THE FUTURE IS ONE BIG CHALLENGE AFTER ANOTHER for 3Dogs and friends ..... PART 4

3Dogs

Alan is coming home today (Wednesday) :j :j :j :j :j :j :j

Our S/World Consultant took me over to see him yesterday as still having problems with the van and she wanted to see him. She had told the members at the 3 classes on Monday and everyone was very concerned, so she got them to sign a big card and made a collection to get him a gift from them all. He was delighted and brought to tears reading the lovely messages on the card, and thrilled with his iPod she had bought from the collection :eek:. She had downloaded some music he likes, about 200 tunes including Free Bird his favourite, but space for another 2000 or so she said. Plus there is something being delivered at home today

Anyway the doc came round when I was there and said he could come home today but would still have the drainage bag on the abcess wound, and would have to go back first thing next Tuesday to see him in clinic to have it removed then. They had taken out the clips/staples earlier but had left one as the wound was open there. The doc said to take it out and it would need a bit padding but would be ok like that

He would also need to come back to see him in clinic in 6 weeks and that the oncologist would be in touch with him in due course to discuss chemo, but that Alan would have to decide on whether to have that at the time, after being given the facts

I asked if he could have hospital transport home which the nurse said he would arrange. I am taking the van over to our mates for him to fix at 9 am this morning and his wife will run me home, then I can continue getting house ready for his return

Monday night I did manage to get the furniture move finished in the bedroom. I moved and sorted 'the pile' from one corner, emptied my larger wardrobe, moved that wardrobe to where 'the pile' had been, put clothes back into it. Took out the drawers in a chest of drawers, moved the frame to other side of room, and put back the drawers, though I have yet to go through the things in those drawers. I started doing it around 10 pm and finished at ..................... 3.30 am :eek: :eek: At one point, when I had moved the furniture but all the 'pile', and contents were piled high on the bed, all I wanted to do is go to bed and sleep but I had to work my way through everything, hanging clothes back up and sorting through everything again, and finding a place for it. I wouldn't say that the bedroom is tidy, as we still have too much stuff in there, but the furniture is all where I want it, making it easier for Alan ............. and I have 8 black bin liners of clothes, handbags, etc out the front to dispose of, a recycling bin full of cardboard, etc and our normal bin is full too ................ and I still have stuff in the house ready to throw out too. I also have quite a pile of things that can go back to Stuart for selling. When it is all gone, things will look better still

I haven't told Alan that I have been doing the bedroom, so hope he is pleasantly surprised when he gets home though I know I will get wrong for doing so much and I do ache all over, but am pleased with myself for actually doing it :j :j

When I got back from visiting Alan, I had something to eat and then text the family and friends to update them, and I was so tired, I was nodding off as I typed so I went for a nap at 6 pm ...................... and woke just after Midnight :eek: :eek: so just had something to eat so I could take some pain-killers, updating on here, and then going back to bed

3Dogs

Aesop wrote: »

Please be careful moving the furniture etc. remember you need to take care of yourself too.

Anyway, post on way to you if I get anything else will send on.

It came today Aesop - many thanks :T :T

beanielou wrote: »

Sounding promising on Alan getting home.
Take it easy on the furniture removals.
Have you thought about applying for DLA yet?
Will you get a chance to speak to the Dr again?
If so please ask them if they would be willing to complete Df1600 or is it a DS 1600.

Have been waiting to see Macmillan as I believe they can fast-track claims to benefit and make sure that we get everything we are entitled too, plus they make grants from their own funds for exptra expenses. Someone did come and talk to alan yesterday but I am going to have to ring the office and make an appointment for their financial advisor to come see us at home to do the necessary paperwork and they will take it from there

savingwannabe wrote: »

Hello sweetie, you sound as if you are doing sooo much. I hope you get a chance to rest. Miss you and will see you both soon,

hugs, sw.:A:A:A:A:A:A:j

Miss you too sweetie - see you in April though :j :j

Off to bed now x x x

boultdj

Woohoo:j to Alan coming home.

beanielou

Great news :j :j :j
Yah to ipod.
You have been a busy bee.
Try to take it easy.

