It’s been a long week

The week started on Monday with RAT tests for both of us, plus blood tests for Robin.  His second knee replacement was happening on Tuesday, and a clear RAT test was required.  No trouble there, thank goodness.

All clear

The alarm clock was set on Tuesday morning for 5.00am, and we were out the door and driving at 6.00am to Palmy in the dark.  So many people were milling around the admissions desk when we arrived, we did wonder how far down the operating list Robin would be.  What we did find out was that there are four operating theatres in Crest Hospital, and Robin was first on his surgeon’s list that morning. 

Crest Hospital

Crest Hospital has contracts with the DHB to perform surgeries, which is helping to whittle down the public list, a great idea after Covid stopped elective surgery for some time.  Robin was shown to his room, extra forms filled in, the anesthetist came calling, and he was whisked away down the corridor just after 8.00am.  I departed for a coffee fix and to await the call that it was all over.  He was back in his room by midday, bright and perky.  Sadly it was a different story the next day, when he had a reaction to the pain pump, and was feeling rather seedy indeed.  But he still needed to get out of bed, move around a little, and get used to the crutches, once again. 

The menus at Crest are amazing, it was just a shame that he didn't feel well enough to enjoy his Filet Mignon when it was served.  He slowly came right and Friday was discharge day.  He managed to manoeuvre his leg into the small car and home we went.  All patients feel better at home, your own comfy chair and bed, Gemma there to check you out, maid service and home cooked meals, although Filet Mignon is not on the menu!

Home again, that didn't take long

There will be a stint of rehab needed to get that knee flexible again, a clearance to finally drive again, about 6-8 weeks we think, then life can get back to normal again.  In the meantime I will perform my duties as the nominated driver.

At Last!

The day had arrived at last – after two long years of waiting due to the dastardly Covid making an appearance, finally Robin’s knee replacement was to take place.  It was an early start on a busy day, the alarm clock was set for 5.00am, we left home at 6.00, and were due at Crest Hospital at 7.00.  Things certainly went smoothly, settled into his room, hospital gown on, questions asked, tests taken, including the ever important RAT test.  Several weeks earlier the surgeon had told us, “Don't get Covid”, and remarked that several patients on the theatre list had to be sent home due to having Covid and their surgery rescheduled some months later.  Whew – luckily Robin passed the test so we were good to go.  The anesthetist came for a chat and tell us of possible side effects, horrible things which we didn't really want to hear.  Then the surgeon popped in with his marker pen and drew an arrow on the correct leg.

This knee here

Then it was a matter of waiting till it was time for him to be wheeled along the corridor and into the operating theatre.  Time for me to make myself scarce.  Several hours later I received a phone call from the nurse in recovery, and I made my way back to the hospital to see how Robin was feeling.  Not too bright, as it turned out, and still very sleepy, so after an hour or so I took myself home.

Things are always better the next day, and I travelled up to Crest Hospital  on the Health Shuttle.  Today  he had been helped out of bed several times, shown how to use the crutches, walked around a little, and spent some time sitting in the arm chair.  Then back to bed again till the next time.  And yes, he does feel much better wearing his own pajamas, instead of that hospital gown.

Crutches at the ready, and he is looking a bit brighter

The highlight of every hospital stay is choosing the menu for the next day.  The food here seems very tasty indeed, his choice  was lamb shanks and gravy tonight.  I’ll be back again tomorrow to see how things are progressing, although we have been told that the next day can be rather painful, but it is very necessary to make sure that it is all working correctly.  Hang in there Robin, do what is required of you, and we can start planning that South Island holiday.

The Countdown Begins

After two years, Robin has finally got a date for his knee replacement surgery.  Covid, of course, had a lot to do with this, but now things are moving along.  Because of the long delays in elective surgery, the Health Department is contracting out orthopedic surgeries to private hospitals, to get the long waiting lists under control.  The other day we had a visit to Aorangi Orthopedic Centre to meet the surgeon.

Aorangi Orthopedics

That was another change – the original surgeon who was to do the job was overwhelmed with cases, so Robin was referred to his colleague, Mr Love,  who will be taking some extra cases to ease the pressure.  And of course, this means that Robin may have moved up the waiting list a little quicker.  So this was a “meet and greet” appointment, with the chance to ask any questions.

The procedure and post operative expectations were explained.  It is very important to get moving and exercise the knee, it was stressed, to get things working well again as soon as possible.    Mr Love had a word of advice, “don't get Covid”, as this means the operation date will be set back a couple of months.  This has happened to a few of his patients on the day of surgery, he told us. 

On the way out I stopped to admire a metal sculpture hanging on the wall of the reception room, made up from a vast array of tools.  Very clever indeed, and I’m sure they are not used implements from the operating theatre!

