Let’s start with what seemed like bad news, but isn’t really that bad. Surgery has been slightly postponed as Medtronic aren’t able to provide technician cover in theatre on May 30th, and Mr Mundil wants to ensure I get to see them (or perhaps it’s more about them seeing me) to get the best possible chance of success from the outset with the new device, so I am now scheduled for June 7th. I think my brain latched on to the fact it’s gone from May to June and therefore it’s a months delay, rather than the reality of it only actually being 8 days, but time is passing quickly and as of this morning I can say that a month from today I will be back in theatre.
The tingling and numbness in my arm is more frequent. I spoke to Karen last week and she’s advised me of some exercise and postural things to do to help that, and it’s remaining bearable.
As for the back pain, well that is not so good. Far more frequent flare-ups, and I definitely see a difference when I don’t have the lidocaine patch on. I’ve had to use them a little more sparingly in the last week as, partly due to confusion as to who was writing the new prescription, and then the pharmacy not having them in stock, I only have one left after today. Hopefully stock will arrive today and I’ll be able to pick them up in the morning. One day last week I messed up and forgot to take the patch off. I had a very strange night – restless, struggling to get strange things out of my mind to get to sleep. It was only when I went to get a patch out to put on the next morning that I realised I still had the one on from the day before. Someone recently told me they’d had odd side effects from lidocaine when left on too long, and I susie t that is what happened to me that night. Of course the upshot was that I was both knackered from the restless night, and having to spend the day without the patch as well! In case you’re wondering why I don’t set alarms on my phone to tell me to take meds, remove the patch etc – I do, but I find it very easy to ignore them, or decide “I’ll do it in 10mins…” 🤦♂️
Mobility seems to have been getting worse. I thought this was me just letting things get on top of me, but then I got an alert from Apple Health warning me about my walking steadiness – or lack of. The warning popped up a week or so back when it was very much in the decline, so I suppose I take some comfort from the fact it seems to have been improving a bit in the last week – or perhaps that’s because I’ve used the wheelchair more. 🤔
Retirement happened
My last week at work was fun, stressful, weird. I had a leaving do with friends and colleagues old and new popping in for a bit of Indian street food, a few drinks, and some even braved the karaoke that long term colleague and friend Kev put on. It was a great night, right up until I ruined the entertainment with my grand finale piece of Don’t you forget about me. I want to thank the staff at Dhaba59 sports bar, and also Rosie and Mary at work for organising it. I then spent the next few days trying to cram in as much handover as I could think helpful before going in to the office on the last day to clear out the accumulated crap from my office (very therapeutic 😀) and then the inevitable corridor party and farewell speech. Again thanks to so many people for coming to see me off.
So what’s it like being retired? Well I can’t say I’ve noticed a sudden improvement in the pain etc, but then maybe this week will be slightly less hectic than my first week of retirement (little chance looking at my diary and to-do list!). I’m sure I will start to feel comfortable with the idea of not working in time.