Handhold, in HDU with respiratory failure and terrified

[Seafour]

Just that, is anyone awake?

I didn’t want to read and run. Well done on standing your ground with the Pharmacist at a time when your very vulnerable and thank goodness the register was supportive. It’s a shame that your response is seemed inspiring when we’d hope that if any of us would be unfortunate enough to be in your position we wouldn’t have to be such strong advocates to maintain our dignity.

I’m currently sat in a very cold windy play area watching my children enjoy the blue sky chilly winters day but realising how lucky I am to poo when I feel like it and with dignity. I hope the nurses ease your discomfort and I will savour the small stuff in my life even more today as I realise how fortunate I am.
I will be super hot and uncomfortable later as I volunteer at my daughters 3hr swimming gala and fingers tightly crossed she’s be lucky to win a medal as she is always the underdog due to being super petite in a sport for tall people but her resilience is inspiring just like yours x

Sea if a colostomy is an option I have one if you have any questions. It's honestly the best thing I had done and I've had no issues at all with it

Zowie Seafour that really is shit to deal with I erm...hope it all...er...went smoothly look, I'm sorry. I just don't know the appropriate way to wish someone well with their manual poo evacuation. Still, I really do hope it all worked well, that you've had a restful day and your pain is easing.

This morning DH announced he was going to put up the outside Christmas lights.
Now, I love it when the lights are on the house but what I don't love is holding the ladder in a fierce drizzle and biting wind while DH swears as he taps the tacks into the fascia.
Still, they're up now and the house looks festive.
I'm sure he can be availed upon to illuminate the bus in a Christmassy style. I'll even hold the ladder.

I've made custard tarts for the bus today - some may say messy, I say rustic! Hope the... errr... evacuation went... swimmingly? I'm with Nancy, how do you wish someone good luck with shit removal?

Thank you for the good luck wishes it all happened just as it should. Hats off to purpleunicorns for the colostomy, I'm full of admiration, it's not something that is seen as a solution for spinal cord injuries.

I'm worried that I've frightened some of the passengers off the bus over past few days, but for those of you still around here is the wound for you to enjoy. Please take delight in the subcutaneous single invisible stitch, the wound is 34.6cm long and you can see the drain on the left just above the wound.

I'm beyond shattered and just need to ventilate and sleep.

I've only just caught up with the thread as we've been on holiday and had a few things to sort out when we got back. Sorry for going AWOL!

That looks very neat and not gory and scabby as some can be. I hope your pain is under control.

Is the food still ok? Are there many people on the ward? Do you think you will feel the benefit from this operation it is it to stop any deterioration? Sorry if you’ve mentioned this already but I read most of your earlier posts just amazed at what one lady can go through and I clearly didn’t take all the info in.

I hope your as comfy as possible and if you’re up to it.

Wow. That neat. And amazing, as r u

Special good wishes to Appleton, that memorial planter for you babies is lovely.

Glad to know you are progressing well and keeping everyone on your toes; yes a good lesson for everyone caring for you to listen to their patients. Glad the thorough clear out went well, hope the pain levels are under control and you manage some sleep. The wound looks very large but very neat and clean. Sleep tight.

That's a tidy job! Enjoy your sleep.

Well that’s another day done and quite a lot achieved by the sound of it @Sea.

Will there be a noticeable benefit from this op, or was it more to prevent further deterioration?

Either way, it must be a huge relief to be this side of it.

Sadly I didn’t get one of the custard tarts but am still prepared to share the remains of the coffee and walnut cake I made earlier.

I bet dishy surgeon is proud of his work - that wound line is a thing of beauty!

So glad the evacuation went well today.

We didn't make it out for our woodland walk in the end. We just tottered to our local for a late afternoon lunch and wine and then wobbled back again. The leaves in the churchyard on the way we're all rustling & crunchy. Then we crossed a small creek and everything was a soggy mess. The smell was wonderful though - clear, fresh air with a hint of wintery smile from a wood burner. Delicious.

Thinking of you - I hope you have a good nights rest & no further need to draw battle lines & don armour.

