Friday, October 01, 2021

 

Here I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kind messages.

 

I’m better than I was when they carried me off; I still don’t know what was essentially wrong. I had a saline drip for 48 hours – that points to dehydration. I had an antibiotic for a week to treat a “wee chest infection”. I had thiamine (I think that’s right), also by drip. That’s an assembly of B-vitamins badly assimilated by drinkers. I now have them in pill form. But I don’t know which of these treatments is meant to have wrought an improvement. I’m trying to drink a lot of non-cider. It’s harder than it sounds.

 

I didn’t get much knitting done, either. At least the sock has come safely home.

 

I feel somewhat disconcerted. Where am I? Who’s in charge? I slept wonderfully well last night until awakened by a whiskery kiss at 4 a.m. Paradox (for it was she) seems rapturously glad to see me. Perdita greeted me at the door, but has since relapsed into her standoff-y normal. Helen has established a rota which ensures that I am visited twice a day.

 

It is odd to think that I will never see or hear of those three women again, with whom I shared space so briefly yet so intensely. Vera celebrated her 96th birthday on Tuesday, the most clear-headed and sweet-tempered of us all. Older than the Queen. Wilma was determined to go home. Every morning the doctor doing rounds would explain to her that she had a kidney infection; and that she was slightly confused and couldn’t leave until they were sure that the set-up at home was safe. She would seem to take this in and remain quiet during the rest of the day. Then, at tea-time, she would set off for home and the struggle would continue all evening.

13 comments:

  1. Did you know about alcohol-free cider? It is available in supermarkets. Thatchers make one. Would that be an answer? I haven't tried it...

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  2. So glad you're home and feeling better! Heartfelt thanks to Helen and the rest of your family for watching over you!

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  3. It is common to be put on a drip in an emergency - I had one recently when admitted with atrial fibrillation. It helps to bring down your heart rate. Low B12 leads to all sorts of problems, notably fatigue. You do sound like yourself, which is reassuring.

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  5. Jenny1:01 AM

    My biggest pet goat, (I have three) was very ill and I thought I was going to lose him but the vet gave him B12 and he picked up tremendously. Now I give it to him every second day my needle and he's doing great! Not to suggest in any way that you are anything like a goat but B12 does seem like a wonder drug!
    So happy you're home and a little better! xoxoxo

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  6. Jean, what a pleasure to hear you sounding like yourself. Welcome home, and welcome back to blog-land. FWIW my GP put me on B12 supplements after my most recent annual checkup a few weeks back. I do think my energy has begun to improve; I hope you will find the same.

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  7. I've just remembered that Gerald Durrell was forever giving animals in his zoo B12 injections if they seemed lethargic to revive them... especially tortoises coming out of hibernation, I seem to recall!

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  8. So happy to hear you are home!
    And to hear that your cats welcomed you a bit.
    Looking forward to your wonderful posts.

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  9. Paradox is so sweet. I would be very touched.

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  10. Welcome home! I hope the adjustments go smoothly!

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  11. Well done. Was thinking of you while watching virtual Shetland Wool Week sessions!

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  12. Anonymous1:21 AM

    B12 is the good stuff... so are the other B vitamins. I know I notice if skip them. Alcohol-free cider? It sounds like a winner. I kind of wish I could get it over here. I don't do alcohol but I drink too much coffee (which is a diuretic) and have to remember to balance it with extra water. Skritch the kitties! =Tamar, using a public computer

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  13. There you are! So good to hear from you at home with your kitties. I'm sure both of them missed you.

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