A week is a long time in NHS land.

Where were we? Ah yes multiple hospitals visited last week. Bladder still crazy. Turns out this bug seems to know how to build up resistance. Every time I swap antibiotics it learns how to resist. Clever. I’ve just finished pewk-gut destroying stuff called piv. I’ve got 4 precious vials of gentamicin left. That I can instil myself. But. If bladder decides to go bonkers out it all comes. This is all terribly interesting… yes really! because another NIHR trial I’m involved with has recently been approved. It’s all about UTI treatments. Imposter syndrome that I have, I didn’t think I’d be able to contribute to the ‘ recommendations for adjustments’ call. But all of a sudden I found myself explaining that great as it would be for patients to use gentamicin some may struggle. Precisely because, if you have a dodgy bladder it may not actually stay in the bladder long enough to be effective. Well bugger me , they all started writing copious notes and changing the protocol. Then I explained that it can’t be ‘blinded’ patients actually do know the difference between swallowing antibiotics and shoving antibiotics in bladders , syringe , needle and all. Just saying.

Oh on that note. The whole meeting was changed from 10:30 to 8:30 am as a certain clinician asked for it to be thus. Well everyone was dutifully online at 8:30 with one exception. Clinician never did turn up. What a Dipstick.

Meanwhile driving back and forth to my parents is a bit easier. My brother has flown over to stay with us and help out. Phew. I could write a long screed about the disparity between NHS and social services. I could tell you how utterly hopeless 30 minutes of care is for a sick old man. I could tell you how I requested an MSU for him via his very efficient GP, on Monday. It took til today , Friday , for a District Nurse to get to him. No rush eh? Yes I could have got that sample off via the catheter valve etc myself but my siblings, and I guess I agree, think we should use the services. There are so many ridiculous anomalies. I’ll save for another day. Oh. Just one more: turns out he’s on short term or two week reablement package but should be on long term care package. After 6 weeks it’s not free,athe point of care. Ie nhs. as in not on NHS so he will have to pay. The forms, the evidence, the bureaucracy, is insane. How on earth does everyone do this? I remember supporting my in laws at this point in their lives. In Scotland the care homes are free . Poor old father in law , we took him there, yelling, shouting so confused and worried was he. But he was safe and well looked after. My mother in law outlived him. At home. But was declared the worst client, the care company we enlisted, had ever known. !

A final word to make you laugh .. don’t cry …I was driving back from the parents. I was thinking bladder was a bit bonkers but thought I’d stop at the McD on my way. Best loos. And no need to purchase anything ! Somehow I missed the turning in the dark night. I drove on got close to home but badly stuck in traffic. Nothing I could do. Bladder infections tend to end up with involuntary emptying . Well of course sitting in traffic hoping I’d make it at least to the next good loos ( the gym) … I got stuck in more traffic. More diversions. Not having a handy Marks and Spencer’s cardie to hand, ( see previous blogs where this has been handy to stuff into my jeans) Of course you guessed, it out poured the pee … no pad nor even a cardie could contain it. I pulled in to the gym. Hurrah for darkness. Emptied a bottle of water over my seat. Poured the floor mat out. Poured antibacterial gel over that. Then rummaged around in my swim bag, handily usually in my car. Found a towel. Tied my jumper round my waist. Held the towel over my front nonchamtly like and sauntered in. Thankfully met no one I knew. Grabbed a shower. Popped my swim kit on. Scrubbed my jeans in the shower. Hung them up. Used a hair dryer to dry them a bit. Threw away anything I couldn’t cope with. Had a quick swim and still wet, but wrapped in towel and jumper drove home with the heated seat on. Next day I poured carpet cleaner over everything and it all seems ok! Well I’m sensitive it’s a little whiffy still but no one else has said so.

I’m hoping Daniel never reads this! 🤣