2007 - Crap

And so we go on. I finished the antibiotics a week ago, 5 days off them and the lovely Clostridium Difficile came back. Well, I'd just started work 2 hours a day, was supposed to do half days this week but am now back to 2 hours only because I said I had to! On more antibiotics but at least I can eat a little more than white bread and marmite. Oh joy! that was hard.
This bug makes me so tired.. I have never been so exhausted that I need an afternoon nap. I've been so physically exhausted even after doing the dishes! When I can eat and drink anything I'll be getting all the vitamins and asdophillus into me so fast!
And the next bloody pain in the arse is we're losing our boss! CRAP CRAP CRAP! He's so cool to work with, does and says what he means and is so much fun..... and now he's going to be a Jaffa! Well, all I can say is, if we end up with some boring old fart with no sense of humour, or ambition we'll be going to Auckland on convoy, wrapping one of his 1000 ties around his neck and bringing our funny boy back!! Thats not a threat, its a promise Mr H!
But it will be great for him and his family to be closer to relatives and back where they want to be ... and I'm sure there will be many emails going back and forwards. I'll never forget I'd been there 3 months and the first time I got the weekly report I said to Mr H, "if you put my results on there we'd be over 100%". He said you are on there! Turned out he thought my name was Karen Scott ??? and I've been Scotty ever since. Yeah well, beam me up mate! Haha
I have started some sewing at long last. I made a doll, a lot of it hand sewing so I could relax and do it. It was for a friends birthday. Quite keen to make some more one day but for now I'm hoping to make a bag for a lady I met in hospital who has to have radiotherapy. However I only have enough oomph for short bursts so not much is being achieved.
Then its time to make my grandsons quilt before he thinks his Nan doesnt care! He's been waiting a couple of years.
Well back to the lazyboy before thinking about dinner. Takes a bit of thought when you can't eat everything!
Karen

Long overdue update - crap literally!

Wow, its been a while but its now 4 weeks since I left hospital but I've made five steps forward and 6 back! I finally had the all clear from the district nurses 10 days ago from the infection in my wounds (psuedomonas) but was already on another course of antibiotics as my local GP thought I had an abcess under my wound. Shortly after I had diarrohea which continued, me thinking it was the anitbiotics however it didn't stop when the drugs stopped so I went back to the GP. I got the results yesterday. Another lovely bug that is caused by being on broad spectrum antibiotics (for the infection) for too long! And guess what there is no cure, they can only treat it when it happens. So this week MORE antibiotics, and my diet is strictly white bread with marmite or raspberry jam, and thin soup! Fullstop. Nothing else. I am starving. Its toast and jam for breakfast, soup and plain toast for lunch and bread and marmite for tea. And I hate white bread! There aren't a lot of variations of having this diet.

But if I'm not better by Tuesday I'm off to hospital and thats a place I dont want to go back too. In fact I think I'm home on drugs this week as this bug isn't good in hospitals amongst sick people!

The only good thing is my huggy tight jeans fell down to my hips on Sunday so I dont even need to undo them to get them off! Jeans I haven't worn for two years cause I couldn't get the zip up fit now but a little too tight on my wounds yet. Tummy tucks are a bonus but I have wondered if I should have just had the boob off and been done with it now! A fleeting thought, I'm sure in a few months I'll be so happy with it.

At last I've started doing something though. Its been hard getting started, no concentration but a friend helped me get started on a doll for a friends birthday this weekend. All the hard parts done so I can sit and do handsewing between pit stops and energy naps. I am supposed to go back to work on Tuesday cause I was thinking I'd be bouncing by now but its all up in the air for now!

time for a nanna nap now friends. Take care. Will try not to leave it so long next time.

Karen

Two weeks at home

Well, I can't believe I've only been home for two weeks. Its seems like forever! I have decided I am impatient, tired of the aggravating pain and not being able to do what I want. But slap me for moaning! Sadly on Wednesday the nurse thought one of the wounds had healed but on Friday it had come back so back to scratch! I've just checked the net for causes of this damn infection and it says it can be found in moist areas ie. bathroom sinks, urine receptacles etc. Exactly the same cause my daughters doctor gave her for the hospital bug she caught while she was with me!

Yesterday I got a friend to drop me off at the nearby post office and I walked home. It was okay though far enough. But cost me $10 for a crappy patchwork mag in a celophane bag. I should have known better but thought I should buy myself a treat other than food! Haha.

