Provost for tea? No chance - A & E...

Hi guys, well this time we made it all the way to February before the first A & E visit of 2014!

Instead of a nice pot of tea and some cake with Provost Joan last Thursday at the civic awards meet and greet party, I ended up with drinks-machine hot chocolate at the local General Hospital A & E Dept and it looked nothing like this one I can assure you! lol

After a not too long wait,
Some prodding about and an x-ray...it's official!
Coo has broken a bone in his foot! What a pain and in more ways than one!
So...just what happened?
Well, firstly Coo knocked it in a seizure, ouch!
It really seemed ok, a bit sore mind you but no worse than the usual lumps and bumps of life living with Epilepsy so...we carried on as usual!
We had arranged to spend some time with our wee grand-daughter Jessica, just out for an hour in town.

Anyways, on a whim, we decided to pop in for a cuppa and to let wee Jessie have some fun in the new soft play area for pre-5's.
so far so good...but not for long!

Coo decided to 'help' Jessie but unfortunately he didn't help himself any...he fell over in the soft play and the was that - he finished the job! Bone broken, crutches and a whole lot of hassles!

We're back up at the hospital on Tuesday and hopefully it won't be too long until he's fully mobile again but I think he'll be steering well clear of those soft play places in future! lol

Onwards and upwards as they say!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Crash and burn, yet more bloods...

Hi guys, Coo got more blood tests done today.

Not ideal this time. It was an early appointment so his routine's all over the place and it's been a case of crash and burn today. He's been sleeping and seizing on and off  since tea-time and picked up a couple of injuries along the way so I guess it could be one of those nights - hey ho!

To cap it all, we had yet more problems today with medicines! Coo's been having some more stomach  problems so our doctor took the time to check meds and find something for him that would not cause any problems with his other meds - a real worry for us now as there's just so many!

Anyway, he found one and off we went to the Pharmacy, now you'd think everthing was plain sailing then wouldn't you? We sure did...but no! They made a mistake and dispensed the wrong drug! Luckily we double check everything and spotted their mistake, a quick phonecall to our doctor to check things and...back to the chemist...again!

I've heard from other Carers who have had problems with NHS prescriptions at Pharmacies too and that's a worry!
If we Carers can get it right and check for and identify errors, why can't the professionals keep up their side of the bargain too? This could have been nasty, thank God I spotted their error before any damage was done.

I hope things are going ok where you are.
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Tumbling times again...

Hi guys, we're struggling again.

Coo has taken a bit of a tumble and he has an increase in seizure activity too, I was beginning to worry just what was going on but lo-and-behold, he has a sniffle this morning so...now we know!



The trouble is, he's fallen during a seizure and while it's not unheard of, it's a worry. He usually manages to dust himself off and just muddle along with little injury and seldom comlpains of pain.

This time he took a tumble and has hurt his arm although he insists it's fine, it's just a bit sore.
It's definately not broken or badly swollen but it has developed a weird clicking sound when he moves it!
He doesn't want to do anything about it for now so I'll just keep an eye on things and see how he goes and he's due to see the doctor again on Monday for bloods anyway so...if it's still 'clicky' we'll see about it then!

It's always something isn't it! Who knows, maybe it'll settle down again all by itself - stranger things have happened!

I hope where you are, things are settled at the moment for you!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Tumbling times...

Hi guys, Coo's taken a bit of a tumble this week I'm afraid.

After the relief of sorting out all the care, I was hoping for a wee quiet week!
In a way, I suppose it has been!
The mood-swings have all gone and things are calmer but the seizure levels are still on the high side and to cap it all?
Coo tumbled out of bed during a seizure!


While that's not unusual, he seems to have popped his eye somewhere along the way! He insists it's ok, it's a little bruised and raised and I'm sure he's right but I'll keep an 'eye' on things anyway! Pardon the pun! lol

Where has the sunshine gone? 
It's been dire here!
Wellie boot and brolly weather right enough! lol
Don't get me wrong, it's warm enough, it's just really...wet!
I'm hoping the weekend, will show an improvement as it'd be nice to get out to the park for a bit, blow away the cobwebs!

We could sure do with some sunshine here!
I hope it's a sunny day for you where you are too!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Coo's still got a sore arm...

Hi guys, I left for my meeting just after 8 o'clock this morning as planned and that was a bit of a result considering the week we've had!

Coo has knocked his arm again during yet another seizure so Looby was going to the hospital with him...well, that was the plan when I left this morning.
So...what happened?

Well, nothing really!
Coo decided, once he'd got himself awake and together, maybe he'd just leave it for another day and see how things go and Looby thought it best to go with the flow as it were.
In the end, it boils down to is this - it's Coo's arm and it's Coo's choice!

I hope he doesn't knock it again tonight though as it'll only make matters worse.

In other news - My meeting today!

So, how did it go?
Well, it was really interesting!
Our Local Authority is working towards a more personalised approach to providing care for disabled people and that's where my input as a Carer comes in!

It's so very seldom Carers ever get the chance to shape policies that untimately will have an impact on both their life and the person they care for. Even to be involved or have their voices heard at all is unusual so I'm definately up for the challenge - can you tell! LOL

To be fair to our council, the service we buy with our Direct Payment (D.P.)is very effective. I would not willingly be without it now! Those two nights sleep and the few precious hours to myself really make the world of difference to Coo and I.
Things were so very different when we struggled to cope alone before our D.P. began!

