Hospital visits, Frustrations and Help.

The week is almost over and what a week it has been. Presently we are still in the SA Cancer Lodge in Adelaide getting ready to start the journey home tomorrow morning. The journey down from home – all 300 miles – was an exercise in frustration with ever-changing  speeds due to  road works – and a lot of the time there were speed changes with nothing seemingly happening – road works signs with little evidence of any road works.  And  to add to the frustration, two convoys.  However although we were late in arriving we settled in fairly well. The following morning we headed off to the Royal Hospital for her MRI.  This is a very big place and since we didn’t know where we were supposed to be we went to the front desk. The lady put  the name into the computer and discovered that we didn’t exist. We explained why were  there so she got a nurse to take us to nuclear medicine – no joy there either. We  were taken to various departments’ that do x-rays and MRI but no one knew us nor were we on any list.  We telephoned the Whyalla Hospital ,. Annabell’s doctor and Jones and Partner’s – the x-ray people in Whyalla and no one knew anything. They couldn’t even find the consulting doctor at the RAH.  The nurse wanted to take us to several other places but Annabell was stressing and fading fast so I called a halt, thanked the nurse, took over the wheelchair and headed for the main entrance and the taxi rank.  This was an exercise I never want to repeat again.

I got her back to the Lodge, settled her back down and she fell asleep. She sleeps a lot at the moment and I am not sure if that is a good thing. That was Wednesday. On Thursday we had a “free day” I made her breakfast then she went to sleep. I went into town do pay ambulance accounts and do some shopping. I was back about 11;30 and she was still sleeping. In fact she slept for most of the day.  She is quite weak and I have to do most things for her – or help her where and when I can.

Friday we attended Flinders Medica at 8am. At least they knew  who we were. The place was very busy so we had a bit of a wait before we were called and  complete the pre-op. system. After that and all the forms were completed she was taken away and I was advised to come back for her around 1pm.  I left and caught the train into town.  I was able to do some of the things I had planned for the week, but not all. I did pay the bills so that at least is complete. Also I did buy myself a new  Mobile  (Cell) Phone. Getting a tad tired of the ” big boys” so I have gone back to the future and bought the new Nokia. Took a while to get it set up with attending to Annabell and everything else, but it’s done now and operational. It’s different so it might take some getting used to.

Sunday and I packed the car and parked it out front. It’s not a clearway at 05:00. I did a lot odf the packing last night and we  left the lodge at 5:30am. She slept for most of the journey. We did stop for a break at Port Wakefield but otherwise it was a clear run to Port Augusta. Some shopping there, then

head for home and we arrived here just after 11:15am.  Benji was pleased to see us. I think he missed his peepel. I had to attend to him and let him go daft for a bit before he settled down and I could move, A week is a long time for his peepel to be away.

Annabell is not so great. The boys and I are  concerned about her. She is sleeping much too much and that, as I said before, concerns me. I have made an appointment for her with her doctor today, so we will see what he has to say.  I am starting to wonder if it is the cancer treatment, more than the cancer itself,  that is causing all this illness.