Hi Tracey and THANK YOU !
Don’t be concerned about offloading - it’s what we all need to do regularly and that’s the great thing about this forum - everyone understands!
G had a catheter after he had his initial prostate problems - described it as ‘the size of a car spark plug’ and I gave the Consultant a “Bad Taste Bear” called ‘Wrench’ when G went back for a check up. BTB’s are fun figurines (but some get rather near the knuckle) and this one had a large plumbers wrench and is shown with a grimace on his face as he - erm ‘tightens his nuts’ - Hope I don’t get banned for that! The guy burs out laughing. Then last year we saw him when he gave G his diagnosis of Prostate Cancer and said the figure is STILL on his desk and he laughs every time he looks at it.
Anyway - back on topic… We had fun with that catheter - or at least the bag - as he cmae in to work and at lunchtime went to try to drain it, but found a bit of a clot had blocked the drain… Imagine if you can - me on my knees in front of him as he winced and moaned while I tried inverting the bag, shaking it and doing everything to move the clot. It took 15 minutes before he got relief!! Fast forward to 3am next morning and he wakes me (I was in the spare room as desperately needed sleep) to tell me an ambulance was en route as it had happened again and District Nurses refused to come out as we are right on the edge of their patch and it was too late at night!!! So in he went with blue lights again.
You might tell we are not lovers of catheters!!!
I feel I would love a break but I am not sure I would be able to switch off as I would worry no matter what I put in place for him. I am planning to book a massage next week and that always helps me. I should make regular bookings - perhaps block book and pay ahead so I am committed to it!
I also take supplements to help - particularly B Complex to help with mood and try to avoid ‘the blues’. Seems to help mostly.
OK - G up and then changed as he put on a t-shirt he spilled a load of salad dressing on yesterday evening!! Breakfasted and emptied and refilled dishwasher. Washer has finished so another load to out on the airer. Off to dentist in an hour… Oh what a busy life!
