Monday

Got up to the hospital a bit later than expected today. Thought I was organised but just as I was leaving I noticed one of the kitchen cupboard doors was about to fall off. Nearly left it but then thought kids would go and open it and it would fall off. Now normally I'd ask Michael to do it, give up waiting and do it myself so I just did it myself. Then got in Michael's car and realised I didn't have my handbag. Couldn't find it in the house either. Retraced my steps and found it sitting in my car from yesterday!! At last, ready to go...

Thankfully no traffic and, at last, after a two week absence, Vanessa was back on the radio!!

When I arrived, Michael was feeling sick. His stomach tube is now on freeflow which is alleviating some of the sickness but he still looks forward, and counts the hours, until his next anti-sickness injection. Unbelievably now, when he drinks you can then watch the fluid come straight out the tube. He's obviously getting a bit dehydrated but he should be nil by mouth anyway for the endoscopy this afternoon.

Before I arrived, also had the stitches out from his stoma. We'd had differing reports as to whether they were dissolvable or not. Apparently not - some had to be left in as they were too difficult to remove and they'll try later on in the week. Not surprisingly, as they've been in for over 3 weeks, skin has started to grow over them.

Michael's poor arms are even more black and blue. His venflons keep going and have to constantly be re-sited. At one point they thought he had cellulitis on his arm but apparently not. It looks very red and sore though. There has been some discussion about putting another central line in to make access easier but the Surgeon is adamant that because of the infection (which seems to be under control - still on antibiotics) he should have no central line. The other alternative is a picc line into his arm but not sure if that's a definite. Would be so much easier as having to site a venflon a day is hard for the Doctors and extremely painful for Michael. He can tell when they're about to stop working because the pain as medicines are syringed through is excrutiating :(

Bathroom just being cleaned but so far the towels that have been on the floor since Friday haven't been removed yet.

Michael's now dozing whilst we wait for him to be taken down. Quite funny but he's been left with all the gadgets and tubes that are needed for the endoscopy. He just has to remember to take them down with him. He'll be given general anaesthetic but shouldn't be under for too long. Could quite do with a sleep myself, although Michael's selfishly hogging the bed!!

Justine

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