Friday, January 24, 2014

Well, that was exciting…

…though it was an experience I’d prefer not to repeat in a hurry. I woke up in my own bed this morning for the first time since Monday, after having spent the past two and a half days in hospital for treatment to repair what one of the incredibly young-looking doctors called my ‘incarcerated’ hernia. What a wonderful term!

I’d suspected for about 3 months that I had a very small hernia, but had foolishly put off going to the doctor about it because of DH’s illness and my cataract surgery. I’d actually been planning to make an appointment this week, when the hernia pre-empted me by becoming suddenly very painful on Monday evening and refusing to pop back into place.

By the early hours of Tuesday it was obviously getting worse, not better, so DH rang 999 and then packed a bag for me. Despite our remoteness, the ambulance arrived with what seemed like lightning speed and whisked me off to A & E at Aberystwyth. The hospital is very proud of its spanking-new A & E unit, but I would have preferred not to see it for the first time at quarter to four in the morning after a rather painful night-time dash over the hills.

I finally went to theatre at 1pm on Tuesday and seem to have slept through most of the subsequent day and a half before at last surfacing properly yesterday morning. I’m now very glad to be at home again, feeling limp but much more human, and with strict instructions from the nurse who discharged me not to lift anything heavier than a cup of tea for the next six weeks, unless I particularly enjoy hospital food. ;-)

Sadly, this need not to strain my tummy muscles in any way also puts clarinet practice on hold for the time being, which is a shame as I've really been enjoying it. I’ll just have to sit down and learn the theory instead. It also means that DH will have to do a lot of supervised cooking and drinks-making, since I've been firmly told not even to lift a full kettle. Who knows – we may make a cook of him yet...

Now to go and have a bit of lunch and put my feet up for a while, before finally replying to the comments you've kindly been leaving on my last post. I’ll leave you with my favourite rendering of the song that has been irresistibly running through my head all week since I was told by that lovely young doctor, early on Tuesday morning, that the hole in my tummy would be mended with a mesh patch!




78 comments:

  1. Hari Om
    Ohmigosh, my dad used to sing that song till we were all bored enough to actually want to go to bed on time. Hehehehhe, good memories.

    But crikey, friend, what news!!! thank goodness these days, one doesn't require to lift a pen to record such matters. What a shame about the clarinet blowing though - just when you were getting speed up, as it were. Good job, Aberystwyth hospital though. You please take care (and nursing advice!) and blessings for speedy recovery. YAM xx

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    1. Thanks, Yam. Harry Belafonte obviously brought back some vivid childhood memories. :-)

      Yes, it's been a bit of week, but I'm thankfully feeling well enough now to sit for longer at the computer and reply to comments. Music blowing may be on hold, but music learning isn't. :-)

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  2. Oh Perpetua...not the kind of excitement you would have wished for I'm sure. Glad to hear you are back home now, and you really must be strict with yourself and do as the doctor says. Get well soon...lots of love xx

    And now that wretched song won't disappear from my head...haha thanks for that:-)

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    1. You're quite right, Ayak. I could easily have foregone this excitement. I promise I'm being good, not hard so far as I've felt rather tired. The hard bit will come when I feel well againand still mustn't lift things. Ho hum....

      PS Sorry about the song. It really does haunt one. :-)

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    2. It was a family song, wasn't it Perpetua? Daddy taught it to me and we often sang it on Sunday evenings, as I recall. Sunday evenings always felt like the most relaxed time of the week

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    3. It was by the time you have clear memories, Baby Sis, but in the shift-work days it could easily be an early-to-bed night for him before the 6-2 shift. I remember him singing it, but also remember hearing it frequently on Children's Favourites on Saturday mornings.

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    4. I remember Daddy coming home on Saturday afternoons after a 6-2 weekend shift and sitting on his knee peeling the patches of dried wood pulp off his bare arms (he worked on the hydropulper when I was very small) while he read to me from the Just So stories. The Cat That Walked By Himself was our favourite.

      He then changed over to the yard and regular day work, eventually being promoted to yard foreman, before he was made redundant at the age of 62. He was very happy about that, he got to retire three years early after exactly fifty years of of a tough, physically tiring, working life.

