From the TRP house

I was released from hospital on Monday after 250 days of incarceration.  My new abode is a TRP house on the corner of Newmarket Rd and Victoria St in Windsor.  I have already checked out the locla restaurants on Google and found a few likely prospects to try.  Cafe Conti and Rhubarb Rhubarb look the best.

Everything is going smoothly with the carers and the house is quite comfortable. I also had not my best nights sleep last night, nine and a half hours unbroken by banging of trolleys, mobile phones, the nurse call audio, snoring patients and nurses shining torches in my eyes to see if I was asleep.

I am not in a routine of physio as yet but am planning to visit the sporting Wheelies Gym this afternoon for a work out.  The workout may be focussed on my left leg which has regained some movement.  My feet have always moved when I yawn and last Sunday week both Norm and I were delighted that I could consciously move my foot without yawning. Those of you who believe I am OCD will not be surprised that I have been obsessed with it ever since.

Last week in hospital was very social as Margie and Ralph flew in from Cairns to visit.  They arrived on Tuesday afternoon, as did cousin Allison from Perth. We all went to dinnerat Asian Spice which is across the road from the Dockside apartment where Val, Margie and Ralph were staying.  As the hospital has no physio or OT on Wednesday afternoons we took the opportunity to lunch at Il Centro Margie and I had their famous sandcrab lasagne which was great but not as good as Norm's or Darrells lobster lasagne.  I think Margie and Ralph are keen for a return visit. :-)

On Thursday night Russ and Col arrived to visit and we all decided that a final trip to the Norman was in order.  It was the first "distance" expedition on Ipswich Road for the new chair (the odometer is showing 30km as I type this today).

Unfortunately SIA were unable to arrange carers for last weekend so Darrel and I spent most of the weekend at the Dockside apartment watching the lightning  and hail.  The gods were considerate and the storm passed before I had to return to PAH. the downside was that Darrel's flight was delayed and he didn't get back home until 1:30 AM.

I have just looked at some pics of the mods in my new abode in the Dalgety building and it looks as though the works are progressing well.  So I still hope to be home by Christmas.  All keep your fingers crossed for me.

A busy week + TRP

I forgot to give you the diagnosis of the MRI, apparently I have an enchondroma see http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00085 on the end of my thighbone. The recommended course of treatment is to do nothing, which I am very good at.  They have also given me a new type of anti inflamatory Celebrex http://www.drugs.com/celebrex.html it is certainly preferably to opening up the knee and chiseling it off.

Much of thre PT and OT time this week has been spent trialing things, this included a lifting belt similar to those worn by weightlifters in case people try to pick me up, and a sliding board to help transfer me from the wheelchair into a standard car.  This was frankly terrifying and uncomfortable.  A convertible with an overhead hoist would be preferable.  Train travel and cruises are looking very attractive.

We also tested portable ramps the longer the ramp the heavier it is so ot is a real balancing act to decide which one is the best. After nearly falling out of my chair on the downward slope of the shortest/steepest ramp, I decided to opt for the heavier one :-)

I have been testing a new air mattress overlay http://www.nationalseniors.com.au/icms_docs/118318_2012_CommGrantsEquipmentList.pdf see item 3 on page 2 which is more comfortable than others I have tried.  So I was very surprised to learn that it had given me pressure marks on my shoulders. Further investigation determined that there was a new policy that bolsters for extendable beds were to be placed at the head of the bed instead of the foot as some patients were getting pressure marks on their heels. The bolster was repositioned to the foot of the bed and the pressure areas are disappearing.  Hopefully the mattress can now be ordered next week

On Wednesday I commenced carer training with Emma from SIA she will come to Townsville with me for my first week back at home to train the cares that are allocated tov me in Townsville. She is very nice and capable which is reassuring.

Wednesday was a milestone when we visited the newly renovated TRP house at 18 Newmarket Rd Windsor. It is a 4 bedroom house but currently two of the back bedrooms are locked off for storage.  I will be spending next weekend there with Darrell and if all goes well will only return to the hospital to complete discharge procedures.  I will include photos in a later post.

Work is scheduled to commence on the modifications to my new apartment on Monday and there will be a big push to complete them for my return on 17 December.

Norm went to Tamworth on Thursaday but I had many other visitors both expected and unexpected. Mitch and Chrissy and daughter Zara stopped by to see me at lunch time, they are moving back to Tpwnsville after 11 years in Germany.  It will be great to have them back.  Thursday evening Sam, Russell, Colin and Jen Cook turned up to my living room aka patients visiting room where we polished off the rest of the fruit cake.  Sam and I had a game of Scrabble, Russell was very good at picking out the right letters to ensure that I prevailed.

