Day 2 in Rehab

First i apologise for the very long post


Its 7.32am and i am waiting to see if anyone can help me get up. They don't have carers as such here and we are not allowed to ring the call bell unless it's an emergency, I wonder if needing a wee is classed as an emergency?

I feel awful today after a very long day yesterday. I'm sure i will be alright when i take me meds. I might transform from someone out of the night of the living dead to an actual human. Mmm we can only hope.

Physio 

My first session started at 9am. It was a class on stretching. There were a few of us there today and we just did gentle movements until about 9.30am. Next i went to see the physio. She had me lay on the bed and tested my movement and muscle strength. She came to the conclusion that i don't have much muscle or coordination hence why i can't stand up. We then discussed my leg braces and she said they weren't much help as you can't walk around in them forever. I think i used up all energy just carrying them up there.

Next she came up with an idea. Try some different braces. So she brought in some foam ones and i turned into the michelin man. We tried to stand on the parallel bars but i was like a raggy doll and flopped back into my chair. She gave me a few exercises to do and tomorrow we are going to the gym, hoorah. Apparently not many people get to go as there not used to the exercise. I love the gym and maybe the men in it haha. Its an all girl ward here so it would be nice to have a bit of eye candy.

Anyway after being tortured. I mean having controlled exercise, i had to go and meet a lady. I say lady as I'm confused as to what she does, i think shes a therapy technician. Who knows. The first thing i notice in her hand are colouring sheets. Does she not realise that I'm allergic to colouring, the black and white makes my head spin and my hair stand on end. After colouring in two flowers i said i can't cope.In between that i had to work on my posture and sit up straight for 1 minute at a time.

We decided colouring wasn't for me and went onto card making. Sadly they don't have as much craft stuff as me. Think i need to donate some. Heres the card i made. I think i did a pretty good job considering.

I'm now free until 3pm.

I managed to get some sleep and am now off to see the o.t

Occupational therapy

I've come across a few o.ts in the time i've been ill. I always thought they just dealt with equipment but they do much more.


Other subjects we touched on were assertiveness and whether i go on forums. She said i'm different to the other girls as they spend alot of time on them. I admit i did in the early days as i was new to the condition but after 12 years it's no longer the centre of my life. We set a few goals to discuss next time i see her.

Pain talk

We talked about acute pain vs chronic pain, fear of pain can create pain and that everyone interprets pain differently. It helped me to understand others more than myself. Because you can't see pain in other people it's very easy to say ' get off your arse and do something'. But often this isn't the case. Pain is entangled with so many different issues emotions and environmental factors.I now have more of an understanding of the issues pain can cause. Another day over and now i'm going to relax and catch up on some tv. X

Rehab day 1

Today i start a 3 week rehab programme in london. Hopefully it will help me learn new skills on how to cope with my condition. I will try to update everyday so i don't forget what I've done

Day 1 

I got up about 6am. I was even awake before the birds. It took a couple of hours to get here and we were a bit late as got stuck in traffic. How dare people be on the roads haha.

When we arrived a volunteer showed me to my bed. I was just starting to unpack when i got ambushed by people. It was like a mosquito swarm. First the nurse to fill in paperwork. Then the doctor. Between these two came the menu lady, oh and the pharmacist. It was then off to my first session. Just trying to remember what it was. Welcome meeting i think. Then straight after it was something to do with pain management. I was late as i had to flush my tube and i didn't even get time for a tinkle. I felt very lonely in the group as the other girls knew each other.

Next was lunch and i met some nice ladies from my ward. After lunch it was physio and o.t. This was basically just to introduce themselves.

After that was a class on pacing. I don't understand pacing. I would rather get everything done. I couldn't understand how you pace doing the watching, do you just put one  thing in the wash then rest and out another thing. It would be a very long day if that was the case. The o.t laughed and said thats not how its done. Damn that means i cant get away with just doing that all day.

I managed to get a rest in between but i couldn't sleep as my bed is right by the nurses desk and the doors. I was getting more and more exhausted, i wanted to go home. I missed it terribly. After spending two months in hospital i didn't want to go to another one.

After i rang mum and had a good cry i went to dinner. It was quite nice to chat to the other ladies. Alot of them are just here for a week whereas I'm here for 3.

I then decided to have a warm shower but sadly it was cold and then got into bed. I was terrified of sleeping incase i snored. I would be so embarrassed. But sleep got me in the end.

Day 1 over and i survived x

New home card

I haven't really got much to say today. Been busy with appointments again. Had 7 this week. Next week i go into rehab for 3 weeks. Excited but nervous.

Anyway heres a new home card that i drew for a friend. Pretty pleased with it x

Play time with new stamps

Before i went into hospital i treated myself to some new stamps. They are by Avery Elle and i fell in love with them.

Here are some cards that i made

I'm Home

I finally came home from hospital two weeks ago. However it hadn't been plain sailing. The day after i came home my feeding tube got blocked. I couldn't unblock it  myself so had to go to a&e. 

I knew as soon as i git in there that the doctor didn't know anything about tubes. He looked puzzled and was umming and arhhing. So i said to find someone that does know. He then gets a colleague of his to have a look.He was pretty useless aswell and wanted to out a new tube in himself. Bearing in mind it goes into my intestine i wasn't going to let him pull it out. 

Then a nurse came in with a big trolley and said 'one of these should fit'. I looked and the trolley and it was full of catheters. Mum and me just burst out laughing and thought where the heck are they going to stick that hehe. Turns out nurse was in the wrong room. Phew

I had the option to stay overnight or go home and come back. My tube is my lifeline but i said i would risk being without fluid until i got a new tube fitted the next day.

New tube is working brilliantly but have been very busy with appointments. 

I thought i would show you a pic of my feed that i change everynight. 

My feed, pump, syringe and giving set. I do love the colour haha.

I have also made some cards but i will upload those in another post.

Oh i forgot. To say happy September everyone 

Hayley x

My new toy. Silhouette cameo

While in hospital i treated myself to a new toy. A very expensive new toy. The silhouette cameo. 

I was so excited to get it out of the box that i forgot to plug it in. I then forgot to put the blade it for it to cut. Doh.

Anyway here are some cards i made. The designs are from the silhouette design store x 

Hospital update and feeling inspired

Yes i am still here. I have just celebrated my 7th week anniversary haha.

Just to recap over the last couple of weeks. I had my pegj fitted which feeds into my intestine. I started on my new feed as well as my tpn. That was alot of food haha. 

It hasn't been an easy ride. Hence why i'm still here. The central line in my neck had to come out so i had to have a picc line put in my arm to keep getting the tpn. My new tube got blocked so i had to have it replaced and have been struggling with the new food. However i think i have now turned a corner and am going home on monday. yay.


The last couple of days i've been inspired. I guess this is a sign of me getting better. I am in the process of updating my blog layout.

I was also up at 6.30 am and started doodling. I think i may have gone mad. 

Thankyou to the people who have sent me cards. I love receiving them. They really cheer me up. I will thankyou personally when i get home .

Hayley x