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    5. The Cat that Walked By Himself is still my favourite. :-)

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  3. Dear Perpetua,
    What an ordeal. Was it a tummy hernia! I have had three discal spinal hernia operations.. really cant do anything for about 3 months. Take care. I am pleased that it all went well.
    You really must not lift anything. Just relax.
    sending you hugs for a speedy recovery..
    love the song.. what memories it evokes.
    love val xxx

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    1. Ha! Another fan of Harry Belafonte. :-)

      It was indeed a tummy hernia, Val, just above my navel. Your spinal ones must have been so hard to deal with and to have had three such operations is a lot for one person. You have my sympathy.

      I promise I'm not lifting things. DH moves the pans and the heavy food items and I just do the preparation or show him how. I'm spending a lot of time resting in between bits of activity. Even sitting at the computer I can only do for short periods as yet.

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  4. Dear Perpetua - Thank goodness the hills and roads did not resemble last winters snow falls and you could make the ambulance journey to hospital poste-haste. I remember that you were confined to barracks this time last year.
    Take care of yourself, and good luck to DH in the kitchen.

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    1. My thoughts exactly, Rosemary, especially when I went back to last January's posts and saw that we had indeed been snowed up over this same few days last year. That would have been a nightmare scenario.

      I'm being very well looked-after, thanks, and DH is proving a biddable sous-chef. :-)

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    2. Welsh Air Ambulance....!!

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    3. Indeed, but in the middle of the night that would have been a scary experience.

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  5. Imagine if that had happened this time last year!
    I'm glad to read that you are home and obeying doctor's orders - do take them seriously!......and get well soon!

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    1. It doesn't bear thinking of! I never thought I'd be glad just to have grey, wet weather. :-)

      I'm taking the orders and warnings very seriously indeed, believe me. Just turning over carelessly in bed last night made me realise how fragile everything still is. I will be good!

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  6. I'm glad you are on the mend, Perpetua. I certainly hope this has used up your quota of "unexpected and unpleasant" things for the rest of 2014. Does this mean you won't be able to fill in at the church? Hopefully not, as you seemed to be so happy to be back there. Hugs...

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    1. Thanks, Kristie. You can't hope it more fervently than I do now. 2014 ought to be a breeze from now on.. My next service isn't scheduled until the middle of February, so hopefully I should be able to do it without any problems as there isn't any heavy lifting involved. :-)

      PS I'm delighted to say that Ting Ting was waiting for me when I got back from hospital, and I'll be reading it as soon as I've finished my current library book.

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  7. My word you are having a time of it aren't you! Best wishes for a relaxing six weeks - how long before you're crawling up the walls I wonder... :) Seriously though, my father-in-law has had lots of problems with his hernia, so do be careful.

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    1. Hi Anny, nice to see you. :-) Yes, it's been an interesting few months for DH and me. Sorry to hear your father-in-law has had problems. The nurse was very explicit about the danger of not following her clear instructions. I'm trying to be really good, but it isn't easy, as we take lifting things so much for granted.

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  8. Concluding your post with that song made me laugh so much I wondered if I might risk copying your experience!

    I'm glad you are home and on the mend...but what a pity about the clarinet practice!

    And yes, I suppose we all put off going to the doctor for what seems a niggle when there are other things going on.....but as my doctor in childhood said

    We are here to be bothered....that's why we became doctors.

    Looking forward to hearing of your husband's culinary education.....Hell's Kitchen without the bad language?

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    1. Helen, the song sprang immediately to mind as soon as the lovely young doctor said "Hello, my name is Henry" and proceeded to explain what would be done to me. You couldn't make it up. :-)

      As far as clarinet practice is concerned, DD made the brilliant suggestion that I should get the clarinet propped up and learn the fingering for new notes without blowing at all. Even that's a bit beyond me yet, as I get uncomfortable quite quickly still, but once the clips are out at the end of the week, I'll give it a go.

      You're quite right that all good doctors would say the same thing about bothering them and I'm quite resigned to getting a telling-off from my wonderful young German GP when I next see him. It's just that the hernia had given me no problems and there was so much else happening.

      We'll draw a discreet veil over the earliest cooking lessons......

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  9. Wonderful to hear Harry Belafonte and Odetta. Belafonte is one of my all time favourites! Sorry to hear about your emergency surgery, but with all the news about unacceptable waiting times in Welsh hospitals lately, how good to hear about such prompt action. Enjoy your recovery, in the meantime and kudos to your husband for stepping up to the plate so edibly -- I hope!!!

