Tag: Family

• Rehab Part 3: Homeward Bound

  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

  • Kneel down on the floor
  • Use crutches
  • Get on my recumbent rower bike / Rower ( Though I have tried)

  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

  2025.04.02

• The Life and Times of Patient 277****. Part 1. Box Hill Hospital

  As I write this, my hip replacement is done. However, before I get to how life has been post surgery and what my plans are for the foreseeable future, I’d like to go back to the before.

  Before it all happened.

  Sunday February 23rd 2025

  I had it all arranged. Hubby and I were to spend the night at The Quest apartments in Mont Albert the night before my surgery date as it was as close as we could get to Box Hill Hospital – given I had to be there at 6:30am the Monday morning.

  We’d packed everything expecting a smooth run. I was excited, nervous and scared shitless all at the same time. I tried not to let it bother me as we made good time to our destination, instead choosing to focus on the fact that for the first time in months I’d be able to have a decent shower ( I had to be washed in this antiseptic soap stuff the night before and the morning of my surgery) and a good night watching Netflix and sleeping in a – hopefully- comfy bed.

  We’d bought dinner from home . Most Quest apartments come fully equipped with everything you need to cook a meal so we were set for a quiet night in.

  Upon our arrival we were told that the Disabled room that was booked for us was currently occupied by someone else because our booking was overlooked in the system and consequently not paid for. This meant we had to cough up our own money to pay for a non disabled room ( Not happy Jan!) and after much back and forth, we were eventually given a plastic outdoor chair for me to sit and shower on. It was hell but we managed. The rest of our night wasn’t that great either – with most of the cookware filthy dirty and unclean. Thankfully the microwave worked – so we still had our spaghetti – without the garlic bread.

  Stress set in and I couldn’t sleep. I think I managed about two maybe three hours ( if that) before it was time to get up and get ready for me to go to Box Hill Hospital.

  Monday Feb 24th 2025

  By the time we got down stairs our lovely taxi driver was waiting. This to, was organised and paid for in advance ( Wait for it!) but to no one’s surprise, we also had to pay for that . Granted it was a grand total of $6.00 but still.

  Anyway, hospital admissions opened at 6:30 am sharp and I was the 2nd person to be called up. It wasn’t long before I found myself getting prepped for surgery and by 8:15 am I was with the anesthetist – Candy her name was. Lovely, nerdy woman. Full of silly jokes, Star Trek references and bright, hot pink hair.

  They gave me a spinal and by god that hurt. Having to guide her where to aim the needle was painful but surprisingly it didn’t take that long because, as I was so dutifully informed, not many people tend to tell them what’s going on and just sit and suffer. ( Like why? Is my question.)

  A few minutes later I was wheeled into the theater and I noticed all the 3D pictures on a screen in front of me.

  “Is that me?” I asked surprised

  “Yes!” Candy informed me while she plugged me into all the machines . By this stage I was numb from the waist down and had no idea they’d inserted a catheter until someone announced it was done.

  At this point, I was starting to get a little freaked out so I squeezed Candy’s hand and told her that she was my friend and not to leave me. She assured me she wasn’t going anywhere and that I’d be OK.

  I wanted to meet the Doctor doing the operation before anything happened. They let me say hello which was nice. It was also comforting now that I think back on it. Knowing you’re in good hands always helps . Or at least, it helped me anyway.

  The last thing I remember was talking to Candy about something star trek related before I fell asleep. Oddly, I remember thinking ‘I’ll just take a nap. I must be tired’ and I could hear myself breathing.

  Unlike my previous surgeries, this one was different. Hand on heart I swear I was out for a total of 15 minutes!

  The next thing I know I woke up . There were bright lights and a clock on the wall. I looked at the time . It was Midday.

  There was a nurse at the foot of my bed. “Hello” she said, smiling at me “Welcome back! You’re in recovery!”

  Shortly thereafter I was taken to the 9th floor. I was put in room 31. A room to myself. Hubby was with me by this point and I don’t remember much except vomiting alot and feeling quite ill. I do remember having a nosebleed but that didn’t last long.

  About an hour or so later I was moved again. This time to the far end of the ward which I shared with about four other people. I was moved to make way for an infectious patient ( Or that’s what they said anyway) and to be honest, that was perfectly fine with me. Being in a room on my own would’ve drove me nuts under the circumstances so I was glad to have company – even if that company didn’t say much.

  I stayed at Box Hill Hospital for about a week. The first night or so I was on oxygen. It was weird having a peg in your nose helping you breathe but I got used to it soon enough. They woke me every few hours to check my vitals – that’s how I became known as 277**** . The nurses were lovely and helped me when I needed it.

  I later found out that not only had I had a full replacement of my right hip but they’d also straightened my pelvis and lengthened the muscles in my right leg so it was the same as my left – which meant I grew a few inches taller! Wah-hoo!

  I had been warned that they’d waste no time getting you up on your feet and the very next day after surgery that’s exactly what happened. I met with an in house OT who got me out of bed and gave me a gutter frame. I managed to walk a few small steps ( about 10 meters) before I became to overwhelmed and cried. Over the next few days I kept moving my legs – either by using the frame or simply just moving my legs up and down side to side.

  I was once asked if I was bored while in hospital. Short answer? No. Not for one second. There was always something happening on my ward. From the woman with multiple personality disorder complaining of severe pain, to the man who was so out of it he had no idea where he was ( poor guy) to the main attraction, a feisty old Italian woman named Rosa – who, despite having had a full knee reconstruction was determined to go home. I felt so sorry for the nurses, constantly run off their feet shouting “Rosa! Where are you going?!” or “Rosa! You’re in Hospital! You can’t go home yet!” or “Rosa! Have you fallen off the toilet again?!”

