All aboard the Seafour tour bus #2

[Seafour]

A new thread for us

Old thread in HDU with respiratory failure and terrified

Schuyler we may well end up using a rotunda but we need the hoist for when I'm having a bad day, if I get fatigued, fall, have spasms or to get me into the therapy bath which I use a lot for pain relief and physio.

Good morning @Seafour

I hope you got some good rest last night and things go a little more smoothly. It sounds promising on the extra care front, fingers crossed you GET HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (sorry for shouting, just want the dickheads in your hospital to hear me ).

Gosh, that line is a thing of beautiful nightmares. I think you should frame it! In fact, you could make an "interesting" collage of your medical curios. Did you ever see the thread on here with the mutilated dolls heads? I will see if I can dig it out for you - that will pass a few hours!

I'm about to pop the bus kettle on, and make some toast. How many rounds am I making?

X

Morning @Seafour and her gang of merry followers.
How you doing this morning? An in awe of what you've been through and yet still you're posting and have your sense of humour.
Last day of school here, have so much to do and zero energy or inclination to do any of it. Just want to sleep until it's all over.
Hope everyone has a good day.

Morning @seafour how are you feeling today? X

Didn't Damian Hurst do a collage of medical stuff? You could give him a run for his money!

Enjoy your shower and hair wash, I bet it'll make you feel so much better.

Good morning lovely bus brigade, it's official the only barrier between me and home is extra care

Last night was painful but nothing like the previous times they took the PCA away. Mr Dishy has resolved most of my pain by giving very specific instructions on positioning. My rods are almost 40cm long and are fixed through my pelvis at the bottom so I can't bend at the waist so any position that is forcing me to bend higher than my pelvis is putting strain on the rods. He has marked the bed to show where my pelvis needs to be and the difference it makes is huge, a real game changer.

All bus passengers need to spend 15mins pretending that they have my rods and can only bend at the hips.

@seafour I am so glad Mr dishy seems to know what he's doing!
I had a really bad back last week and couldn't move off the sofa and to stand up for long was really painful - I was the biggest baby Going! To think somehow you are tolerating that you are a true inspirational lady x

Morning Seafour. You sound so much better in yourself from your posts this morning.
I’m trying to imagine what it must be like to have those rods in place!
I’m so glad the Dishy one was able to help with your positioning (ooh-er) so fingers crossed you will be more comfortable.
I know everyone keeps saying it but you really are remarkable.
I’m hoping so much that you will be home for Christmas .

Great news!

Thrilled for you Sea.

Now , who mentioned putting the kettle on?

I've just had the best shower of my life, it was better than sex, I've had all the blood glue and blood washed out of my hair and I feel fantastic but bloody knackered. Just the standing X-ray to tackle this afternoon and I'm done for today.

My brother is coming to see me this afternoon, those of you who know me from low carb boot camp might remember that my narcissistic mother died last year freeing my brother from a life of being controlled at the age of 58. Since then we have built a strong bond which is incredible. We have seen each other more, spoken more in the 16 months since she died than we did in the previous 40 years.

Right now I'm very very happy

What a lovely, positive and uplifting update sea. A shower after so long recovering must have felt bliss!

Glad the pain is manageable and you're starting to feel a bit better.

Enjoy the visit from your brother today.

I am so pleased to read all your positive news. Especially the shower. I know how amazing it is to finally shower after recovering from surgery and feel your skin being clean.

I've been busy cooking veggie versions of everything for youngest coming home from uni on Friday and dealing with all the 'stuff' that goes with this time of year, but I've been reading the thread every day, and I just wanted to wish you @Seafour a Very Happy Christmas.

I'm keeping everything crossed that you get your additional PA/support package sorted in time to get you home where we all know you'd rather be for the holidays. All the very best to you and yours - and to everyone else who's on the Seafour bus!

All bus passengers need to spend 15mins pretending that they have my rods and can only bend at the hips.

I must wonder why you told your band of supporters to spend 15 mins being uncomfortable. Are they not empathetic enough?

Op I'm so pleased you've had a shower and hairwash, it's the little every day things that can give us the biggest boost.

Sorry if I've missed it but have you had counselling at all over the years? People with chronic medical conditions can really benefit from it, it doesn't change the medical problems but talking about it in detail can be therapeutic.

Perhaps a trained professional could help you to channel your feelings and emotions to find a way of, I don't know, to help it define you a bit less? Reconnect with the real you and not the patient so much, easier said than done I know. Very best wishes, I hope you get home soon.

Northern you know full well that's not what she meant had you read the full thread you would understand why she said that.
Troll reported

I don't need to pretend - I can't bend from the waist either! Not sure how long my rods are but my main scar is 18 inches.

@yawning801 that sounds unpleasant. I hope you are managing okay.

I'm not a troll hun xx

Well lovely Sea you sound like you again, that warms the cockles of my dead cold heart no end :)

I am not good at visualizing, but have had a ruptured disc which caused me to become quite expert at walking LIKE I had multiple rods inserted, and remember it oh too well. I'm sure it was nothing compared to your norm, but I'm a wouss. You brave, brave woman.

I take note of the DH breast-lifting assistance, DishySurgeon visits, and now the best bath. Those are the gifts of life, are they not? Small gifts, but marvelous. How glad I am that you can enjoy those moments.

Today I have hope again. I am so very happy for you.

Northern perhaps you need to go sit at the back of the bus (upstairs) for wee while and just observe. We are a happy bunch (when not enraged at Les Incompetents - it might rub off on you if you stay a while. You are welcome.

Heart Thank you, I'm adjusting OK

Northern There is a special corner at the back for people who just don't get it, why don't you settle yourself there for a bit? We call it the Scorner Corner.

Seafour is lucky to have such a caring bunch of followers. Despite having read BOTH threads I just couldn't understand why you needed to pretend you had the sane procedure and couldn't bend?

Hey ho. We all have our challenges don't we? I'll leave my virtual mince pies here and wish you all well. And of course a fast recovery to Sea. I'm sure she's really looking forward to feeling better and not having to share such great details about herself on the Internet. Must be awful. I know when I had my own rods inserted the last thing I'd have wanted was to write threads about it. Good luck again all and merry Christmas

I’m de-lurking to wish you well in your hunt for additional care

(and to add that I haven’t been able to bend from the waist for the last 10 years, having had rods inserted to stabilise my spine from T10-L5, bloody PITA it is too)

Dd was in the Royal National Orthopaedic for well over a year getting her spine straightened with several rods and bolts, she's fine now and walking I can recommend them if anyone needs spinal surgery a brilliant hospital with caring dedicated staff but parental accomodation a bit basic