Rehab - Day 15

Having gotten quite a lot of sleep, I woke up really early and just stayed awake. I found that iTunes had almost finished downloading everything, so will have a bit to watch today. I also found that Nanny McPhee hadn't finished downloading which is why I couldn't find it in my rentals list - so I can watch that too! I finished watching the first "Bones" I downloaded yesterday and downloaded the season finale as well as the pilot episode of "Castle", a show I like but keep missing. There was bloody noise and chaos outside, what with Peter arguing for a cigarette and the nurses not letting him have one (this goes on interminably every day!) - in the end he got stroppy and yelled at everyone and then Joyce in Room 6 could be heard quavering loudly and tearfully for someone to help her (and that goes on interminably every day too!) so I asked that they please shut my door but they said all would be quiet now.


I finally got up at 9.00 am - didn't have a shower, too p'd off at the nurse who left me wait for ages, gave me my pills as they came out of the packets and didn't give me water and then did my dressing without the Clorsig or the gauze and the dressing she used I seemed to be allergic to cos within minutes, I was itching to death, so she had to do it all over again. I finally got to take my pills and then down to Physio (No OT today for some reason). Another good session tho I tired myself out - they've replaced the rollator with the wheelie walker which will make it more difficult from wheelchair to walker but am sure I'll get used to it. I did a long walk (about 90m today) and then we played balloon tennis - for balance - by then I was too pooped to pop, so glad when Praline had to go to a meeting and let me off the hook

Back upstairs and, apart from interruptions like the speechies to go thru swallowing exercises, the nurse to do something else and then for tea, I got my downloaded TV shows watched the last of them in bed (Reg likes me to go to bed early then he doesn't have to lift me for the shower chair, he can use a pan!!) - I caught up in blog, played Luxor for a while, signed up for a new Circus applique BOM (8 months) (to go with Jungle BOM - one for Maddy and one for Charlie).

Rehab - Day 14

[Birthday flowers still looking good!]
Woke up for brekkie so at least had a couple of hours sleep before it was time to get up and go. Everything was early today so could get it all over and done with and relax. At OT, Tracey fitted me with a hand brace to help me bend my fingers on my right hand with the arthritic "drift" (It's worth a go if it makes typing easier cos I am going back to work! Eventually.) Then did fine finger movement exercises to help me concentrate on bending the fingers rather than holding them straight down as I have done since the arthritis took hold. It felt strange having the constriction on my hand but it did seem to help.

Then it was around to Physio and Praline really gave me a workout. Before I got tired, I was sit/standing from the wheelchair like a champion with only Praline needed to get me to my feet tho after a couple of those, 2 laps of the gym on the wheelie walker, balancing exercises (both with eyes open and eyes shut - eyes shut is hard!!) and finishing off with 30 reps of 4 arm exercises, it took a helluva lot more to get me on my feet tho eventually Gwen and I did do it.

Was pooped when I got upstairs but determined not to go to bed like yesterday afternoon, I go to sleep and that buggers me up for the nite. I had downloaded a John Travolta movie, From Paris with Love, and it was one of his larger than life, over the top action/adventure roles, although in this one he was one of the good guys. Jonathon Rhys Meyers was pretty damn good too as the rookie "spook" - lots of laughs too. Travolta looked like he was enjoying himself immensely - and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

After tea and the loo, I went to bed to watch Bones and see what else I could see on iTunes. You could spend a lot of money if you let yourself go mad! You buy the TV episodes at $3 a pop so you keep them, but I'll be interested to see how they monitor the rental movies! I bought "That's Entertainment 1" which is the best one and has the "Singing in the Rain" clips - I love Donald O'Connor in that, cheap at $13.

Mrs Lamb rang and we yakked for a while, then it was off to sleep after some more Mahjong.