Incidentally - bus etiquette : can we stay in our pyjamas & slippers? X

Wow, that wound is looking really good already. That's great healing and what a surgeon.

I'm still on the bus, I don't scare easily.

Have a peaceful night and sleep well, I'm in awe of you.

Hey. Sorry for going awol @Seafour,

Glad to see you are doing well, hopefully they have the pain more manageable now!

I've got a poorly little man who gave me my worst night mare last night so I am here but may be slow replies/comments for a few days.

Wishing everyone a hug if u need it.

Anyone doing a cuppa? Xx

I'll put the kettle on crown anyone got any mince pies left?

You're doing so well @Seafour you've been through so much these last few days (and the rest!) yet you've still retained your sense of humour and the ability to keep us all entertained with your posts.

Wishing you a restful night.

That's an incredibly neat scar. Dishy surgeon did well. How is your pain? (I hope your bowel evacuation went to plan)

Sounds an eventful day, I hope your sleep is better quality than last night. Pharmacist had a steep learning curve today, I hope he takes that lesson with him.

Custard tarts are yummy. Love to Appleton, the garden is beautiful.

I'm going to hide in the corner of the bus reserved for the lurgy sufferers. It's DH's germs, and it's gone straight to my chest which is crap. On the plus side, lashings of salbutamol got me through tonight's carol service--every year we (the silver band I play with) join a local church for carols by candlelight. We start with a tune - I'll be home for Christmas this year. Then play for the carols, and finish with another one, this year we did All I want for Christmas. For the third year running the church had O Holy Night as one of the carols. I love it, can't sing it for love nor money, but it's beautiful. The version we played has the quavers you hear behind the tune as my part- it's hard work, especially if full of cold. But I'm going to leave you with a euph solo version. I love the sound of a euph, I know I'm biased, but I do. I hope you enjoy it

m.youtube.com/watch?v=HOqrXnFRvBk

There are fresh mince pies in the tubs on the counter, the big blue box has mixed spice cookies.

Pleasant dreams Seafour

Is that the kettle I hear?

Wow that scar is so neat! Although I can't imagine how painful it must be and the bruises are going to be some pretty colours when they come out. I'm so pleased that the operation is over and although there's a lot of healing to go you are made of strong stuff! I don't think I would dare move (I'm a complete squeamish wimp despite the amount of time I've spent in hospitals )

I hope you get a decent night sleep and you have no more problems with doctors/pharmacists or anyone else for that matter who think they know better than you do when it comes to your medication

Well done @Seafour, you are doing so well.

Just to cheer everyone up - a little baby boy has joined the bus! Rupert was born this evening by emergency CS but is absolutely gorgeous in every way. He has that lovely newborn smell and snuffle. Not sure I will sleeep much tonight (I am exhausted after 2 nights of no sleep though....) He is asleep in my arms.

@gruber congratulations on your new baby boy, lovely name, hope you get some rest shortly.

@Seafour you are an inspiration to those of us just on the bus. Hope you manage to sleep well. The scar does look incredibly neat, fingers crossed the operation has the desired effect.

Today I took my younger DD shopping in town and did a bit more Christmas shopping, somehow doesn't seem to feel like Christmas yet. Hopefully, I'll get in the Christmas spirit soon.

Went out for a lovely meal with my DP and some friends last night and ended the night dancing, which I haven't done for a while, thinking of you made me appreciate just how lucky I am.

Ddog says hello and wonders if you enjoyed joining us on our walk in the wintery sunshine ☀️ today, we went along the path on the abandoned railway line next to the river. It was beautiful and Ddog managed to find 3 separate logs (he doesn't do sticks - has to be the biggest heaviest ones he can find) each one kept being abandoned in favour of a better one.

Gruber!!!!
A birth on the bus!!!
Congratulations on the birth of Rupert, well done.

@Gruber
Huge congratulations!
My favourite boy’s name!

Oh a new baby on the bus!
Congratulations!

Wow, that’s quite a war wound! It looks very neat so I’m sure it will heal well. Hope you’re sleeping like a baby. And speaking of babies, welcome to the world baby Rupert