When the arrangements were made for me to have my feeding tube removed at home one of the stipulations was that I had to have a responsible adult with me at all times for 48 hours. I thought this was just a precaution in case I felt unwell. I now realise that it is an essential requirement because I am completely helpless while I recover.
I can‘t bend over or stretch up at all. It’s not until you can’t do this that you realise how much you do these movements in your everyday routine. I was in this state of course after the tube was put in, but then I was being looked after in hospital. Now I’m at home and I need to be able to get food out of the fridge and the kitchen cupboards. The washing machine need loading and the bed needs making. And I don’t know how I’m going to get my socks on. Husband is going to have a busy day!
Another requirement is that I am to avoid coughing, sneezing and laughing whenever possible. It’s not just that these activities hurt, they also cause seepage. I won’t say too much about the seepage, let’s just say they don’t stitch the hole, they leave it to close up naturally.
So how do you get through the day without laughing? I don’t trust myself to speak to anyone on the phone, they are all so used to cheering me up that someone is bound to accidentally say something funny. My Kindle is full of books with a light-hearted theme. It’s actually a very good reading list recommended by Macmillan, they gave it to me at the hospital, but this is not a day for Adrian Mole’s Diaries. And I don’t think I’d better go near any of my favourite comedy shows on the TV or radio.
Thought I’d be safe popping onto this site to post my blog. But I see there are new goodies in my favourite group “Laughter Is The Best Medicine”. I wonder how long I can resist temptation before I have a little peep…