Type Direct Payment and click my Search this blog button on the right for more of our D.P. related entries!

I'm passionate about support for Carers!
I know how very different things can be with the right support and what a benefit a good service can be - it saved us big time!


I'm hoping this involvement of Carers, at these early stages in the process, is a good omen of things to come and that their involvement and sharing of experience will lead to better services - now wouldn't that be an achievement!

I've a feeling it won't be easy but it will be worth the effort!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Coo's arm...

Hi guys, Coo's mishap is still a problem!

We saw the doctor today for Coo's usual blood tests.
While we were there, he had a look at his poorly arm - it's painful and now developed a bit of a clicking sound when he moves the elbow joint, well Coo never does things by halfs! lol

The up-shot is, he's hurt it during a seizure and needs to go to the A & E.
As our GP puts it so aptly...
"I do try me best but I 'aint got x-ray eyes!" He is a bit of a character, our doctor don't you think?
I guess, with all the scrapes he's seen Coo and I through over the years he's more of a friend than just our doctor!

Anyway, Coo's decided to wait - he's never very kean on visiting A & E! and our hospital is quite far away and Friday nights there are usually bedlam and best avoided if at all possible!
His reasoning is...one more day won't hurt things and it's his choice I suppose!

Hey-ho, looks like another hospital visit is definately on the go tomorrow!

Wish us luck and a speedy in-and-out too! lol
(((hugs)))
Maz x

More mishaps...

Hi Guys, We've had a little mishap...well Coo has anyway!


I'm not sure exactly what happened but Coo's hurt his arm. He can't remember giving it a knock or anything and he has been limb jerking a lot this week so it's probably seizure related but who knows!


He has an appointment to get bloods done tomorrow so we'll let the doctor have a wee look at it while we're there!

In other news...
I've been busy with my Local Authority this week!

They were looking for Carers to help them plan their new personalisation strategy with social services so of course I agreed!
It's so seldom Carers get the chance to be involved with the policy makers and especially at a stage where they can influence the strategies and get hopefully a better deal!
I've a few more days contributing at workshops and I just hope they listen and the Carer involvement really helps us all get a better deal!

Wish me luck...I've a feeling I'm going to need it!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Carer Struggles...

Hi guys.
What a night!
I'm not sure what has happened but Coo has taken another tumble. He was seizing every 20 minutes last night so we're both shattered and today is kinda cancelled...well for a little while! Once I've had another cup of tea and got it together it'll all be ok!

I know he's cut his mouth and his limbs are aching but other than that I'll just wait till he's fully awake to sort out the damages - poor Coo!

Other than that, it's raining again so I'm going to don my wellies carry on regardless! and hope for more settled days,
(((hugs)))
Maz x

See-saw or roller-coaster ride?...

Hi Guys, unfortunately Coo's blood results came back and I'm afraid we have jumped back on that AED (Anti epilepsy drug) see-saw yet again!

The safe dose, in the blood stream is between 10 - 20 points and Coo? Well his latest test was 28! We've been advised to drop one of his meds by 25mgs immediately, keep an eye out for any changes and re-test again in two weeks.

Let it never be said, the life of a Carer is easy. I don't know about see-saws it's more like a roller coaster ride at the moment!

Hopefully the reduced meds and plenty of rest will help Coo feel more like his old self again.

Meanwhile, just like Bob...
I'll dig out my hard hat and hang on tight for the ride!


I hope things are more settled where you are!

(((hugs)))
Maz x

Hard hat and flak jacket time...

Well, it's yet again been a very difficult week. It's what I call hard hat and flak jacket time!

Carers never have it easy do they?

Coo is poorly and it's been a very worrying time. His seizures have yet again sky-rocketed off the planet for no real reason and it's been so very difficult to manage.

During the daytime he is awake in the afternoons, he's pretty good and he's my lovely Coo but then he tires and falls sleep, well, then it's bedlam - seizure city and very hard on us both.

He's nursing muscle and limb pain and his poor cheeks and tongue are bitten to shreds! I'm clinging fast to hope that tomorrow's blood results will shed some light on what is happening and maybe find a little improvement.

Please God, send a rainbow to cheer things...


One like this would be nice!



Wish us luck!

I hope things are on a more even keel where you are!

Love,
maz x

Carers & Christmas? Hospitals of course...

Hi Guys, we're just back from hospital.
What would a Carer's Christmas be without a visit to the A & E!

Coo cracked his foot during a seizure last night Ouch!
Problem is, every time he had another seizure the limb jerking was pretty bad and by morning he just couldn't cope with the pain any longer.

We called the doctor, who advised us to take a trip to A&E for an X-ray.
Well, after a day of being poked and prodded at the hospital, it's good news - nothings broken! Woo-hoo!
It's a soft tissue injury and while painful,(especially if you're seizing, bouncing about and limb jerking said foot all the time - it will heal on it's own... eventually!
So maybe not so Woo-hoo after all but at least it's not an admission this time!

I don't think it helped any when I told him..."You know Coo, there are easier ways of getting out of Christmas shopping"!
His answer...un-printable! LOL

Let's hope he heals quickly!

and it's raining here again so 1,2,3...it never rains but it pours!

maz x