Hi! My name is Ceej. I like to write stuff!
As the title of this blog suggests, I am very much alive.
I’m still life-ing along and still don’t have very much to blog about that isn’t just ordinary, everyday life stuff.
The medical stuff continues
The NDIS stuff continues
Some other stuff has been added to the current stuff and that means I have more stuff on my plate.
It’s getting sorted and I’m doing OK.
The blogs will return.
I’m just not ready yet
Ceej
As we catapult ourselves into the middle of August, I thought it might be time to give a wee bit of a life update
Recovery from surgery is going well. Turns out I don’t need to go back to Box Hill Hospital for a check up till sometime next April . This is good as it gives me time to work on myself and get more stable on my feet
I can do things like shower (almost entirely independently) and I have started to walk small, unaided walks to the bathroom and toilet. I can manage about 10 or so steps on my own without a walking aid… although, that is more like a shuffle than actual steps. For the most part I still use Christopher ( my walker) for around the house and Bert and Ernie ( my crutches) for when I go outside. I do have a walking stick but its old and I want to get a new one. ( But I can use that quite well inside)
Work is going through a lull at the moment. This is actually a good thing as it gives us all a chance to breathe and prepare for Christmas. We’re employing more people and, at present, TM’s and TSL’s are being moved like chess pieces on a board to ensure the right person is in the right place for the foreseeable future.
Sadly, this means I am losing my boss to greener pastures ( Metaphorically. She’s not leaving the company. She’s just taking on another role) and so as of Monday, my team will be looked after by a new person. So we’ll see how everything works out
In other news, I am trying to convince myself that I need to start using my rowing machine more often. I used to love that thing. And I still do… It’s just that trying to get on it at the moment makes my hip really sore and uncomfortable. I mean, I know once I’m on the thing, I’m fine, but yeah, the actual getting on the thing.. That’s another matter entirely. That said, It’s still early days and I am working on it.
I am still doing my rehab exercises, my physiotherapy, my hydrotherapy and everything else I need to – but sadly, I’m not running marathons just yet.
Hubby and I just keep on keeping on . We have our routine and it’s working well.
This week I plan to follow up on a few NDIS related things and find out what’s supposedly happening with the NDIS funded bathroom I am expecting to receive – I’ve not spoken to my Provider for months and so this week I am planning to follow up with them and see what’s going on
Other than that, the sun is out and the weather is nice .
Have a great weekend
Ceej
PS: The banner image was created with AI. I think it’s kinda cute 😀
As the AI Generated image suggests, I am tired.
As I write today’s entry, I am still recovering from surgery and am also dealing with an ear infection in my left ear. *Ugh*
I had a whole spiel about how yesterday I managed two rounds of exercise and a Hydro Pool session but …. All I will tell you is that all went well and I inherited a red pool noodle in the process.
With Daylight Savings officially over for another year ( read six months) Hubby and I found ourselves awake at 5:30am this morning with no hope of going back to sleep.
Please accept my most humble apologies for how short today’s blog is . I simply do not have the energy to write much today
I shall endeavour to write more on the next one
Thanks for reading
Ceej
It was a Wednesday when I finally was allowed to go home.
That morning Hubby arrived at just after 8am . I wanted to have one last breakfast and a shower before I left PJC – so I did
After I got dressed and ready, Hubby packed the last of my things in the car and then we waited for my team to come and bid me farewell and give me my discharge paperwork
By around 10 am we were in the car and headed to our first stop – the chemist. I had bunch of scripts to pick up. ( And by I, I mean Hubby went and collected them all for me)
Then, as it was getting close to lunch time, we went and got a couple of breakfast focaccias.
I tried to stay awake. I really did however, shortly after lunch I hit a wall and needed to go down for a nap.
Hubby had errands to run and decided to take the opportunity to go do things whilst I slept.
Sadly, not long after he left, I needed to pee and so … I found myself going to the toilet for the first time since surgery on my own. Given my overly tired, fully medicated state I was extremely overwhelmed and ended up sitting on the bed sobbing my eyes out completely freaked out by everything.
Thankfully Hubby returned not long after this and all was blithe and bonny.
It’s been about a week and a half since I’ve been home and things are improving a little more each day.
I can shower now. I was given a stool on loan ( I have decided to keep it So, I will be sorting that out ASAP ) and I use it to sit on every morning.
Going to the toilet is still a struggle but not as much as it once was ( it’s due to my surgery wound not being healed properly just yet and where it’s located on my right leg)
Getting dressed is still a slow process but again, I am getting there.
I do exercise daily so there is that. My rehabilitation takes a step up a notch as of this weekend when I hit the pool and start Hydrotherapy
Being home has been nice. I was worried at first. Mainly because I thought I wouldn’t be able to shower – but since I have that sorted, I am pretty much OK.
Things I currently not allowed to do
Those I need to wait a little bit longer for. They will come 😀
Once again, huge thanks to everyone at PJC for their support, care and understanding.
