Month: July 2023

Annabell and I have spent the last three days in Adelaide. We arrived at the Cancer Lodge on Tuesday, appointments today and head for home tomorrow, Thursday. The plan was to examine her and then after consultation and examination of the results of various tests to decide if Annabell can undergo an operation to remove the cancer, since the present treatment is not doing what it was intended to do. Yes, it has held the cancer in place, and it has not grown any, but by the same token, it has not diminished as they had hoped.

The initial assessment was that she would be at risk, but that was a ‘given’ before we started. The question that needs to be examined and answered is, how much of a risk and is the risk manageable? We have more tests to be done because there is a small valve problem with her heart and her age is a factor. However, if everything is OK and it is decided that the risk is acceptable, then the operation could be done here at the Flinders Medical Centre, with possible recovery at the Flinders Hospital. Normally patients can go home after this particular surgery, but in this instance, home is too far for that to be practical. However, the next two sets of tests will be done at home and the results sent to Flinders. We are due back down here 31st August and I have booked the lodge for that date.

The carpark at the Cancer Lodge has still not been completed. The word is that it will be ready for September. The problem is that they neglected to say what year.  It is possible to get parked to load and unload at the front of the lodge on Greenhill Road provided you are outside the times when it is designated at a clearway. Not too sure when the times are, but at 5:30 am, who cares?

John has been looking after and feeding Benji whilst Annabell and I were down here in Adelaide. Still, he does take a photograph and send it to me, which I very much appreciate.

Doctors, tests, tests and more tests and still no decision on what is to happen, but I can understand that. She is  a risk and they need to be certain that the risk is manageable.  Between all her problems and the suspect heart valve, they need to be certain and take all the test results into consideration before they make a decision.

Anyway, we left Adelaide at 5:45 this morning. It was not a good time since she woke me just after midnight and again at 2;50am and I had difficulty getting back to sleep.  Still, brought the car round to the front of the building, loaded the car, checked the room, helped Annabell into the car and off we went. Everything was fine until we reached Port Wakefield. We had coffee there and set off again. Sometime after Wakefield, I started to become drowsy. Not sure where, but there was a lay-by so I pulled in there, parked the car, made sure the doors were locked, then put my head back and slept. I slept for about 40 minutes, not a lot, but enough to give me a second wind to drive home.  In my driving years, this was the first time ever that I have had to pull into a lay-by and have a nap.  Had I not done this I believe I would have been a danger to myself and to other road users. In the years that I had to drive to church conference, one every two months at 1000 miles a time, I never had to do that.

Drove to Port Augusta and made a stop at Big W (Department Store) However, I tried not to waste too much time as Annabell was getting uncomfortable, so I got back to the car and drove the last 52 miles to home. To say that Benji was glad to see me is an understatement and I think gaga is the word. Once I helped Annabell out of the car and into the house Benji was all over her- really glad to see her. He loves John, but he really misses his peepel.

She is home and she is now asleep. We are supposed to be going for some test this morning, but I have cancelled that.  All these meetings, all these tests, all this blood they continue to take to examine for goodness knows what – I understand there may be a need for them, but they are not helping her — they are exhausting her.

Annabell was discharged from hospital on the 11th July and I have said how I got her home. It was good to have her home  and I will continue to look after her and ensure that she gets her medication. She still sleeps a lot and has difficulty in standing and walking, but I  help there where I can. She has a walker  but she has difficulty in getting out of chairs and other places  so I help there.  Benji and I have suspended our 6am walk. Annabell is still sleeping then, unless she wakens me at 5am (as she sometimes does), then, since I know she is ok, Benji and I will go out close to our time.

I have always had this sort of comment that at times ” we are a mobile disaster looking for a place to happen”  On Thursday and Friday it sort of happened. Thursday and I had to go into the town to register Benji. drove there, parked the car and within about  ten minutes I was back at the car – only it refused to start. Called the RAA and they said they would attend as soon as they could. In the meantime, while I was waiting a young friend  came over and asked  if there was something wrong. I said yes, that the car wont start, so she went and got

her car, parked it next to mind and gave me a jump start. No problem. Thanked her kindly and drove  home.  I parked the car on the road since I didn’t want to block the carport in case I needed to get the other car out.  Oh and I should say that I recalled the RAA and cancelled the callout before I left town.  They thanked me and said that not many people do that – which I thought was sad, That’s how it was until very late in the afternoon when I started to notice how close other cars were passing my car, so I went out and the car started  with no problems and I drove it into my driveway.

