Feels like I’ve won the lottery - a few days or so in a London hospice, been here since 2pm today.
If you thought hospices are only about caring for those in god’s waiting room, you’re missing the more important bit of their role - pain control especially. So after a long assessment with the doctor I’ve been started on Oxynorm & we’ll play with dosages & drugs until I’m out of pain.
The only downside here is the 48 hour isolation period due to Covid. Poor me - stuck in this posh room with big windows, trees & a bird feeder to point my binoculars at, room service (I can get a snack at 3am)... no cooking or housework or exercise, just rest rest rest - this is bliss
Don’t be shy to ask your GP for referrals to palliative care teams, they’re practically miracle workers. Toni
Sounds very 5* Toni (Toni8776), it’s good to get the message out there that palliative care & hospice isn’t just for end of life care. I hope that you manage to get your pain under control quickly & you enjoy your break in the lap of luxury. 
️
Nicola
Hi Toni8776 sounds like a really posh hotel! Pre the Big C, I thought that if you went into a hospice you wouldn’t come out again. Not so at all, like you say they are used to get pain under control or for respite care. Hope the pain relief gets sorted out. Bev x
Sounds like good advice 
night night. Xx
Hi all, a little update...
Last Friday they were short staffed at the hospice & had to move all 1st floor patients up to the 2nd floor. My new room’s loo was out in the corridor & shared with the patient next door - not a great idea when I need to spend a long time there most visits!
So I came home, with painkillers & a new laxative (the last one had been too strong, I’ll spare you the gory details
)
A couple of days later I started going for walks again, 8-10k steps/day but not pushing it any more - feels so much nicer. I passed an empty hairdresser Wednesday & had my first cut in 2 years. Totally loving cooking my own food, baking my own bread & doing my own chores again.
I’m learning how to adjust the doses of painkillers & laxatives. And if I need them, my community palliative care team are there for me...
Be well xx toni
Hi Toni (Toni8776),
Great to hear you’re feeling the benefits of your little holiday. It’s also good to hear you’re getting out & about but as you say be careful not to over do things.
It seems that medication is always a juggling act, I’m afraid it’s one of those things that one size doesn’t fit all & it’s sometimes ever changing also especially where our bowels & the softeners or loperamide etc., are concerned but I’m sure your learning the signs & how to manage them.
Enjoy being home & doing your thing.
Nicola
Thanks Nicola Nikki65,
You’re so right about the juggling act, they call it trial & error but I think they should rename it ‘trial by torture’
But, as the cliché goes, it’s a marathon not a sprint. Tokyo Olympics here I come...
Have a good weekend x toni
Thanks Marie, the hairdresser was up for taking breaks when I needed to stand up - we only needed one break cos he worked so fast. Or he was desperate for the money xxx toni
