General Chat

AnnG ......... unfortunately we no longer have very good friends around, all but 1 of them died between 2013 and 2016. The remaining guy is as old as ourselves but lived on Vancouver Island. The pandemic put a crimp in any social life we might had, and that lasted for almost 3 years.

Linda ............... The house is old, with 2 extensions on to it, so the hallways are narrow and there are some very right corners, so it would be very difficult to adapt, I've often tried to imagine how paramedics would get a stretcher from the bedrooms to the front door, even though it is all on one level ....... and the answer is that would not be able to do that, nor would a wheelchair work!

Daughter is an architect, and one of her "specialities" is assessing older care homes for adaptation to a more modern state, so she has been round the house assessing it! But the main problem is me ...... I just could not care for him, my mobility problems are such that I would not be able to lift him out a chair/bed or if he fell to the floor. I also have heart problems.

I haven't been in today because I woke with a higher than usual temperature and a sore throat, so thought it better to stay home. Daughter went, and has told me that he is in pretty good shape today, ate much of his lunch, a lot more coherent ... even knew that tomorrow (Monday) was a Stat holiday!

While it is very good news that they have arrested someone Sylvia, that doesn’t help your poor OH. Have they been able to do the operation on his elbow yet?
It is good that your daughter is able to stay for another week. Are you going to be able to cope once she goes?

Florence, what an awful trip you had. Good luck with getting your expenses back, but knowing airlines, I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Sylvia, great news that the person has been arrested, I do hope that he gets more than 'a slap on the wrist'.

But it is still very stressful for you and probably, at times, frightening for him. As you say it would be best if he was unable to return home if there is no hope of any improvement. It is best if he is somewhere he is safe. But you will be feeling sad at how he is and the loss of his company I know only too well that feeling) after so many years together. It is good that your daughter has been able to stay and it will be hard at first when she goes home. Do you have friends around you for company?

Stay in touch, although, because of the time difference) there will be a delay, eventually there is always somebody here to chat to to make you feel less lonely.
Remember to eat, and to look after yourself. <3 <3 <3

Goodness Florence, what a to-do. Terrible of them!

Thank you for all your good wishes

It is still not looking good, OH is still getting very confused much of the time, with alert periods in between. They had to sedate him again last night, doing it at least twice more because he'd repeatedly get out of bed and wandering as the medication wore off, then walking out ot the room into the corridor. A loud alarm rings when someone does get out of bed so there was quick response! Luckily, the main ward doors are locked.

I woke up with an elevated temperature this morning so we decided that it was best I stay home (it's down now, I hope!), but daughter went in for about 12:15 pm. OH was fast asleep then, woke and was a little confused, then dozed off again and again. He did eat some of his lunch.

It really does look that he will not be coming home, and J and I hope that really is the case because a) I really could not handle him physically because of my problems, c) we could not stop him getting out of the house without some sort of full locking system, and c) the house is not really suitable for adaptation. It is only 1 floor for living, and a basement, but it is old and there are narrow corners, corridors and doors. But we're in the "system", so will wait and see what they offer, while we continue to look at what is available, luckily we can afford private care, so no waiting for a subsidised bed.

Daughter is now planning on staying for about another week, but then has her own home and job to deal with.

The really GREAT news that we got this afternoon is that the guy has been arrested and is in gaol ................... though heaven knows how long he will stay there as it is very much a revolving door these days.

goodness so stressful Florence. Difficult to think these things can happen nowadays when everything seems to generallyrun more or less like clockwork. Obviously most of the problems wee caused by the cancelled flight. with no prior notification.

What a stressful experience for you, Florence!
I'm glad you're home safe and sound.

Well, where shall I start re my trip away?

Disaster from start to finish. We left the house at 9am and after 2 short stops reached the air port in good time at 10.0am. Only to find out 5 minutes later the plane had been cancelled!! Yep some communication problem apparently.

So i went to the check in desk and was told, no other plane to get me to Edinburgh on Thursday. They offered to book me to Inverness which they did on the 4.45pm but then I said how do I get to Edinburgh? They looked at me and said, i'm sure you can find a bus or train etc when you reach????

I wasn't a happy bunny at all but as this was a private and not a paid for NHS trip, I had to find a way to get down on the Thursday as my consultant appointment was on Friday.

So sat all day at the airport, unable to go back home and back again as too far. No offer offer of a coffee, water or anything. My friend left with daughter and they went down town at 12 and got suppers and juice and brought it back to eat at the airport.
At no time, did they come over and ask me if I was ok, needed anything!

Anyway got away and arrived in Inverness around 6pm. Taxi to station costs £25 and went to buy 2 train tickets for the last train to Edinburgh at 6.52. They cost £114.00. Staff there were very helpful as put a ramp up for me to board the train and carried the bags, couldnt fault their help at all.

The journey was 3 1/4 hours but..... as last train at night no buffet service. We had no time to eat or buy anything and nothing on the train. I had 2 packets of fruit pastilles in my bag incase daughter took a hypo.

We eventually arrived in Edinburgh and there again the staff helped us and took us to the taxis and we eventually arrived at 11pm. No cafe open at the hotel so nothing to eat . We had tea/ coffee in the room which was something but we both felt so ill and tired.

