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2007 - July 14th - Saturday

On her return home to Tavistock, Mary phoned JH. JH gave Mary a full Report on JH’s convalescent progress: JH was feeling languid and lacked incentive – in her own opinion - but had BEEN OUT IN GARDEN IN THE SUNSHINE; furthermore JH received a large basket of fruit and chocolate biscuits from Bill and Pic and family which cheered JH up a lot – together with the sunshine!  JH removed her fentanyl patch [after 4 days] and, in due course, took the remaining packet of 5 patches, and any remaining bowel medicines to the Co-operative Pharmacy to be disposed of. 


 

2007 - July 15th - Sunday
Kathy phoned JH and we had a long chat together.  First of all Kathy told JH that Lorraine was off to Spain for 3/52 on Thursday, 19 July 2007, to visit her step-mother; Kathy gave me Lorraine’s mobile number.  Kathy told JH that she would, hopefully, get to grips with sending emails in due course and, furthermore, she would not be troubling (cannot quite remember the word used, query ‘pestering’) JH frequently with phone calls for mutual reports on progress: in other words . . . let Kathy and JH just relax in peace at last!

Kathy reported on her own progress: she needs to have her eyes tested as, apparently, the anti-rejection drug – presumably cyclosporin – can compromise ones vision; furthermore, Kathy’s own red blood cell ‘manufacture’ must click back in [which will, of course, help to reduce her weariness]; she had had all her thoracic lines removed but still has some stitches to be taken out of these incisions; she is, of course, still on antibiotics orally; her abdominal wound is still a bit weepy and has a dressing thereon but she no longer needs to apply anti-MRSA cream;  her fluid balance is still (‘of course’ again) a problem and she is “rattling like a snake” (hopefully not venomously!); she has to take some sort of large calcium gob-stoppers, which she finds most difficult to swallow!  Ralph was ‘in order’ and still catching up on his sleep!

Kathy also reported that she had received a bunch of flowers from Susan, nee Hipsey, who lives on the IOM, and is Bill’s daughter, ie, Kathy’s niece.  JH told Kathy that JH had received an enormous basket of fruit and packet of chocy biscuits from Bill and Pic; JH had rung the latter up to thank them and hardly recognised Pic who was completely choked up with cold, as was Bill; Kathy said that they get colds in the summer every year – but are usually away in hotter, foreign climes during the winter!  Kathy told JH that Kathy has been given the envelope and information about Turgwe Hippo Trust, but that none of the Staff had been able to use any of the tickets to attend Karen Paolillo’s talk at the Royal Geographical Society.  [In any event, JH is always happy to support the Cause.]

FIFTH POSTOPERATIVE WEEK COMMENCING 16 JULY 2007
JH had conversations on the telephone with:- Jane Moss, WRVS, who told her that Tony {Car Parking} had mentioned that he met JH when she was at Derriford Hospital for FU; Mary/JH chatted several times about domestic matters, and arrangements to meet, etc, etc.  JH sent off lots of surface-mail messages to all her supportive friends, and her skin blister.  JH was still troubled by a cough – but subsequently thought that perhaps she, too, could have the snuffly bug that so many people have developed in this damp, miserable summer – but JH is still delighted that there is NOT a heatwave.

JH was still managing without taking any analgesics although – as to be expected – she felt ‘sore in patches’; the usual pre-occupation with THE gastro-intestinal tract could be overcome with concentration – on something else!  Also, the fact that JH started taking an antihypertensive agent on Friday 13th has undoubtedly increased her trips to the loo from about 2 times, to 5 to 6 times each night – Oh Dear!  The other ‘activities of daily living’ progressed slowly, as did the housewifery.

JH observed that on Wednesday morning, 18th, she was not ‘tuning in’ when waking up, in fact, JH does feel a but thick-headed in the mornings – which is a rather different feeling of languidness to her pre-operative ‘condition’: perhaps it was ‘unfortunate’ that JH had so long to wait at the bus stop where she was able to read all the small print about the side effects of Zanidip!  At 1.00am on Sunday 22nd, JH was woken up by the folks in No 66 adjoining: JH subsequently learnt that two police cars had turned up to break up the fight – but JH had felt too miserable to get out of bed to join the gathering audience.

Lyn told JH that the former would be unavailable to accompany JH to her FU appointment at the RLH on Thursday, 2nd August, because her daughter-in-law was arranging a big birthday party for Damon’s 40th birthday; JH told Lyn that JH would probably travel unaccompanied; JH would travel up the day before, even though the appointment was not until the afternoon.  [However, JH did subsequently decide to ask Mary to escort JH.]



 
 
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