3Dogs

Evening guys, yes, Alan is now back home where he belongs

The day started badly as I was supposed to drive our van over to Stuarts at 9 am for him to fix but ..................... I slept in He rang at 10 am and I said sorry and that I would get up then but ................ I fell asleep again I eventually got up at 11.30 am I rang them and Stuart asked me to ring insurers and get his name added to policy and his partner would run him over to collect it, which I did ................. and he had it back to me around 3 pm, all fixed :j :j

Alan rang me several times as the day went on and was still waiting for them to sort everything out for his discharge, then I rang him just before 4 pm and he had been discharged and was downstairs awaiting hospital transport (car). While we were talking, the driver came for him and he arrived home at 4.40 pm The porter wondered what was up as all the nurses and other staff rushed over when he was taking Alan downstairs, to say bye-bye and wish him all the best. He said 'you must be special as they don't normally do that'.

I took him on a mini tour to show him the work I had done, and he was astonished that I'd been able to manage to do it, but very pleased that it was done He had 3/4 of a Rustlers cheeseburger and I sorted out his tablets into containers, which took some time as he has to take 32 tablets a day plus a fibragel-type thing twice a day. He fell in love with Molly straight away

He relaxed sitting in his chair, which is a high-backed support one, watching tv and chatting, but has gone to bed now as he is shattered just with the 'coming home' and I hope he can sleep ok. We did have panic and tears earlier when he tried to change his ileostomy bag when it leaked, and he couldnt manage to do it, even after 2 tries. I heard him sobbing in the bathroom so went in and helped him, suggesting that he lie down on the bed to do it as that's the only way he'd done it in the hospital. I sorted it out for him, but he'd got upset earlier because he 'hadn't wanted me to have to do this for him', bless him. It is going to take a long time for him to get used to all this and I will help him anyway and anytime he wants me to. We will get through all this together

I rang Macmillan advice centre today and left a message explaining the position and that we needed financial advice/help, so I am hoping that they get back to me tomorrow

I have washing in now but will be going to bed when that finishes, as I am still shattered. With doing so much heavy work, which I don't normally do, I have been taking my full whack of painkillers (tramadol) and they make me sleepy, so it is the combination of the tablets and the work that has me dropping off to sleep at the drop of a hat

beanielou

Tears falling out of my eyes.
So pleased for you both.
So pleased Allan liked Mollie.
Take care both & keep plodding xxxx

patman99

Superb!. Give Alan my regards and tell him sometimes it is easier to let someone else do the fiddly things, especially if they are more able to get in the right position to see what they are doing.

Got my mum a photomug for £1.99 p&p thanks to a mention of a free offer on MSE. I have used a photo of her jrt so she will be over the moon.

3Dogs

beanielou wrote: »

Tears falling out of my eyes.
So pleased for you both.
So pleased Allan liked Mollie.
Take care both & keep plodding xxxx

Plod Plod Plod :A :A :A

patman99 wrote: »

Superb!. Give Alan my regards and tell him sometimes it is easier to let someone else do the fiddly things, especially if they are more able to get in the right position to see what they are doing.

Got my mum a photomug for £1.99 p&p thanks to a mention of a free offer on MSE. I have used a photo of her jrt so she will be over the moon.

That was the problem Pat, with him standing up, his belly was getting in the way and he couldn't see what he was doing, plus everything was in a different place, if you know what I mean, to when he was lying down

So_Sad_Angel

Hi 3dogs

Sorry I'm not about much but I have been keeping up to date & I just want to say a big welcome home for Alan . Such a relief & he will settle better for being at home.

Please take it easy though as you haven't stopped rushing about so try & get some proper rest Hun.

take care & although posting is difficult(no internet until next week) I do check in every night on my phone.

Love to you both,

Angiex

Aesop

:j:j yay to Alan being home.

Just shows how special you and Alan are, the lovely gift from your slimming class, the huge card, the Ipod and downloading his favourite music And then the nurses and other staff coming to say goodbye to Alan

we are all very lucky to know you both.

Hope you both are not in too much pain. Please get some rest tomorrow now that Alan is home.

Hope the Macmillan nurses come round this week to get your claim started.

If you need anything, you know where we are xxxx