Anyway, went to bed and then on Fri, managed to the small centre where we had a bite and did some shopping before returning to the hotel for me to freshen up and taxi to the clinic.

Outcome wasnt good. My problem with the severe oedema in my left leg and mild in right isn't a vein problem afterall. Its a nerve problem cause by the spine infection i got back in Jul 2022. So been referred to a lymphedema specialist and also a cardiologist. He said, I will have to wear surgical stockings indefinitely
:-(
So that's it in a nutshell. Coming back this morning was also bad as they had no staff to take us through security etc from special assistance and we nearly missed the flight which was then delayed by an hour as we couldn't get escorted. through.

I am now about to write a long letter of complaint and request they pay all my additional expenses. I shall also make comments about not being offered a drink etc

Sorry to ramble on but I just need to let off some steam. As soon as I reached home this morning about 10am, i just broke down in tears and was just so relieved to be back home safe and sound.

So kettle went on and crumpets and marmite and then i felt a lot better.

So now a report will go through to my GP and me from the specialist and then wait for referrals for further investigation.

So off to get the rest of the laundry done as hate leaving it when Ive been away.

Lazy day tomorrow to recharge the batteries.

Florence in the hebrides

Afternoon everyone. Im back :-D

But first can I just say having raid about Sylvias hubby, it reduced me to tears :-( I so hope he gets his elbow sorted and makes a full recovery.

Scumbags, thats what these people are. I really hope they get some footage form a CCTV and catch the nasty piece of work that pushed him over.

So Sylvia, if you are able to look in, sending you and hubby massive hugs <3 <3

Florence in the hebrides

So sorry to hear this Sylvia.
Thinking of you both <3 <3

ah one of those stupid and dangerous challenges. how cruel. There should be warnings about these things so that those of us who don't go on these platforms know to be careful.

TikTok?

I am so sorry to read about this Sylvia, awful for your OH and a shock for you as well. How cowardly to pick on an older person like that, what sort of people are they that can do this? I noticed somebody insinuated that it was happening a lot, I have not heard of just pushing people over. Is it some sort of face book 'thing'.
I hope that your OH soon starts to return to normal again Sylvia and that he is well enough to have his elbow fixed and come home with you. <3 <3

So very sorry to read this Sylvia. What an awful thing to do to someone. I hope your OH improves daily and his op. gets done.
Take care of yourself as well.

So sorry to read this Sylvia. What a truly awful thing to happen.
I'm pleased that your daughter is able to be with you and I hope your OH improves daily and recovers fully.
Will be thinking of you <3

What a terrible thing to happen, Sylvia!

It's so easy for life to be turned upside down in a moment.
It's good that you have your daughter to help you, and hopefully OH will soon be home and well again.

Oh Sylvia, I am so sorry. What a dreadful thing for someone to do. I hope that your OH will make a full recovery, but it is obviously going to take a long time. I hope that you manage to get lots of helpxx

Best Wishes to you both Sylvia

Oh Sylvia, your poor OH. He must be really shaken up and what a worry for you. What makes people do things like that? Thank goodness there are still a few good Samaritans around. Sending my very best wishes to your OH for a speedy and complete recovery. Take care of yourself as well <3

How dreadful. I hope he recovers well enough to continue his trips to the shop.

This random pushing over seems to be on the increase :-|

I'm going to be missing, or only posting very infrequently, for at least the next couple of weeks.

OH was the victim of a random assault on Monday evening. He left the house just before 8:10 pm to walk to the store to pick up something, about a 15-20 minute walk each way, the evening was a lovely sunny Summer evening. But he was brought home by 2 Good Samaritans who were driving along the main road in opposite directions when they saw OH lying on the ground. They kindly walked him back home, but we then looked at him more closely and decided he needed to go to Emergency.

One of the Good Samaritans walked back to the main road to get his car, and then took us to Emergency, and waited until OH was signed in ........... luckily he was on a stretcher bed within 15 minutes of arriving.

Long story short .................. he has a broken elbow, bruised ribs, a small gash and lump on his forehead (all of those on his left side), and badly grazed hands.

It seems from the one cafe that had its safety video working that someone had run across the road, pushed OH down from behind and then ran away.

The police are of course involved, are taking it very seriously and trying to find more video, plus keeping in touch with us every day.

The problem is that he also has a mild concussion, which has made his early stages of forgetting and confusion worse, to the extent that on Tuesday night he was very restless, kept getting out of bed convinced that he was to come home, and even managed on at least one occasion to get out of the ward and down to the cafeteria!

As a result, he has been moved to the secure ward, was given some form of sedation yesterday so slept all day but was obviously dreaming because he'd start groaning.

Today he was much better, but then became more confused as the day wore on.

The operation on his elbow has been delayed until the confusion has eased, but it may then become worse again due to the anesthetic. He is being kept in until that is done after which they will do an assessment of his ability plus what help we need to continue living n our house. But we've been told that it will take time and maybe 10-14 days.

My daughter has come over for a week to help out, and is pushing the powers that be all the time!

Take care everyone!