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    1. Such a super song, Broad. I've known every intonation since childhood. :-) Yes, the Welsh NHS has been having problems with waiting times and elective surgery because of staffing recruitment difficulties, but they certainly come up trumps in an emergency. I could NOT have been better treated anywhere.

      Recovery is plodding along and DH is preparing for his next cookery lesson as I type. After the disaster that was Thursday's supper (made unsupervised) I'm taking no chances....:-)

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  10. I'm sorry to hear about the emergency operation, Perpetua. Glad you're now home, but do take it easy. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

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    1. Thanks, Linda. It was a considerable shock at the time, but I was treated so swiftly and so well that I feel very fortunate. I am now being good!

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  11. What an adventurous life you lead Perpetua.
    Can't seem to stay home for two minutes!
    I'm so sorry your latest trip was to hospital, but glad the result is good.
    Could you leave it a while before your next visit do you think?
    Seriously, I am so glad you got the wretched thing 'fixed', though not with a straw.
    Lovely recording, thanks for that.
    Take care and rest.
    Hugs and best wishes X

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    1. Don't make me laugh, Ray, it hurts! I can promise you that I could happily pass the rest of my life without this kind of adventure. It's much more entertaining on the small screen. :-)

      I too am very glad it's now fixed, as a future problem could have been even worse. Now to make sure it heals unhindered.

      Glad you enjoyed the song. This is by far the best version and actually it had been a long time since I'd heard it, so it was fun to include it.

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  12. My goodness Perpetua. I am so glad that everything went ok and that you are recovering. Do enjoy the "not lifting" stage, though by the end of the six weeks, you might be so ingrained in the status, that you will require DH to carry on with the cooking etc. :) Do take care and mend well.

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    1. Thanks, Bonnie. I'm trying my best to enjoy it, but it's actually much harder to obey orders this time than it was for the not bending or lifting heavy weights after the cataract surgery. The weight I'm allowed to lift isn't very much and I really didn't appreciate just how much lifting and carrying we all do every day. As for the cooking, DH is co-operating very well, but I doubt he'll want to carry on for ever. :-)

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  13. Good grief, you can do without that kind of excitement. I hope you're back on your feet and in charge of your own kitchen soon. That's the kind of situation that makes me remember my mum's insisting on us always wearing clean underwear!
    When I had foot surgery and was unable to do anything useful for a couple of weeks, my OH produced lovely meals but when I ventured into the kitchen after the first few days it looked something like across between Steptoe's yard and a war zone. I didn't complain of course, as he'd done a great job of feeding me but I did wish we had lived on beans on toast instead, the clearing up would have been simpler!

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    1. Thanks, Jean.I can do without it very easily indeed. It wasn't clean underwear that was the problem, but the shabby but warm jersey pyjamas i was wearing, which weren't supposed to be seen by all and sundry. It was too cold to change into my tidier summer ones. New winter pyjamas are now on the shopping list. :-)

      You're lucky to have an OH who can be relied on to produce good food, whatever the mess. Mine simply isn't interested enough in food to want to learn properly, but thankfully isn't a messy worker, which is a good thing given that we have an open-plan kitchen-living-room. So I'm playing a close supervisory role and we're managing quite nicely now.

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  14. An incarcerated hernia does not sound at all nice! So glad you are back home again. Wishing you lots of lovely spoiling and a speedy recovery.

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    1. Trapped would be the everyday term, Molly, but I was impressed by incarcerated. :-) No, it wasn't a nice experience, but thankfully was dealt with very quickly and efficiently. People are being very kind, but I think the six weeks are going to feel long.

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  15. So sorry to hear about the hernia. Glad you are back home again and on the mend. I tend to follow the same philosophy... *ignore it as long as you can and maybe it will go away*. Not always the best thing to do, but don't want to spend my days visiting doctors for things that are constantly popping up and are for the most part... age related. And I think 'lifting nothing heavier than a tea cup' (for the time being) sounds like good advice!

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    1. Thanks, Rian. I've always been someone who tries not to make a fuss about what seem like minor things, but I've had a sharp reminder of the need to distinguish between what can be safely ignored and what can't. This could have been done as day surgery if scheduled before it became a problem. Lesson learned!

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  16. My goodness you have had quite a round of difficult situations to deal with lately. I'm glad to hear that the operation went well and you are back home again recuperating. Hope your caterer comes up to snuff and provides you with some scrumptious meals to hasten your return to health.

