Rehab - Day 22

Well, both Peter and Joyce were awake with the sparrows so consequently so was I - the Irish night nurse also got me going at 6.00 once I had early pill and injection: I was out of bed, on the loo and in the shower while she made the bed!! Only one problem: she forgot me in the shower and tho I buzzed, nobody came, so got myself out, dried, dressed, out of the shower chair (and nobody there to help even with a steadying hand) and very carefully walked around to sit in the wheelchair - woohoo!! How about them apples! Good work, me!

Joyce was particularly vocal this morning and was driving me nuts - even when there's a nurse or wardie in there, she yells louder and louder for help until I'm in tears of frustration - for an old, helpless lady, there is nowt wrong with her vocal chords! Nobody can help her, she's just lonely and unhappy but do I have to pay too??

I got the 9.20 shuttle down to the hospital and 5 hours later I got the 2.20pm shuttle back to GARU - sheesh, what a morning/arvo - first I waited for 90 minutes for the speechies to come and get me for the test - the test was just as boring as last time and barium still tastes like Milk of Magnesia (chalky- yech!) and I knew I hadn't done real well - not even as well as last time which didn't surprise me tho was disappointing. I got to the Transit Lounge which was totally chaotic: ambulance paramedics with stretchers, people arriving from all over for outpatient visits, people waiting for transport back and them running out of room - after the second time I'd been shifted out of the way, I moved out into the entry foyer - just no let up to the flow of humanity! With the mayhem, I think they forgot to ring GARU to say we (Peter was down there for a doctor's appt) were waiting to be picked up until I asked about it, so waited 2 hours for Adam to arrive back with the shuttle bus - I spent the time practising backstitch for my stitchery. They handed out coffee and sandwiches (which of course I can't eat but I was pretty sure Peter could and lunch never happened for either of us - tho think Peter was quite happy cos he could smoke to heart's content and wander about without the perpetual 'Where's Peter?' - and he was quite happy to munch on them).

When we got back, I went to the loo and then to bed - absolutely wrecked and the wheelchair seemed particularly uncomfortable today with the stitch in my side - I think from the diverticulitis - constantly nagging: not sore as such, just uncomfortable. It was so nice to be horizontal, I'm going to stay here for the night.

Vonnie arrived at 5.30 and we sat and yakked until 7.30 pm - lovely to see her - she was saying she dropped all my packages in at home this morning. I think there's only one to go which is the USB turntable ($50) to transfer 45s and 78s to CD. It's going to be like Xmas when I go home LOL. Whilst we talked, I ate my soup (they'd brought it in for me) for tea, still a bit pooped tho the "stitch" has settled down somewhat now I'm not sitting bolt upright.