Despite my aim of having no more goal planning meetings we had another on Friday morning, complete with OTs, PTs, nurses, and social workers, hopefully this will be the last before my discharge.

The new chair is going well I have driven 16 kilometers already.  The chairman is coming by tomorrow to fit the new armrests, backrest, headrest and to fine tune the programming.  I should be able to control the TV and sound system at the TRP house through the chair's computer.  Kylie has arranged the registration of the chair with Queensland Transport and Val is bringing the licence plates tomorrow, he should fit these too.  The lights and indicators are very impressive.

The Motomed Viva 2 Lite arm and leg bike which was partly funded by generous contributions from the Scrabble community will be delivered to Townsville on Monday.  Thank you again to everyone who donated.

Had a lazy weekend at the Kangaroo Pt apartment loafing about reading the paper, watching TV and watching the world go by through the window.  I will need to get a telescope like James Stewart in Rear Window to check if any of the neighbours are murdering their wives and burying them in the garden.

Well it is time to get back to the Weekend Australian, hopefully my next post will be from the TRP house.

Long overdue

Sorry it has been so long since the last blog entry.  Trust me it has been on the list everyday it's just that we haven't gotten around to it.  Highlights over the last 3 weeks include going out at...NIGHTTIME!!!! In a formal dress no less!  Thanks very much to Karen Sanders for inviting Val and me to the NAWIC awards dinner and thanks to Val for letting me have a 3rd glass of wine even if she drank half of it ;)  It was a great evening but I would suggest that next time that they don't allow any politicians to give any speeches whatsoever although the pronunciation of Bechtel  was funny (Beshtell).

My new pimped up ride (aka electric chair) has arrived, it has shiny red hubcaps to make it go faster:-)  Unfortunately it isn't finished yet, it needs new arm rests and more programming plus I have to get it registered...lots of fun with department of transport.

Ron came down from Townsville to come to a consultation at LifeTec with Val and me.  He said it was like being with "Q" from James Bond as far as all the gadgets went, most of them talk to each other in a language I certainly don't understand.

Norm and I took a Taxi to the QUT testing labs to see a new roof profile design prototype get tested to destruction.  I love seeing things tested to destruction I think they should test this hospital sometimes.

I had a lovely visit from Peter and Vicki Junk who deserve an award for being the first people to bring me wine as a get well present.  The tv waiting room is becoming more like home every day!

I hate the new room I am in and cannot wait to get out of this place so I can get a decent night sleep.  The guy across from me is a very loud snorer and only wakes up for meals, possibly this is because he sounds like he is swallowing his own tongue half the time.  He has been quite ill lately and my first thoughts were that his wife had poisoned him to keep him in here so she could sleep at night!  The guy next to me maybe partially deaf...either that or no one has shown him where the volume switch is on his phone.  I think he plays Angry Birds most of the day.  The guy diagonally across from me likes rap music but he at least owns headphones and seems like a nice fellow.  In addition to this the nurses need to be scheduled for a tutorial in earplug insertion, seriously!  Luckily they have sleeping pills sometimes they even let me have some.  I have asked to be moved to another room but no joy, maybe they are trying to get me out of here...

I thought we had things planned out for TRP (half-way house) but it seems I was mistaken.  If we get funding approval for home modifications this week I will move into the house next Monday otherwise it is likely to be 26 November.  Physio and OT have been pretty dull lately a lot of time has been spent organizing backrests etc.  I am still hoping to be home by Christmas, those of you that prey please put in a good word for me and remind your God/ess that I haven't murdered the snoring man.

Tomorrow is Melbourne Cup and they are having wheelchair races which should be fun.  Good luck with your bets!
JB

 

A Short Note

Sorry for the lack of updates.  We just didn't get around to it last week.  I promise that there will be a lengthier post this week.  Unfortunately I have moved rooms again to Room 3 so don't go looking for me in Room 1:-)   More news soon, I promise.....

17-10-12

Last Monday, Jack and Geetha arrived bearing chocolates that were so good that Norm and I finished them before the week was out.  We had an enjoyable lunch at Cafe Essence.

Russ and Colin paid me a visit on Tuesday evening.  It was lovely to catch up with both of them.   Despite their adventurous appetites, we couldn't convince them to try any of Norm's or my dinner (which was caviar on toast).  Later that night the nurses informed me that they had scheduled me for a minor operation on Friday which of course caused me to break into tears, as I am a complete wuss about needles.