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    1. Yes, I think we've had our run of three difficult situations, Vic, so hopefully 2014 will prove to be plain sailing after this. The caterer is responding well to instructions, but it's definitely a joint effort, not a one-man band. :-)

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  17. Poor you - hospitals seem to have figured large in the past few months. I hope this is the last visit either of you have to make for a while. I'm sure you will make good use of your enforced rest. Get well soon.

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    1. Too large by half in my opinion. :-) I sincerely trust I won't have to set foot in one for the foreseeable future. The enforced rest is slipping by very gently and I'm starting to catch up with all those programmes I recorded but never got round to watching. :-)

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  18. Oh, dear. I'm sorry to hear about this, especially with your previous difficulties. I really hope you're back to normal soon. I'm sorry to hear you can't play the clarinet either, you really seemed to be enjoying it. I'm thinking positive thoughts for your speedy recovery.

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer. It was rather a shock at the time, but thankfully I'm feeling much more comfortable now. Though I of course can't blow the clarinet, I'm trying to learn the fingering for new notes which should help once I'm allowed to play again. Every little helps....

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  19. I am so sorry to hear about this Perpetua. I have been having problems using my I pad in Australia, to blog and to comment on blogs, so despite an attempt to leave a comment on your last post, I think I failed. to be honest I have no idea whether this will actually publish ! I hope you are making good progress and rating as required. It is such a shame about the clarinet practice, but I am sure it is exactly that sort of activity that could cause you much longer term problems... So do as nurse says ! Take care and enjoy being pampered. Fondest wishes, Jx

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    1. Thanks, Janice and lovely to see you from Down Under.. Your other comment did get through and I've finally responded to it. Blogger has been having commenting problems, so it's probably that and not your iPad at fault. I'm gradually feeling better and will feel much more so when the clips come out on Friday. Plenty of rest being taken, as I can only sit at my desk for a short period at any one time without a lot of twinges.

      You're absolutely right that the clarinet is out of bounds, as playing demands a lot of effort from the abdominal muscles. I will be good!

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  20. Ooops sorry to have replied in the wrong place:(
    What a way to being the new year Perpetua! Wishing you a speedy recovery and lovely drinks and meals:) On a serious note this hernia op was better being needed at that time and not when snow made roads impassable

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    1. No problem, Shirley- I deleted the other attempt. Yes, 2014 could have had a better start, but from now on it will hopefully be plain sailing. You're so right that snow would have made things so much more difficult. At the moment all we're getting is rain and more rain. Misreable, but better than snowdrifts.

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  21. Oh dear. Do you know what caused the hernia? I really know nothing about them and so just looked it up and the web says excessive lifting or whooping cough plus a few others. I guess any kind of excess strain can cause it. Anyway! I'm glad you are safe and sound now, but my guess is the not lifting anything for six weeks will be really difficult. Don't do it though.

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    1. In my case, the hernia was probably caused by the weakening effect of two pregnancies and now age on my abdominal muscles. It seemed so small that I neglected it and have paid the price. The not lifting is really, really hard and I'm finding myself developing all kinds of little stratagems to enable me not to have to call on DH for absolutely everything and yet not put any strain on the scar. What dfo they say about necessity being the mother of invention?

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  22. I am so thankful you are home and now able to recuperate, Perpetua. What an ordeal. I have always heard that an incarcerated hernia is quite serious, make that dangerous, so it is good news that you came through with only some temporary activity restriction! Shame about the clarinet, however. I think DH will be a good cook--he has to eat, too! :-) Do rest…I'm sure you'll be a good patient. Hopefully your books aren't too heavy! Time to get some reading done. ox

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    1. You're absolutely right about an incarcerated hernia, Debra. It's serious and need immediate attention, but the real danger comes when the hernia becomes strangulated. I was very lucky that mine was of the less serious variety.DH and I are now working in partnership where food preparation is concerned. He does the donkey-work and heavy lifting and I do the light but complicated bits. It's much easier than trying to stop him from taking short cuts because he knows better. :-) As for reading, this is where my e-reader comes into its own. It's small and light and perfect in these circumstances.

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  23. What rotten luck, Perpetua, but I'm glad you got safely to hospital and were treated promptly. It will be a frustrating recovery time, but I'm sure you will adapt with your usual good cheer. Maybe reading up about the clarinet and listening to some clarinet music will fill the gap! May your cooking lessons produce an excellent in-house chef :) Take care and rest easy.