Well today again is gorgeous so I'm off for another walk. Daylight saving starts tonight so we have an hour less sleep but I can soon catch up during the day haha. My surgeon said 6 weeks I'd be feeling on top of it! Over halfway now....

K

Week Three

Well, I am over this now. Where's the button I push to make the pain go away so I can do everything again and get back to normal. Patience is obviously not my forteit! I started walking yesterday. Got as far as the corner (maybe 50 metres) and had to turn around. Had a sleep when I got home! The DN's have been again today and the infection is still trying its best but is decreasing compared with ten days ago thank goodness. I am so buggered! It's awful. I shouldn't be so self absorbed. There are a lot of people who are suffering more than me.
What makes me really sick is to watch the news and know that there are people out there drink driving and killing innocent people, or abusing kids and yet they go to jail, we pay for them to survive in there and they don't suffer. How does a few months in jail being fed three meals a day compare to having your body chopped up or losing someone you love for no reason! Why can't pricks like them have cancer?
And on that note I'm going to go and try cutting up some material. And I will think of a couple of people I know who put other peoples lifes at risk everyday by drinking WHILE driving! Bored, frustrated... yes. Tired of this nagging wisdom tooth in my right breast.... oh boy yes!

But tomorrow will be a better day!!!

Saturday

Hmm patience is a virtue but hell, not being able to drive is a sin! How did we get on without cars??? I'd like to say I could walk to the shops but at the moment its about 4 miles too far for me. Hopefully next weekend. Luckily my big girl is well enough to come and visit this afternoon and take me to the supermarket etc. I'm looking forward to a 'real' coffee! Yay.
Chris and Stew, have a wonderful holiday. I'm hoping its just a holiday wink wink. Work, would beat this boredom but don't think I can cope yet with this nagging toothache in my boob area. Still every day is another day towards a complete recovery...yes I must have patience!

Hello everyone I'm back

Yes I'm back at home and finally online. I'm amazed its all over and I am so happy that my results were all positive. The cancer has gone. No treatment necessary! Fantastic ah. The doctors and nurses were wonderful and I can't fault the care I received. The meals maybe but not the care haha. I was discharged on Saturday after 10 days in hospital and am now learning about patience. Frustration reigns but patience is a learned thing! I had a bit of a hick up with an infection whilst in hospital so District Nurses are coming daily to keep that at bay and I've been swallowing drugs like they're mm's! I know I will never moan if I get bronchitis again cause thats just a pain in your chest, not a big swollen elephant-Tit- is on one side!

I can't drive for a couple more weeks.. geez how frustrating is that haha. But I must admit I've had two short trips to the chemist and the shop and I'm worn out in half an hour. Once the infection has gone I can start walking around the block and get my fitness back.

Sadly my beautiful eldest daughter Annette who came to Lower Hutt to be with me, ended up catching the hospital virus and spent a week in Palmerston North Hospital. It was daunting not being able to be with her but after another weeks bedrest she is feeling better and slowly getting back to work. Unfortunately we never considered her low immunity status before she came. She just wanted to be there for me and I was pleased to have someone there. Never again though.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and best wishes. This is my first day back on the computer. I've cleared 150 emails and time now to get out in the sunshine for awhile. The weather has been amazing and certainly helps make the days brighter.

Thanks again everyone

BOO AGAIN

Ha ha No its not cancelled! I was told to go home for the night and be back there tomorrow morning at 7.15am to get ready for surgery at 9am! So I've just had a yummy dinner and will try and get some sleep later.

Seems rather more intricate than I'd presumed.. I may not be dancing with all the drains I'll have for awhile. Can't sleep lying down either and have to have my legs up on 2 pillows 24 hours a day for a few days. Give me a blanket please!!! The ward staff seem fantastic, very friendly, have had my ecg and more blood - geez give me Victoria St Lab anyday. I've had the same lady twice now and boy she is useeeeless! Got two nasty blood blisters from today.

Could be a week to 10 days before I'm home so I may not be updating this for awhile, though might get a friend to do it for me.

So friends and family, enjoy your day tomorrow. Enjoy your breakfast, your lunch, your dinner and breakfast on Thursday.. geez ... Haha. I'll be looking forward to the shout when I get back to work haha.