the special key is  found quickly.  Door opened... it opens directly on to the waiting area... so potentially all   could see me sitting on the throne!! . Door closed quickly though, and the helpful woman, supported me up!!

I'm way beyond feeling embarrassed about things like this. I feel it says more about hospital maintenance than about me!!

Please note all medical staff, and support people behaved impeccably, and did all they could to help me with understanding and kindness.

Porter arrives.( Shirt OK, but grumpy).  I ask to be left at the coffee bar, by reception, as my friend would take me to my car. I asked to be left at the counter. He did................ a meter away,........... then put the brake on the chair( health and safety????)............... Stranded!.............. Kind man,  seeing the predicament pushed me into place. Coffee ordered and sandwich, (you cant eat before the test and I was starving). Woman behind counter says she'll bring over snack. Thankyou says I... But I'm now stranded at the counter. Kind man still behind me, but hasn't noticed my predicament. I turn to him, and politely ask if he will push me to a table. It was then that I found that he was deaf. (what else would he be!, NB Not a comment on deafness, which must be awful, but rather that of all the peoplein the world I choose him!!!). .... but his wife heard, and signed for him to help. Which he kindly did.

Val arrived. We sat and had a natter. FOR AN HOUR, I'M NORMAL!

Home at 5:55. Five mins early, I have a GnT.... may have another after this. Then bed I guess. I'm sooooooooo shattered. Think I've won a gold medal for survival!!

I cant wait to be more in charge of my own destiny, a wheel chair in my car will so help... its on it's way!!!!

HUG ME, I'VE GOT MND