Awake and up all night

Just for something different, there aren't really gardens in my streets, just cottage back yards but there are an awful lot of plants and stuff around. Som deliberate, some feral. These beauties are well over 6ft

...So following the video, which had gone over OH's head, he wrote that he didn't want a TEP voice prosthesis as he just wanted the giant tumour on his larynx out, end of. He now bitterly regrets that decision as he now knows it would have been his best chance of having a sort of voice.

Whilst he was in hospital he'd write on his board and when I got home in the evenings we'd text. Then his texts became really odd, like someone else was sending them. I just thought he was either sinking into depression or going funny from being banged up for so long.

After loads of horrible times too numerous to mention, he had his surgery and was placed in a different hospital. At the start he seemed a little better but the texts got worse to the point I told him to stop, as they were making me cry and I really thought he was going mad.  I even toyed with the idea another patient had got hold of his phone as I didn't recognise the person who was sending the weird and often cruel texts.

Part 3 to follow if you're still awake.

A brief interlude whilst part 3 is being prepared by Gill.

Tonight's antibiotic was preceded by a Ryveta with a slice of gorgonzola, then a toasted hot cross bun. The pill instructions advise taking each one after food but they do not say what sort of food. Just one more dose tomorrow morning. xxx

It can be just as intriguing when your pills say which other pills you need to leave several hours gap between and which foods you need to avoid.

Can mean you need 37 hour day and to live on pocket fluff ... unless that counts as fiber

Cheers

True.  My current drug says 'don't take indigestion pills when taking nitrofurantoin.'  Not very helpful if the gorgonzola kicks my intestines all night.

Regarding your fabulous thistle photo...I love thistles, particularly the pale leafed very tall ones which are common in parts of southern France but occasionally show up on verges or gardens in the UK.

Final part 3.

So before his discharge, OH and myself had many a frosty visitor session but I encouraged him to keep writing on his board and even arranged a chaplain visit, anything to stop him spiralling further. The very sparse visits from Gorgon helped nobody and even the nurses got exasperated with her!

After 3 and a half months, discharge day arrived and that's when I got to the bottom of OH's weirdness and why he'd become an alien being - they'd put him on an antidepressant without our prior knowledge or consent. I immediately read up and found they cause emotional blunting and all the other symptoms of his drastic personality change. I was fuming and tapered him off, quick smart!

On to the present.

OH has gone the other way and become himself again, but there are many tears and he's on the list for counselling. He does use his writing board, which is good, and sends nice texts when we're not in the same room. I've put a little bell at the side of his bed and one in the bathroom so he can tinkle for assistance and I'll then go up and sort him out.

He's got an electrolarynx (Elvis) but that's a sore point as his practice has been abysmal. I bought him a tablet with the intention of him using text to speak, again abysmal effort put in, so I can only hope counselling will help him see that he MUST help himself too, otherwise I'll have to brush up on my lipreading skills. I also have to do all his speaking for him in every situation which is a massive drag.

Hopefully that's given you a small insight into his communication, which isn't anywhere near good enough in my eyes.

He's too lazy and I'll take some of the blame, his vile mother can take the rest xxx

Could you risk your sanity by asking him to explain the rules of cricket, adding that you will only listen if he uses his Elvis?

 I suppose I could give it a whirl, Ray. At least some of his SOH has returned xxx

A three minute session once a month in order to protect your will to live.