GOOD INTENTIONS

Now the interior work has been done, the only thing I am waiting for is the new, and hopefully more comfortable, wheelchair. I decided to take myself out, but the only problem was that Alan has to put my footwear on for me and I don’t like going out when he’s in.  So, to solve the problem I bought a foot bag, where I just pull it on my legs, also the fleece lining is detachable so I can also use it if we ever get warmer weather.  I don’t even have to wear shoes or boots so I’m not dependent on Alan that makes me feel better.

Of course, whenever I am determined to start going out, the weather changes!  So blame me for the snow!  Also I’ve had an infection for the past couple of weeks which had kept me in.  As is par for course the wheelchair stopped working this morning, just when I needed to use the toilet every half an hour.

The infection isn’t an infection, the GP doesn’t know what it is, so Tuesday I am having a blood test.  [more needles, what joy] If the doctor cannot cure me I will be referred to the hospital after 6 weeks, which will mean more tests.

I managed to have a fall when Alan was out due to being ill and which meant laying twisted on the bathroom floor for over an hour until Alan arrived and rang for an ambulance and so the paramedics picked me up.  This worried me so much that I have arranged for an alarm system to be installed, I will wear a pendant that when pressed will alert them and they will pick me up.  I don’t intend falling again but I said that the last 3 times.

FEELINGS TO DATE

What happened with my mother this Xmas?  Well, another piece of spine crumbled [she has osteoporiasis] and so she could not go anywhere.  I went to see her Xmas day morning but she had to spend all day at the care home. The  doctor had prescribed pain relieving patches that didn’t seem to work at first, but were working by mid January and she began walking again using the frame.

I was eventually persuaded by the District Nurse to tell the doctor how I was feeling.  This resulted in me been prescribed anti-depressants and I feel so much better now after a month.  I have realised that not only had I not taken on board my illness [or my penance as it should be better known], but also all the fiasco of moving had taken it’s toll.  

Of course, looking back my attitude to everything was ‘whatever’ and I had no appetite.  Alan was upset because I was leaving more than I was eating, and he decided it was his cooking, I was more content with a bag of crisps and some chocolate.  Now I eat most of my meal and just have chocolate for dessert.

I also am more decisive and assertive, knowing what I want done, and when. All the boxes and bags have at last been emptied now that my head is clearer, and I can sort all the bookshelves out now there is space!

NEW YEAR GREETINGS

Well a new year and new hopefulness.  I have a wider living room door which was done a week before Xmas and the cupboard had to be reduced, it is now half the size and needed to be emptied which has blocked the printer, so apart from the few that Alan wrote for me, no-one received a Christmas card.

As a consequence of all the work the rail in bathroom was moved, and after thirty minutes being sat I figured that I could use the wheelchair to get up. As I have no power in my legs and I have to push myself up by hand, and used the toilet seat and the rail, now I use the toilet seat and the arm of the wheelchair.

I have finally sussed the bed.  Apart from having the head and foot raised so I don’t have to be flat i’ve found that if I lower the entire bed I can get in it better, and to get out raise the bed so I can transfer to the wheelchair with minimum leg movement.

So a Happy New Year to all

DEATH AND LIFE

Sorry for not writing but I’m using not being well as my excuse. I’ve had infections that I left for too long, they had to be attacked with strong anti-biotics, creams and pessaries.  The Nurse is lumbered with dressings twice a week again.

A maternal cousin, who was only eight years older than me and also had MS, has died, which made me feel great! We went to his funeral which was in a village near here, Harthill, my mother’s home village, as a matter of fact. 

Yes, my mother also went, because she can get into a car my cousin took her but because I need to be in my motorised wheelchair I couldn’t get in a car and so had to have a special taxi, therefore usually a foreign driver who wouldn’t know how to get to Harthill! Problem number one.  

It’s a good job I know the way. Problem number two, that was when I was driving [about 15 years ago], but a nosey on Google Earth soon showed me any changes. So we were all set.

So we thought, but problem number three. Because it was a wheelchair taxi I was having to travel backwards. This left us in a situation of me having to tell Alan, who didn’t know the way either, and him having to tell the driver where to turn etc. Another good point for Google Earth.

All went as expected apart from a renewed interest in my rellies. [as if I needed that prompt!] I was annoyed by everyone thinking my mother was so marvelous, but as the only surviving member of that generation I suppose that was to be expected.

Then we had to come back, not easy with no post-code and the girl being stupid! Another foreign driver who this time didn’t know where Halfway was! This time Alan knew the way and it is a straight run anyway. We were meeting my daughter in the local pub so we were going straight there - that created another problem but the pub is on the same road that he was driving on so no problem after all.

Anyway that was that.

And guess what? I got another two infections - I HATE ANTI-BIOTICS.