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    1. Yes, it wasn't my brightest moment, Patricia, but I was very fortunate in the excellent care I received throughout. The NHS gets a lot of criticism at times, but it certainly did me proud. Your suggestions about the clarinet echo those of DD who suggested I learn the fingering for new notes and watch instructional videos on YouTube. As soon as I can sit comfortably at my computer fort any length of time I'll do just that. as for the cooking lessons, it's become more a case of teamwork, with me doing the easy bits. :-)

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  24. I do hope you are feeling better soon. That sounds like the third medical problem so hopefully no more. Loved the song - hadn't heard it for years.

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    1. Thanks, Susan, Each day things improve, though it's going to take time. Yes, between us DH and I have notched up 3 medical situations in the past 5 month - enough for the foreseeable future. I hadn't heard the song for years either, but it sprang irresistibly y to mind. :-)

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  25. Oh dear Perpetua! But very good to hear of the excellent care you've had this past week. Please do follow orders about not lifting. However, I do understand the frustration about not being able to practice the clarinet when you seemed to be enjoying it so much.

    I wish you well in giving DH instructions as to how to cook. Visualising it brought a big smile to my face :-)

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    1. Oh dear, indeed, Ricky. My thoughts exactly as the ambulance rattled across the Cambrian Mountains. :-) I'm trying to be really good about not lifting, but it isn't easy. Do you know how many things one picks up and carries without thinking in an average day? As i feel better I'm trying to concentrate on learning about the clarinet, rather than blowing it and each thing learned will help.

      You know my DH too well. :-) He is NOT proving an apt pupil, being too prone to take short-cuts, so we're working in tandem, which seems to be doing the trick.

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  26. Gosh! Glad the doctors were pleased with their handiwork and you've been allowed to escape hospital food ;-)
    Do take care and follow your orders however much you'll miss playing the clarinet -- it is only for a while. Niall took away the car keys--just to be on the safe side ;-) when post op I wasn't allowed to drive for 4 weeks.[and yes I did follow orders]
    Take care!

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    1. Thanks, Antoinette. The doctors seem to have done a great job, but I won't actually see the results until Friday. :-) Incidentally the food was much better than the last time I was in hospital, but not good enough to want more anytime soon.

      I've no intention whatsoever of disobeying orders. The nurse was too trenchant for that. I haven't been given any instructions about not driving but wouldn't dream of even trying for a good while. The seat belt is too uncomfortable for one thing.. :-)

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  27. I am so sorry to read this, Perpetua, but, gratitude enters in to know that you are on the other side of the ordeal and on the road to recovery. I'm sure that DH will muster up some meals that will be satisfying and that time with your books and listening to music will ease the recovery process and the fact that you cannot, as yet, lift that clarinet. Follow doctor and nurse orders, my dear, and know prayers are emanating from across the pond.

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    1. Thanks so much, Penny. I'm glad to say that I'm feeling better each day, though I'm being very good about obeying the rules. DH and I have now come to an excellent working relationship in the kitchen, with him doing the basic lifting and carrying and me doing the complicated bits. Trying to teach him to do everything was proving just too slow. :-) The silver lining is that I'm doing lots of reading and also catching up with some programmes I've kept meaning to watch.

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  28. Oh goodness! I do hope the six weeks passes quickly and you are soon properly on the mend :)

    Perhaps you could practice finger placement without blowing ... surely a clarinet isn't heavier than a mug of tea ? x

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    1. Thanks, Annie. I'm already feeling so much better than when I wrote this, though sitting at the computer for any length of time isstill rather uncomfortable.

      You and DD obviously think alike, as this is just what she has suggested to me, with the clarinet propped up to prevent any possible strain. This way I can learn new notes silently :-)

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  29. Hope you recover soon and can get back to that clarinet :)

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    1. Thanks, Lucy. I certainly don't want to forget everything I've already learned. :-)

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  30. Oh Perpetua, you really are testing the health services between the two of you! I hope your DH isn't planning something spectacular for HIS encore, not to be outdone by you - especially as a little snow and ice is forecast! Wishing you a speedy and trouble free recovery, and take great care of each other!!!

