Sarah and Shirley: 07/01/13

Monday, 1 July 2013

Visit from Martha and Dave with chocolate cheesecake!

Martha visited me tonight, with Dave. She cuddled up with me on my bed - lying on top of me and hugging my legs. I moved her up and we cuddled eachother properly. She is very comtained. We talked about her secondary school choices and the open day at stretford grammar school tomorrow. Lots of her friends want to go to Chorlton High or stretford grammar or Sale Grammar. Her choice is CHS but she wants to look at Grammar schools too. I won't write what I think she will do..
Dave poetically moaned about all the forms he had to fill in, the money he had to pay, the calls he had to receive, or make. I will be back in action at some point, Dave, I promise :) :)
Martha an I shared a piece of cheesecake that had marshmallow on the top (martha's). I sent a piece home for Katy. I got covered in bits of chocolate. All over my front, breasts and bed ...
I can't really expand any further. We had a relaxing time together sharing Martha's thoughts and plans. Very pleasant, thank you. Xxxxx

Msg for Margi

Margi, yes, I can wee and I do look good :). Thanks loads. Pjs are perfect. S xxx

Drugs

2mg of steroids at night,
2 tablets to help me pooh,
2 parecetemol
2 codeine - back on the codeine overnight (which I do need)

A lovely outing

My mum came in too. She is very relaxed and easy company. She decided it would be a good idea to go to cafe for a coffee, and have a little "break". We had a good chat with Ken. Mum clarified that it would be ok for me to go out for a trip. So, in my mum's wheelchair (which I hate) I am pushed to the cafe. I chose a space where I faced out of the windows, and felt like I was outside for a while. I did not have a coffee. I had a bottle of water, but the mental release was stimulating. In fact, I didn't have a bottle of water - I had a few sips and then asked to return to ward. Ken and mum managed my movement. We bought a paper, OK mag and Hello Mag on our way back. A lovely outing, thanks.
I was of course v tired and dropped off, I think. Love you all.

Visit from Revd Ken

My vicar, Ken has just visited. He is a part of my life that had ebbed away. Pre-tumour I was involved in the church and enjoyed the sense of fulfillment. With tumour, this has been erased. The joy is understanding this. I had a brain tumour.
He is a warm and caring man. He opened the church on the day of operation for people to pray. He has prayed with me and for me and set up prayers for me. Thank you for your support.

Physio

Hi there. I have had visit from physio, who lives near the four banks in Chorlton. We have walked along the corridor together, to the stairs. My stairs have a bannister on RHS, so I have been advised to move up the stairs, one stair at a time. Put right foot on stair and lift up left foot. Repeat. I am holding my bannister at the same time. I can do it confidentally. T the top, we returned in the same fashion.
The Occ Therapists will put in a bannister along the wall too, so I go home sure of my skills in moving up and down stairs.
The steepness of the stairs remains but I am content that I am competent.
Physio also asked me about support at home. I have shared with her that my mum, and dave, will make sure that I take things in small paces. Physio is referring me for further support. To help me develop back into my full self again ...I will have a physio who will viit me at home through my recovery.
Love you all
Sarah xxxxx

Pain relief

Pain killers - I have just taken two paracetemol and no codeine. Trying to help my bowels get going properly. I have agreed with nurse that I may have to continue codeine, but her goes... Wish me luck.

I have started to pooh! Hooray...

Departure plan...

Had visit from registrar who was in recovery room with me at end of operation. I believe she is senior to doc karabatsou. She has seen my MRI scan, and she and doc K are delighted with the outcome of operatioin so far. They have removed most of the tumour.
Her discussion with me was about going home. Do I feel ready to go home? I said I feel weak and that I should stay here longer. She said that I will continue to feel weak and that she believes recovery at home would be the next move. Her next steps are to check that the banister would be put in on my stairs. I am afraid of slipping on steep victorian stairs. She laughed at my suggestion that I could go home and live upstairs until it was put in properly.
Registrar is going now to look at drug regime too. A full departure plan will be prepared, and this will be discussed with Dave and my mum. My steroids will be cut again to 2mg in the morning and 2mg at night.
I am content to follow hospital guidance, so who knows, I may be back in Chorlton tomorrow. Watch this space :)
For future treatment, my next appt with doc karabatsou is likely to be Wednesday. This is where we will look at the results and plan what happens next ...

Monday 1 July 11:35

Nelly only wants to see the "man and wife". Who looked after her last night; "the indians". I am howling.

Msg for Lizzie

Lizzie, I hope you find this. I have never been to Glastonbury, but it is going onto my list of things to do. I can't watch it right now, but next year - I hope to be there.
My hair is a disgusting mess. It is glooped with some mass that sticks it away from my face. All the fronds are gelled together.
My problem has been that the stickiness is breaking down, so my hair has started to trickle over my face.
I asked for hair slides. Hmmm that brought a laugh. We ended up with tape.
Looks awful, doesn't it?
As you know, I don't care at all. I remain delighted that shelly has been (mostly) removed.
My mental capacities have changed immediately. There are many interests that I had, and lost, that have returned to me. Couple this with the ongoing diagnosis that I was depressed and it will be easy for you to understand my total glee. I am not depressed. I had a brain tumour. Brain tumour affected operation of my brain. Tumour gone. Brain working well.
Love you.
Sarah xxx

Monday 1 July 09:23

I am resting after blood tests. I phlobotoomist (?) Came and asked for blood. I hate needles, and have developed a technique where I cannot look. I have told her this. She has tied a tight rubber around my arm and found a vein. Believe me, that after that, I did not feel a thing. She says, "that's it". She has labelled all the tubes of blood.
Off to Nelly next ...

Monday 1 July 08:53

Our new member of the ward is Nelly. I have no idea what her op has been. She is 75 + and has senility. Very confused, loud and uncertain. Currently she is very upset because she can't find her cup of tea (which is in front of her), she hasn't had her tablets (she has), her son isn't answering the phone ... Her daughter has talked to her and I think a family memeber is coming in to help her. She wants to go home. A nurse is helping her to understand. It is very sad.

Monday 1 July 02:22

Hooray! I have had my 2 an pain relief tonight :) :) :)

Sunday 30 June 21:08

Coming soon: wimbledon second week; tour de france; the Ashes, Glastonbury. There is rugby too but I haven't got touched by this yet.

Loads to watch on TV when I get home. I have no idea when I will go home. I am not worried - I will just "go with the flow". Who knows, I may miss Wimbledon ...
Come on Andy! Come on Laura!
Love you
Sarah xxx

Sunday 30 June 21:01

I have not had a pooh since before operation, I am not worried about this yet ....

Sunday 30 June 20:20

Bev and my mum have visited tonight. Bev goes back to Jersey tomorrow. She came over before op and has supported family through the experience. I haven't been with her but he stories have been joyful. Hoping she can come over in a couyple of weekends for a John weekend too (my dad). Tonight she has organised all my stocks too. I love you Bev.
Mum has been tremendous too. She has been home to Bristol and returned to help us all. Again, I am not at home but I do know that mum is in top form. I love you Mum.

Good night to you all. I love everyone. You are the most amazing set of friends. Big smiles. Sarah xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx