General Taking Care Of Me

[amethist]

Thank you both for your replies and good wishes.

Thanks for the "hugs" Iam, boy I sure need them right now. Looking at the best way to go with this today, I have done a bit of research of what is the best diet and some alternative therapies, but not gone into it too much until now.

DIH, you are welcome to come across to the carers side any time. I will look up about "Porcelain Gall Bladder", it has not been mentioned, but if what was described, it sounds as if that is what it could be, as in calcified and thickening around the top wall.

LOL you would not have called me terrific this morning or maybe for the last few days, hubby has been getting his butt kicked again. But today I gave in, he can do all he does not want to do and all he does want. Which is to sit on his butt from the minute he gets up to when he goes to bed. OK do it his way now, I have no fight left to argue with him, he either takes responsibility or he suffers. I quit for now, but his support will be told on Thursday, no more letting him tell them he is fine, he can't see the problem, but everyone else can. The support is there for him, but he now has to ask for it, it won't be suggested or offered for a while.

OK time for me to chill and do more of my own thing.

 

[amethist]

Thanks for the replies guy's. It helps to know others can understand my frustrations with all this.

They have not mentioned porcelain gall bladder, but I did google it. Not sure it is as bad as that, but I do know the top third is thickening and is probably the cause of all the issues.

Still no call from the hospital, which they said would be done the day or day after their meeting. MM so now it too late today for them to call, sooo maybe tomorrow, which will be then 4 days after they said they would call. Naa I'm dreaming surly, so is seems like they are either ignoring my request top deal with it sooner rather than later on hubby's medical grounds, or they are not going to remove it as has been suggested by some many other professionals. So I will now forget it and handle this my own way, (Should have done that in the first place). :rolleyes:

Hubby was really ill last week with a bad cold virus, but seems to got over most of it now. Other issues have come up, but we can deal with easier now.

Now I getting on my life and doing what I intend to do, which is to decorate our kitchen for Christmas, and yes hubby is going to help me. He makes a stunning gofer. ;)

 

[deer_in_headlights]

Hi Amethist,

I have chills and goosebumps right now, reading your post. I gotta jump in and encourage you to do something that I really dislike doing. Hospitals (and Dr offices) frequently make mistakes and forget to call!
That means, unfortunately, you need to be your own health care advocate, and keep up the communication.
It's really important that you do this. Often your case or paperwork gets lost in the huge shuffle, and if an over-stressed office manager or nurse forgets, important details (like calling to tell someone they need/don't need surgery, tests, etc...) just don't get taken care of. It stinks, but it's really important to keep a "lit match or fire to their toes". If they said they were going to call the next day, and they didn't, then you need to call them back. ( :p, I know)

I was taught this by some major-league Drs when I was in a health crisis.

I love Dr. Bernie Siegel's books. He was a surgeon, and now he teaches people survival and advocacy skills when faced with surgery, severe illnesses, etc... I love his advice (including marking the surgical site with an indelible marker, to minimize mistakes by the surgical team. I.e. he made me laugh when he talked about a woman about to have breast cancer surgery. On one, she wrote something like "This one". On the other breast, she wrote "Not THIS one, stupid!")

Please call the hospital back, to find out if they have any updated information for you. It is actually easy, can be cordial, relaxed, even funny - and you'll keep informed and in touch with the Drs. IF they say something like "No surgery is indicated at this time", THEN you can put it out of your mind with greater peace, instead of ignoring/avoiding it and hoping it'll go away (my anxiety levels always spike whenever I try to do that).

You are so terrific, I don't want you to be in unnecessary pain or sickness!
With much caring and concern, and hoping for good news for you!
deer

 

[amethist]

Still no word from the hospital, well there's a surprise. I did think about ringing them, but to be honest, I don't have the department number. I will main switchboard on Monday and ask to be put through.

I have given up ringing hospital when hubby is in crisis mode though, never had any help when I have, either answer phone, or as was told last time they would come and see him tonight after 11pm, that was at 2.30 in the afternoon. I ended up bundling him into a taxi and taking him to see them. Now I have learnt how to get him through them on my own, luckily he has the trust in me to be able to do it. The last time he rang his own support, the guy was supposed to ring back the next day, you guessed it, he never did.

