Cate's Diary

Thanks LaMa, Hana & Katy :grouphug:

I thought I would go walking all over town, go get fitted for my new golf clubs etc, but all I have wanted to do is sit near G. I go backwards & forwards between the hospital & the home & that's about it. I leave him when his lunch arrives & come back about 2. Today I have to go get some golf vouchers as they are needed for the club's presentation day next week, but U can't be bothered getting fitted for mine. I will pay for G's bag & buggy if they want me to, but won't pick them until we get back on the 22nd Dec when G has a Cystogram(?) to make sure his urethra is attached properly to his bladder & can hopefully his catheter will be removed.
I think he'll be going home tomorrow. We haven't had lessons yet on changing a catheter. I just spoke to a nurse & she was very surprised. If he does go home tomorrow neither of us knows!
New skills!
I can now put compression stockings on him & we both know how to do injections.
The doctors just came around & said "We won't send you home today, if that's OK, but should be able to tomorrow. Everything looks good."
I had better work out how I'll get him to the car tomorrow & I'll need to buy him some trackies. His leg bag is going to be attached below his knee, so shorts are out!
The staff here are just wonderful!
I'll head off soon. G is doing the crossword. I do so love this man xo
 
Just done a big walk & a big shop! Phew! About to have lunch( a big breakfast!) at 2.30pm. I am ravenous!
Have trackies(pj's) for G, 2 lovely shirts for him for C'mas, boxers(he only has jocks, which will be uncomfortable), a summer nightie for me, slip on soft shoes for both of us.....a carton of milk for Gay, my new friend & some juice. I don't normally drink juice, but my body told me I needed it. I'm not drinking enough water! That must change.
 
Getting into low cars is harder than higher ones and pushing the seat back as far as it will go is helpful when you´re getting in and you´re not very flexible yet. I´m assuming you just have to change the catheter bags and not the thing itself, right? The first is no trouble at all (forget to close the line before detaching the bag once and you never will again) but the second is not something most people (need to) learn to do for themselves. Rest up and have a good trip!
 
He doesn't have to change the bag for a week & just has to empty it regularly & then another gets added overnight. He'll be right with it I think. We are both looking forward to going home tomorrow.
I was going to leave soon to walk Gaye back. She seems much older than she is & is quite frail. I need to be here to watch what they do with the catheter for overnight though.
If they have not been to do it soon I'll go tell her that I'll see her back at the home. I think G will be right to do it himself, but just in case, I would like to know.
I'll ask a nurse now. I'll pop back later xo
 
Even in the worst situations, you can make the strongest of bonds. Stronger in fact. That is why I can never be cynical about the human race, despite 2016 being a year to test that conviction.
 
So glad he's coming homeee - even with a catheter. They traaaaumatise me. Even emptying them freaks me out - you are a better woman than I! Enjoy having him back and take care xx
 
We are home, which felt really good at first. G is incredibly constipated & can't get comfortable. His catheter blocked, I rang the hospital & it had been strapped on incorrectly. We fixed it, but it wasn't a good experience. G has gone to bed again & I have attached his night bag, but I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight. Fast forward the next 2 weeks please!!!
He has an appointment for a Cystoscopy on the 22nd & hopefully the catheter will be removed then! :(
 
Catheters are horrible things - and not just because we only tend to need them for horrible reasons. But as long as you know it´s just for a little while... You´ll get used to it. I assume he got the memo about drinking a lot and all that? Being constipated for the first weeks after abdominal surgery is pretty common, I´m afraid. Maybe ask your physician for something to soften his stool? I know it´s not a "nice" topic but t tends to get harder the longer you wait.
 
I had bought stool softener & he had taken 2 at 4pm, then another 2 at about 10pm. I won't go into any gory details, but he's ok now. Success at 3.15am. We got some sleep & he has had a bowl of muesli & some stewed rhubarb & has gone back to bed & is sound asleep.
It will be a huge relief when the catheter comes out(hopefully the 22nd).
 
Horrible thing to deal with Cate... Hopefully knowing it should only be short term can help you cope. Take care of yourself
 
Thanks Katy. He had a good sleep, then another, then a shower, a brief visit from one of his favourite people, a small meal of cold chicken & a fresh green salad. I have rearranged our living room & he is in a recliner, asleep again. Feeling a bit more positive today. Last night was horrible.
 
Thanks sweets. He had a good day yesterday & a good night last night. I have to go out to the golf club for 1 hr & also do a quick shop. I know he'll be right while I'm gone, but I don't feel good about it. I am so sick of this bloody golf club. If I didn't go he would be stressed about it.
I'll be back later xo
 
LaMa- it went fine. I had so much fridge stocking to do though! The barmaid worked her last day on Sat & left the fridges in a state! The next one will have fridge stocking firmly in the job description. I'm a bit over the golf club.
Q- thanks for the hugs xo
Hana- thank you. I am hopeful that it will come out on the 22nd. Apparently he may tun like a tap for a few days after it comes out. Christmas Day will be home & our 2 sons & 3 GK's will come up in the afternoon & have dinner with us. R can cook.
Butterfly- We're keeping well hydrated. Lots of herbal tea!
A community nurse is coming around this morning to do the paperwork & will come back Friday to change his dressing & the main catheter.
G does not like the feeling of being so dozy. I have to gently remind him that he has had major surgery & it is not quite a week since he had it. I have also had to stop him weeding, lifting the watering can....I have to keep an eye on him, that's for sure! He is not used to being idle.
I'm cooking roast lamb today. I'll let him come up io the kitchen & give me instructions if it makes him feel better, but I know perfectly well how to cook roast lamb :)
Better go. My washing machine is nagging me! xoC
 
Catching up on your diary. Glad to hear the surgery went good! Hopefully the catheter comes out when expected! Those are not fun at all. *Big hugs!!*
 
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