On the Friday I went out to move the car and it would not start. Finally called out the RAA and they came but they could not get the car started. The mechanic  did a good examination and concluded that it was the starter motor.  He then organized my car to be towed from the  house  to the repair shop.

I drove up to the repair shop and spoke to the boss. I  explained what had happened and that the RAA suspected the  starter motor. He said he would try and look at it today but if not, definitely Monday.  Back home I attended to Annabell and made her something to eat. Shortly after that the phone rang. It was the mechanic, who informed me that my car was ready to be picked up. Took a taxi to the shop and the mechanic explained  what had happened.  I wont go into details but suffice to say that the starter motor was still almost as new, but the cable connecting to it had been damaged so that was changed and everything is good. AND, I had sufficient cash within my wallet to pay the bill.  So, happiness  all around!!

Annabell is still sleeping a lot but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I no longer have to stay in one room. The  servant type bell wasn’t really working so I went to the  hardware shop and bought a doorbell. I set it up so that the sound is very different from the actual doorbell. She has the door part, I have the bell part – and that is working. She keeps her part with her and I have my part in my pocked or on the nightstand . Oh if you are interested, the music I have on my part of the system is ” Santa Clause is coming to town”  Yes, I know – childish  – but there you are :o)

On Thursday 6th I went back to our doctor and reported to him why I had done what I had done and he agreed, But he  telephoned the  duty doctor and this time he put it all down on paper and wrote a letter to the senior doctor.= which he gave me to deliver. Again I organised Annabell and we went up to the hospital; at 5:15 pm.  We did not get seen to until after 9pm and then we were put into the same old side room. Once again it was cold, but this time I called John, asked him to go and feed Benji then bring the big yellow blanket to the side waiting room. This he did and we wrapped Annabell in the blanket. At 10:20 the nurse came in and took the OBS. At 11:30 it was decided that  she could go to a bed in the clinic for the moment and it was suggested that I go home.

Friday 7th..  Saturday 8th This I did, but was back up at the hospital at 9am.  I was told she was in one ward, so I went there, was told that she had been moved upstairs, went there and was told that she had been moved to the Women and Children’s ward at the far end of the hospital. Knew where this was so I made my way there.  I stayed with her for much of the day as did John & Andrew. I left the hospital and  John Andrew and I had dinner together then I went back to the hospital for the last hour.  The same  routine on Sunday except that I went home for dinner and to feed Benji I  spent much of my days walking the long corridors in the hospital to the W & C Ward. Oh – for fitbit people there are 715 steps from my car to the Women and Children Ward – 1430 x 4 each day –  give or take a few steps depending on where I park the car.

On Monday 10th June she had an assessment from My Care, but I don’t see much coming from that. There was a few people coming and going and a young “doctor” said that she could go home in the morning. I stayed with her for much of the day and she still has problems standing unaided and her walking is really not great, but there you are…..

Tuesday 11th and  just after 11:40am I took her home. I went and got a wheelchair and took her along the corridors out to the car. I got her into the car, took the wheelchair back and drove home. Managed to get her out of the car- took a while and was not easy.  Not sure my arm will recover from the gripping  :o) Still, got her into the house and into her recliner and  put her blanket over her.  It is now Wednesday 11th and that’s how things are at the moment.

She slept well last night and I did not go out in the morning with Benji since she had  not been awake. Did get out with him sometime around 11am.

Finally concluded. Sorry I have taken up so much of your time. I hope I have not bored you too much….

One last thing – the nurses were great and really looked after Annabell. I am thankful to them for all they did.

