Pre-Operative assessment

Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing OK!! I had my first visit from my new carer this morning and it went really well. She helped me to get up washed and dressed and helped me get my breakfast etc which was great as ive been really struggling - especially since i am now one - armed!!! The cake worked for my neighbours son by the way - it was a noah's ark cake with edible marzipan animals though the icing was a tad iffy as i had to do it one-armed lol!!! It went down very very well though lol!!! Anyways back to this morning - I then had an assessment from my key carer who did a list of my meds and everything i need help with etc!!

I then rushed to my pre - op assessment and arrived a bit late - to get told off oops!! She did my blood pressure which was fine - i then had my oxygen levels done which were ok at 96% she sent me for bloods as she wanted to see what my theophylinne level and haemoglobin levels were as i have been very anaemic. She also wanted me to have spirometry tests done to see if my lung function was ok and listened to my heart and lungs. Lungs were ok for me and heart was fine. Unfortunatly my spirometry results started off not very good and got gradually worse the more blows i had to do as my chest got more tight! So my final results were an FEV1 of 49%, FVC of 44%, VC of 57% and peak flow of 58%! These are slightly low and I am rather well at the moment so it has sent them a little twitchy on the ward as they dont normally deal with any brittle asthmatics! It also took ages to get blood from me and my almost non-existant veins -thankfully they got enough....eventually!!!I am hoping that it wont stop them getting on with the op tomorrow.

Sooooo, I have to be at the ward for 7am in the morning (which means getting a taxi at 6.15am!!!) i think im going in my PJ's lol!!!! I have to take a suitcase with my overnight stuff in as they will probably keep me overnight if i do have the op tomorrow!!

Anyways i will keep you all posted but hopefully it will all go ahead without any problems tomorrow!

Take care everyone, speak soon,
Lotsa lv Rattles Xxxx

Another award to hand out...

I wanted to acknowledge a few people who I feel deserve this little award. I chose these people because they write fantastic blogs which I love to read. Joey (living with brittle asthma) writes a blog which is fab as she faces each day of pain and discomfort and fights it head on. I admire her so much for her strength and determination. I also wanted to give this to BeckyG and Wheezy Tux and Odette who also writes about some pretty intense topics always very balanced and fair. She offers a few of her fellow bloggers like myself support via the wonderful world of cyberspace check her blog out by clicking here!! Also I want to give Jess an award for her blog - shes not contagious ...really, she writes about what life is like living with a poorly child - the ups and Downs and all the bits in between. I think she is amazing. well done all of you!!!




I also wanted to give another award to someone who does a remarkable job. She does blog makeovers for free to people who write as a form of therapy whether it be because of a bereavement or living with a chronic health condition. I gave her a very vague outline of things i like etc and she came up with this design which is fabulous and matches my personality lots!! Also now because there is a credit crunch happening she is offering free makeovers to everyone so check her blog out by clicking here!!

Take care everyone speak soon.
Lotsa Lv Rattles Xxxx

A week of sorting and organising

Hi All,

I hope everyone is well. I started writing this blog back in January as somewhere to air my hopes and dreams and to talk about the things that upset or challenge me. I never imagined that people would read it, or comment on it and that is amazing. I love writing my blog even more now that it has a little bit of my personality stamped on it too. I love my new-look blog!!! :-) Thnk you so much for all your hard work louise!!! (Please see the link to write from the heart -at the bottom of my blog, which links to Louise's blog)

Soooo, This week has been another busy week for appointments. Having at least one everyday!!! My shoulder is still very sore and I was instructed to wear a sling so ive been trying to wear it most of the time and have only been taking it off when its been annoying me and to go to sleep!! I am seeing my GP tomorrow to get the results of my iron studies tests which needed to be done before my operation.

Over the weekend i have to do some cleaning and washing ready for my admission on tuesday. I also have my carers starting on monday which will be great they are coming in for an hour and a half every morning and for an extra 3 hours one afternoon in the week for general cleaning duties. I am a little nervous as i dont know what to expect from them and I am a little bit self concious but I guess it will be OK once i have met them and get to know them.

They are supposed to be phoning to organise coming round to do a risk assessment in the next few days so I expect that will be my first chance to meet them and see what they are like!

I will post again soon, take care everyone

Lotsa Lv Xxxxx

Brittle!!!

Hi All,

I havent posted anything for a few days as its been a rather busy week!! Tuesday I had an appointment which was just touching base with one of my doctors. It went well though I'm still a bit anxious that we're not just cracking on with things that need to bee dealt with but ho hum!!! Then on Wednesday I had a lady from City Wide Alarms round to fit a pendent alarm in my house so that if I get unwell or into any difficulty I can press the button on the pendent and they will access help from a doctor or emergency services as required! On Thursday I had an appointment with my GP in the morning - we discussed what has been happening and my operation etc and she decided that I needed more blood work doing as I am very anaemic and she needs to establish what my Iron stores are like prior to starting me on any course of Iron treatment. It was decided I would go back for more blood tests the following day!!! I went home to wait for a bloke to come from Stayput to fit my key safe outside my house.