Only onwards and upwards from here!
Thanks for reading
Ceej
By 5pm Friday the 28th February I found myself in East Ward, bed 12 of the Peter James Rehabilitation Hospital in Burwood East.
Before I begin I just want to give a huge shout out to all the Staff at PJC (Especially my crew ” Mamma Mia” “Van Helsing” and ” Strawbs” as well as Tahlia, Debbie, Ken, Kylie and a heartfelt Namaste to my favourite orderly Will) who gave 110% every day to look after not only myself but everyone in the Rehabilitation ward at the Hospital.
Upon my arrival I was stressed out, sleep deprived, pissed off and on the verge of a complete break down due to having the equivalent of one hour of sleep the night before due to complete mayhem in my ward at Box Hill hospital the night before.
Having said that, the two folks from the Patient Transport Unit who took me to PJC were lovely and happily informed me my new hip was made from the same stuff that the stretcher they had me on was made from – so it was bound to last me for many, many years.
With that piece of information tucked away to be used as ‘bragging rights’ for later on, I began my stint in the Rehabilitation wing.
Despite being built in 1985 ( If my memory serves me correctly) East ward looks like something straight out of the 1950’s. Crisp white Hospital linen that had the life starched out of it and every bed had its own blue wrap around curtains for privacy. A light switch, a nurse call button, a TV and a landline phone – the only devices on hand ( Of course, everyone had their mobiles but man, it felt like I’d stepped back in time) Naturally the Wi-Fi was shit.. so, Hubby bought in our little pre paid dongle to cover me for my stay.
Over the days that followed, I had all my gear bought in to help me get around the ward. My manual wheelchair, my walker and the gutter frame that was given to me by Vanessa – the in house OT so when I was ready, I could walk. The nurses would often comment on my stuff saying it was much fancier than what they had on offer ( That was true. It was) I must admit I did feel a little bad but at the end of the day, I had to do what was best for me to help me get by.
Another thing that happened was that my Support Workers were allowed to be with me for half a day to help me get showered and dressed. This took a load off the day shift nurses it freed them up to assist other patients. My Husband was also doing his share with helping me throughout the day. He was very hands on with everything – wanting to know how everything worked so he could assist me better.
I have to say, my Hubby was my rock throughout this entire ordeal. He was there for me every single day. Never left my side. I had a couple of really bad nights while in PCJ and when I woke at 6:30am the next morning, there he was, sitting there quietly waiting for me to wake up. I am majorly proud of him and honestly, he’s just been amazing. Even when I’ve wanted to just throw in the towel he’s been there with unwavering support and plenty of tissues to wipe away my tears.
Anyway, my first week consisted of going to the rehab gym and learning how to put one foot in front of the other ( at time of writing, I am still learning how to do that. It’s a very slow process) and coming to terms with the new way of walking. I can’t remember if I said this in my other blog but I actually grew a couple of inches taller thanks to the operation so yeah, not only did I have to come to terms with a new way of walking but being a bit taller is also on the cards!
Gabby, my physiotherapist, was great and she certainly put your girl through her paces. She was always encouraging me or pulling me up if i did something wrong. By the end of my first week I could transfer from my bed to the chair beside it and from that to my wheelchair and visa versa. So, in recovery terms that was huge.
Around my 2nd or 3rd day, my Support Worker Miss S noticed how both my legs were swollen. The Dr was called ( A lovely Irish Dr called Hugh) and it was decided that I needed to swap out some of the meds I was on. Turns out it was all fluid and thanks to a change in medication, I was able to lose around 3kgs-4kgs (roughly 8.8 pounds) in fluid. I never needed to urinate so much in my life but it really did help!
I had 3 other people with me in my ward during my first week. We got along rather well. There was Marry-Anne who was recovering from a knee reconstruction, Peter ( sadly I didn’t find out why he was there. Although, he did tell us that he had 2 brain tumours in the past. I will write more about him in my next blog) and another lady whose name I can’t remember. She had, had a stroke and at that stage wasn’t doing very well.
Before I end this blog, I just want to say people give hospital food a bad wrap and I am here to tell you the meals I had were rather lovely . All of the vegetables ( I was particularly fond of the potato mash) I could eat. Breakfast was at 8am sharp. Lunch was at 12pm and dinner was at 5pm. Like clockwork. Each meal was like a 3 course on its own. I grew attached to their cordial ( weird I know) and no, I did not go mad for the jelly cups. They just didn’t appeal to me. At all.
There will be more to this blog – a part 3 – in a few days.
In the meantime, thanks for reading
Ceej
So, here we are.
Three weeks and counting
My official date for surgery ( barring any situation whereby someone requires immediate attention) is February 24th 2025.
I’ve been on a waiting list since May last year so, the fact it’s only taken 9 months to get to this point is pretty good.