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After they took her away to be prepped for surgery, I  went back to the lodge, had something to eat, coffee and bed. In the morning I booked an extension to my stay at the lodge, then  made my way to the hospital. Annabell was sleeping but looking well and the nurse told me that the surgery  went well. It was not really  “surgery” but rather an Endoscopy which closed the tear on the ulcer. She slept for most of the morning so I  took the tram into the city and did some shopping.  Oh and I have to say that you will be pleased to know that I am keeping my caffeine levels topped up fairly well  :o)  In case this is a puzzle – someone asked me how I was and my reply was  ” Fine,  as long as I keep my caffeine level topped up”.

In all it was five days in Adelaide before she was flown back to Whyalla. On the 28th. I packed the car and in the early morning of the 29th June, I set out for home.  Usual breakfast at Port Wakefield.  I understood that she had been taken back to the Whyalla Hospital so instead of going home I went directly to see Annabell. She was sleeping but I stayed for a little while. Benji was glad to see me and made a sort of a fuss, but he kept going to the door to look for Annabell.  His peepel were not all home so he was not too happy.

Annabell remained in hospital until the 30th and they discharged her. I was not very impressed with that but  I took her home and at least dear Benji was happy All his peepel were back together. Added to my responsibility was the administration of her medication at various times of the day  Benji  had no morning walk because I  was too concerned to go out and leave Annabell in the house on her own  even if it was only for an hour or so. However, we did go out in the evening when she was awake and in her recliner. Generally I am wake at 2am and again about 5am because I have to attend to her. The other reason I don’t have a morning walk is I am too tired.

Saturday 1st July.

I was awake at 3am  and again at 5am but I decided since I had got her back into bed and she seemed ok. I felt it was ok to take Benji out. Annabell slept for much of the day. Generally a quiet day with no drama. Even went out in the afternoon with Benji and made a light meal in the evening.

Sunday 2nd July

Much of the day was fairly quiet. In the mid afternoon we had a slight disaster . The result of attending to that disaster  was that she fell and I called out an ambulance and she was taken to the  Emergency. We  waited for several hours until we were seen .  The “medical person” asked what happened and I told him. He also asked for some backgound so I told him -Uterine  Cancer, Peptic  Ulcer that required  Endosacpy,  has seizures and is unsteady on her feet. He had a poke at her shoulder, asked her if there was any pain – she said  there was not – so he told me to take her home and if there is any pain to give her some Aspirin. Certainly I took her home but not the Aspirin

Tuesday 4th July  and I went so see her own doctor and related everything to him -including the Aspirin. He made a telephone call then told me to take her to the hospital that he had spoken to the duty doctor and she would be admitted.  I went home got her organized and took her to the hospital. We were shunted into a side room and left there. No one came to see us and no one came to ask how she was. At 10:15 pm  Annabell was cold, tired and shivering. By then I had had enough, and took her home. For me the choice was simple – be sick, stay where we are and be cold – or – be sick, go home and be warm –  I took her home.

 

Where to begin?? Sunday 18th June, Annabell was unwell so I took her to the Emergency Dept at the hospital; in the afternoon. At 6pm that evening we were seen and  the medical person there said Annabell was fine,  just required rest, so I took her home and got her into bed. Things started to go downhill  from there and I went from doing a laundry once a week to one every other day. I barely had  any sleep since she could not get in nor out of bed without help and the only help around was me. On the 22nd June we had a serious “accident”  and I managed to get her into the shower and yes, I  did what I had to do!!  Sadly as I went to get a fresh towel, she fell and I called out the emergency Ambulance.  She was taken to the Emergency Dept where, fortunately they had a Doctor on  duty and he admitted Annabell to the hospital. It was the early hours of the morning before I got home.

On Wednesday 23rd. I went up to the hospital to see Annabell and walked into  the aftermath of a flurry of activity. In the early morning Annabell felt very sick and pressed the emergency button.  The nurses came  in  just in time to see Annabell vomit — blood. The Nurse called a ” Code Blue”  (Medical Emergency) and a doctor came in. He ordered a particular scan and it was discovered that not only did Annabell have a Peptic Ulcer – it was bleeding.  Whyalla Hospital does not have the equipment to deal with this, but Adelaide does,  so the Royal Flying Doctor  Service (RFDS) was called out. The doctor at the Royal Adelaide Hospital ordered that Whyalla begin blood transfusions immediately. This was done and in the late afternoon  she was taken on  board the RFDS aircraft and flown to Adelaide.