The man came at lunch time and fitted the key safe so I now have all the necessary means for the agency carers to come into my house including social workers and emergency services if required - all in all its as an extra safety measure to ensure that if I am poorly the paramedics etc can get access to my house!

During Thursday my chest was a little grumbly - I had been instructed to use my nebuliser every 2 hours so I was doing that and the wheeze was settling each time but I was coughing a lot - I still think Im getting a bug of some kind!! I also think that the anaemia is adding to the problem as i am rather breathless with even the slightest of movements. I was getting rather lightheaded everytime I stood up too. By the early afternoon I was getting a really sharp pain in my right shoulder everytime I took a deep breath! By early evening, everytime I took any breath there was a sharp pain. I was talking to some friends on MSN at the time and decided to get in touch with the out of hours doctor. I called and 5 minutes later they called back. He summoned me to the local hospital for a checkup!

I got there and was quite wheezy so had a nebuliser whilst i was waiting. This made my chest a lot clearer tho the pain still remained and even tiny breaths were hurting. The doctor examined me and listened to my chest, did my oxygen saturations etc. I was told to keep an eye on things, given some painkillers and told to rest and take it easy - if anything got any worse then to call them back on their direct number. I was told I had probably got a hairline fracture of my clavicle as my last bone density result was considerably lower than the one proir to that etc etc... I couldnt lift my arm at all and breathing was still rather painful.

I went home knowing that any problems I could go straight back but was releived that for the first time ever I was able to walk out of the out of hours clinic and go home rather than get admitted!! I didnt sleep well at all as the pain kept me awake all night and I had to take regular nebulisers through the night too!

Up early for blood appointment on Friday - so I went and the poor girl couldnt get anything so called for help. (They never listen when you say - you cant use vacutainers on me it collapses my veins....) This second lady tried with a vacutainer - it collapsed my vein!!! (Surprise there then!!!) Then tried with a needle and syringe and got it - hurrah!!! She was concerned I didnt look very well and requested I see the doctor - which was fine as I did need more morphine anyways. I waited ages for the male doctor on duty that day, when my own GP asked me to see her instead - which was much much better. She agreed it looked like it could be a hairline fracture but told me to be careful over the weekend and if i had any problems at all to call 999 or call out of hours and see them!! She gave me some more oramorph to use and told me to take care and rest it!!

My friend and I went to the big shopping centre and spent my christmas bonus vouchers - I bought some new PJ's (you can never have too many lol!!!) a summer dress, some shorts and a new handbag - and believe it or not still have money left:-)
I got home early evening and went to bed! I was sat with the laptop on msn for a while before i tried to settle for the night! It was another uncomfortable night - my collerbone is swollen and very sore so it was hard to get comfortable - and a bit like toothache sort of takes over everything so that its all you can think about - this pain is the same as its with every breath!!! Grrr!! Im hoping it heals very soon as I need to be fit for my operation in 10 days!!!

I hope everyone else is doing OK. Will post again soon,

Lotsa Lv Xx

The Honesty Award...

I am touched and honored that Odette has given me this award. I admire her a lot as she too writes with a real honesty. The award came with rules.

Here are the rules:
When accepting this award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she or they are real.

Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have 7 friends. Show the 7 random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Scrap Award.” Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!!!

Okies here we go, Ten things?

1. I can write with both hands!

2. I used to love hill walking and rock climbing and did all 3 levels of my Duke of Edinburgh awards and find it very upsetting that I can no longer do these things - I hope one day that my brittle asthma will be controlled enough to do some level of activity I used to do!

3. I play classical music on the piano but only really play stuff by a composer called ludovico einaudi - I hope one day to see him play live as I think he is amazing!!!

4. I loved my job and cant accept the fact that at the moment Im not well enough to do my job!!!

5. I long to have kids one day!!!

6. I am filling my time at the moment with music and cake baking and decorating!!!

7. My recent project is to make a noahs ark cake with edible marzipan animals for the little boy next door's birthday later this month.

8. I once sang on stage with Julie Goodyear (bet lynch from corrie!!)

9. I was asked out by Justin Timberlake before he became famous whilst on a St John Ambulance duty at party on the prom and have a picture of him and the rest of N-Sync and I on the beach :-)

10. I love being on stage and theatre but havent done any since I did a production to raise money for a good friend of mine who died when he was 13!!


And to the 7 people I would nominate for this award too!!!!

1. Odette!! who writes a blog called A view from above, she writes with such honesty and conviction and I always enjoy reading what she has to say!!

