608. Sunday 10th November 2019. A little bit of walking, a hospital visit and lots of pain…

Monday 4^th November

Enid, Cooper, Oliver and I caught the train to Cronulla Beach.

Original small rock pool at Cronulla Beach. As I a youngster, pre ability to swim days, I jumped in this pool and was suddenly in water ovcer my head. I struggled to stay afloat but a strange sound of bells was ringing in my head. Suddenly a hand grabbed me by the hair and pulled me to safety. I do not know who it was but I was grateful and thankful he was there in my time of desperate need.

Mindful of my back I elected not to walk on the sand but stay on pathways. As things turned out maybe I should have stayed home.

All that is left of the entrance to the ladies dressing rooms.

The boys had a wonderful time running jumping climbing splashing and the other wonderful things you can do at the beach, especially when the sun is shining.

Cronulla Point. It does not have the spectaular rock formations of further north, on the other side of Botany Bay at places such as, LaPerouse, Little Bay, Malabar, Maroubra, Lurline Bay, Coogee, Brontee, Tamarama and Bondi

Cronulla Point

We walked along the clifftops with wonderful views

Blackwood Reef

then back to the beach for an ice cream and then the train station and back to Bev’s house where I decided on a little snooze.

When I woke I could not get out of bed without severe pain. Maybe that should read extreme pain. I replayed the day in my mind to see what I had done which may have caused the regression to my most recent back problem two weeks ago. In fact on 26^th October to be exact when I reported it in my blog, post number 605.

I have mostly kept that under control but now it seems not only have I gone backwards to that day but the pain this time is far worse. I still cannot understand what I did to create this latest setback. The only thing which occurs to me is I have worn a backback on the three excursions this week.

Tuesday 5^th November

I was awake most of the night in extreme pain. Finally got to sleep when my alarm went off. After a quick breakfast of pain killers Bev drove me to the station and helped me with my bags onto the platform and waited with me until the train arrived. Maybe it was the cold or maybe it was the cocktail but first my arms started trembling and just as the train was coming into the station my legs and body all started trembling. I knew there was no way I could get on that train, manouvre two suitcases, change stations and get a lift to another platform to go to the airport, push suitcases around the airport and shuffle all the way to probably the furthest boarding gate, lift a small suitcase into an overhead locker and sit for a two hour flight then repeat the performance on arrival. Of course still had to somehow get into my car and drive. I could not even get into Bev’s car without difficulty.

I said to Bev I cannot do this so we went back to her place and started organising extra storage for my car, cancel the plane ticket and find a doctor. I managed to do all three in the next hour. The doctor gave me an additional cocktail of drugs and recommended if no relief in 48 hours we go to plan B.

I would rather do plan B from my own home.

Here’s hoping for a cocktail miracle.

After taking the first cocktail of drugs I was able to sit on a lounge propped up with pillows and fell asleep for an hour. The best sleep I have had in a week. After dinner I took more drugs and the first miracle occurred I was able to get into bed, albeit in a fetal position, with minimal pain and fell asleep.

Wednesday 6^th November

Woke feeling OK and was able to get out of bed with much grunting and moving legs in various positions to get into a seated position then sort of quickly stand up accompanied by pain and the half shuffle half walk to the bathroom.

Well, that’s an improvement!

Most of my day has been getting into bed, sleeping and getting out of bed for a bathroom break, something to eat and back to bed. I am working on the theory that healing is happening while I am asleep otherwise there would be pain. However getting into and out of bed is a challenge to minimise pain with every movement.

Friday 8^th November

I was due to fly out at midday today and on waking thought all was ok. Pain free and ready to face the world. That is until I moved and tried to get out of bed. No amount of wriggling and trying different positions was helpful. Total, absolute pain greeted me with every effort plus I had a full bladder screaming at me! Even with help from Bev and Pete I could not get into a seated position, let alone stand or walk or shuffle to the bathroom.

The Ambulance Service was called and they were very helpful although to put a Cannula in place were unable to find a vein…I was dehydrated! Finally after three attempts they found a vein and I got my first of several Morphine shots. After the second shot they were able to get me into a standing position and with assistance, shuffled to the bathroom for blessed urinary  relief. (They tried giving me a bag but no wauy wass my mind letting go.) However number two still eludes me. They strapped me into a stretcher and took me to Sutherland Hospital where it was explained morphine only lasts 15 minutes. Aww darn shucks. I have been given some additional prescriptions and they are placed in a bag. They gave me fresh Blood Pressure medication, Amlodipidine/Prittor. Also Celebrex for muscle relaxant, Targin for pain, Lyrica for pain, Antenex, an anti inflamtory and for sleeping and Endone for pain and sleeping. Added to this is Panadol which works with the Endone for pain and Tramadol and Mersyndol just in case. After a day of tests they finally let me go home and I slept most if the night.

Saturday 9^th November

I was able to roll out of bed with minimal fuss and effort a well as minimal pain The cocktail of tablets is working.

I spent my day walking around in circles in the backyard with minimal pain. Late in the day an SOS  (Southcare Outreach Service) Nurse arrived to check all my personal particulars and to make some suggestions how to improve my life and mobility. She also lent me a walking cane. This may not be the correct forum to mention this but my bowels have stopped working since last Tuesday. That probably adds to the discomfort and pain,

Tonight with a great deal of effort I tried once more. . By the way the Prunelax and the  Movicol Laxatives have not been working. Finally trying did produce a small result but …

Once more, after dinner I fell asleep on the lounge. On waking I staggered off to bed and once again found myself in the land of nod. I am enjoying my sleep although Bev and Pete can hear me moaning perhaps when I roll over. SOS have decided, based on my pain and discomfort levels, not to begin physiotherapy at the moment.

Sunday 10^th November

Although I still have a great deal of pain I feel it is now under some sort of control. I have spent the day walking around in circles and sleeping. I can now get out of bed with limited screaming in pain. It really is time to be thinking about going home. I will aim to get a flight on Tuesday about midday. In the afternoon Bev and Pete took me to Grays Point.

GRays Point oin tghe Hacking River.

Fifteen minutes walking around was enough for my back and the pain.