All sort of things in here

The paperwork has already been signed and lodged with Crest, the private hospital, and we have a date for the pre-admission appointment, so things are really moving along.  The date of surgery is 20th September.

Plans Change

Robin had done a great job of organising work to be done on the caravan up in Hamilton this week, 430kms away.  The caravan was to have it’s annual service and recall work done on our water heater at the Leisureline factory on Wednesday.  Then moving on to Motorhome Solar the following day to get a new battery and another solar panel installed.  All these plans came crashing down last Friday when we found out that Hamilton and surrounding areas had been placed in Level 3 for the next 5 days due to Covid cases appearing in the area.  What a bummer, the caravan had been moved to the car park outside our home, packed up and ready to go.

 

As the days are rolling by, and numbers of community cases in the Hamilton area keep rising, it appears unlikely that Level 3 restrictions will be lifted at the end of the week.  Which means, of course, that we will be unlikely to drive up to Hamilton next week for rescheduled appointments.  

On a happier note, I have some good health news to report.  Last week I attended  my follow-up appointment at Palmerston North Hospital with the neurosurgical team after my spinal surgery back in May.  I had been for a MRI several weeks ago, so they had an up-to-date picture of my spine.  Things are progressing well, I was told, so well that they won’t want to see me for another 12 months, and will order a further MRI prior to this appointment.  They showed me a picture of my spinal cord prior to surgery, and I could clearly see the fistula snaking forwards and back across my spinal cord about six times in a row, this was putting pressure and squeezing causing me all kinds of problems.  I am just so thankful this condition was finally diagnosed and the surgery was so successful.

At Palmerston North Hospital

A Little Adventure

Our adventure started with a caravan stay in NZMCA park in Plimmerton. The caravan was parked here for several days while I had my spinal op in Wellington Hospital.  This made for a much shorter drive for Robin when he came visiting each day.

Staying at Plimmerton

The six hour operation went well, the surgeon told us.  Must say that the neurosurgical team were so professional and certainly inspired confidence. I was hooked up to all sorts of equipment,  and the nursing care was excellent.  Although it was difficult to lay prone on my tummy for some time each day.

 

After several days Robin moved the caravan to Lower Hutt to stay at our friends Owen and Helen.  This cut down the travel time a bit more for him.   After seven days in Wellington Hospital there was another adventure ahead – an ambulance ride up to Palmerston North Hospital.  I was taken down to the Transit Lounge – think of a small, rather busy railway station.  Wheelchairs and beds were wheeled in, and those who could walk were seated around, waiting to be collected by family and friends.  Patients who were moving on to another hospital facility, as I was, waited patiently for the ambulances to arrive.  It was a two hour drive in the ambulance, bounce, bounce, and I could keep up with the journey peeping through the glass paneled rear door.

On day three the physios, OT staff and doctors were happy for me to return home, with a walker to help out while I got my mobility back.    Gemma decided that since I had left her for a while, she would greet me on her terms!  On the first night back I tottered outside to get a glimpse at the blood moon, what a sight that was.  Home is the best place to recover.

A Rather Grey Weekend

It’s not much of a weekend here in our part of paradise, rather grey and blah and feeling a little damp.  Not quite cold enough to put the heat pump on yet, but not warm enough to sit outside either.  The sun was trying it’s best to shine through the misty cloud cover, and I was so pleased with the photo I managed to snap. This was taken about 3.00pm yesterday.

A funny sort of day

We took a trip to hospital during the week as Robin was due to have a procedure done.  I left him in the capable hands of the medical staff for several hours and took myself off to the hospital café.  With my current back problem making walking difficult, I’m pleased I had the walking stick to rely on, I certainly needed the support.  I was soon comfortably settled with a sandwich and coffee, my book, and some stitching, together with the cell phone handy waiting for the call to return and collect Robin after his procedure was complete.  One of the Levin Shuttle Drivers (in his uniform) had a bit of a chat with me as I was stitching away, so I told him Robin drives the shuttle too.   And although they hadn't met he had seen Robin’s name on the roster sheet.  What a small world! The procedure went reasonably well, although rather uncomfortable, Robin said, and now we are waiting results.

Robin cooked our usual Sunday morning bacon and eggs for breakfast today, and I’ve prepared a beef casserole for dinner which is cooking nicely in the crockpot.  There is sure to be some rugby on TV for him to watch today, and I can potter around and keep myself busy, I’m sure, so all is well in our world.  And our flag has been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect for Prince Phillip’s passing.