I had already called the Lodge so my accommodation was booked. I went home, packed what I thought I would need, arranged for John  to feed and look after Benji. On the way home I stopped at the supermarket and bought 14 cans of single “My Dog” feed and left a note for John to use two cans per day. In the morning I took off  for the 300 mile drive to Adelaide.

The Drive down was uneventful and once I had booked in and unpacked the car,  had a quick coffee, I  made my way to the hospital.  I had no idea where to go so I checked the information Desk.  I explained why I was here and who I was looking for. Quick as a flash, she gave me all the information I needed, and the lady came out from her desk and showed me where the lifts were. At the nurse station they took me to Annabell’s room  I had a whole half hour with her before they took her away to be prepped for surgery.

Wednesday (28th)  I went to the RAH as usual to spend the day with Annabell. I made my way to her room only to find  the bed stripped and her room empty. I asked where she was and was told that the  nurses had been trying to contact me to let me know what the RFDS had arranged a flight and Annabell was in the process of being flown back to Whyalla Hospital. The nurses didn’t have my information and Annabell could not remember my phone number.  Never mind, I just took the tram into the city, did some shopping and had a haircut, which I badly needed. As I said before the nurses here at the RAH have been wonderful and have really looked after Annabell and I am so very thankful to them for everything they did for her – and for me too.

Anyway, I came back to the Lodge and packed and  got everything ready to leave in the morning (Thursday 29th). On Wednesday I partly packed the car and had just about everything ready for a very early departure in the morning..  Set the alarm for 04:45 and by  05;30 I was on my way out of the city. The reason for the early departure is that  where the SA Cancer Lodge is situated is on one of the busiest roads in Adelaide and it starts to get busy early and – at certain times, particularly in the morning, is a designated clearway – in other words no parking or stopping or face a fine of $350. At

5am it is not a clearway so I parked, loaded the car and headed off.  Breakfast at Port Wakefield –  about 80 miles north. I  stopped for fuel at Port Pirie then headed to Whyalla and the hospital. I went there first before going home. I stayed with Annabell for about an hour then went home. Benji went gaga — but not completely because one of his peeepels was missing and he was not happy about that. Yes he made a fuss of me, but he kept going back to the door to look for Annabell.  Coming home from the hospital each time, he is still looking for her. I  don’t think he will be really happy until she comes home and all his peepels are together.

Annabell herself is doing  quite well but she will be in hospital for a while. There is to be a meeting regarding her treatment and where we progress from here. This will take place on Monday , 3rd July, so that should be interesting to see what is proposed. I have no idea just who will be involved and if or when she can come home after that. I do know that there are three avenues of concern, – the seizures, the cancer and her falling a  fair bit.   They would like an EEG done but the soonest we can have that done  is February of next year and I don’t think they can wait that long.

I have not been up to the hospital this morning because I was notified that a package which I am expecting was coming today. Also there  was piles of washing that needed to be done so I did all that – and tidied up. About 12(ish) I decided that I would go for a shower -yes you guessed it –  I had only just stepped into the shower when the doorbell rang and it was the  Postal Service with the package. LOL the odds of that happening — 100%.  Still it gives me something to tell Annabell and cheer her up a little.

Shortly after getting  dressed the phone rang. It was the hospital asking me to come to the hospital and collect  Annabell as she is being discharged. I was not at all impressed with this but Annabell was quite pleased. We went through the discharge procedure and with the help of a nurse and a wheelchair we got her to the car and  strapped in. I thanked the nurse got into the car and set off for

home. In the twenty minutes it took me to drive home she seemed to have deteriorated, and I struggled with getting her out of the car. By a stroke of fortune son John arrived and with his help we struggled to get her out of the car and into the wheelchair. If John had not arrived when he did, the ambulance people would be picking her up off the car-port floor because I would have to have called them. She slept for much of the afternoon.  I have the horrible feeling that this early discharge is not a good idea and that it will come back to bite us.  However, I do so hope I am wrong. Benji- on the other hand – was overjoyed to see her and made a fuss of her. Once John and I got her into her recliner, Benji did something he doesn’t usually do – he jumped up on her lap. He was happy that his peepel were all together again.