Rehab - Days 12 and 13

Weekend again - days of rest but trying for lots of walking and leg, hand and swallowing exercises!! HA, that didn't happen at all - in fact today (Sunday), I was only out of bed for about 3 hours!! Tho did swallowing exercises when I thought of it LOL. Played games, games and more games Saturday - am getting a bit obsessed with Mahjong - uses my brain - I had Pam's donated Veal Tortellini for tea: took me ages to chew my way thru it but I managed and savoured it all - change from savoury mince and mushed vegies! Caught up on emails I owed except for Kerry M (she'll be tomorrow - ) - then today, I went back to bed after lunch - sooo tired and felt drained of any energy, also sore back where I hit the deck last week and the back of the wheelchair presses into the bruise - ouch! Couple of Panadol and got horizontal - ah, bliss! And of course I went to sleep for most of the afternoon so who knows if I'll even sleep tonite at all, cos had about 3+ hours! Got tea brought in to me (as with lunch - they are so obsessed with you eating!!) - Playing on Facebook when I saw an advert for a new Farnham album so had to go and investigate and on iTunes these days you can rent movies, buy audiobooks as well. So spent the next few hours downloading music (yes, I fell for "One Voice" that has all Farnham's singles on it), videos of Brass in Pocket, Bad to the Bone; downloaded a Miss Silver murder yarn and rented the second Nanny McPhee movie so won't Mark be surprised when he sees the bank statement - LOL.

Tell you a secret: I was waiting and waiting for them to answer the buzzer tonite and got p'd off with that so, feet over the side of the bed, got the bed up high so I could slide off and tho rollator was a bit far away, I very carefully took the couple of steps to get to it, then "rollated"around to where I wanted to go, then rollated (scuttled) back to the side of the bed, lifted my legs in and you wouldn't have known I'd been out! I am SO hoping this week is the week I can sit/stand from the wheelchair - then it's downhill all the way ... to home!

A funny thing happened when I was sitting up waiting for breakfast - looked over at the wall in front of me and lo and behold, a Huntsman had come to visit - he needn't have! - so I called for Reg, the nurse who was on and he was more scared of it than I was - LOL - that really tickled me cos I was reassuring him it was OK when he was supposed to save me. Eventually, a wardie bought a mop and we banged it with that and then they poured boiling water on it to kill it, so if it was only playing dead, as they do, he is a very sick spider! No knock down or insect spray on the premises (because of allergies) and this place is surrounded by fully grown palm trees and foliage - fancy having no insect spray in Queensland - unheard of!!

Roll on tomorrow for some focus and hard work - I must get out of here and home!!!

Rehab - Day 11

--- NEWSFLASH ---
I stood up from the shower chair to stand at the bed rail without help after my shower - how cool is that!! Keep pushing up, look up and tuck that bum in and it blooody worked this time - YEAY!! Unhappily, I couldn't do it easily when I got down to physio out of the wheelchair :o( . The lower height makes all the difference.

However, apart from the sit/stand, I managed 4 laps with the "wheelie walker" then Nick decided I could do some more, so 2 more laps between the parallel bars, 10 squats and then he put me on 1.5kg weights to strengthen arms, triceps, etc - 30 of each of those - sheesh! Then they let me come back upstairs on my own - woohoo!! Boy, do I appreciate it when they let me be the adult I am!!

We'd been waiting to take my pills so Penny (speechie) could observe how I take them but she was late (by about 2 hours) again, so arrived when I was taking the last of them because Pam and I had to get downstairs for the maxi taxi. I didn't choke on any today - was determined not to - I was cranky cos if you say you'll be somewhere at 8.00, 10.00 just doesn't cut it.

After an uneventful taxi ride (which I enjoyed), we got to the podiatrist and a short wait later, Ned took me in to deal with my poor toes. It appears we've taken so long to get them cut that each big toe now has a fungal infection under the nail which is why they were lifting - thanx Queensland Health for giving me another health problem!! You can use iodine to dress the nail bed which he did - and my big toenails look deformed but they are short so that may stop them hurting!! But was the best birthday present I could have had!!

Pam and I just went into the Night Owl shopping centre next door to Leonardo's (an Italian cafe/restaurant) for lunch and it was delightfully yummy. I had Tortellini Pallo Ana (veal tortellino with a bacon and mushroom cream sauce). I couldn't doggy-bag what I couldn't eat, so Pam bought me another as a takeaway. It will be interesting to see if I'm allowed re-heat and eat it!! Probably not so am not getting my hopes up!

Back to GARU and Pam left to make some curtains (better her than me!) and I got Katy to shut the door cos everyone yakkety-yaking at reception desk on top note so at least it was muted. The doctor came in to check on my fungally toes and then, as her last nursing chore for me, Katy put the cream he'd prescribed on them so maybe they'll cure the infection before I go home - the least they can do!

Today is Katy's lot's last day on Prac so I had to say goodbye to my favourite student nurse which was sad - she runs rings around all the qualified nurses especially in patient care!! I was lucky to have her look after me.