Yesterday I finally had my hair coloured for Christmas, hubby did a good job again. This time I have natural Dark Burgundy, it looks stunning, a bit redder than I have had in the past, but very nice. Hubby likes it, "A LOT" LOL, it reached parts you would not expect. ;), no complaints from me with that one. Mega smiles this morning :).

Today I am going to do the rest of my Christmas shopping with my youngest daughter, still have to work out how to get hubby's present home with out him seeing it, bit big to hide in a cupboard or a drawer. Will have to think about that one for a while, a tool box on wheels is not what you would call an easy thing to hide.

We have got started on our kitchen, taking it slowly, can't rush a man when he is helping and not doing, now can you. :rolleyes:

 

[Nicolette]

The butterfly effect has begun, starting at the top and working down

Yesterday I finally had my hair cut, and I mean cut. from being almost waist length at the back to collar length all round.

I have done this........to me this is a sign of wanting change and finding oneself for who you are inside and not just visually. While I have grown my hair back to longer than the 'Posh Spice' cut I initially dramatically had done it helped me realise that people still liked me for who I was on the inside. It also took the visual focus off me and made it more about finding that self worth that had dropped to the bottom of the damn list and pulling it back to the top. Just my experience.

To me this signifies a journey of your own self discovery after losing yourself in all of the trauma of the past years which has drained you resulting in a somewhat 'lost' identity. Great sign if you ask me. It's time to put the PTSD aside in your life and step up and count yourself in with just as much importance if you ask me. ((hugs)).

 

[amethist]

I took your advise DIH, I called in at my doctors surgery yesterday to as if they had heard anything from the hospital. Well surprise surprise, they had. They had been to told that they had decided to go ahead with the decision made, erm what decision, nope sorry not a clue. So armed with no more information, I came home and phoned them.

After a few calls I finally managed to talk to the surgeons secretary, she could not have been more helpful. She apologised for no one phoning me and yes they had decided to operate as the scan did show this was needed now rather than later. She said she would get in touch with the surgeon and see when he had a space, as I was not yet on the surgery waiting list, and would ring me back tomorrow well today now. I explained that I would really like this sorting soon, as I did not want to leave it to be an emergency due to hubby and his PTSD. Bless her.she told me to leave it with her and she would sort it out as fast as she could, she understood my reason for needing it dealing with as soon as possible.

I could not believe it when less than an hour later she phoned me back, with 3 available dates. Wow, so a choice of the 7th, 14th or 20th of December. I have decide to take the 7th, as this will give me time to get back on my feet enough for a nice quiet Christmas, but without being laid with my feet up all the time.

I was not expecting a date so soon, thought it would be late January early February at the earliest.

All I have to do now is confirm the date for definite, now I know my youngest daughter can take the day off to be with Stu and collect me after it is all finished.

So a few phone calls, being nice and just asking, got the outcome I wanted.

This is one time when the NHS have gone out of their way to help.

Amethist

 

[Nicolette]

Wow. great stuff Amethist...even having a choice of dates so you are fighting fit for when your 'hot' Australian Christmas card arrives.

Things are turning up smelling roses! (or was that oils?) :D

 

[amethist]

Hot Australian Christmas card arrived today thank you Nicolette. And no I did not chew the postman's leg to get it ROFL.

Going to have to get all mine done and posted as soon as possible now. They are sat here in front of me, will make time tonight for the long distance ones.

The oils I can smell just now are Lemon and Basil, a blend for hubby, with added Patchouli to help him keep going longer.

 

[Jawn]

Great news Amethist. Some times good things due happen from government entities. ;)

Jawn

 

[amethist]

OOPS ROFL

I just notice what I posted earlier. "With added Patchouli to keep him going longer"

Oh how I wish LOL.

It means , " To help him be alert longer". He is still having problems with tiredness, and it is driving him nuts. But he has got a problem with his ear right now, he is seeing the nurse again next week. An old issue that needs sorting again.

Amethist

 

[Nicolette]

I use Patchouli......in my office when trying to stay alert working!

 

[amethist]

Maybe add some Lemon, Grapefruit or Orange to it Nicolette. The citrus ones will give you a mood lifting boost.

Aww no thumbs up any more. OK this will do :D LOL