2012
1 FEBRUARY 2012 - WEDNESDAY

I lost my computer for a little over a day. I was panicking when I couldn't turn it on....
 
I had to wait for Jason to come home to see if he could fix it... but he was in a 'mood'... problems at work with people messing with settings he set up for recording funerals... filmed OK but someone messed with the audio settings.... no sound... oops.
 
He finally got around to checking out my computer.... turned off the surge board... unplugged everything and plugged them back in... it worked!!!! I thought about doing that BUT I can't get under my desk unless I want to spend the day there until someone came to help me up.  LOL!
3 FEBRUARY 2012 - FRIDAY
Had the Blue Care Nurse to take care of my dressing, then my friend Marj decided yesterday that she should drag me out of my prison for a couple of hours today.
She'll be here shortly after Gillian (nurse) leaves.

It very hard to say "No" to her... even for me so I'll check my emails as soon as I return incase I miss anything important.

No plonk on the itinerary for today so I should be awake when I get back... *S*
Did the prep on my ulcer at 10am for Gillian the Blue Care nurse
who I expected would arrive around 10:15am.
10:15am.... No Gillian
10:30am.... No Gillian
By this time, standing like a stork for 30 minutes was taking it's toll, I ended up sitting down
hoping the wet Gauze wouldn't fall off.... it didn't
10:45am... Still no Gillian

Marj was coming at 11am to pick me up...
So.... I decided to fix it myself, with great difficulty. Would help if I was a contortionist!! *S*
I succeeded and got as far as taping the dressing on 3 sides, couldn't manage the 4th side
(it's hard when the problem is on the back of the calve)
(BTW... it is healing... slowly.)
but Marj arrived just in time to help me out.
She also helped me with the compression tubes and we were on our way.
Just as we were leaving Gillian turned up... I told her she was FIRED!!!
I was joking of course... she'd been held up with her last patient (which is what I suspected).

I told her I had an appointment this coming Monday with a Surgical Specialist at the hospital.
I was hoping he was the same surgeon who helped me back in 2010... cured that ulcer with an antibiotic drip. He was South African, with a Dutch Name... Gillian recognised the name and said this is the same surgeon.
That made my day!!!
Marj and I took off... we went to a place called Bamboo Land.
It was awesome, the plants in the parkland area were from another world. The flowers were so unique, I wish I'd had a camera with me.  The different varieties of bamboo were reaching the sky, or so it seemed. In places it was eerie, so quiet, until a breeze came through and it felt and sounded like we were somewhere supernatural. *S*

Only one problem... the pathways were uneven... by the time we finished my feet were begging
for me to get back to the car. My legs ached and wiped me out for the rest of the day after I got home.
Jason had to make dinner... I couldn't stand up for long in one place.
.
4 FEBRUARY 2012 - SATURDAY

Today I had the fortnightly grocery shopping expedition... Jason ended up making dinner again... I couldn't.
By the time I got everything scanned and put away (after many rests in between) I was history.
My fingers ached from handling the groceries (some were heavy)...as well as my feet being in a lot of pain.
Thank heavens I can sleep in tomorrow morning.
Will give my body time to recover somewhat.

So, on Monday, I hope this specialist will be able to do something to help me.
I need to get back on RA medication. Six months without it isn't doing me any good.
6 FEBRUARY 2012 - MONDAY
Got back from the hospital around 11:30am with good news and bad news..

The good news is... I'm not allowed to stand for any more than 15 minutes at a time...
for the next three weeks....
which means....

I CAN'T MAKE DINNERS!!!!!
YIPPEE!!!!

Jason and Jared are going to have to make an effort for a change otherwise I'll end up in hospital.

I did see the same specialist I had in 2010... he had a student with him.
I was so happy to see him!
OK the situation is a little different to when he saw me way back then.

His instructions...
Stay off my feet as much as possible.
Keep my legs elevated as high as possible whenever I'm sitting or sleeping.
 
Give Gillian, my Blue Care Nurse his written instructions on Wednesday.
He gave me supplies so Gillian can change the dressings for me on Wednesdays and Fridays....
we may have to change the days.