After tea (pumpkin soup) I caught up in here - eventful 2 days then to the loo and into bed to play until pill time tho I did keep dozing off, then after pills (Penny left instructions on how I was to sit "bolt upright" which is most uncomfortable but can't have me choking on her watch She apologised for not showing this morning but I think like Praline, she just overbooks her time and chronically runs late! Doesn't mean I have to like it.

I flaked about 9.15 - when you have busy days, there is no problem sleeping!

Rehab - Day 10

-- Photos on Facebook --

Just cos it's my birthday, no rest for the wicked! I had no sooner opened my baby blues when Physio asked could I go down early as they had 3 people to help (think they're making sure I don't fall again) - unexpected things always make me cranky, specially when it means I have to rush at things!! So, no shower, just got dressed and downstairs I went.

Had a really good session again - I am just getting more confident about letting them take my weight so I can concentrate on the standing part. But it makes me laugh: I walk down between the parallel bars with Nick (no Praline today) in front and Gavin and Jenny on each knee - how them hovering around my knees will help if I get spaghetti knees I don't know but it makes them feel better LOL.

As I was already downstairs, I went into OT early so by 10.30, I was back upstairs with all chores sorted for the day - which was a good thing, cos only a little while later Caro arrived with lovely clove-smelling carnations - real carnations, not hothouse, I love that smell. We had a great visit even if interrupted by the speechie (Penny) and assistant (Ben) while they took me thru swallowing exercises. Penny got me some soup for lunch and Caro and I continued our visit till she had to go. Apart from the flowers, Caro brought me a carton of Magnum Classic which, going by the one Leigh brought me, will last me quite a while -- I can't get over how rich they are, never seemed to be before!!

Then at about 1.15 pm, not only Mrs Lamb but Julie, Linda M, Lyn Brim, Lizzie Ortel, Jeanie Weenie, Di H and Sally P arrived bearing pressies, flowers, cake and balloons and lots of cards, I reckon everyone I know in the firm signed cards - what a lovely surprise, I really had expected only Mrs Lamb!! The partners had sent up a Cascade Light beer from them - hee hee! Mrs Lamb had brought her camera so lots of photos - everyone with their aprons and gloves on LOL, me with a carnation tucked behind my ear and my cake with one candle (that I did manage to blow out). We had a great visit while we scoffed cake, reminisced - as you do when longstanding workmates get together. The pressies were mainly choccies - my favourite Lindt (thanx Mrs Lamb!), a book and some nice smelly Body Shop body moisturising cream (from Mother Marczyk). And Julie P had my favourite puppies photo enlarged and laminated for my notice board.

I did have such a great time and seeing everyone care for me so much makes up for a lot of the past 6 months odd - I never realised just how many good people are my good friends and I count myself lucky to have them.

I kept myself occupied until tea time by playing myriad games of Mahjong, then after tea (savoury mince and vegies which tonite I ate), I decided to get put to bed to enjoy Vonnie's visit in comfort! When she arrived, she brought me my Pine/Pash mineral water - and also a strawberry thick shake from Maccers - was delightful - and we ended up talking until about 7.45 before she had to go home to her man :o) I did/do enjoy her visits so much, am glad I got a second chance to know her properly.

I went to sleep about 10.30 - was absolutely wrecked - but what a great day!! Tho missed my Mum lots today and our birthday/anniversary trip to the Bay.

Rehab - Day 9

Woke up feeling a slightly jaundiced view on the world - with the nurses/staff and their perpetual yakkety-yak, the noise, the humanity and the smell of toast that I can't have! So sat and glowered at the wall and made snide comments to myself about the conversations at the desk! hee! Does me good to feel superior -- cos then I've got to get help to go to the loo so that brings me back to earth quick smart!!

Had a really hard workout at Physio this morning - Praline is really concentrating on strengthening legs and bum for lifting me off the chair and I'm learning to trust she can handle my weight and lean over her shoulder which makes it easier. So then I had my first go on the walker (like Mum's was) - couldn't steer really well cos concentrating on knees, feet and trying to remember to look up but I did a lap to see if I could - and I could :o)

OT was more intense - Tracey decided her plan was too easy so she added to it, not only number of repetitions but new exercises as well! So they're getting serious, hee!! One of them is designed to strengthen my shoulders and boy, were they burning after the 8th repetition but I got to 10 like I was supposed to.

After lunch, was playing my game and kept nodding off so for once I let myself have a nanny nap. The nurses helped me into bed and I "rested my eyes" for about 2 hours - didn't really sleep as the noise and laughter from the desk outside precluded that, but I did rest my poor overworked body. Which meant I went to sleep easily tonite.