I’m not nervous – well, at least not at the moment. For a few months I was pretty much shitting myself b/c I slipped and fell down the “What if” rabbit hole
So yeah, I’ve been there. It kept me awake for months. Trust me.
Anyway, like all my surgeries, ( I’ve only ever had two) this one is also during the hottest month of the year.
In case you’ve not been following along, I’m due a full right hip replacement due to severe osteoarthritis of the hip joint – full bone on bone. I’ve spent the last year or so either getting about in a wheelchair or a walker and, after a rather nasty fall a year ago, here I am .
The initial recovery time is 6-8 weeks and then a further 6-12 months to be fully back up and functional.
So there’s that.
Other than that, It’s been stupidly hot – which is why this blog is coming to an end at this point because my brain is melted
Ceej
I know. It’s been a long time between blogs.
Life kinda got in the way, you know?
Good news is… I’m back and regular weekly posting will resume shortly . Hoping to give you some great blogs this year as there’s a lot going on right now I want to share with you.
Let’s do this!
Ceel
Well,
Here we are. At this point in proceedings I had hoped to give everyone a date as to when I was to receive my hip replacement surgery date.
Sadly I have not. To say I am disappointed is the understatement of the year. Let me tell you how things went.
I arrive an hour early for my appointment at Maroondah Hospital Acute Outpatients department
I am told I need to get x-rays ( despite bringing the x-rays I had done at Box Hill Hospital back in May with me) so I go do that.
Around 45 mins later I am called into a room. I meet a “Doctor” who prefers to be called Pete. We have a quick chat. He gets me to sign some kind of consent form and proceeds to tell me the risks of my operation including but not limited to:
He did tell me that a full recovery will take 6 weeks and that they’ll get me up walking the day after the surgery ( He did mention the Spastic Diplegia and asked me how long I’d had it for. )
I enquired about rehab and he said “It could be organized if I needed it”
In the meantime I had to lose weight which he said ” I know is hard with a bung hip”
So there you are.
I just have to wait for a phone call / letter to see when my surgery date is and God knows when that will be .
From tomorrow ( Monday – for those wondering) I begin clean eating. In the hope that I can lose some weight before my op.
I have no idea how much I weigh. ( last I checked was at the beginning of the year and that was 103. 9 kgs or 229.06lbs) so I’ll have to figure that out somehow.
In other news – things regarding the NDIS are slowly happening. Had some new taps and things installed in the bathroom the other week so now I’m just awaiting approval for the shower to be useable .
Anyway, I don’t really have much else to say so I’ll just end this here
Thanks for reading
Ceej
I was going to write a holiday update …. but now I don’t have the spoons
I know, I’ve been a bit slack with updates over the last few weeks. Sorry about that
Will come back when I’m ready to write, I promise
Ceej
Given that I am now sitting down to write this in July, I hope I can be forgiven for not remembering how our morning started .
I do know we slept in. And I do know Miss C made us scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast.
It was a lazy morning. Originally we had planned to meet up with my friend Jo and a few others for coffee however, like us, they were completely exhausted after the events of the day before and so it was taken as a given we weren’t going to meet up that morning.
After finishing breakfast and getting ready for the day, the first thing on our to do list was popping into my workplace to say hello to everyone.
I hadn’t seen the inside of an office building since the 17th May 2020 and so, when arranging my respite at the beginning of the year, I asked my manager if I could come down and say hello.
Of course, the answer was yes and so down Miss C and I went to Burke St ( PSA – My workplace has since moved elsewhere at time of writing this blog) and popped in for 20 minutes to see everyone.
Seeing my workmates was nice and I must say they were VERY impressed with Eleanor Wheelie (who wouldn’t be) and after about 15-20 minutes we left to get on with the rest of our day .
As we were going to the Aquarium, we decided to park at the Casino and make our way from there. The weather was lovely and warm ( It was still Summer time, remember?) and the wander across South bank was lovely.
I had never been to the Aquarium before and I was very much looking forward to it.
Imagine my disappointment when I discovered the outside of the building was covered in graffiti, there was rubbish strewn everywhere and the entrance was almost impossible to find.
Once inside, it was even worse. I found it dirty, smelly and the staff very much unhelpful to those of us who were there that day.
That aside, here are some photos from the time spent there
After a good look around and Miss C purchased my little penguin friend, we decided to go and find a bite to eat for lunch. We found a nice take away place along South Bank that had delicious souvlakis and chips and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal.
As we were leaving, we were stopped by a gentleman who said he found it fitting Miss C was “flexing her muscles” in the sun. We were both bamboozled by the exchange and with that, decided it was time to head on back to the Quest apartment.
We spent what remained of our afternoon and evening watching movies and relaxing ( aside the mystery person who wanted to “share” our Netflix/ Disney logins. We soon put a stop to that by blocking them) and then went to bed.
Tomorrow (the Tuesday) would be my last day of respite and a visit to the Botanical Gardens – but that will need to wait till my next blog .
Cheers for reading
Ceej
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