Keith now has a half-decent painkiller to help with his sore neck and even sorer btm . . . Danny had a few words with him today (he of a calmer nature than mine!) My entreaties from yesterday had been listened to.
I had intended to have a respite day today and in view of having to send the Fuschia running shoes back, I needed to actually go and try some on and walk round in them in the shop. I couldn't find the shop Danny and I went to last time, but found another selling sports shoes and got myself a sensibly priced pair (with size 5 feet I can apparently buy childrens' sizes, which are cheaper! I went up half a size and the Nike ones I bought are broader and comfy and I did a short walk when I got home to trial them, and my bad foot feels SO much better now for being supported properly again. Cotton Traders summer daps just don't help your feet, comfy though they are.
I enjoyed my wander round Hereford, chanced a boughten sandwich from M&S for lunch (in the light of the recent E-Coli flavour sandwiches, I hoped M&S Prawn Mayonnaise might be a safer bet). I sat and ate them just a few feet from where Owen Tudor's head had once been parked (on the step of the Market Cross) following his execution after the Battle of Mortimer's Cross.
Then I needed (truly!) to go to Doughty's, the patchwork shop, to get soft cotton batting and an extra-wide backing for Gabby's quilt. Hmmm - £71 later! I think this is going to be her birthday AND Christmas present! I also spent £2 on a well-stuffed plastic ziplock bag with small bits of pink fabric. I want to make Iarna a little snuggle quilt for mornings on the sofa watching Bluey :)
I even had a decent drive there and back because the Council have blown the last of the 2023 roads budget and mended the A438 into Hereford so I didn't have to drive with my Pothole Radar on full alert. I listened to Sarum on the way back, the last book I got on Audible. It's 53 hrs long so great value for money!
Off to relax now. On my own here tomorrow again, so another challenge in the offing I fear.
I ll come back and read this happier post, but I did send you on previous post that the bed pads are av on Amazon. The doggy ones, exactly the same, are cheaper. My comment is redundant, no need to post both, more info on other comments yesterday's post.
ReplyDeleteAnother hospital trick is to fold an extra flat sheet on crucial bed soiling area , hopefully w an absorbent pad underneath, tuck the sheets in tightly on the mattress's sides [like a sash?
2-if Keith finds ear phones unwieldy and painful, he can try ear buds OR there's a soft cloth headband w the ear bud technology inside, like a sweatband. I found it for my ex DH who won't use earphones. [Amazon]. Be sure it works w TV or whatever.
Thanks for the tips Lizzie. I'm short on flat sheets so have ordered some of those pads (belatedly). My days are so busy. Still trying to get back to Gabby's quilt as the last week or more has been so hectic here. I'll check out the earphones too.
DeleteIt sounds as if you had a lovely day out and about. Glad you found a pair of shoes that give you great support and comfort.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Well, they do and they don't. OK for short periods I am finding! Blew £5 on a 2nd hand pair of Sketchers trainers from a charity shop which work better at the moment.
DeleteWhen I ran I regularly got measured and had gait analysis at a local pro running shop. They ALWAYS recommend going up a size for running shoes/tennis shoes etc. Always. This is to accommodate the margins by which our feet increase during the day especially if running or walking any distance.
ReplyDeleteYou can buy special "conti" squares to place discreetly under the fitted sheet on crucial areas of the mattress.
The Sketchers trainers I got yesterday are a size 6. Have belatedly ordered the conti squares. They arrive tomorrow.
DeleteI suspect that an extra 'bad' day makes even the more 'normal' difficulties at least part of a now expected routine. I'm remembering when J. had covid--I also tested positive and wasn't at my best though not flat out ill--he was quite uncooperative. I was at my wits end when our nephew and his wife who is trained in herbal medicine came to stay and look after us. It was amazing how he suddenly became quite meek, took his antibiotic pills without retching, submitted to herbal tea and foot massage. As relieved as I was to see that he was cooperating and--very slowly--improving, I felt some resentment that he had been so difficult with me.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though when caring for someone who is ill we have not only the unpleasant duties to perform but also to endure stubbornness--what you termed 'blardy-mindedness.' I shall have to file away that term!
You understand my situation well. Keith is in pain and frustrated and so not a happy patient. How I wish I could turn the clock back a few months and get him off to an Antiques Fair. Keith - like J - behaves for non-family members. Me - he just fights all the time. "Blardy" is one of Danette's terms to replace the swear word! 'Tis a good one!
DeleteI saw Bluey for the first time when I went to visit my grandaughters. That is such a great show, isn't it? I'm sorry if I sounded a bit know-it-all in my previous comment. You had mentioned the letter board. I had forgotten. I apologize. I am glad that Danny was able to talk to Keith.
ReplyDeleteNo need to apologise. "I" loves Bluey, but then she has a change and goes for "Super Kitties" or similar! We know them all well . . .
DeleteOh, I'm so, so pleased today has been a better day for you. I stewed over yesterday's post - I really wanted to say "Walk out, ring whoever at the NHS and tell them to come and sort it because you are not there any more" ... but I knew I shouldn't do that. You will go straight to heaven, you've done your purgatory already. (Goodness, that coms out of RC theology of 60 years ago! Thank goodness we've all moved past that!)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the new shoes are a success. I discovered years ago that I needed really expensive shoes, and to only go where I would be fitted by someone who knew their stuff. It seems to only take a couple of hours in non-supportive shoes and I suffer for a week. I've discovered this winter that I can't wear gumboots to watch my grandson's football, they're just not supportive enough. So cleaning and drying my shoes each weekend has become another task to add to the list.