I am so close to standing from the wheelchair - can feel the muscles bunch and really try to push me up - so am working really hard at the exercises and squats - funnily enuff, the fall at the beginning of the week seems to have galvanised me to bigger effort rather than scared me into immobility - tho have some interesting bruises on my bum that have since made their appearance

Rehab - Day 8

Katy (my favourite student nurse) took my obs and my blood pressure was up this morning - 144/78 which is a bit different to 120/62 - I reckon that's me fretting about physio this morning - silly old chook! Doctor, who did rounds this morning, wasn't worried (and it is still lower than it ever was in the real world). You find in here cos every medical person obsesses about things like that, so do you

Pam and my outing is on Friday now - Rachel is on holiday so I will be having Ned - could be he'll be stronger to deal with rabidly strong toenails - then over the road to the boutique pub for lunch for birthday - already have instructions on what I can/can't order.

Luckily for my peace of mind physio was early today and I found I was able to just focus on doing what Praline wanted me to do - she surely is a force to be reckoned with - hee! I managed to sit/stand up a few times (with help) and do some squats (little bitty ones of course) and then 4 laps of the parallel bars - holding with both hands today!! My knees behaved and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when I safely completed the 4 laps!

After lunch it was OT and Tracey has expanded the therapy list so added shoulder strengthening, arm curls for floppy triceps and biceps that are on the underside of my arm , to the stretching which feels wonderful on my lower back, silly putty (which I remembered today) - oh, and trying to throw a basketball into the hoop - I have never done that before in my whole life, and it ain't as easy as it looks --- so for a goalie, I make a damn good catcher as it bounced off the wall about 3 feet down from the hoop - don't think I'm ready for the Brisbane Lions yet!

I was lucky today and had 2 visitors - Leigh arrived about 3.00 - and bearing a lovely surprise in the shape of a Magnum - Frab-jus day, the first Magnum since 11 May this year (but who's keeping score) - had to record that momentous event - and it was just yummy but I want to know how I could eat 3 one after the other: they are sooo rich!! She was still there when Julie arrived so we all sat and yakked till Leigh went to see if she could beat the traffic (fat chance!)

After tea (favourite Cheese & Cauliflower soup) Julie wheeled me outside to the social area and we had a long and lovely visit until the mozzies drove us inside as the sun went right down. I did so enjoy myself.

Then it was inside and bed to play "Westward Ho II" until 10.30 then off to sleep - a good day even if energetic - felt I accomplished something and that's a plus - one step closer to independence and quiet!!

Rehab - Day 7

Woke up to a lovely rainy morning - drips off the palm trees outside and the Gateway Bridge almost invisible behind the very low cloud - and cool, so snuggled up under my blankets until brekkie. The rain didn't last past 8.30 but was nice while it did.

After a bit of palavaer and inspection of my dangerous looking toenails, it was agreed I could FINALLY maxi taxi out to Rachel, my podiatrist (I've been ask, ask, asking since July for someone to please arrange someone to cut them - nurses aren't allowed for hygiene reasons even if they wanted to - seems Queensland Health's policy is no private podiatrists on any premises unless you're diabetic then they supply one) but had to have someone with me - who, I might ask, when everyone works and besides, I am over 21 and really won't do anything stupid! Anyroad, Pam arrived for a visit then and there was lots of discussion out at the front desk and the upshot of that was Pam was taking me out on Thursday for my birthday, so we'd go to the podiiatrist then - what a great birthday present - and I'm not being sarcastic - they are so sore cos they're so long.

Then off to physio where we practised my sit/stand technique and managed to do it about 5 times, get to my feet from the wheelchair - then as I got tired, had 2 mis-tries so Praline decided 4 laps if possible walking between the parallel bars only holding on with one hand. I did 2 OK, decided to try for the 4, but the third was too much for the knees (once I stopped concentrating on holding them steady to change which hand I was using) and bing, bang, down I went.

It was the wierdest feeling - like I suddenly had spaghetti knees - and next thing I was on the floor looking at the ceiling with everyone coming from all directions. I felt fine tho I'll have some wonderful bruises to add to my collection and I didn't bang my head so that was a plus. So once again, was hoisted from the floor into my chair! Am making a habit of it. Very undignified too.

I didn't seem to have any after effects so went down and did my OT exercises - forgot my "silly putty" so did those exercises when we came back upstairs. I resurrected my old version of "Railroad Tycoon" (the one dimensional VGA graphic one) so played that to pass the time until tea - makes a change from "Match 3" games!

