Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations

foxgloves

That's a huge worry, @Suffolk_lass. Thank goodness you acted swiftly on the ambulance. Take care now.
F

Suffolk_lass

If MrSl's bloods improve again today, he will be moved to oral meds and can come home. Our diet will be changing radically to a combination of low fat (his aftermath), weightloss (I will join him, both for health and solidarity) and a low friction diet for me for the next fortnight, ahead of yet another procedure to remove polyps. It's like having internal acne! The diagnosis is a gallstone that was stuck in the bile duct, causing bleeding and infection (and acute pancreatitis). After my Dad died at the same age Mr Sl is from cancer of the pancreas, you can imagine the relief. I honestly wept when we received the diagnosis of the cause. Diets I can cope with.

Moving to more positive things, my beekeeping friend reimbursed us for the four colonies we gifted him last year after he lost four to European Foulbrood - 40 frames of nice new foundation. So I just need to have another look today for the dummy boards that I bought in September, and to make up four super frames of drone foundation (foundation is the sheets of undrawn wax - often wired, and stamped with the cell hexagonal pattern) - I use a super (honey box shallow frame) so the drone eggs are laid in one place. Part of my bio-mechanical mite control methods is to let the bees draw comb under the bottom bars of the shallow frame and then cull this twice a year (chickens love it). The mites (called Varroa destructor, prefer the male drone larvae as they take a bit longer to metamorphasise so the pest can complete more complete reproduction of offspring.

My lovely neighbours have rallied round this week, providing doggie day-care and evening dog-sitting, while I have been visiting or attending my meetings. DS&P have also changed their week to support me. I need to arrange for some thank you treats. I am thinking a basket with honey, and chocolates for the family with two young women who sat dog and walked him, and their Mum and Dad who have just been there to support me. And flowers for my other neighbour who had dog for a play-date with her miniature schnauzer - they were both shattered and slumped after two hours of zoomies, chasing and playing. She has offered for this afternoon too, as I expect to pick Mr Sl up (fingers crossed).

My gardener has switched from yesterday to today so I need to get a wiggle on this morning. Top dressing for the veg beds, planting onion sets and lifting and moving strawberries are all on the agenda, with a bit of clearing of pots and popping in some free herbaceous perennial plants I potted up.

In money news, Mr Sl's pensions both popped into the account today, so I Tilly tidied £36.87 to take the account total to the next £50. It means I can order the scaffold planks and the barn door fittings this month to complete two garden projects. The next big project involves building a temporary shelter or asking our friendly farmer if we can use a bit of a barn, while we rebuild our pig shed. I must add checking with the local planning authority to my list of things to do. No shopping needed here. I have been eating like a sparrow this week, and of course, Mr Sl has eaten nothing. I have cancelled tomorrow's milk, and the following weeks. then changed from whole to semi skimmed. Semi might be a transition, but if he makes his porridge with water and adds a splash of milk as the dressing, instead of all whole milk, our consumption may well drop by 50%. I only have it in tea or in sauces (which his diet may no longer allow). 

Right, another coffee and then onward!

Makingabobor2

Glad Mr SL's diagnosis is something you can cope with by diet.  My DH was in hospital 11 years ago and it ended up being diagnosed as Ulcerative Colitis, so I can understand how relieved you were.  He has also changed his diet. It turns out dairy products, onions, skins of veg and leafy green veg were not helping him at all. So he now has almond milk on his porridge. oh...and nuts and seed were making him worse as well....

Your bee keeping is like a foreign language...lol.  My friend keeps bees, but I never knew it was so complicated.  The honey she produces is lovely though. 

redofromstart

I am so pleased for you both. I hope he is home soon.

rtandon27

Phew - must be such a releif for you SL - glad to hear Mr SL will be home soon!

BalanceBy50

Lovely to hear good news about Mr SL. I am sure he will thrive under your care. Sending love & strength xx

Sun_Addict

I don't think I've commented on your diary before but have been following it for a while as I enjoy reading about the bees. Thank goodness Mr SL has something that can be controlled by diet, what a massive relief for you. 

foxgloves

What a huge relief, @Suffolk_lass. Gallstones are weird things. I have one myself. It grumbles occasionally in a minor way but my GP assured me it won't get stuck in my bile duct because it's too big to get in there. I have heard from various sufferers that the pain when one gets stuck is just horrendous & can indeed affect surrounding organs like the pancreas. At least this is something treatable & not your worst fear. I'm sure Mr SL will be well looked after at home & am sending my good wishes. Take care now, both of you,
F x

Spendywendywoo

Oh what a relief for you both. Take care of yourselves x

Twolabsandacat

Big sigh of relief for you SL