7. A Few Days and Start of Physiotherapy

Day 6 – Thursday 17^th January 2019

Medical Update: Gradually, I kept awake more often, became more aware of what occurred around me, as the dull hospital schedule continued.  I had been told that I was improving, getting stronger but why the restraints?  Colin told me that I had been trying to pull free from my drips and feed tubes in my sleep again, so I had been tied down at night.  Charming! Back to torture sessions again!  Colin informed me that my brain blood clot had been large and was in a dangerous place in my lower cranium.  My Doctor, had told Colin that it had been a miracle that I pulled through at all. I hadn’t been out of the woods yet. I had to relax more and stop my fight against their medical staff and procedures. 

Speech Slight Improvement: I had slept much better, with no unusual and intriguing dreams.  It really must have been the previous medication!  My speech had slightly improved, but I still slurred like a drunk. At least people could make out what I was trying to say.   Colin said that it hadn’t stopped my nagging, especially regarding the late print deadline.   I had no idea how bad I must have sounded before, so I had to be more tolerant and not assume everyone had been deaf – it was me! It had been my fault when anyone had me repeat things.

Physio Therapy: I had been informed that I would start some physiotherapy the next day. Great news as it meant that I had made some progress.

Blood Pressure: After more tests, my blood pressure remained pretty high, so I needed even further tests. Dr Hamad hadn’t been happy with my condition and I had to be monitored even more. I certainly wasn’t going anywhere.  Colin and my sisters told me to hang on and to keep fighting.  For the life of me, I had no idea what else I was able to do!  Anything I had been asked to do, I tried. For everyone’s sake.  Not just for me.

INTRODUCING “Chuck”

Internet Messages: Colin and sisters had told me what lovely and amazing responses they had from Colin’s facebook updates.  I felt really touched, but still hadn’t been able to focus properly to read them.  Not even with my reading glasses!  It had been horrible not responding myself, when I normally would have replied fairly quickly to emails and social media. However, I had to learn to accept that I couldn’t rush things, be calm and be more patient.  Not something that I have ever been known for.  As we talked about our facebook friends, Colin mentioned that he had been in contact with “Chuck” a few times.  Who was Chuck?  Well, a few years before, I had discovered that he was my American blood father. If you would like to read our story, please click on the following link: HERE

MY FIRST WEEK – 18^th January 2019

Blood Test Result: Back in the hospital, the new tests showed that my blood clot had reduced very slightly, so Dr Hamad had been a little happier with me.  I had no idea how the clot had reduced, but I was in a more relaxed frame of mind that week.

My First Physio Session: My first physiotherapist came that afternoon.  Although I hadn’t said anything, I had been pretty appalled to be faced by a very young woman. She looked about 15 years old!  This would be the person to tell me what to do?  Yeah right!  Colin and my sisters watched intently, as I had to go through certain motions.  The physio lady had been very patient with me, as she established the lack of movement in my left arm and leg.  She had shown me how to use my good right hand to lift my bad left arm, which I had to repeat exercises at least 10 times a day.  The reason for this exercise was to wake up my muscles and stimulate some eventual response.  The explanation had made sense, so I tried to do it regularly.  I had a new found respect for the phsysio lady afterwards. She no longer resembled a child in my eyes.

19^th January 2019

Card Shark: When Colin and my sisters visited, I kept asking when I could go home.  I must have driven them mad, so Colin told me I couldn’t leave until I would be able to walk out of the hospital.  At least I had something to aim for.  I had desperately wanted to prove to everyone that, after regular exercise of my left arm and leg, I could be OK to go home.  To prove that I had been getting back to normal, I challenged Colin and Vivian to a card game of gin rummy.  Unfortunately, I just couldn’t shuffle or deal the cards like I used to, so they had to do these tasks for me. I had failed my first test.  I needed my good right hand to pick each card and then discard. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to hold the dealt cards in my left hand properly. I resorted to hide them flat on my bed, under my bed sheet.  I had failed the second test. It took me an age to pick up, discard and check my cards, and to their dismay, however, I actually won eventually!  I thought I had proven my right to go home.  Noooooo! I was told that I had to be more patient than that.  Rats!  It was worth the effort to bargain for.

22^nd January 2019

Armchair Torture: I was told that I had seemed pretty lucid, but my speech still slurred. Only time would tell.  After a few days of the physio visits, I had been forced to sit in an armchair for a couple of hours.  I hated it and constantly asked to return to the comfort of my bed. Colin and sisters had insisted that I had to be patient and continue to sit for at least an hour each time.  This would be good for my diaphragm. The longer I sat and could bear to sit upright, the better it would for me.  I had loathed the sitting routine but, the more I tried, the more positive the tests would be and the sooner I would be allowed home ……

Please view next page 8 at Link “More Tests and Being a Naughty Girl”: https://www.rebootinglinda.com/more-tests-and-being-a-naughty-girl/

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