A long night

Back blip

Hospitals are not the best places for getting restful sleep. This was 3am and little sleep was achieved before daylight.

Initially there were 4 ladies in this bay, but two have gone home, so the big bed move took place. The remaining two of us have a 4 bedded bay to ourselves .......Covid and social distancing requirements. It is cooler and quieter.  I have got rid of two monitors and assorted rubbish, which makes walking to the toilet escorted by two nurses less like a coronation procession.

The physio arrived to “walk” me. I was none too enthusiastic being sleep deprived and complained that someone had a pinball machine in my chest and was knocking hell out of it. Monitor back on, more tablets and a sleep. It transpired that my pulse rate was in the 140’s, normal 70 - 80!!! The tablets worked and everything has settled.

It was at this point that I decided to acknowledge my new bit of plumbing. I’ve called her Bertha 95, a bit like a freeway in the USA. She exits my heart with a new valve going up, then round to supply blood to my brain, arms and other areas. She and I must be friends and care for one another.

A trip in a wheelchair to the X-ray department was a delight!!! Cool air as we passed openings and the sight of people wearing masks reinforces the sense of protection.