Hoping Keith is more comfortable, and you manage alone tomorrow. XX
I have good and bad days all the time. I wake up with a sense of worry, every morning. Purgatory - yes indeed it feels like that - and how I wish for Keith I could make him better - even for a short while - but the tilt is always downwards,
DeleteThe new shoes ok for short periods but when (hopefully!) the foot is healed they will be good.
Good to read you’ve had a better day. Yesterday’s was tough to read about, let alone for you to live through. I am bursting with advice (has no one mentioned ultraviolet light therapy for K’s sores?) but I guess we all find our own way of navigating these stoney difficult paths. Here we are doing lots of self-care (which benefits me and makes it much easier for me to look after S) and we are both having reflexology from a really lovely therapist who comes to the house, we have started Qigong (just the two of us with a wonderful teacher in his garden studio), we are playing table tennis in the garden and walking every day. I’ve got S dribbling a football along the meadow paths and we’re kicking it backwards and forwards as well which is so good for balance and coordination. I’m also doing my weekly yoga class and SwimFit (the women I do these classes with are so supportive from my yoga teacher who is an ex-army PT instructor and takes no nonsense to the retired district nurse at SwimFit who is full of good ideas) and seem to have managed to cure the chronic Achilles tendonitis and my extremely painful housemaid’s knee by reducing my stress levels. I hadn’t realised that stress causes pain and once I realised that my ankle injury was because I mowed the entire meadow all by myself feeling aggrieved that S could not help the pain went which kind of proves that pain is largely psychological. I had been fretting about going on holiday but now I have accepted that I would much rather stay at home I am content. I love being at home and we are having lots of fun times and outings with friends. We had a day out this week with friends at Gilbert White’s house in Selborne and we arrived home to storks flying above our garden and meadow and settling in the trees which felt out of this world. I am sure these were young storks from Knepp exploring a new patch. We also climbed Bignor Hill for our own solstice ceremony with the sheep and I collected some wool from the fences washed clean by all the rain, we’ve been to a fantastic textile exhibition at Sullington Manor Barn curated by a group of local stitchers who call themselves Curious Threads which has inspired my stitching, we’ve been to church to watch a bonkers arthouse film and to Sunday lunch (delicious roast lamb) with friends in the village. Life is good despite the Parkinson’s and for me acceptance of S and his physical limitations and working with them and not trying to fight them has been crucial. This morning is Farmers Market day at Petworth and we’ll head to the Selsey fishermen first, I may treat myself to a plant from the nurseryman and S will buy the Guardian newspaper for the sports coverage and we’ll come home to a cafetière of coffee, garden broad beans mashed with fresh garlic bruschetta for lunch and hopefully Selsey crab salad for supper. We love a fresh dressed crab and with salad and new potatoes from the garden it will be the food of the gods. You rush around so much BB, I want to say to you, stop, slow down, breathe, pick some flowers from the garden, make something delicious for supper, put your feet up and listen to music or read a good book, and as the chief cook and bed washer you are in charge. K was in the army for goodness sake, he has to take orders from you! Sending lots of love and light for more better days ahead. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you can use therapies to help ward off the Parkinsons. I hadn't heard of UV light for healing bedsores - will check it out with the D. Nurse today. Hmmm - if stress levels make injuries/pain worse, I don't stand much chance! Don't know whether I should be resting it (impossible) or trying to challenge the foot to function more normally again. The pain was starting to impinge on ligaments and joints through ankle, knee and now hip. Will have to see GP as Minor Injuries in Llandod turned me away yesterday as injury too old to be X-rayed.
DeleteAh yes, rushing around. Hard not to here.
It's good to hear you have had a better day and got out and about. Hope today goes OK on your own. Will be thinking about you.
ReplyDeleteI would love to go to an NT property this summer, so will plan an outing to a nearish one.
DeleteGlad to read you had a better day. x
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel. Most of the time I just want to run away.
DeleteI'd missed your previous post. I'm sorry it was such a difficult day. This one sounds much better. I'm glad you were able to get out a bit.
ReplyDeleteI hated myself for getting cross with him, but when your stress levels are already high it doesn't take much to push me into the angry zone.
DeleteGlad you got better shoes, feet that hurt make life miserable. Isn't quilting expensive but of course gives much pleasure meandering amongst those fabrics.
ReplyDeleteYup, miserable with non-functioning foot. Quilting has gotten SO expensive. Mind you, I am buying good quality cotton batting and not the crap nylon stuff we used to use. Meandering amongst the fabrics is wonderful. A quilt festival better though!
DeleteGlad today was better. You are a trooper, there was nothing I could helpfully say yesterday. /I have also sworn off buying shoes online, even ones from the same brand run differently.
ReplyDeleteA Trooper. Yes, needs must. Shoes have to be tried on and walked in but with my foot as it is, I need to wear the shoes all day, not just for a few minutes in the shop.
Delete