Next Monday he'll see if there is any improvement and will have the results of the swab
done today so he'll know if I need more antibiotics.
The bad news.... sort of...
If I show no improvement then he's talking about a local anaesthetic (ouch!)
and debridement (not an option I want to consider)
and if that doesn't help, then.... skin graft!!! (That ain't gonna happen!!!!)
So... for the next 3 weeks I'll be doing everything possible to avoid the above options.
The house can fall down around me... I don't care!
 
At least Jared (grandson) will have some idea of how much is done for him by me by the time we're finished!
I hope it penetrates.... maybe all my problems are a good thing after all...??? *S*
7 FEBRUARY 2012 - TUESDAY

Most of you know Jason works for a funeral business... I forgot that Monday was the start of his 2 weeks "on call" which means he can be called any time of the night or day to 'pick up' from nursing homes, ordinary homes or police calls (accidents).
 
He was going to make dinner last night ... after he'd been fishing (he caught 5 nice ones *S*). OK... that meant dinner around 7:30pm.. not a problem.  That didn't happen... he got home at 7:30pm... He was in the middle of the preparation when he got a 'call out'... that took over an hour.... came home and continued making dinner... WE ATE AT 10PM!!!! LOL!!!

BUT... I taught him well... dinner (fish of course) was deeeelishus!!!! My stomach was thinking my throat was cut by the time we ate
but it was worth the wait. As well as the regular fish, cut in small portions, he made fish balls using herbs he's been growing. The salad was set on the plate 'restaurant style'... very pretty!!

Much as I wanted to jump in and help... I restrained myself. *S* Because Jason made the dinner... Jared had to wash up... bad luck!!! *S*

It's Jared's turn tonight... that could prove interesting... He suggested 'Hot Dogs"... fortunately we don't have any! He'll have to put what he learned on his 'hospitality' course into action.
 
I'm really going to enjoy the next 3 weeks.... better than a holiday!!! LOL!!! AND I don't feel in the least guilty!!!! (snigger!!!)
24 FEBRUARY 2012 - FRIDAY

Hhaving problems accessing the Artistry Forum.
Not sure of everyone is being denied access.

I have to wait for Jason to come home to check it out and have to go to the doctor  in an hour and a half. I hope he comes home with time to spare before I have to leave.

I get told to contact the Administrator... that's ME and I can't access anything..... grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason came home....
He can't get in either but he can access the Database and is searching for the problem.
 
I bet it's one of those nasty spammers I keep deleting (payback), wouldn't surprise me if
they haven't hacked in somehow.

I'm sure Jason will find the problem, but it may take a while. Hope it's not too long.
26 FEBRUARY 2012 - SUNDAY

It's 11:30 Sunday night here and I've been checking through the emails I missed today because I spent the day in bed...

I woke up early this morning and felt like I'd gone 10 rounds in a boxing match.... and lost!
Everything hurt from my toes to my finger tips.  So I stayed in bed.   I wish I knew the cause so I could do something about it.  I do think I really need to get back on some RA medication soon.
 
Jason put in a 1 minute appearance about 11am with a coffee and informing me the forum was up and working again.

The next time anyone stuck their nose in my room was 7:30pm... Jared telling me dinner was ready... I told him to "shove it!".  I was ticked off because I felt they couldn't care less about me....  2 visits 8 1/2 hours apart,  it would be different if either of them were sick!  O.K. I'm feeling sorry for myself.... obviously no-one else in this house feels sorry for me. Actually I don't want their pity... but it would have been nice of them to pretend they care and occasionally ask if I needed anything.

I went through to the kitchen at 10pm to get a coffee.... it looked like a bomb had hit it!!
What a mess!!!
When I make dinner everything is cleaned up before it's served.  I decided to ignore it, make my coffee and return to my room otherwise I would have said something I'd regret later. I hope it's gone in the morning! If it isn't I won't be doing anything for them tomorrow.

I was told last Tuesday when I went to the hospital that I would have an appointment with a Dr. Van Rooyen (who cleared up my first ulcer) this coming Monday.... of course I didn't receive a confirmation of the appointment either by mail or by phone.
So, I've been left high and dry tomorrow.  Time to write to the Patient Liaison Officer again I think....

Sorry for whining... and the self pity. It helps for me to have a 'bitch' about it.