    Spindrift51

    Spi

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    1. Yes, we've certainly had our money's worth recently, Spindrift. I reckon DH's ambulance trip back in September was enough to satisfy any yen for excitement he might have and his BP is now so low and stable he's probably safe from a repeat trip. He's being very good about doing all the fetching and carrying and in return I'm doing the technical bits to provide edible meals. :-)

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  31. Oh my goodness so sorry to hear about your hernia and wish you a speedy recovery. I too suffered this during the summer and my was it painful, I did have surgery but it wasn't an emergency as such. Do take it easy and make the most of it. Keep off the clarinet too - it won't be long before you're up and about and getting back into the swing of things. Take care.
    Patricia x

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    1. Thanks, Patricia. I'm sorry to hear you had to suffer this too. It really is very painful, isn't it, and the nearly 40 mile ambulance ride seemed very long. I'm already feeling a lot better and imagine I'll feel better still once the clips come out on Friday. It's remembering not to lift and carry that's the hard part, as these things are so automatic. :-) But I'm taking it easy, just as I was told to.

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  32. Goodness me, Perpetua! I leave out the blogging due to a bad cold for two days and look what happens when my back is turned! I'm a bit speechless - but just want to say, DO take care - definitely no clarinet practice for a little while and hope that hole doesn't cause anywhere near as much trouble as the one in the song! Much love, Axxx

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    1. I know, I know, Annie. You can't take your eyes off me for a moment, can you? I do hope your cold is starting to improve. There's nothing more miserable than a really bad cold. :-( I promise I'm taking great care and will continue to do so, though it's so easy to forget for a moment and move awkwardly and then ouch! Clarinet study is definitely theory only for the time being. :-)

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  33. Oh my goodness, what an adventurous life you are leading at the moment!! Except that particular instalment sounds no fun at all. Thank heavens the medics responded so promptly, at least. But woe for your clarinetting and everything else! I can imagine it will be a test of patience, as you recover, to remember not to lift and so on (having had a similar experience after a Caesarian I do sympathise). I wish you a steady and full recovery.

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    1. Thanks, DB. As you can imagine I could have done without this kind of excitement very easily. Oh, for a quiet life. :-) At the moment it's very easy to remember not to lift and twist, but as the scar heals and stops twinging so much, I'm really going to have to be careful. Mind you, it's amazing how many little coping strategies I've already devised to stop me having to get DH to do everything.

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  34. Goodness. I'm glad you are ok. I guess you won't ignore problems like this from now on. Take care of yourself and follow your doctor's orders.

    I loved hearing this great song again. It brought many memories back to me. Thanks for sharing it. Now, the song will roll around in my head.

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    1. So am I.Sally. It was quite scary for a while, but I had wonderful care. I've learned my lesson though and will definitely not ignore things in future. I'm also being very good about following orders. :-)

      The song is an indelible memory from my childhood and I still know every verse....

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  35. Dear Perpetua, I so hope your recovery is going well and I'm glad to learn that you are paying strict attention to the admonishment about lifting things heavier than a tea cup. And is there tea in that cup? Oh, what you might be able to teach your husband in the kitchen. He can try his own favorite dishes.

    Thanks so much for sharing this rendition of "There's a Hole in the Bucket" by Belafonte and Odetta. Her voice just made that song. Her inflections told us just what she thought about Harry's questions. Such a delight. Peace.

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    1. I'm glad to say i'm feeling much better, Dee, especially now the clips are out. I'm still having to be very careful and my stomach muscles soon remind me if I'm a little bit careless. Of course the tea cup has tea in it! It's what keeps me going. :-) DH is providing the unskilled labour, as it just takes too long any other way.

      Glad to see you're another fan of Harry Bellafonte and Odetta. Such a fun song and one i've known since early childhood.

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  36. Oh my goodness, that sounds very painful indeed! I'm very glad to hear you are now "sorted" and on the road to recovery! AND pleased to hear you are taking heed of warnings NOT to lift anything heavier than a cup of tea. I know it will be a boring few weeks but you don't want to undo the new repair (and have the pain back!) OR risk creating scar tissue which might cause further problems.

    So I hope you are cosy at home - knitting is maybe allowed? NO heavy books though ;-) And do get well soon!

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    1. It's certainly wasn't something I'd want to go through again, Sian, but I'm feeling very much better now, thanks. The clips were removed on Friday, but part of the scar isn't yet completely healed so I'm off to the surgery this afternoon to have it dressed again. I'm trying to be really careful about not lifting and have devised a lot of little stratagems to enable me to do things without risk. Knitting is fine (a half-knitted sock weighs virtually nothing) and my e-reader is small and light and coming in SO useful. :-) At least the weather isn't tempting me outside into the garden. :-)

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