Day 10

Not heard from any clinician since I left hospital. It seems odd after all that intricate ‘tricky’ surgery all that amazing personalised care. Then no one follows up. Disembark into the world of recuperation and confusion.
Does it matter? Perhaps not to the consultants and nurses. They must have to switch brain to the next patient coming in. Such clever stuff. What an amazing responsibility to take the trust of that patient into the surgeon’s hands. It must be nerve racking. I think if it was me, I’d love to know if all was ok afterwards. Had I made things worse? better?too early to tell? patient ok enough?. Hoping I’m doing the right thing I get on with it on my own. Guessing the drugs, dressings, pain control, catheter changes, stands, antibacterial…blah blah. But I have done it all before.

Way back in 2011 I got home after nearly 4 weeks in/out of hospital. Night routine:Catheter stand by bed. Big towel over conti sheet underneath the stand. Catheter day bag linked to catheter night bag which is hung on frame. On that occasion poor D and kids somewhat revulsed by the whole process. Who could blame them. So I tried to keep it all as discrete as possible. Slept through the night (thank you painkillers all! . Must’ve dropped a nice book I had been leant. D is up bright and early for work. As he abluts I realise to my horror, I had left the night bag tap open all night. Blooming brilliant conti pad sheet had along with the towel absorbed the whole lot. Fantastic. Smelly soggy but all in one place. Only problem was that lovely book utterly soaked through with smelly pee. Amazing that it sort of expanded as it soaked. Oh deary me. As soon as D had gone. I stumbled up. Gathered the mess into a bin bag. Taking soggy smelly book too I tentatively get myself downstairs. Stuff bin bag in bin and before any of the family emerge chucked the book in the bottom oven! Having stumbled back to bed, ordered a new copy on Amazon! Phewee. Ages and ages later, I came across the horribly bloated but dried out book. Into the bin went that too. No one ever knew. I think. Hell whatever could I have said by way of explanation?

anyhow back to now. So yes, conti sheets are hurriedly bought by M from scary chemist. You know what? Foggy brain just not in gear. Leaked whole day bag this time over the bed. Thank goodness I had towel and conti ready. Hoping for everyone to disappear for a while so that I could clear up and start again. Doh! whatamIlike.

Anyhow,more of that anon. I know District Nurse has been asked to help. But no sign of her yet. Oh well come on you-are-only-the-patient…work it out for yourself woman…..hellp.
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Anyhow I’ll fix it.