Norm and I paid a visit to the QUT testing laboratory at Banyo on Wednesday to witness the testing to destruction of a new roof profile we have been looking at.  I love to see things tested to destruction.  Perhaps I shall apply for a position with Myth Busters next year ;-)

We were back at the Hospital by 4 pm.  Ev arrived around 5 pm and has generously loaned/donated her backgammon set to me for the duration of my stay in Brisbane.  As I haven't managed to throw the dice myself yet, Ev had to roll them for me.  I won the game thanks to all the double sixes she rolled for me, not for her!

My Physio Tiffany had her last day here at SIU on Thursday and managed to schedule me for hydro-therapy at the last minute, which was a great start to the day.  Tiffany has been replaced by another physio also named Tiffany.  She will have to work hard to keep the Tiffany standard up!  They whisked me off for an xray of my knee straight after hydro: my knee had been very painful for the last week or so (unfortunately it still is).  On return they decided to put a canula in for some anti biotics as a "prophylactic" before surgery on Friday.  This precaution, while probably valid, is nonetheless worrying for a major hospital in a first-world country!  All of this meant that I missed OT once again, thus got to keep my Permobile wheelchair for another few days.

Friday was Nil by mouth and a complete write off due to the operation.  I am fine with anti-anxiety medicine that ends in 'pam', but not in 'lam': understandable as I am a pescatarian.  Fortunately the nurses and anaesthetists remembered this.

I had hoped to be able to meet Martin at the Norman Hotel for a few games of scrabble on Saturday, but we changed the venue to the hospital as I didn't fancy dragging an IV stand down there with me!  Norm headed back to Townsville at 2 pm; he may have taken part of my brain with him, as Martin flogged me convincingly in the first two games.  Luckily Suzy arrived for a surprise visit in time to pick out letters for me for the third game (all the S's, Z, X, Q and K); not only that, she also found me a seven letter word "crashes" (which I understand is her first bonus word in scrabble!  Thus, with all this help, I managed to beat Martin in the third game.  I listened enviously to Suzy's vacation details, I expect Machupichu is out of the question for me for the next few years, the Inca's not being terribly focussed on wheelchair access.  After Suzy and Martin left, I got the nurses to set up the Kindle for me and read another 50 chapters of Jack Reacher.  I finally quit at 1:30 a.m. as I was scared I would fall asleep and lose my place :-)

Val and Sam arrived at lunchtime on Sunday.  Sam bought me a pistachio cream apricot danish at the markets as well as a huge back of cherry tomatoes, so you can guess what I had for lunch :-)  Uncle Keith and Aunty Di arrived from Perth to catch up with Val and visit me.  It is lovely of them to come all that way.  Uncle Keith got roped into being scrabble hands almost straight away;-)    We had a quiet and enjoyable afternoon on the verandah.

This week to date has been getting back to the routine of physio and OT, with the exception of an MRI of my knee yesterday.  Hopefully this will give some results, as the Xray certainly hasn't.  For some reason the loud thumping of the MRI machine puts me to sleep - go figger!   We all (Val, Keith, Di and I) had pizza for dinner last night.  We had plenty of room as Joy left yesterday.  It was sad to see her go but also it was happy for her to be going home, even if she had to wait from noon until after 4 pm for drugs from the Hospital pharmacy.  

Karen Sanders rang last night with an invitation for Val and me to go to the Construction Awards Gala on Friday night.  Ky has kindly agreed to express post my ballgown and shoes to me.  Val has said she is happy to shop for a new outfit and shoes - the theme is high glamour.  Of course, Val didn't want to put anyone to the trouble of going to Magnetic Island to find an existing outfit: I think she just wants to shop for something new!  Sam also called and is coming in later today (Wednesday) for a game of scrabble.  She also kindly offered to bring in dinner so Val could have the evening off to take her brother Keith and sister-in-law Diane out to dinner.  Good timing! 

On that note I think this blog is long enough!   xxxx

 

Ladies and Gentlemen (who lunch)

It has been a very social week.  Last Sunday 30 September Larissa, Julie (ET), Emmy and I lunched at the London Club in Teneriffe.  We had a great time and I learnt how difficult it is it wheel a wheelchair out of a taxi when it is on a hill - by 'difficult' I mean terrifying!  We adjourned to the deck of the hospital to continue the scrabble until Larissa had to leave to catch her plane.  Sam also stopped by with some lime and coconut cupcakes for afternoon tea.  Delicious!

The last 3 scrabble games went to me for which thanks is due to Emmy for her excellent tile picking :-)

Val and I sneaked a game in on Monday afternoon before putting the scrabble aside until Friday.

