What do you do when you’re off sick?

It is almost a week since I got out of hospital. I am bored already. 6-8 weeks is starting to look like an awfully long time.

To begin with, when you are feeling poorly and dopey apres anaesthetic, it is fine to lounge around in your jammies, popping in and out of bed, watching a little light TV (attention span not good over 30 mins) and reading a page or two before falling asleep again. Having a shower really takes it out of you and a lie down is required before the hair is dried.  Checking emails and feed reader lasts about an hour before a shift of position is required. Appetite is lacking and a little bit of toast is about all you can manage politely but when pressed will force some French Toast/Eggy Bread down reluctantly.

But as the week goes on, things start to improve.  This brave wee soldier can even manage to make her own tea now, if forced. Attention span for TV is up to one hour programmes, but fell asleep half way through an old episode of Morse. (Enjoying old episodes of Moonlighting and Tooty Fruity.)  Emails and playing on Facebook etc is now lasting 2 hours. One wee nap in the afternoon is all that’s needed although little dozy episodes do happen from time to time.  Reading ecclesiastical whodunnits is improving and up to at least 10 pages before eyes close.  Dealing with lack-of-water-crisis at church is not fazing and I am sure that someone else can deal with it without my help.

Son #1 has turned out to be a really good nurse. He loves cooking and has been a little disappointed that I’ve not required any of his masterpieces yet. But the cups of tea and fluffing of pillows have been timely. And he is awfully good at nagging when he thinks I’ve been at my desk for too long.  His girlfriend is now on my car insurance so is taking care of the shopping and enjoying having a runaround for a wee while.

So there we have it. Week 1 of convalesence post hospital is almost over and I am feeling much better.  Thanks to whoever brought me a doze of the sniffles. (Coughing and sneezing is a big no-no!) Visitors always welcome – if you make your own tea.

A lesson in humility

Sunday morning brought my sister and her boys over to do my housework and change my bed.  They also taught me Harvest Moon for my DS Lite in case I’m interested in getting it.  (Not sure that I am!)

Son #2 came to visit and eat bacon rolls.

A & K from church came to visit with a purple cushion with ‘Queen’ on it and some books.

D & M came with communion which was a surprise and lovely. That’s the second time this week I’ve been ministered to and it was really rather special.

Finished My Name Was Judas by CK Stead which is our book group book this month. Well, this will be an interesting discussion methinks.  We have to assume that Judas did not commit suicide or die but lived on in Greece and is now telling his version of a shared childhood with Jesus and what it was like being one of the 12. There were quite a few ‘oh that could be right’ moments and lots to ponder. Interesting version of the naked young man who was seen running away when Jesus was captured. Loved that bit! Worth a read.

To tell or not to tell?

Blogging about personal things or one’s health is always a tricky one. I know some clergy just don’t do it.  Never a peep.  Although sometimes they use their cat as a substitute. Others do it a lot and that comes in for some criticism. It is a dilemma, right enough.

In the past I have blogged probably more than I should.  Occasionally it has brought about interesting discussions and I was glad I did it. But that is not always the case.

The thing is, there is so much mileage in this latest medical adventure of mine. The jokes are just bubbling away during visits and phone calls and I’d love to share them with you. But that good taste gene is just pulling me back whispering in my ear, “Don’t do it Ruth. Step away from the lurid stories.  You are a priest and must maintain the aura of …. ” (fill inthe gap yourself.)

So let us just say that I have had a wee stay in hospital which involved an operation under general anaesthetic. It was quite nippy after. All has gone well and now I must desist from lifting, driving, bending or hoovering for 8 weeks.  My attention span is that of a gnat.  So far my days have passed in reading, sleeping, reading, sleeping, sleeping, a little TV and then more sleeping. Visitors have been much welcome and very entertaining so far.

And I have promised not to sit at the computer all day long. So a little update in the mornings which I fear will all be much of a muchness is all that I shall do. Well I’m saying that now…

Blogging pause

Normal service will be resumed when the anaesthetic has worn off.

I may be gone for some time.

Please pray for healing for my bits that need healed.

Going in to hospital tomorrow morning, op at 1.45pm and home a few days later when they prise me off the morphine drip. What a lark!

Recuperation is to take 6-8 weeks I am told. Not a happy bunny about that, I can tell you. But that takes us neatly to Advent Sunday which I guess is a good place to start back.  And gives me plenty time to catch up on reading and preparing those Christmas services.

And whatever you do, don’t make me laugh – or cough.

Oh, and it is Ward 210 (not 120 as I told everyone who asked today).

Priest down

For a week now I have had some kind of dreaded lurgy which involves vomiting and stomach pains – never a pretty combination. Mornings are bearable but as the day goes on it builds into an unbearable frenzy of unpleasantness.  The doc has given me anti-sickness pills and they are making me feel sick. Go figure.

Of course one has to wonder about the timing of this. After all, this is a notoriously hard week for clergy with pancakes and ashes and new liturgies and the like. (On a happier note – the diet is going terribly well now!) Please pray for all the above.

Pancakes will happen tonight at 7pm and I give you my apologies now.

Ash Wednesday will happen tomorrow morning at 10am and at 7.30pm.

Lindt heaven

One of my little flock popped in this afternoon with the perfect get-well pressie: a bunch of purple flowers, a bag of Lindt chocs and a joke book. What more could a girl want when recuperating?  Mmm, I love those chocs.

That was the week that was

Well, I did as I was told. I stayed indoors and did nothing at all except read and eat. (Blimey, can I get through the pantry when I’m taking steroids.)  But I have continued to wheeze and cough my way through the dark and lonely hours of the night. Weary, is what I am.

So I have decided to take control back of my miserable existence. This week I shall work from home and perhaps I shall have Advent and Christmas all sewn up by Friday. So far I’ve cleared the desk which is always a good start.

Missed church today. That’s probably the first time for about 20 years. It was very strange and not at all pleasant. Not even any church bells round here to help me focus on what was going on outside these four walls. That was the lovely thing about living opposite St Michael & All Saints: if you were ill in bed you knew exactly when mass was happening at the elevation bells. Hmm, a bell tower at St Mark’s…

The op is off

Spoke to the hospital this morning and they have decided not to operate on my cataract tomorrow as planned. I was up all night with breathing difficulties and knew in my heart that it wouldn’t be safe to go ahead, much as I wanted to. Now someone else can get my place.

I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that this has happened. It’s not just the length of time I’ve waited (about a year) but its about clearing the diary, getting cover arranged and all the planning that has gone into getting this op and recovery time sorted. I am angry and upset.

The plan now is that I phone when I am well and they give me another appointment. It could be months away and will involve more diary negotiations.

So, the doctor will see me today and hopefully give me more steroids and this time I shall stay indoors and not work at all until I am well. Bishop Alan will take the service on Sunday as planned.

Germs at the altar

We did all we could to prevent our altar party germs from infecting the rest of the congregation. (Yes, i was not alone in my spluttering – those valiant servers had it too.) We didn’t pass the Peace, we used the hand-spray and we made it through three services. Time will tell whether our efforts paid off or not. But we did try.

Would you mind saying a wee word to the Wo/man upstairs please?

Right, so the tickly cough that I picked up in Paris has now developed into Bronchial Asthma. Antibiotics and steroids (just don’t leave any food near me or I’ll scoff it) should do the trick. But will they do it in time for my cataract op next Wednesday? Please pray that they do. Everything is organised for me going off for a week or so, got cover, done pewsheets, etc. I will be soooo cheesed off if it doesn’t happen.