2. Joey! from Living With Brittle Asthma - I admire joey sooooo much she really is a true inspiration!!!

3. Jess - She is not contageous....really!!! what an incredible blog! I feel that she has let us get a tiny glimpse of what life is like for her and her family and I trust that soon they will get answers they need from the doctors. I pray for you guys!!! :-)

4. The paramedics diary - I love to catch up with what XF has been up to on his shifts on the streets of London - his blog is witty but caring at the same time which can be a difficult balance!! He deserves more than just this award as he is great!!!

5. Wheezy Tux - a great blog honest and to the point of what it is like when BA stops you doing the things you love to do and how to overcome any difficult - you go girl - you are a true inspiration!!!

6. Becky G - The antics of a brittle asthmatic - again another good friend who is struggling to live with a difficult condition and doing the best she can to make the most of every day!! Your great hon - keep it up!!!!

7. Rusty - Mad Asthmatic - I miss reading her blog and it saddens me that I wont get to read any of her antics! She was a great friend who sadly died in January this year!!

Thankyou for reading this blog guys you are all amazing!!!
I also would like to add that Louise of Write from the heart deserves an award for being the most amazing person in the world!!! She offers free makeovers for people writing blogs as therapy for chronic illness or bereavement etc etc - she made my blog unique and I think it looks amazing!!! I cannot thank her enough and think she truely is remarkable!!! Thank you so much louise!!!

Speak soon everyone take care Lotsa lv

New Blog Layout!!!

Hi All,

As you will see my blog has had a makeover and looks different... I think it looks great and I couldnt have imagined it any different. I love it!!! Thank you so much louise you are a real star - I love it!!!!

If anyone else wants or is intersted in a blog makeover then there is a link to louise's blog 'write from the heart' on my blog!! She really is fab!!!

I had a marathon sleep yesterday, oops!!! Slept most of the day - not sure why, think maybe the activity of the week caught up with me!!! I woke up late today aswell!!! Once up and sorted (about an hour ago) I checked my post. I have a date for my pre operation assessment and my operation!! Its really soon - 22nd - 23rd June!!! Eeeek!!

I will keep you all posted and hope your all well!! Take care and speak soon

Lotsa Lv Xxxx

Appointments and Fun Times...

Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing OK. I Travelled back home on Monday following a visit home at my parents. The Friday evening started as a wonderful night but finished on a rather bad note (see previous post) I was all ready to pack up and come back home early but after a little sob with my mum I stayed. The christening was lovely - the weather was beautiful. The service itself was horrendously long for me and my 6 year old God daughter looked bored silly bless her!!! The party was at my aunts house and thankfully there was a gazeebo in the garden providing shelter from the scorching sun. My brother sang songs on his sound equipment - he is a fab singer and I did my DJ bit inbetween his sets - though he was lots better at singing than I was at DJ'ing lol!!!

The journey home was horrendous - really hot in that coach!! It was smelly and stuffy, then they stuck the air conditioning on and we froze lol!!! We complain about the heat then we complain about the cold hey???

On Tuesday my friend came to stay and we went to my chest clinic appointment. All stays the same see consultant again in a few months or earlier if I get poorly before then... We had a fabulous evening and played monopoly (the lancashire edition of course) lol!!! Im sure Gem cheated but hey ho I won in the end lol!!!! On wednesday another friend came over in the afternoon. In the morning though, Gem and I had to again go to the hospital for another one of my appointments, This time it was an ENT follow up - about my poorly nose and its perforated septum!!!

The appointment started with the consultant saying are you ok??? Yes I replied and he then asked me again!!! Apparently I looked pale - I am always pale I replied!!! He then said I looked almost green and proceeded to examine my eyes! 'You need a FBC doing' he said!!! I think your anaemic again! He then proceeded to inform me that the next stage is an operation to place a button into the septal perforation to repair it less invasively. OK i thought - then asked if it was a local anaesthetic - 'Oh no' he said 'Its a general but given your history it is a risky procedure' He informed me of the risks and then asked me to sign a consent form.... OK!!! So I am now waiting for a date to go into surgery. It is supposed to be a day case thing but neither he nor I feel it will be that straight forwards. I will get a follow up once I am settled on the ward I was told!!!

Anyways after that I had a lovely day with my mates - we went for lunch then had a real good giggle all afternoon!! It was a fab day! They left at tea time on their journeys back home - it was great seeing them both!!!

Today has been rather interesting as I had a social worker come round to perform an assessment. It all went very well and it was agreed they would provide me with an hour and a half care help every morning and 3 extra hours for general help, cleaning and cooking etc etc!!!

I trust everyone else is OK. Hopefully catch up with you all soon!! Watch out for my blog changing soon too as I have had a makeover and it should be up and running soon. Thankyou soooooo much for doing it louise! Your a star!!! I cant wait to see the finished design!!

Take care everyone and speak soon.

Lotsa Lv Rattles Xxxx