Got put to bed at about 6.30pm and played on until about 10.00, with a long chat to Mrs Lamb on the phone, then off to sleep - eventful day and I was tired. Trying not to dwell on falling episode or I'll be too frightened to try and I was getting on so well, so will be stern with myself!

Rehab - Days 5-6

Thank God for the weekend! What with leg exercises, hand exercises and swallowing exercises - and don't forget to "rollator" around the ward twice a day, washing, pills (which are a production in themselves!), eating, etc - got no time to play!!

I have been really practising my "lift your bum off that chair" to strengthen my glutes which will mean easier standing once I do master sit/stand from the wheelchair - and maybe I'll have a nice tight bum too LOL - my body seems to want to stand up more and more, I just can't make that initial 9 inches to straighten my knees - GRRR

Had the miseries on Sunday - having a right old "oh, woe is me" time so hid out in my room. Tina, my nurse for the day, brought me some soup in for lunch which was kind of her tho one missed meal does not starvation make! At least with my own room, I can bawl in peace so being "contact precautions" has its uses. God, I want to go home, I want to see the puppies, I want my life back!! Then I look around me here and see people so much worse off physically or mentally than I am and feel ashamed, but I still feel hard done by sometimes.

Mark came for a quick visit tonite which cheered me up a bit - and I cheered up some more by getting p'd off at an officious nurse on late duty - hate people who won't have the courtesy of even pretending to listen to you - nurses do it a lot - I just play dumb and pretend amazement at what they're contradicting me with!

Rehab - Day 4

Still haven't lost my fear of falling again, so head is still telling my knees not to try - I wish it and they would cooperate so's I can progress to going home, because whilst I can't do it, I can't go home. And I so want to go home!

We eventually got me upright and into the shower chair for my shower and then it was off to be assessed in OT (occupational therapy) to see just how strong I actually am and what to concentrate on. Not too bad actually, but of course, while they have me captive, they'll try to fix back problem, neck problem, lack of relaxation, right hand arthritic drift to the side - I'll be a new woman!! I've got hand exercises to so with "silly putty" to strengthen and fine tune my motor skills, eg doing up buttons, picking stuff up, etc, so those are twice a day - they don't like you to have any time to relax - you are here to work!

After lunch, it was swallowing exercises with speech therapist (because of tracheaostomy, have to make my tongue and throat muscles strong again - not that they were very strong after the radiation 8 years ago anyroad) - but they have improved my tendency to have major coughing fits all the time down to almost none at all, which makes it worth it on its own. These are to be done 3 times a day!

Rehab - Day 3

Had a b-awful day today - lots of tears - first, my pills wouldn't go down and I kept choking, then I did a "controlled sit" on the floor in the shower so they had to hoist me up with my naked bum poking thru the sling; then when I went to physio, I couldn't stand transfer at all from anything from there on in and got mad at me which made me cry even more so we did exercises leaning over a table until I eventually managed to stand and get back to the wheelchair!! I am sooooo tired and so disheartened by today that I just want to go to bed now. But tomorrow is another day... and it's onwards and (literally) ever upwards.

Rehab - Days 1 and 2

The first 2 days were being assessed as to where my muscles, balance, strength, etc were - so they can harass me just above that level! I didn't do too bad, especially balance-wise so that was a plus from my point of view - am still aiming for Xmas homecoming.

I still can't stand from the wheelchair tho nobody is sure why - it could be lack of confidence about falling - I can do just about anything once I stand and can even stand from the bed to transfer to the chair (via a "rollator" - a high walker you lean in your arms on) but the problem is from a low height to stand. The physio lady I'm assigned to is as determined as I am I will get past the "block"

Rehab Adventure

Have spent the past 6 months - yep, 6 - in hospital fighting off a particularly vicious form of pneumonia - am now on the last leg of this particular odyssey, rehabilitation - so if I try hard, I could be home at Christmas!!

Because you catch funny bugs in a hospital after so long, I managed to catch one that makes me "contact precautions" so everyone that comes in has to glove up and wear a plastic apron. It also meant that tho I was ready for rehab over 8 weeks ago, they didn't have a single room available which I needed so we just carried on at the hospital - and I did make great strides too - and then on Friday, I got the call - so got ripped away from what had become my comfort zone and all the nurses who had made life bearable all in the space of 2 hours and down to GARU (Geriatric and Rehabilitation Unit) - had a miserable weekend, bawling to myself about having to be there and I didn't like anyone, ya da ya da, but Monday finally arrived ...