Margie and Ralph (Swiss) arrived bright and early on Tuesday morning with coffee to help me through physio.  Ralph was volunteered to act as my "punching" bag: he had to hold his hand at arms length in front of me and I had to try and hit it.  Very tiring work: he had no cause to say "ouch" at any time.  Apparently my career will not be as a boxer.  In the afternoon Ralph was seconded to the Dockside apartment for IT assistance: he fixed the printer so Ron  is out of a free trip to Brisbane. 

On Tuesday evening Margie and Ralph introduced me to a new puzzle which is called "Kakuro". Highly addictive, a whole hour passed without our noticing, I recommend it to all puzzlers.

On Wednesday we went to lunch at the excellent Sono at Portside.  Val and I were joined by Margie and Ralph, Christine Baulch, Julie (ET) and Celeste.  We found time for a spot of shopping after lunch and rewarded ourselves with a late afternoon tea at Max Brenner.  More Kakuro puzzles finished off the evening.

Thursday was Margie and Ralph's last day.  We lunched at Cafe Essence and made it back in time for OT at 1:30.  Margie was volunteered to act as bed tester so I hope Darrel approves of her choice of mattress!  We also spent nearly two hours getting the power chair scripted; sadly now that this is done they will take my current chair away from me on Tuesday.  I am considering bribing the rep for me to keep the chair until my new one is delivered: or perhaps chaining myself to the chair like an environmentalist tree hugger.....

I received a call from Darrel on Friday morning with bad news.  None of the airlines could find his reservation, the booking must not have gone through as planned.  As it was the last weekend of school holidays, it was way too expensive to find new flights.  This disappointment has had a silver lining in that he was able to fix the air conditioner at my place (again!) before holiday guests arrived.  Thank you again Darrel (smooches) I can't wait to see you again soon.

I had my third hydrotherapy session on Friday afternoon.  It is hard work but still my favorite part of physio.

As tuckered out as I was, I managed to prove that I am able to turn a power switch on and off without needing assistance.  As my future power chair will be able to go up and down, this means there is no need for any major changes to the wiring in the Dalgety Apartment.

EV stopped by for a game of scrabble late in the afternoon on Friday, having cycled from Annerley.  This gave us a wonderful excuse to eat chocolates.  I chickened out of playing the word Homager (it's good); I had also chickened out of playing "derivate" against Val earlier in the week", also good :-(   This place is making me lose my 'mojo'!)

We celebrated Helen Maurus's 30th birthday with her and Shane at Sardine Tin and then Movenpick.  I think Shane was relieved we left the scrabble board at the hospital :-). It was great to catch up with them both.  Val predicts wedding bells ;-)

Recently the Hospital has been delivering meals to patients bedsides while the dining room is being renovated.  Most of mine have of course been returned u eaten, particularly with all my eating out.  This prompted a visit by the dietitian who was concerned I wasn't eating, I should have simply directed her to this blog :-)

One of the nurses informed me this morning that Anita and Geoff were here to visit me.  Of course this turned out to be Geetha and Jack from Perth, so now I have another lunch date tomorrow:-)  In the meantime our apologies for worrying Sue about whether daughter Anita was at Tinaroo or in Brisbane!

Belated congratulations to my darling niece Cali for her great success in this year's Townsville Eisteddfod.  Loved the photos!

Thanks again to everyone for all their  love and support. xxx Julie

 

Same old same old

Since the last blog there has been a lot of scrabble action with Val, Martin, and Sam last week (I got to play eunuchs and bitching against Sam). This week I attended another scrabble tournament at the hotel Norman which was very enjoyable even though I only won one game out of six. Alistair Richards showed me how i could have won two more games, strategies I wish I had thought of at the time :-)

On Monday I faced up to another cortisone injection in my right shoulder which I spent the time up to the injection crying and the time after it sleeping, hopefully it will work again this time.

My driving has improved markedly but sadly the chair still wants to kill pedestrians perhaps this is a subconscious desire on my part. On a more serious note I have been venturing further afield in the chair.  Darrell and I went to the Boggo Rd markets last week end. The markets were further away than I thought as I used a "shortcut". The sour cherry Danish and bargain seafood were worth it.

Last week at hydrotherapy I managed to lift my left knee partly out of the water, sadly the pool was fully booked this week,. I will keep you updated on my progress.

In OT I have successfully opened a sliding door and a handle door with relatively little damage to the door.

Plans for the Dalgety unit are progressing and I am still hopeful that the mods will be complete by Christmas

Apologies to all for the lack of posts and the brevity of this one  but there is so little time and so much to do.  My scribe is weary and my two finger typing is too slow.