Day 61 – Tuesday 28th June – Part Two
The results of some tests came back today and they confirmed that Karen has an infection in her bowel. I can’t recall the exact name, but it is a form of Chlostridium (not Botulinum that’s for sure).
She is very lacking in energy and just sleeps most of the time at the moment. For the first 20 minutes of Debs’ visit she was zonked. A Doctor had visited kp on a number of occasions today and kept leaving ‘cos he didn’t want to disturb her, but this time, he had to wake her up or he would never have seen her.This is when she realised she had a visitor.
I don’t think Debs got the best visit in the world, but thanks for all the goodies Debs. The Madeira Cake and Lemon Cake were lovely. Karen didn’t feel up to them, but it would be rude if I didn’t try them for her. 
He checked her chest and a few other things and informed kp and Marie of the infection. She needs to drink 4L (8 pints in Geordie) of water a day. If she doesn’t she will be put on a drip to try and clear away the bowel infection. They don’t want to put her on a drip if they can help it, because of the risk of infection.
Today has been a low day for Karen – A trough in a sea of many crests.
She has hardly eaten anything today. Bit of breakfast (slice of toast), half a bowl of soup and a bread bun and nothing for tea apart from some cherries. Maybe that’s enough for someone who is in bed all day, but I, for one, would feel better if she ate more.
She could barely keep awake tonight.
To end on a positive
The doctor informed kp that the consultants had given the ok to put Karen in the hoist. This opens up a lot of doors for Karen that were otherwise closed such as
- Having a Bath
- Having a Shower
- Going in a normal chair
- Having a ride in a hoist
Which reminds me that the physio is going to dangle Karen on the end of the bed so her feet are hanging off the end. This will be weird for Karen after nearly 9 weeks of something always being beneath her feet. It is supposed to give her the sensation of going to stand up in preparation for that day.
I feel sure I have forgot some things, but the gist of this blog entry is that it has been a bad day for kp, upsetting, sad, and a generally low day.
Let’s hope a good night’s sleep does the trick, which reminds me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The “Chillow” arrived today. I took it in for kp and set it up. The “Chillow” is the chilled pillow – it was something her work team wanted to buy for her. It is basically a bag with some foam and water in, but after following the instructions I must admit it feels cool. We’ll know if it has been of benefit in the a.m.
June 29th, 2005 at 8:58 am
Hi KP and DP
I do not want to harper on about your bad day yesterday – one bad day in so many good days is bound to happen at some stage – hang in there KP – you are doing so well.
I just want to say that we missed you terribly on Sunday at Jamie’s Christening. Everyone asked how you were and Rich mentioned you in the speech after the meal.
I have sent a photo for your room – of Sophie and Jamie’s first nursery photo. Its not brilliant – in fact I had Jamie’s haircut last week and all the gingers GONE !!
Looking forward to seeing you soon – we must get the babysitters organised for another visit !!
Lots of Love
Jane
June 29th, 2005 at 12:29 pm
hey,,,,KP…was good to see you today, and dont worry about your sleeping….or should that be snoreing on me…lol….was just good to be there…marie your a fab sis….and you can offically open the ‘pretend friends/sis club’…
it was nice to see you laugh…remembering the ‘bay watch run at session’…lol….hey maybe you could get mrs overall to run you down the ward in the hoist…..pamela anderson eat ya heart out….
oh on my way back to the car….one long long treck…..lol…i bumped in the gentleman who,in lyd’s word’s,would have to hand his notice in,just along from where we first met…his mate said….oi joe…..dont be rude again….lol….they were just laughing…..but he did go red….lol….
ok chuck…so you had a bit of a down day…your made of good stuff….and determained stuff at that…so get ya finger out and keep smileing…
oh i read lydia’s cork induced blog befor…lol….whats she like….had me creased up….almost a gauze moment was called for…
karen your such a star and very inspireing to us all…..to think even though you were haveing a bad day you still found a few moment to give me the wisdom of kp….alex is the referance…thank you…love ya loads…must go befor i get too slushy and get kicked out of the club for it…
love to all and hope the pillow works a treat…..
see ya soon and will try and pop and pick some fresh strawberys for you next weekend…
love
debs….xxxxx aka Titter’s
June 29th, 2005 at 1:56 pm
Hi Karen,
just did a short visit to Manchester this week. I’m now back in my “pod”, whats a pod? A crappy square box on a big open plan floor, in other words its my work space. And guess what my pod is in a grey building and I look out on to another grey building.
Don’t know why I’m prattling on, what I really want to say is that I hate it when you have bad days – and I know and you know and everyone else knows there will be others, but they will be mixed up with such good days.
How you have managed to keep so upbeat for so long – I just don’t know, so I say have a good weep you deserve it! For gods sake I feel like weeping when I rush for the train on a morning and miss it – so you my friend can cry [me]a river (bloody hell I’ll break out into song soon) as long as you feel better for it afterwards.
Imagine those good days Karen, the day you get get up out of bed, I can see the grin on your face now – heal spur allowing of course. Even better the day that David comes to pick you up and you are back home. What a cracker that will be. Or tell you what the day that me, you and Jane take off for a weeks holiday in Spain (thanks Dps mam & dad) – I’m sure you promised us! Well I’ll blog off with that pleasant thought.
Hope your new bed has arrived and the hoist follows soon.
Take care
Lots of love
Veronica
June 30th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
mrs o,has trained for a number of years to get where she is today,