  ( At time of writing I do so hope Rosa has gone home to her family and that she’s healing well)

  While in Hospital I had my support workers and my Hubby by side helping me where they could. Hubby was very hands on with everything – which the nurses appreciated as it gave them a bit more time to assist other patients.

  What I will say is – I became an expert at rolling! Not being able to take myself to the toilet, I had to wear a special pad most of the time. My nickname became “Rolly Corie” which amused everyone to no end.

  By Friday morning, I was told I was being moved to the Peter James Centre to continue my Rehabilitation. By midday I was taken to the transport lounge – where I had a spot of lunch and by 5pm I found myself in East Ward of the Peter James Rehabilitation Hospital.

  But this blog is long enough for now. You shall read all about that when I get to part 2 in the next day or so

  Cheers and thanks for reading

  CJ

  2025.03.23

• The Week That Felt Like a Year

  I honestly don’t know how to start this blog .. other than by saying it has been one of the longest and most difficult weeks of my life

  It’s been one of those weeks where I find myself wondering what it was I’ve done that was so God awful wrong that life felt like it needed to kick me in the teeth multiple times before throwing me head first into a bin and telling me to make sure I took myself out.

  Pretty much, yep

  At the time of writing this blog, I am all over the shop as far as the NDIS is concerned. In short, I have all this amazing funding – but no way of being able to spend it (How it NEEDS to be spent)

  Allow me to explain.

  I have been on the NDIS for approximately 15 months. In that time I have had more ups and downs than a Yo- yo and it’s not only left me exhausted to the point of delirium – but more confused than when I started and at a complete loss how some people are

  A) Able to make their skin stay on and

  B) Remain actively employed.

  When I first applied to be a NDIS Participant (as we’re known) I was accepted due to the fact my Allied Health Providers had given sufficient evidence that proved they were, in fact, treating me for my Cerebral Palsy.

  Cool beans. Excellent. So, I have my Exercise Physiologist, my Chiropractor, my Remedial Masseuse and my Podiatrist all covered by the NDIS. Hooray!

  Over the next few months we bring in an Occupational Therapist, A Physiotherapist and a Psychologist and everyone is all going about their business and getting paid all while doing their bit to improve my mobility, my mental health and my overall well being.

  (For most of my time on the NDIS I’ve been fighting for a Change of Situation- which means my current plan needs to be looked at, reassessed and a decision needs to be made as to whether or not an increase in funding is required. At time of writing this blog -I have been granted extra funding – we just need to remember that)

  So, here’s where things stand.

  In my new plan I have funding allocated for my Occupational Therapist, my Physiotherapist and some new dang-fangled individual called a ” Therapy Assistant” and between the three of them – they are supposed to better improve my life. Meanwhile, my Chiropractor, my Remedial Masseuse, my Exercise Physiologist, my Psychologist and my Podiatrist have all been given the ass with the NDIS claiming “There is no evidence to suggest that these services have helped prevent the deterioration of the Participants current condition”

  In saying that, InstaCare – the NDIS provider who pay all my invoices for me – claim that all my Allied Health providers are there and accounted for and can, as per normal, submit invoices for payment and, according to them.. I have enough funding over the next two years to cover those costs.

  Consequently, seeing as everything is as clear as mud at this point – it’s now pushed through what’s called an S100 (a review of a review) which means more letters of support, which means more documentation ( that may or may not be read) which means more waiting around while things are discussed, debated and determined which means I am yet again dicked around by a Government department who couldn’t organise a pissup in a brewry.

  Thankfully, I have lodged a formal complaint with NDIS Minister the Hon Bill Shorten MP – or his office anyway- and they have informed me they intend to respond to my concerns no later than Tuesday this week.

  I have no idea how long any of this is going to take- but it’s gonna be a long and bumpy road to get shit sorted out.

  In other news, yesterday I got to go out with my Support Worker ‘Miss M’ and she took me to get some desperately needed underthings. Much to my delight,I found some that were brightly coloured and ridiculously comfortable! (Not to mention reasonably priced to boot. So yay that!) Shout out to the lovely staff at Femmeline in Main St Croydon for their helpful staff – especially since I was in a wheelchair- and amazing expertise in helping me find the most perfect fit! It was also while there that I found out that there are 28 Cafes in Croydon and ‘Miss M’ and I decided to visit one called “The Famished Wolf” for a bite to eat. ( Side note: Between leaving The Famished Wolf and getting back to my house we counted 9 Cafes in Main St. We’ve decided we’ll go back sometime soon and find the rest!)

  I was having quite a good day until late yesterday afternoon when I received a message from my Sister telling me that our Grandfather (on my Mothers side) had passed away earlier in the week. Last Tuesday in fact. The only reason anyone in our family found out was due to the fact a distant relation contacted my Mother to pass on condolences.

  We have since found out my Grandfather had not been well for quite some time – Throat Cancer – and a few weeks prior to his passing he had also had a fall and fractured his hip. Our family was not made aware of any of this, during this time, and I must confess to being a little upset about it. *

  I’m sure His family had their reasons but still, when something like this happens you would think they would at least reach out personally and inform us themselves.

  At this point we have not been made aware of any funeral details so we can do is wait.

  I guess we’ll see what the week brings eh?

  Ceej

  *For those playing at home my Grandfather was Married twice. Once to my Grandmother (Dec) and then to Nanna P . Lovely woman I thought. **

  ** Full name not given for reasons

  2023.08.27