A Different Easter in 2020

The the recent developments of the world wide Covid 19 pandemic, all our lives are so different these days.  Here in New Zealand we are in Level Four State of Emergency and halfway through a 4 week lockdown, with the message being “stay safe, stay home and save lives”.  Non essential travel is not permitted, and we must stay local.  So instead of packing the caravan and heading away for the Easter weekend, we are all listening to the rules, staying home and having a “Staycation”.  That doesn’t happen often – how long before we get “cabin fever” I wonder?  We have heard that some caravanners have been spending the night in their caravan without actually going away, safely on their property.  We might have to resort to that, if it all gets too much for us!

 

We are using different words and phrases too, and now know all about “staying in our bubble” with only with those in our household, and “social distancing”, staying at least 6 feet, 2 metres away from everyone else.  Add to that the fact that washing hands in soapy water should be taking 20 seconds – that’s two renditions of Happy Birthday to me as I’ve worked out, as I hum away to myself. On Good Friday a small group in our village practised social distancing as we met in the village green.  Taking our folding chairs along, and coffees or whatever else was fancied, we sat in the sunshine and chatted happily away, keeping our distance from each other.  Only those in couples sat closer together.

Employing social distancing

Easter Saturday was a different day, as we had to drive up to Palmerston North Hospital (50km each way so out of our local area)  for an MRI appointment.  I made sure I had my hospital documents tucked safely away, as we were sure we would be stopped at a police checkpoint, which didn’t happen, as it turned out.  The mist was hovering over the farm land as we drove along the empty road.

It was a beautiful calm morning

Getting into the hospital was a mission, but really, in this pandemic we don’t really mind all the extra precautions.  Robin had to remain in the car, and I answered health questions, sanitized my hands, and was sent on my way for my appointment.  Walking down the empty hospital corridors was a bit eerie, usually it is such a busy, bustling place.  Those who have had an MRI know what it’s all about – lie absolutely still  for half an hour, earmuffs on, face down and arms straight out over my head, in my case,  while the machine makes an absolute din, sounding rather like a jack hammer.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine

On our way out of town we stopped at Davis Trading to get a few supplies.  Entry was very well organised, I thought.  Queued up outside on the marked lines, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves and fill  in the register as we get to the front of line, enter when another shopper exits to ensure only a few in the shop at any time.  I managed to get what I wanted, including a box of said gloves, they will be handy for any future trips out, I feel.  Sadly, there was an altercation outside when I was going though the checkout.  A rather large man tried to walk straight in, and refused to go to the end of the line and follow the safely procedures.  On being challenged he got rather aggressive and knocked over the table with sanitizer and gloves, abused the staff member seated outside manning the entry, and stormed off.  Why do some people think the rules don’t apply to them?

No sign of police road stops on the drive back home either, guess they are all busy at the popular holiday spots further north.  We had heard tales of people towing caravans (surely no one we know) and others  trying to get away to holiday homes – why oh why don’t these foolish people listen and do what they should. 

Hello Wednesday

And what a glorious morning it was too – so nice to wake up to such a pretty sunrise.  Just loved those pretty pinks in the Eastern sky this morning.  So it was out with the camera to snap a few photos bright and early.  It's amazing how the colour can change in just a short time – so the moral of the story is, don’t leave it too long or the colours will fade away.

I was in a bit of a pickle when an unexpected hospital appointment with the specialist came through for today.  Robin was booked up doing a drive down to the Hutt Valley with a patient for the Cancer Society, and I didn’t fancy the long drive to Palmerston North Hospital on my own.  Luckily a phone call to the local Heath Shuttle took care of my problem and I was booked onto the van for the return trip – all sorted.  Caravan club member and neighbour Derek drove up and John was the assistant, then they swapped driving duties on the return trip.

Horowhenua Health Shuttle

Just to keep the Neighbors talking

Living in our village, as we do, there is always plenty going on close by.  Not that we are nosy, of course, but you just can’t help noticing.  Visitors come and go, and sadly, because this is a lifestyle/retirement village, ambulances come with regular monotony.  And we gave the neighbours something to talk about several days ago when an ambulance came calling to our home.

 

Parked outside our door

Robin had been feeling off colour for several days, so I rang the doctor’s surgery to hopefully get an urgent appointment.  But when I mentioned “chest pain” they insisted I ring 111 for an ambulance – so I did.  The ambulance arrived very promptly, checked him out and then whisked him away, leaving me to follow in the car.

The Emergency Department staff were wonderful, and soon had him hooked up to monitors, took blood, doctors and nurses came and went, and later in the day he was sent upstairs to the Assessment Ward.  After a very noisy and interrupted overnight stay, he was then sent for a treadmill Stress Test. 

The good news is that he didn’t suffer a heart attack, and there was no sign of angina, so the chest pain was unexplained.  We are so grateful for the medical care received, and realise, that had his heart been damaged as first thought, we could well be facing quite a different Christmas altogether.

As Robin says – he has passed his Warrant of Fitness, and has a document to prove it!