Apologies for ‘radio silence’. It has been a long summer of trying to disentangle from the demise of a charity, on whose board, I was recently appointed a Trustee. Having retired from teaching I found myself thrown into many hours of talking,phoning, meeting, report writing and supporting the c

 

harity. Our annual Cornish break interrupted by the whole thing. Thank goodness Cornish broadband and mobile connectivity meant that away from the cottage, no-one could get me. Luxurious surfing helped disengage so much.We had a brilliant time with our Cornish Cousins – whoop, plus our H, her I and our G joined us too! awesome.

I cannot explain more about the charity for obvious reasons, but it is getting sorted. I have advice for anyone considering  becoming a trustee of a charity or a governor of school. Hospital etc etc. Over the years I have done various. My first, a Catholic school in London. The Bishop ( no less) came for tea to persuade me to help. Someone, had told him I was an accountant. Grrr. Once an accountant always an accountant. With soggy smelly baby on hip, soggy smelly puppy in the safety of playpen, I attempted to dissuade the Bish,  but to no avail. After an arduous disciplinary action against a headteacher, gratifying food parcel deliveries to the needy (food banks had not been invented) I decided I needed to concentrate on baby number 3!

The repercussions the liabilities and responsibilities go far beyond your nice, altruistic, kindly intentions to ‘make a difference’. Beware, it is so not nice when it goes belly up.

Talking of which, well, bladder really, Dipstick and I saw each other nearly every week. Either inpatient or out, over the June July time. He suggested a supra-pubic catheter. That is, catheter through abdomen. I’ve had it before. He pronounced me a ‘ ONE OFF’ not able to find an evidence base for someone like me. To my advantage bladder has such little sensation it cannot even feel the catheter. Dipstick did the procedure under GA in London, on one of the hottest days and nights of the year. The hospital provided a fan. But whooo it was so hot. I reckon I sweated out the copious bags of fluid, the urine did not seem to match it. Soggy cold wet towel on the plastic hospital mattress provided a nice soggy sort of relief.

However, good news. We are now Week 3 and amazingly it seems pretty easy. Shhh. Should not say that. Bladder fairly calm. but there are issues over the ‘wound’ it has created a right old mess. GP and nurse profess they are not suprapubic aware not wound aware, so suggested asking Dipstick. ( ‘Not trained for that’..note to self suggest to NHS to get training sorted) BP too high, so changed those meds too.  I messaged Dipstick. He replied eventually, a short sharp three words. Tried to get help from experts, wound care helpline, district nurses, grrr ….getting nowhere fast…everyone thinks it is an indwelling, arghhhhhh…you are such a oneoff no-one seems to know what to do, try Dipstick again. No response. Try He Who Must be Excellent (MBE)  no luck. I guess its conference season, or late holidays or something. Its the equivalent of bugger off we are busy….BUGOFF – ONEOFF,  sort yourself out. Maybe that is what they call patient empowerment.Using my secret code I managed to request  GP, Saint PW, to ring me. He is brilliant and trying hard. Manage to get past ‘Rottweiler-on-call’ without a murmur…It works. He rings. HURRAH. BP stuff causing massive migraines (MM), so he suggests stop MM inducing stuff, let’s try  more meds, creams for wound, drugs for wound, new dressings and hope .

Fingers crossed.